So why do folks buy giant chopper bowies

[machine26]

Alright fair enough. I thought you meant an insult by the whole "koolaid" thing like people typically do.

Get yourself a Becker BK9, Ontario Marine Raider or something similiar and enjoy. They are low cost, good performance "bigass franken bowie knives".

 

[RevDevil]

If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand.

This is the only correct answer.

 

[heavyfoldersarebest]

Because I like them.

 

[Franciscomv]

Some people like axes, some like machetes, some like big knives. In my case, a khukuri is what works best. I handle it much better than a machete or an axe, it does everything I need. However, I only bring it on trips on which there's some means of transportation other than my lovely legs. I find them perfect to keep in a saddle bag.

When it comes to outdoors knives, I'm firmly in the 4"-5" blade camp. I like something light and sturdy, not overly thick. Over the years I've gathered dozens of these types of knives, so lately I've begun buying larger knives or ones that don't fit my normal criteria just to play with them or because they look cool.

 

[TwinStick]

Completely off topic, but this story reminds me of another, again related to environment dictating the best tool for the job:

I live in the Wisconsin's Driftless region.
In the Summer and Autumn droughts, the Prius drivers pull alongside the 4x4 drivers and mock, "So, what kind of gas-mileage are you getting on that monster?"
In the Spring and Summer floods and the Winter blizzards, the 4x4 drivers pull over onto the shoulder and ask the Prius drivers in the ditch, "So, what kind of gas-mileage are you getting?"


On topic, I've compared the cross-grain chopping ability of hatchets to 10" bowie-style knives on 3"-diameter seasoned oak. It takes me the same number of chops, same amount of time, to accomplish the same task with EITHER tool. The knives usually possess thinner geometry for better penetration, while the hatchets' thicker geometry pops out chunks of wood more easily but to a shallower depth. The force of the swing doesn't enter the equation as the results are the same even if I swing as hard as I can. The heavier hatchet heads require more energy to swing and maintain control of than the weight-balanced knives - the hatchet is harder to start swinging and also harder to stop should the need arise (e.g. limbing a branch, cutting without a back-stop). Add to this that the hatchet handles tend to be fairly slick and round, allowing the blade to twist more easily on a glancing blow. On smaller branches, the reduced penetration ability of the hatchet requires more force per chop than the large knife. When cutting without a back-stop, if the target is able to bend away from the blow, the hatchet tends to plow it out of the way rather than cutting, whereas the knife can behave like a machete (assuming an appropriate design). Finally, the knife presents a much great length of cutting edge to work with.

This last point, along with the distributed weight and reduced blade height, increase the versatility of the knife well above that of the hatchet, such that the knife can perform the duties of a small knife much better than the hatchet, e.g. food-prep, whittling, draw-knife, etc. The knife can scrape away wide swaths of bark if needed, can filet fish, and can also pry and dig (depending on design) better than the hatchet. Indeed, the ONLY tasks at which the hatchet excels is splitting where the thicker geometry helps wedge the wood grains apart.

Great story !

On topic: I have to agree. I have found VERY little that i can't do with my $21 modified 12" Ontario machete, that i can do with a hatchet or one of my large knives. There is a LOT to be said for "light & fast" vs "heavy & slow". I have found that light & fast is the way to go, more often than not. But i am no spring chicken anymore either. Hittin the half century mark this year.

 

[cchu518]

The kukhuri looks pretty interesting to have around. Maybe I can pick one up for the brother in law to see how it compares to a camp axe. He's 29 and I'm waiting for him to go and buy a house to store all his toys. But to the below thought, does the thinner geometry of the knife also demand a more focused, methodical and coordinated swing in addition to pull out of the knife in case it gets stuck into the wood due to the more delicate surface that is being used to chop, i.e. why some people baton? Whereas a camp axe which I don't consider a hatchet is more of a broad stroking tool that one can whack away without any skill for wielding or thought? Twinstick, Francisco are you saying that machetes and Khukuris can process logs pretty well, I'm in in the more of the budget cheapskate camp myself? I bought my brother a knife for his birthday a little cheapie knife for fun, not even realizing that he was into knives, which I should have know after 39 years. But anyhow we're at a family wedding and we start talking about it and he's like no, I have it in the gun safe and then proceeds to whip out a $190 automatic tanto. I was thinking oh so you put my $30 gift knife in the gun safe because its collectible...hmmm... not because it's a gentleman's folder and you happen to like behemouth blacked out automatic tanto blades? Oh well to each their own! PS My brother is the driver/bodyguard to the CEO of a rather large retail chain, so he is always carrying something with him no matter where he goes.

Great story !

On topic: I have to agree. I have found VERY little that i can't do with my $21 modified 12" Ontario machete, that i can do with a hatchet or one of my large knives. There is a LOT to be said for "light & fast" vs "heavy & slow". I have found that light & fast is the way to go, more often than not. But i am no spring chicken anymore either. Hittin the half century mark this year.

 

[muddog15]

I have carried a big knife for years and I agree with everybody else that have said the same thing that I would say about a big knife or a hatchet. I carry more than one knife and they are all different overall and blade size. I carry small knives and big knives. So did the mountain men and indians and settlers.

 

[GIRLYmann]

deep down;
testosterone drives towards the big stick ideology.
a bigger blade
handles most task
where a smaller one can't.
it maybe cumbersome
but it sure feels more than a little adequate
for any said individual
with a giant knife
to take on the entire world;
except picking his nails

 

[RobStanley]

Big knives are way more fun. And manly.

 

[Ankerson]

Busse NMFBM & NMFBM LE

Any Questions?

 

[RMLamey]

With a big Bowie or Chopper, I dont need an axe, machete, or any other knife for that matter. Its a matter of learning to properly use a big knife properly, once done its irreplaceable.

 

[stabman]

Seeing a guy get all hot and heavy over chopping up a tree branch was quite amusing. But seeing stabman turn his concept and thought into a piece of highly functioning art changed my perspective about what a franken-bowie-machete is and can do...

Thanks.

I started along the path to bigger knives when I had a chance at a gathering to test out a RD-9 (9 inch blade knife), which just worked so well. Since then I have acquired knives that make the RD-9 look inefficient, but it's the one that turned me on to it all.
You can find the RD-9 for about $100 alot of places too, so I'd recommend it as a decent knife to start with.
You can lend it to your friends to wail on in the woods with no worries as to them breaking it...they won't (unless you're friend with the Hulk).

I think I just talked myself into getting another one.

 

[Moses2792796]

Man those Busses are things of beauty, can't wait till the day I can afford one.

 

[cchu518]

That #888 looks too pretty to use!

 

[NateReed]

If people want to use a chopper, let them. If people want to use an ax, let them. If people want to use a saw and baton, let them

 

[willworship]

That's my excuse.

 

[willworship]

Because their wives would not allow any swords in the house!

Whoops! That was what I meant to quote. That's my excuse!

 

[SamuraiDave]

First off.
The pics in this thread make me want to go get a 2nd and 3rd job so that I can afford more toys.

Second.
I can see the love for both hatchet's and Axe's.
You get an old school rusted thing that looks like it has been buried a mountain of manure for the past 90 years.
Then you clean it up, figure out that the thing is darn near new, and put a new handle on it that you personally sculpt to fit you.
It goes from garbage to glory with some elbow grease. It is extremely functional, will outlast you (if you don't loan it to your Brother-In-Law), and is something that is somehow magnificant to sit back and look at.

Third.
I can see the beauty in a big honking knife that weighs as much as a hatchet, and some closer to an axe.
It's big, made of the finest materials, heat treated in such a manner to hold an edge and be redicliously robust.
It will outlast you, and potentially hold an edge once your Brother-In-Law takes a swing at it (but only if you choose to help him stop the profuse bleeding).
It's scary, it's cool, it's a knife, a machete, a smatchet, whatever.
It's freaking cool.

I see how the love goes either way.

 

[Shotgun]

I'll agree with you that a lot of it is technique and how you swing, that comes from experience. That's why I was saying skill set has much to do with your choice of tool. Yet there are two points that cannot be argued. For one, a large knife is going to be lighter than a hatchet, and two a large knife is going to have better balance than a hatchet. So what it comes down to is control. Since you have better control over the tool you are swinging you are far less likely to sustain an injury while swinging it.

And it's not just that. Batoning, while many here dont agree with it, is far safer than swinging an axe for splitting since you dont even have to swing the knife to accomplish it. Again, control.

Yep, technique trumps everything but I disagree that a big knife is lighter or has better balance. Buy a GB mini and see what it can do. It is both lighter and better balanced then any large knife I've used for small tasks. It generally has a keener edge too when compared to production knives. The knives seen in this thread I would imagine are even heavier then a regular hatchet. If you consider a BK2 weighs in at about 14-16 ounces with a 5.5 inch blade, what do these chopper knives with 10 inch blades weigh? I'm betting as much or more than a 1 pound hatchet. And then you add a sheath to that and it's even more weight. And there's nothing that says you can't baton with a hatchet.

In the end choose what you like. I use a big knife from time to time because it's fun and makes me feel like a mountain man, not because I think it's the best. It DOES do everything I need but not any better or faster than a hatchet or even a small knife with a baton. If you take into account all the attributes of what you actually NEED a tool to do in the woods, the weight, and the shear usefulness of each then I think you'll realize that neither a hatchet NOR a big knife is probably worth carrying. If you're car camping, take both and a machete to boot!

 

[RemyKaze]

I think it started as wanting to have one knife that does everything. Chopping included. Sometimes I'll take the big knives out, sometimes an axe, but my preference is for a machete because that is a real do-all tool.