What's a good, cheap chopper?

Folderguy said:
Although, it's pretty likely, from what I can tell, that a comparison of the "Kabar large heavy bowie" versus the Ontario 22" Military would have the Kabar coming out on the losing end.
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Don't agree with that conclusion but I don't own either one right now so I can't oblige with making a video. It would interesting to watch.

I don't like long comparison videos btw, the reviewer is usually "gassed" 1/2 way through the choppers he's comparing.

I watched one today and the guy was sucking wind pretty hard after the 1st two blades and his strokes were notably weaker with each new knife/machete that he used. (he used at least 5 or maybe 6 blades in rapid succession). It wasn't really a fair comparison to me. :(
 
Folderguy said:
Aiiiii yiiiii yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii OUCH!!

Thanks for the warning!! I've heard that the big Kukri's are dangerous in a similar way.
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Not as much ouch as you think, it cut completely through the nerve so I didn't feel a thing :thumbup: Walking was awkward and the nurses were suprised I drove myself to the hospital.

They get a lot of leverage, but if you're experienced with them something like my FUBAR shouldn't happen.
 
Folderguy said:
It would be interesting if someone has, for instance, the Becker BK9, the Kabar large heavy bowie, the CS Magnum Kukru, and the Ontario 22" Military, and they could shoot a video comparing them chopping.

A reasonable chopping test might be a 2X6 or a 2X8, with the knives' edges rebeveled and sharpened with a convex, razor sharp grind. The comparison would be to see how many chops with each blade it would take to hack all the way through the board, without turning the board over to make it quicker.

I've watched not a few videos of several of these or other blades and it's pretty difficult to get a really decent assessment of how one compares to another. Although, it's pretty likely, from what I can tell, that a comparison of the "Kabar large heavy bowie" versus the Ontario 22" Military would have the Kabar coming out on the losing end.
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I've got the BK9 and my son has the other three (Heavy bowie currently out on loan). Of the other three, he says the Ontario machete is hands' down the best chopper though the handle is square and not at all comfortable. He shaved it down with one of this other knives to make it usable.

The BK9 is comfortable as all get out and chops great (as well as doing a good job at knife-ish tasks) though I suspect the Ontario machete out-chops it.

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Beckerhead #42
 
eloreno said:
Kabar large heavy bowie is a great chopper for around 50$
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+1
Still one of my favorite knives ever (and I've had a few). I have to say that the only area I think that the BK9 has it beat is the handle, and that's just because I happen to like removable handle slabs. Remember, this is JUST MY OPINION, and I LIKE Becker stuff a lot.
 
cziv said:
Don't agree with that conclusion but I don't own either one right now so I can't oblige with making a video. It would interesting to watch.

I don't like long comparison videos btw, the reviewer is usually "gassed" 1/2 way through the choppers he's comparing.

I watched one today and the guy was sucking wind pretty hard after the 1st two blades and his strokes were notably weaker with each new knife/machete that he used. (he used at least 5 or maybe 6 blades in rapid succession). It wasn't really a fair comparison to me. :(
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It's quite possible that fatigue will produce skewed results, so perhaps to help eliminate that kind of error, instead of testing 5 or 6 blades, testing two at a time, on the same piece of wood but hacking at different spots, with the hacker whacking ten blows with one, and then ten with another, then back to the first, and then the second, and at a certain point, perhaps after twenty swings overall, switch to 5 whacks with each blade. I don't know how else to help eliminate the human factor, except by using a machine or contraption, as Andrew Demko has done in a video on the CS website comparing the CS Magnum Tanto IX to two other tanto knives. That was quite a video.

In any case, if there is a large difference between two blades in terms of weight and perhaps length, other variables remaining somewhat constant (for instance, convexed, razor sharp edges and the same piece of lumber) it would surprise me to not find big differences in the end result, with the larger, longer and heavier blade coming out in front in a heavy duty chopping contest.

However, as I don't have the Kabar heavy bowie machete, (at least for now :D) a contest between it and the Ontario 22" Military won't be forthcoming from yours truly any time soon.:( As the Kabar reportedly weighs .9 lbs, or roughly 15 ounces, compared to 28 ounces for the Ontario, it would really surprise me to find out the Kabar is not better in the chopping category than the Ontario. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

One thing I can definitely tell you is my SOB bowie machete at 14 ounces and hair popping sharp is NOWHERE near the chopper that the Ontario is. Not by a long shot.
 
GingivitisKahn said:
I've got the BK9 and my son has the other three (Heavy bowie currently out on loan). Of the other three, he says the Ontario machete is hands' down the best chopper though the handle is square and not at all comfortable. He shaved it down with one of this other knives to make it usable.

The BK9 is comfortable as all get out and chops great (as well as doing a good job at knife-ish tasks) though I suspect the Ontario machete out-chops it.

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Beckerhead #42
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Thank you sir. Nothing like having someone post their experiences comparing the blades.

BTW, the Ontario 22" is one scary blade. Someone called it a broadsword :thumbup::D.

Just imagine what that sucker could do if you drilled out a series of holes up near the spine and pounded in some good sized lead fishing weights to add some more heft near the sweet spot. Adding 8 ounces in the right place would probably make it truly awesome.
 
Folderguy said:
Thank you sir. Nothing like having someone post their experiences comparing the blades.

BTW, the Ontario 22" is one scary blade. Someone called it a broadsword :thumbup::D.

Just imagine what that sucker could do if you drilled out a series of holes up near the spine and pounded in some good sized lead fishing weights to add some more heft near the sweet spot. Adding 8 ounces in the right place would probably make it truly awesome.
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Glad to help. :D It may not fit the hand all that well but it certainly chops.

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Beckerhead #42
 
Folderguy said:
It would be interesting if someone has, for instance, the Becker BK9, the Kabar large heavy bowie, the CS Magnum Kukru, and the Ontario 22" Military, and they could shoot a video comparing them chopping.

A reasonable chopping test might be a 2X6 or a 2X8, with the knives' edges rebeveled and sharpened with a convex, razor sharp grind. The comparison would be to see how many chops with each blade it would take to hack all the way through the board, without turning the board over to make it quicker.

I've watched not a few videos of several of these or other blades and it's pretty difficult to get a really decent assessment of how one compares to another. Although, it's pretty likely, from what I can tell, that a comparison of the "Kabar large heavy bowie" versus the Ontario 22" Military would have the Kabar coming out on the losing end.
Click to expand...

You are putting to much thought into something simple( I do it on everything ).

WHICH ONE????????????????????

A large knife BK9, Kabar large bowie, Cutlass machete, or kukri.
A military machete, condor, Tramotina 12-30".
A hatchet or axe.

They will all do what you want.
I couldn't make up my mind so I purchased a;
Condor golok
Husqvarna hatchet
Bk9

That should cover all my bases.
Becker is bringing back the machax.
 
Well, I would say a Glock Fieldknife (Feldmesser) 78 would also be a good knife. It´s a crowbar with an edge ;)

Kind regards....
 
HoosierQ...love your comment about the basic machete. How many times have I gone back to my Ontario after having used my 'top shelf choppers' with the memorable bone handles and exotic steels? There must be a learning curve here somewhere! That being said, I do like the new Condor Golok.

'It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.' Disraeli: Speech in the House of Commons. 24.1.1860
 
I really like the Browning competition( crowell-barker) knife, It compared with some of my hi-$$ choppers real well and upped a few of them!@ $120.00 I don't think you'll be disappointed-
 
I have the 22' Ontario Machete in my ATV back seat.It eats everything I throw at it on a weekly basis and laughs at it. Great piece of kit when you get the handle sorted out.

Right now I have a Martindale Golok #2 as a project knife.
 
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