Thinking of getting a heavy duty chopper knife for the woods...

[zrxoa1]

I have some woods behind my house that needs maintained. Looking at getting some big chopper, to handle small trees and branches, maybe up to 1.5-2” diameter.   Also small brush.

Any recommendations?  But off the shelf or have one made?  Type of steel to use for best edge retention?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Seved]

Hi.
5160 is a great steel for choppers.  Its very common.  I living in Sweden so here we have good springsteels to. Unfortunatly only in 3 and 4 mm.
If you like i can make you one of my models.  I also make in 6 mm 5160.

Skickat från min SM-G960F via Tapatalk

[spudley112]

I am super happy with my BK9 and BK29 as choppers. Hard to beat 1095CV steel.

[AimlessWanderer]

My attitude is that knives don't do axe work as well as axes, and axes don't do knife work as well as knives. However, I appreciate that when far from your other tool choices, sometimes you have to accept the compromise, and choose one or the other.

In this instance though, you're near home, so I'd approach it with a brushcutter type blade (I have a machete that got used for that kind of work), a hatchet (GB Wildlife Hatchet was my choice), and a folding saw (Bahco Laplander). I never really encountered a problem in the type of scenario you describe with those three, and picking one tool - I could have just use the machete, and did have to on occasion- would have just made life harder.

[SteveC]

Check out what Ontario has to offer in choppers and small machetes.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ontario-8669-RTAK-II-Large-Fixed-Blade-Knife-with-Nylon-Sheath/163800241577?hash=item26234155a9:g:4aQAAOSwfQVdQwTP

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ontario-SP-53-Bolo-Knife-Nylon-Sheath-8689/153547760863?epid=2300156445&hash=item23c028e4df:g:dXoAAOSwl0pdGKCX

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR8.TRC2.A0.H0.XOntario+Machete.TRS0&_nkw=Ontario+Machete&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=10&_odkw=great+eastern+cutlery

[kwakster]

Have a look at the Condor Bushcraft Parang, it's a chopping beast.
I finetuned mine a bit to my liking: https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,81596.0.html

Since you're in the US, this would be a very good shop to buy from: http://www.baryonyxknife.com/
The owner is a dependable & knowledgeable guy who participates a lot on Bladeforums.com, and also offers a free special grade treatment, in which he thins & refines the factory edge before shipping.

Review: https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=FV8227ZUBiI

[comis]

Check out what Ontario has to offer in choppers and small machetes.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ontario-8669-RTAK-II-Large-Fixed-Blade-Knife-with-Nylon-Sheath/163800241577?hash=item26234155a9:g:4aQAAOSwfQVdQwTP

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Ontario-SP-53-Bolo-Knife-Nylon-Sheath-8689/153547760863?epid=2300156445&hash=item23c028e4df:g:dXoAAOSwl0pdGKCX

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313.TR8.TRC2.A0.H0.XOntario+Machete.TRS0&_nkw=Ontario+Machete&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=10&_odkw=great+eastern+cutlery

The Ontario machete is really good in hand to use, not too heavy to fatigue your forearm/wrist, and a decent forward weight bias for the swing.

I guess it kind depends on what you are chopping/cutting the most, if it is for hacking a trail in heavy undergrowth or thin saplings, especially in subtropical environment, then I would think machete might be a decent choice.  If it is for chopping bigger branches or even trees, then a hatchet probably will be more efficient.

[cody6268]

If a tractor with a Bush Hog can't get to it, I'm stuck with one of these. Properly sharpened now, they can do a lot of work. Always sort of wondered what one would be like with a short, knife-sized handle.

Council Tool 12" blade brush hook.

[Sparky415]

How about.....A Woodman's Pal?   

[toolguy]

You might consider one of these.

Although they are not inexpensive,they are exceptionally well made and have a lifetime warranty.

[Alan K.]

My attitude is that knives don't do axe work as well as axes, and axes don't do knife work as well as knives. However, I appreciate that when far from your other tool choices, sometimes you have to accept the compromise, and choose one or the other.

In this instance though, you're near home, so I'd approach it with a brushcutter type blade (I have a machete that got used for that kind of work), a hatchet (GB Wildlife Hatchet was my choice), and a folding saw (Bahco Laplander). I never really encountered a problem in the type of scenario you describe with those three, and picking one tool - I could have just use the machete, and did have to on occasion- would have just made life harder.

I agree 100%  A large and heavy knife is not a good substitute for a machete however all the YouTube gurus seem to test them that way.  My perception from watching all those videos seems to indicate that while not a substitute for a machete a large and heavy knife does look like it would be a good substitute for a hatchet.  Since you specified brush clearing and small branches or saplings I would suggest a machete. I really like the Tramontina brand from Brazil and I own several.  The compromise position between the jungle cutlasses such as the Ontario military type machete or the Tramontina jungle machete is to get a heavier model such as the Tramontina Bolo machete. This will allow you to cut brush all day and still hack through thicker branches when you need to.  I also really like the CRKT, Ken Onion designed "Half a Chance" for cutting through branches as thick as your wrist in a single swipe, but it is a little heavy for all day use.

[Nix]

I'll second the machete recommendation. For light brush, a machete is a great tool. But be careful with them, they can be dangerous.

I'd look at Ontario or Condor.