Seeking Suggestions for a Chopper

Go to Caltoncutlery.com and check out his choppers. Once you use one, you'll start selling off your other knives to purchase his.

OSGB
 
I have used my BK9 for chopping and I found 20" Tramonita machete is a better chopper they are about the same weight.
Cant help but feel a machete is really what he needs... maybe something like a 14inch bolo, either that or an brush axe(I realize he doesnt want to use an axe alone).
I love BK knives... I love 1095 "CroVan", but my BK9 is completely USELESS... its to big or to thick or to heavy... or not long enough...
Machetes are made for chopping, they do it well and they are in general lighter then "chopping knives" which they out perform.

Ok mini rant about "survival" knives...:mad:
As a tool to replace a knife and a machete... Bk9 yep its awesome... thing is... I would much rather have a machete and a Mora which is very little extra weight.. giving me tools that are much more suited to specific tasks and which cover everything the BK can do... except maybe prybar(if someone says battoning wood I will point out you SHOULD actually use wood wedges to do that and only a knife to make the wedge and wood wedges use less energy and split wood quicker and if you harden them in a fire they last multiple splitting sessions too) Cutting notches in wood to make slots for interlocking pieces for a shelter etc... Tramonita can handle that easily.

Its just my opinion but many survival knives are designed around the "ONE" tool idea... and I believe this idea is a fallacy...
I cannot think of any situation where I would be left with a single tool, and if some situation did eventuate that it would as if by magic manage to leave me with my "ONE tool" knife.
While having only one tool means should it break you are totally screwed... if a mora breaks.. I have a machete, if a machete breaks... I have Mora... if a BK9 breaks... and lets face it they can you are left trying to salvage it and you may be in a situation where you need a functional cutting tool and dont have time to try to make a broken blade into a semi useable knife. Also you can always just plain loose things... having more then one type of tool is always helpful. Machetes take far more impact energy.. and do so without breaking then a chopper... longer blade means the tip is moving faster... and suffers greater impact... how often has anyone heard of a good Machete breaking? Its my opinion thick survival knives are a joke.. and product produced from 80s action movies rather then real need and effectiveness.

Ok mini rant over :cool:
 
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I think the BK9 fits in nicely between the ESEE 6 and Junglas. It seems more nimble than it should be for a blade that size.

Nice to see so many people suggesting Bark River. I've wanted to try one of their Goloks for several years, but every time I look at reviews of their choppers I find quite a few pictures of chipped blades and threads with people talking about "burnt edges." Some day I may bite the bullet and order one, but it's difficult to throw down $200 on something that seems to be hit or miss.
 
Vapour said:
Nice to see so many people suggesting Bark River. I've wanted to try one of their Goloks for several years, but every time I look at reviews of their choppers I find quite a few pictures of chipped blades and threads with people talking about "burnt edges." Some day I may bite the bullet and order one, but it's difficult to throw down $200 on something that seems to be hit or miss.
Click to expand...

I don't know of a single manufacturer that turns out 100% perfect product every time. Every company - even the best companies, have an issue with a product that slips thorugh now and then. But I have owned many Bark River knives, and I have yet to have one fail on me in any way.

Now, I'm not saying that there aren't people who have had valid issues with a BR knife in the past (just as there have been people who have had an issue with just about any brand at one time or another), but there are also no shortage of people who do stupid shit with knives, because they saw someone do the same ridiculous thing in a YouTube video with some sort of sharpened crowbar, and then they "can't believe" that their high quality knife chipped when they tried the same thing at home. There are also plenty of people who just repeat whatever rumor they've heard on the interwebs until it starts to sound like truth.

If you are curious about a Bark River knife, I would highly encourage you to try one, and to do so with complete confidence. I doubt you will be disappointed, and if you use it within the realm of reasonable and intended uses for a knife, I'd be quite surprised if it failed you in any way. And if, by some chance it does fail? They have one of the best, no-questions-asked warranties in the business and will take care of it. But like I said, I've owned many, and I have yet to send one back for any reason.

Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with Bark River whatsoever. Just a long-time, very satisfied customer. :thumbup:
 
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today's knife/tool market is terrific. In 1969 all I had was a woodsman pal and a small hatchet. (all I needed then, still all I need now) My son has them now among 6 or more chopping tools. Brush Hog by Mineral Mountain is his favorite. What I own, too many to mention, let alone what the commercial market has to offer.

For now I will stick to my HI khukuries.
 
it's important to keep a strict guidelines on what the OP wants. I mean certainly some of my knives will outperform others but they might not fit the OP. There was a big blade whack off on bcusa recently
 
A trip to the Good, Bad, and Ugly might find some issues people might have with Bark River
 
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