The next chopper.

F

Fonly

Joined
Sep 24, 2006
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Well, got some extra cash and figured a new chopper was in order. I dont know if all know, but I managed to break my wetterlings back in Nova Scotia, and I have been chopperless sense.

So, I've got a choice, either a wetterlings hatchet style (want to go lighter on this area for a bit) or fiskars style.

Really dont know whats around for large choppers in the fixedblade section in my area but what pops into mind for you guys?
$150 max, canadian I might add.

My area of hiking and camping is soft woods, so I have a few choices, mabye even a smaller machete?
 
Fonly said:
Now thats quite the tool!:D:thumbup:
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I keep thinking of trying one and then see another knife I want. I spoke to the guy who works in my local " Houseofknives " store and he says he played with one that his friend had and it chopped like a demon....he does sell them though so he would say that !!!
 
pitdog said:
I keep thinking of trying one and then see another knife I want. I spoke to the guy who works in my local " Houseofknives " store and he says he played with one that his friend had and it chopped like a demon....he does sell them though so he would say that !!!
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Yeah, so ya gotta wonder, good knife? or good salesmen?:D
 
I would suggest the Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife. Its easily the best bang for the buck in the knife world right now.

Its readily available and you can find it for around $110 if you look.

Heres a thread on it. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501041

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544578

phpMPmBau.jpg
 
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I have been enjoying my RAT 7. Good chopper and feels good in the hand. Not sure what blade length you are looking for though.

Good value I paid less than $100 for mine.
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Either a Khuk (just got a 16" AK that's a whopper) or a KaBar Heavy Bowie. Ranger RD9 would be neat too if you can find one. I've got the RAT 7, but it's not quite got the length to chop very well for me.

Of course, the Fiskars hatchet is a really awesome tool too. Hard to go wrong on that one.
 
i vote kukri too...

but if you want something a little bit more chopping dedicated...in terms of weight vs power, i would say go for a wetterlings (was yours the one where the beard of the blade broke off? or was that a gransfors?) or for the fiskars. i am looking at getting a 20" wetterlings soon so that i have a good large hatchet/small axe, and i might get one of the fiskars too to have a good small hatchet that i can take packing.

with all of that said, my favorite chopper (above my cheap hatchets) is my cold steel kukri (i think its the LTC model)

you might also do well with something like an ontario machete or one of the "barktario" machetes...within your range and based on reviews i have read here, it is a wicked chopper especially on softer stuff.
 
So how did you break the (presumably handle) wetterlings?

I have a fiskers mid-sized hatchet and I like it for its sharpness but its handle hasn't really grown on my compared to the feeling of a nice wooden handle.

For your neck of the woods I'd recommend having at least a cheap mid sized axe, e.g. forest axe, as a chopper and then getting a large fixed blade to compare against. I think large knives are cool as choppers and fun to use in that capacity. I'm not really convinced that they are as efficient as axes on hardwoods though. So for myself, I'd make sure I'd at least have a small axe kicking around somewhere and then buy yourself a nice big chopping knife.

That way you can make the decision on what you want to do based on the trip and activities you think you will be involved in. Really - I shutter to think of the situation where you might be visting a cabin, having to split a bunch of seasoned wood and what you have is a big knife to baton rather than a good axe. Even a small axe will, I think, kick butt at splitting lots of wood fast even if it is at the risk of amputating your foot :)
 
kgd said:
That way you can make the decision on what you want to do based on the trip and activities you think you will be involved in. Really - I shutter to think of the situation where you might be visting a cabin, having to split a bunch of seasoned wood and what you have is a big knife to baton rather than a good axe. Even a small axe will, I think, kick butt at splitting lots of wood fast even if it is at the risk of amputating your foot :)
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yeah, this is kinda the reason I want to stick to an axe.


My wetterlings broke when I had t stuck in a tree, 3/4 in, and wrenched on the handle to get some resinous pieces out, its was totally my fault, and a stupid mistake from not paying attetion, I waws talking away to my girl friend and "peeling " pieces out and snap!.

I just looked at her for a second, she says. "oh my god", what astupid look I must have had on my face.:D
 
fonly, i assume you broke the blade? still not clear in your post...

but i suppose if you just broke the handle you would have replaced it...
 
Fonly said:
yeah, this is kinda the reason I want to stick to an axe.


My wetterlings broke when I had t stuck in a tree, 3/4 in, and wrenched on the handle to get some resinous pieces out, its was totally my fault, and a stupid mistake from not paying attetion, I waws talking away to my girl friend and "peeling " pieces out and snap!.

I just looked at her for a second, she says. "oh my god", what astupid look I must have had on my face.:D
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If you just broke the handle a trip to Canadian Tire will net you a replacement handle for 8-15$.
Just look carefully at the direction of the grain!
I recently rehandled an old "True-Temper Kelly Perfect" axe.
There were about 12 handles the right size but only 1 of 12 had the grain running in the right direction!
 
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