S!K vs CPK

[Karoi]

Nice review HK!

It looks the 12 is going to be a chopping beast, especially since it'll be in D3V :thumbup:

 

[Hard Knocks]

Nice review HK!

It looks the 12 is going to be a chopping beast, especially since it'll be in D3V :thumbup:

Thank you! Next comparison we're going to need: GSO 12 vs CPK Heavy Chopper

 

[TRfromMT]

I am in the minority probably, but I just don't have a need for a chopper (of any make)... and therefore haven't wanted one. However, after seeing the reviews you guys have been doing, I am beginning to think I want to need one!

(Did that make sense?)

 

[Standard78]

Total sense!
I can't wait to see the GSO 8 and a Camp Knife from Carothers.
A 7"-8" cutting edge will be plenty for my chopping needs.

 

[Silver Needle]

Nice overlays you did there TR!

I thought I would do a quick hybrid sketch in CAD (at work) to see what it would look like.
I reduced the "elf choil" a bit to keep chiral happy

This is awesome work. Very cool to see that :thumbup:

 

[Fancier]

Is CPK running the heat treat in their shop or are they sending it out to PHT like Survive is?

 

[Silver Needle]

I am in the minority probably, but I just don't have a need for a chopper (of any make)... and therefore haven't wanted one. However, after seeing the reviews you guys have been doing, I am beginning to think I want to need one!

(Did that make sense?)

I get you and I respect that. As far as my tools and toys, satisfying my needs isn't nearly as fun as indulging my wants

 

[Casinostocks]

I used to have the GSO-10 which I parted with because I found it to be too heavy, after I had acquired the Carothers LC. The latter also provided both a longer handle which was a much better fir for my hands (size: M+ / L-) specially when gloved (I live in warmer climate of So. Cal but for thorny bushes and brush as we have rattlers, I rather use calf hide gloves). I did not find the finger grooves on the GSO-10 as a great fit for me with gloved. Furthermore, although heavier the bite into woods was not as deep as the LC but it was more suited to battoning (something which the LC never claimed to fame for).

Currently, I own two LCs which is rather excessive and indulgent but I will also contemplate on acquiring the new GSO-10 once they become available on the secondary market or with guaranteed availability from Survive! directly.

 

[khukoo head]

That is sort of what I suspected with exception on the LC biting deeper. Thanks for that insight. I wonder if the longer handle helped you generate more velocity despite having less mass, thereby getting deeper bites..? At any rate, the new 10 looks to be an improvement on the old handle (no grooves, a bit longer). I'm gonna try to get one.

As far as having two LC's...you have two hands don't you? Dual wielding LC's sounds pretty rad!

 

[Casinostocks]

I would say the longer handle, the weight distribution with regards to where the knife is centered along with Nathan's superior geometry in comparison to the older GSO-10. I honestly do not wish to ruffle any feathers in here but this has been my personal experience. I don't even remember what kind of wood I was chopping into so there are so many variables in here that someone else could easily refute my personal account by finding 180 degrees opposite. My primary reason was not heavy duty chopping or batoning anyway, but some heavy brush and thorny bush clearance!

As a footnote, on the CPK sub, Justin Fournier had a thread about using his CPK-LC in his basement construction project, plus there is one other freshly made in thread there that a user took his LC and GF axe to task in the backcountry. There was also antiher thread by Ifellonscissors which I tagged on that newly made thread there. You may wish to contact Ifeeonscissors because I know that he was a heavy Survive! user and he had initially found the LC to be a bit too dainty for his liking. I think that he may have some reviews of the GSO-10 on here somewhere. As for prices, you can get a good used GSO-10 if you are patient for around low $300's on the secondary market whereas an LC will cost you (the general you) around $450+ in the secondary market. The LC preorder list filled out really fast and Nathan has mentioned that the PO list is about 6-8 months out. There are many factors to consider before considering an LC vs a GSO-10. Good luck.

 

[Hard Knocks]

My primary reason was not heavy duty chopping or batoning anyway, but some heavy brush and thorny bush clearance!

I'd have no trouble believing the LC superior for that task at all.

Casino, so that I'm understanding you correctly........bear in mind I don't have a light chopper........did you find the 10 better at batoning than the LC? While I love the 10, I'd not grab it as my first choice for that. I may be a bit spoiled by having a couple wonderful batoning blades, one being the SRKW Chopweiler which is superb for that task.

.....I honestly do not wish to ruffle any feathers in here but this has been my personal experience......

Brother, if we can't speak honestly from our experiences what else do we have left?!

 

[Karoi]

I am in the minority probably, but I just don't have a need for a chopper (of any make)... and therefore haven't wanted one. However, after seeing the reviews you guys have been doing, I am beginning to think I want to need one!

(Did that make sense?)

I sometimes get a little jealous when I watch youtube videos of guys in other parts of the world using their big knives to chop stuff up.
Most trees in my region are almost as hard as D3V steel (ok not quite), so something like a GSO 10 or CPK LC are no match them. That's why I don't bother taking a big blade with me when I go hiking or camping. Sometimes I take the big axe when I go camping but there's usually plenty of dry dead logs around, so I just drag these logs over the fire, let em burn in half, then rearrange the fire thereafter.
In saying that though, I might not be able to resist the GSO 12 when it becomes available!

This is awesome work. Very cool to see that :thumbup:

Thanks. It would be great to see something like this come to life one day...

 

[Casinostocks]

I'd have no trouble believing the LC superior for that task at all.

Casino, so that I'm understanding you correctly........bear in mind I don't have a light chopper........did you find the 10 better at batoning than the LC? While I love the 10, I'd not grab it as my first choice for that. I may be a bit spoiled by having a couple wonderful batoning blades, one being the SRKW Chopweiler which is superb for that task.



Brother, if we can't speak honestly from our experiences what else do we have left?!

Bear in mind that I am no where as blade heavy as you are and based on where I live and the thing which I do NOT do (which means I ought to do more often) batoning is not atop the priority list. In fact, for my purposes the Racing LC would have technically been a better fit but they are farther and fewer in between, more expensive and also more prone to rolling the edge in the hands of a n amateur like me!.

I agree with both Satbdard78 and you that if batoning is the primary objective, there are far better options than either of these two, the GSO-10 and the LC. In fact, I am also looking forward to the newer D3V 6" GSO and the upcoming CPK survival, camping, hiking, wilderness or whatever name they come up with for that 6.5"ish blade

 

[Hard Knocks]

Bear in mind that I am no where as blade heavy as you are and based on where I live and the thing which I do NOT do (which means I ought to do more often) batoning is not atop the priority list. In fact, for my purposes the Racing LC would have technically been a better fit but they are farther and fewer in between, more expensive and also more prone to rolling the edge in the hands of a n amateur like me!.

I agree with both Satbdard78 and you that if batoning is the primary objective, there are far better options than either of these two, the GSO-10 and the LC. In fact, I am also looking forward to the newer D3V 6" GSO and the upcoming CPK survival, camping, hiking, wilderness or whatever name they come up with for that 6.5"ish blade

Okay, that makes sense. Everything's relative

 

[chiral.grolim]

...I agree with both Satbdard78 and you...

Wow, that is a WILD correction of "Standard78"

I very much look forward to the new GSO-10. I enjoy my first-run 10, indeed it is my preferred "chopper", but I have slimmed the edge down somewhat and it is nowhere near as good at batonning/splitting as my Rodent 9 or more recent SYKCO Chophouse... The new 10 and 12 will neat to try out.

I have no trouble at all believing that the CPK chopper is superior in every way to the older GSO-10s. The handle just looks great, D3V, and Nathan's push for better edge-performance allows for a lighter geometry - and heck, it is just a really attractive-looking knife! But as was said, not so easy to get ahold of one of Nathan's knives and the premium is steep. Nevertheless, envy upon those who have one!

This is heat-treat's photo but I'm pasting it here so we have some point of reference:

and here is my GSO-10 and Rodent 9:

 

[Casinostocks]

LOL on my typo error of Standard78 as Stabdard78! Good catch there Chiral

 

[Standard78]

LOL on my typo error of Standard78 as Stabdard78! Good catch there Chiral

Still better than Stabtard78!!

 

[Casinostocks]

Still better than Stabtard78!!

Since Chiral started this with his eagle eyes and keen interest in paying attention, I got one one even worse than that above: Stab*urd78

Congrats on that last FK from Friday's. I saw what you in did there

 

[Standard78]

Since Chiral started this with his eagle eyes and keen interest in paying attention, I got one one even worse than that above: Stab*urd78

Congrats on that last FK from Friday's. I saw what you in did there

Hey I can live with that name! Better than anything my ex's have called me!!
I'm glad I scored that FK! It's going to one of my best friends that isn't on Bladeforums. He fell in love with the one that you helped me get.

 

[XtianAus]

Would it be fair to say that survive knives MAY (potentially) have a little extra corrosion resistance vs CPK due to the peened finish vs stone wash finish?