What would you choose for firewood spliting (knives only)

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Gossman Knives

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That CS failed thread was mentally exhausting to read :eek: What do you guys feel are the ingredients for a knife to perform well at spliting wood for a fire. Steel, design, handle material, blade lenght and width. Factory knives and custom can be named. What ever you guys like go ahead and mention.
I'll start off with what I like. Handle lenght of 5 to 6 inches. Blade length of 71/2 inches or longer. Blade width of 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches. Steel, 5160 being first choice. Other steels would be oil hardening straight carbon steels. Handle material, micarta or kraton. Also what type of grind. I think the convex is best suited for this.
The pic below is one of a 5160 Busse blank I purchased from and had Justin Gingrich heat treat for me to 58rc. in action. I've chopped down large saplings, split seasoned maple (as shown in pic) cut water filled soda cans and cut the front legs off of deer. I feel 5160 steel IMO is the best.


woodsplit2.JPG


Scott
 
Thickness at spine 1/4 -5/16",.5160 is a good choice though a S7 or CPM 3V would be very fine too.
 
If it were just splitting wood I'd prefer something along the lines of any of the large Tops blades. I wouldn't want one for actually cutting anything though, unless they've started grinding them way thinner at the edge. While I prefer a proper flat grind for any large utilitarian fixed blade, a saber grind works better for wood splitting for a given blade thickness. If I were going to do it on a regular basis with largish wood I'd also want a long blade, 8 inches at least, preferably 9-12.
 
A khukuri!
http://www.himalayan-imports.com/khuk1.html
A 16" chiruwa ang khola from H-I will cut wood all day. A convex edge is best for this. Not sure exactly what type of steel they are, but they're made from recycled truck leaf springs; usually Mercedes. :)
Even though the blade can be a little heavy at over 1-1/2 lbs, the forward angle is a good shape for chopping and won't wear you out. And it won't break, even with a little abuse.
 
+1 on the Khuk tip.

My 16.5 WWII HI will split anything, and its not too heavy. I was cutting limbs off of a maple, and it will take a 2" branch with one easy swing. Chopping is "hot knife in butter stuff" for Khuks, and HI are the best.

Robb
 
I want to know which one is guaranteed not to fail after being frozen to 5 degrees and whacked on by a small diameter log also frozen to 5 degrees while being used to split a large log that is frozen to 5 degrees. :rolleyes:
 
I've got a Busse Battle Mistress "E" that would excel at this chore, and in any condition, I would imagine.
 
I imagine a Busse and any number of other knives I can think of could do this.
I imagine also that if you can break a CS Recon Scout you can break any knife.
 
ditto on the Khuk. Even a 12" Chiruwa Ang Khola would work well although a 15" or 16" would be better. If you stick to a narrow definition of "knife", the AK Bowie khuk would chop anything you can think of all day long, I would think, and much much better than, say, my Fallkniven which is a fine knife but not the same class as the AK Bowie.
 
1/4" INFI, 9 1/2" Blade, Micarta slabs, and I like a bowie style knife. I guess that means my Busse Magnum EU17 #12. :D

4a637a0d.jpg


It works great for splitting small logs. :cool:
 
another kukri fan here (as far as knives go)

Mine would be a 1919 sheffield made kukri which is the MKII

Th HI kukri I've handled have been too big IMO though but I guess that personal choice
 
Here's a pic of my favorite knife for spliting and chopping. I've had a ball using it while hiking and bumming around in the woods. It's the one I mentioned in my first post.

busse7.JPG


Scott
 
My HI Khuk, just like what everyone else said. And a busse bm or sh. I don't own those (yet).

Dr. Thor:

you keep showing off that gosh-darned bm-e of yours! LOL!! First with ham, now wood! I think that's the one Jody (voracious) had recently for sale on the exchange forums. I was SO CLOSE to getting it, and when I made up my mind, it was gone. Lucky you!
 
It's got to be my 'parachete'. Imagine a short (10") blade machete that's apparently issued to the U.K. Para's. Add a handle wrapped with the stuff used on tennis raquet handles, total cost under £30, and there's my firewood maker! :D The other good one is my U.K. M.O.D. Type 'D' survival knife. I have one of the older pattern with a rolled edge. But to be honest, the parachete is nicer to use.
 
ontario swords blackwind bengal..

26" oal, 20" blade. bastard child of a machete and a khukri.

got bored this summer, chopped up the wood pile with it.
 
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