Why Baton?

Smaug

Smaug

Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
1,797
It seems to be a "standard test" to a lot of reviewers.

When I go out to build a fire, I would rather just pick up smaller sticks than split larger wood with my knife. If it's wet, I whittle off the bark. I haven't had any problems yet.

What am I missing?
 
I don't do alot of batoning, but I do find it useful for breaking down sticks of (store bought) lighter knot into smaller pieces. You can split each piece 3-4 times, and a small piece is equally capable of starting fire as a larger one, so you can stretch your supply significantly. I was doing this for ages before I ever knew there was such a verb as "batoning"

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Why not?

More than one way to get wood/tinder to start a fire and keep it going.

As far as a standard test, that's because it's easy and repeatable. It's something people can see. It's not really that hard on a knife if you're doing it with starting a fire in mind, or maintaining a small fire to cook with. It's a taboo subject here but even a folder can withstand such a task quite easily.

And yeah, it's been discussed many times, and in exactly the same fashion you started the thread. Do or don't, not a big deal. Just a different way of doing things.
 
FWIW, batoning really doesn't tell you much about the knife. I've batoned many, many knives, and only one failed and that was from a botched heat treat from the supplier. It was a Hmong knife, the little one. Had 2 of them, one completely buckled and the other went through several pieces of wood without issue.

If it tells you anything, it's how well the handles are attached the knife or how well the screws resist backing out.

Chopping tend to be far more damaging.
 
I do it because I enjoy it.

Also sometimes it's needed in more populated areas. I've batoned at a local brewery before where they only had full pieces left and the city girls couldn't figure out how to light the whole logs. I find it's cumbersome to edc a hatchet.
 
I do it to activate the 'tribe' genes.

If I'm 'busy', other people will start to do things. Gathering wood, setting up the tents, figuring out a food prep plan etc.

Nothing worse than being out there with people who want to sit around and watch me work. Imagine how cold the beer really is when all the work is done within hours of arrival?

Amateurs learn quite quickly that setting things up in the dark sucks. So, something so simple can get them to realize they should be doing something too.
 
As Knives&Lint Knives&Lint mentioned, I found-out about batoning many-many moons, before I even knew what it was called...and I was almost an instant convert.

For me and my particular "adventures", it was precise and efficient, and just a helluva' lot safer in my humble opinion.
 
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