The tools are, in order:
1) Buck Hoodlum 2) Becker BK2 3) Becker BK7 4) Ontario Kukri Knife 5) Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe
This is my first review, and includes a 15 minute trip to the backyard to test chopping. Not intended to be a review of "big choppers", rather a chopping comparison of some of my personal favorite tools for woods use. Chopping is overrated IMO. In terms of calories burned, I greatly prefer the folding saw (Laplander, Coghlan's etc.). However, I do end up chopping sometimes and I wanted to have a clearer view of how efficient each blade was in comparison with the others. Also, chopping ability can be an indicator of limbing/clearing ability. Of all the categories I care about, including weight, chopping efficiency, brush clearing, batoning, carving, and detail work, chopping is perhaps the least important for me due to my use of a folding saw.
These are the larger knives that I take backpacking/camping. They are used primarily for wood processing, but not only for wood processing. The photo may be a bit misleading, due primarily to to angle, so I will clear it all up with comments.
I took 25 swings with each into hard, dead, older hardwood. In terms of chopping prowess, the results were...
1. Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. This was the clear winner. I used two hands.
2. Ontario Kukri. Using one-handed, actually didn't fall far behind the Gransfors.
3. Hoodlum. Not that far behind the Kukri actually. Better than I expected, considering it's light weight.
4. BK7. meh. It isn't a chopper. The Beckers just scratched the surface by comparison and didn't "dig in".
5. BK2. Here again, the 2 isn't a chopper. The BK7 and BK2 were "minor-league" compared to the others, just as a result of the design.
I suppose the differences between these contenders would be magnified significantly if I were attempting to go through the entire log.
I am only recently much of a fixed-blade user, and I used to rely wholly on a fiskars axe for my wood processing. I really enjoy my Gransfors Bruks forest axe but, for me, the combination of the hand saw (for efficient cross-cutting) and large fixed blade (for limbing, bush-wacking, batoning, etc.) has been a change for the better. Particularly, when I consider weight, which is huge for a guy who actually backpacks out for miles, as opposed to car-camping. My pack is sub 20 lbs (including water and food) and I want to keep it that way. Packing for miles in the mountains, 1-2 pounds makes a difference.
Weight comparison (on my scale):
Hoodlum: 15.25 oz
BK7: 13.25 oz
BK2: 14.57 oz
OKC Kukri: 20 oz
Gransfors SFA: 35.25 oz
To any of these, I add a folding saw (about 6.5 oz) and usually a smaller fixed blade or folder, even if it is just a SAK or Leatherman.
Currently, my combo of choice is the Hoodlum with the saw on the side. At around 22 oz. total, I can process plenty of firewood without a ton of calories burned. I also find the fixed blade to be safer than the axe when fatigued. Again, I'm not a big chopping fanatic, but when I do have to chop, the Hoodlum does decently. In terms of limbing, batoning, brush clearing, etc., it does very well. It also holds a VERY sharp edge, for a very long time and the full flat grind makes it a good slicer. I can clean a fish quickly and easily with the Hoodlum.
I can't imagine any of the other contenders beating the Hoodlum out of first place for me, except perhaps the Kukri which I've only owned a little while, so I can't speak for that one just yet. So far, I like it a lot. In no way to I mean to nay-say on the Beckers. They were included in the test because they are two of my favorites. Next on my list to try will likely be a SYKCO 911 and BK9. They have many of the features I am enjoying in the Hoodlum, while retaining a manageable weight. I wish I wouldn't have missed the Survive! GSO-10 pre-order!
Hope you enjoyed the review and maybe gained a little knowledge from my experiences.
Burns
