What is the proper technique for splitting wood with a khukri?

[Noshtero]

Do you chop like an axe? Do you batton like a fixed blade? A little of both?
I would think splitting wood, since the blade drives straight through, would completely remove the advantage the curved blade gives you. I can't see shearing a block of wood like I would when I'm limbing a branch or cutting a vine.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Welcome, Noshtero

It really depends on the type of khuk you are using, the thickness of the blade, the thickness of the wood, the type of wood, and a whole host of other variables.

I have found that the AK and WWII models split wood (for me) the best. This has to do with the thickness of the spine and weight of the blade. Generally speaking, I don't split a lot of wood to begin with. If I'm splitting logs for my mom (she has a firepit. My house does not), then I just grab the very boring maul and have at it. You're not going to find a khuk that does things very...well, khukish and still split the big stuff just as well as a maul.

When it comes to splitting smaller stuff for a campfire, then I actually prefer to baton the khuk through the wood. Usually the stuff that I build my fires with is of the smaller variety. I don't need to haul off and smack it. If it is a pretty good chunk, then I'll give it a medium chop to bury the blade before I baton.

 

[seaice]

Use an axe (two handed) for splitting larger chunks of wood.
Heavy-ish kukri (as in over 32oz weight and curved blade rather than sirupate profile) can be very good for splitting smaller pieces.... but it's when it comes to cutting off thinner bits for kindling that you can most see a benefit of the kukri (lighter ones can also do this job) over an axe -- more precision.
To split wood, look at how the grain runs, then hit fast and snappy - let the weight of the blade do most of the work.

As for battening it would be necessary for splitting longer pieces of wood you couldn't go through at one go, but afaics it's using the kukri more as an initially self-embedding wedge than as a kukri.

 

[Noshtero]

My new Chiruwa Ang Khola in 16.5" is soon to be arriving!!

Ya it's the campfire stuff I'm talking about. Most of the places around here sell slabs of campfire wood (we're under a firewood restriction due to emerald ash borers). The slabs are about a foot tall, maybe a foot or better wide, and usually 2-3 inches thick. I usally will section a few into 3x3x12 sticks. I normally use my main carry, which is a 10" fixed blade. I just don't want to be using the khuk in the wrong way, so I thought I'd ask here first. Battoning seemed like the right choice to me. Thanks for confirming.

 

[Rich_S]

Do you chop like an axe? Do you batton like a fixed blade? A little of both?
I would think splitting wood, since the blade drives straight through, would completely remove the advantage the curved blade gives you. I can't see shearing a block of wood like I would when I'm limbing a branch or cutting a vine.

Both. I have an 18" Ang Khola and a 15" BAS. For smaller rounds, one good whack, as you would with an axe, will usually split them and if it only goes part way through I lift the whole thing up by the handle and smack it down on the ground with wood still attached and that finishes the job. For larger rounds, I baton it like you would with a bowie.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

+1 to the above.

 

[IUKE12]

Same technique as Rich S, most times I just get the blade started into the piece, then lift the entire piece up and smack it straight down onto the cutting block or ground. I feel I have more control over the results this way.

 

[wildmike]

battoning works so does a splitting stroke as with a hatchet. Mine is a M43 works fantastic. Best tool in the woods I've ever used.

 

[Salamander42]

My new Chiruwa Ang Khola in 16.5" is soon to be arriving!!

...

The slabs are about a foot tall, maybe a foot or better wide, and usually 2-3 inches thick. I usally will section a few into 3x3x12 sticks.

You can probably split something that size with one swing with that khuk. Of course, that's if you can get a piece like that to stand on end, and if your aim is good enough to split it to the width you want. Batoning will let you make more precise splits.