Anything better than Silky Nata Hatchet?

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NeedItCheaper

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Jun 17, 2012
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While backpacking during the winter, I mainly use my axe to delimb dead branches, do some light chopping, and even lighter splitting. Over the years I've found pine forests don't require much work to process wood for a fire. Although there are lighter axes on the market, I’m looking at large knives to replace my GFB Small Forest Axe. Something less awkward to swing for delimbing, and potentially use less calories while doing so. With the new potential knife, I would be delimbing, general chopping, and batoning.

I do have the Ontario SP50, which is very nice, I’m looking for an upgrade and the Silky Nata Hatchet has caught my eye. Is there a knife you think excels beyond the two? Also, if you’ve used both, is the Silky Nata worth buying to replace my SP50?
 
Just get a Tops El Chete, and call it a day. Seriously.

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shane45-1911 said:
Just get a Tops El Chete, and call it a day. Seriously.
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For aesthetic reasons, I like the Tops Storm Vector more. I just looked up some vids and they seems to perform about the same. Does anyone know if the one is more comfortable than the other. From pictures, the handle on the Storm looks more round (comfortable) than the El Chete looks square (uncomfortable). Anyone know?
 
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gazz98 said:
Have you considered a folding saw + SP50? A folding saw is cheaper and lighter. Silky saws and Bahco Laplander make some nice folding saw. I use the Corona folding saw which can be found at Lowes $28 which has great reviews.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SI...g-saw-83-straight-blade-rubberaluminum-handle

If you really want a knife, look at the Terava Skrama.
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I already use the Silky F180. Where it falls short is delimbing. Moments where the branch is too tough to easily snap off the log with my hand, but too thin to use a saw. Or rather, it would take more time to saw than a quick whack with a large knife. My current set-up is Bark River Bushcrafter, Silky F180, and GFB SFA. From looking at reviews in terms of performance, it appears in order; Skrama is worse than Nata which is worse than El Chete. In terms of chopping that is. Not sure if my SP50 is a worse chopper than the Skrama.
 
GB940Rookie said:
Almost bought one of those at the NRA show. It wasn’t what I was after at the time but it was a wicked tool to say the least.
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Almost bought one for my kitchen - my girlfriend loves it but $300 for it, jeez.

I need a big chopper, Chinese Cleaver esque type thing, so we can cleave through meat and stuff, the Buck 119 won't do it and the Ontario SP-1 is a little too obtuse a grind...
 
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