Recommendation? Best chopper for the weight

Bushloafer, I live in the mountains of the western U.S. and often pack in what I need, so I'm guessing our needs are similar. To keep the weight down, I want my big wood-chopping knives to be as versatile as possible as I also use them for more delicate bushcraft, camp, and hunting chores. A finger choil is very desirable for this. If I wanted a big knife for chopping only, I'd probably go with a blade design such as the Ontario SP53 or the Kershaw Camp 10.

Axes and hatchets are great, but they are pretty much restricted to chopping only. I do not consider them to be a good multi-function tool. They are almost always heavier, and definitely bulkier, than big chopping knives. Also, I wonder how many people would recommend these tools if they actually had to pack them in themselves or carry them all day.

Folding saws definitely have their place but, here again, they are highly specialized. I wouldn't want to clean a fish or carve a spoon with a folding saw. I keep one in my truck, as well as a hatchet, but generally don't carry either in the wilderness.

I don't know why so many recommend thin-bladed jungle tools, such as machetes, for chopping dead, hard, weathered, pine and fir, often with knots. Even if they did work as well, or better, than a big knife (and maybe some do -- I haven't tried all of them), I would still want a smaller, multi-purpose knife.

The knives I've found that best suit my purposes have around a 8.5"-9.5" blade, full tang, 1/4" spine, are about 1 3/4" wide, and usually weigh just over 1 lb. I prefer a cushioned handle material for chopping, such as the excellent Resiprene C on some Busse Co. knives, but then one can always wear gloves. I also prefer G10 to micarta, if the knife has scales.

Since you like the Junglas, have you checked out the Junglas II? The spine and tip are thinner than I prefer, and it doesn't have a finger choil (which is probably easy for a knifemaker to grind in), but the reviews I read are almost always very good, which is why I bought one. Esee knives in general are very well thought of. I also have an Ontario SP-50 but unfortunately these have been discontinued.

My favorite big knife is the Swamp Rat Knife Works Battle Rat, but unfortunately these were also discontinued several years ago. Scrap Yard Knife Co. made a similar knife for awhile. These are both Busse companies which, along with Busse Combat Knife Co., make some of the very best knives, IMO. Sometimes a search will turn up one of these knives, but they are often used.

I'm sure there are other great suggestions in this thread. I've heard very good things about CPK, and you might want to also check out the Bark River Crusader and their other big knives. One thing I'd highly recommend is that you do some research on the steel of the knife you are considering to make sure it will perform well in the ways you want to use it.

Good luck!
 
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My initial inclination is to recommend the CS Gurkha kukri, it's a great chopper and I also use it for all kinds of other knife duties from cutting, slicing and food prep. However at about 22 oz this is about the same weight as what you are looking to replace, definitely a step up in blade but no weight reduction. So my second choice would be another one of my workhorses, the CS Trail Master that comes in at about 17 oz.
 
May I suggest my camp Kaiju model?
10.5 inch blade of CPM 3V
5.75 Inch handle (grey terotuff)
Finger choil.
Full convex grind.

I do not have a scale but it is relatively light for being 0.220 thick.


It is used. Was passed around here on bladeforums. It has been resharpened. I can clean up the bevels if you decide to go for it. And refinish the handles. Screenshot_20190904-223410_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20190904-223355_Gallery.jpg
Screenshot_20190904-222446_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20190904-222427_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20190904-222416_Gallery.jpg
 
I have used my BK9 and never found it wanting. I enjoy a big chopping knife but overly thick and heavy is just too much these days. I still often try to find something to kick the Becker out of the top spot but it is still the king! And it holds a fantastic edge for a factory made plain high carbon steel. I used to mostly use a heavily modified Ontario heavy machete that I cut down (square tip)and completely changed the handle(reshaped added lightweight wood and coated in plasti-dip) and that is still my trailbuster!
 
I have used my BK9 and never found it wanting. I enjoy a big chopping knife but overly thick and heavy is just too much these days. I still often try to find something to kick the Becker out of the top spot but it is still the king! And it holds a fantastic edge for a factory made plain high carbon steel. I used to mostly use a heavily modified Ontario heavy machete that I cut down (square tip)and completely changed the handle(reshaped added lightweight wood and coated in plasti-dip) and that is still my trailbuster!

The BK9 chops great for a 9" knife! But to me, the 9 feels more like a large knife than a chopper. It's one of my most used Beckers, but nowadays, I tend to grab something bigger.
 
The BK9 chops great for a 9" knife! But to me, the 9 feels more like a large knife than a chopper. It's one of my most used Beckers, but nowadays, I tend to grab something bigger.
I think good chopper knives start around 10 inches long and your CPKs certainly would work. Don't discount the practicality of an inexpensive carbon steel knife. They are certainly easier to fix an edge if it chips or rolls. I was handling my 9" Condor Moonshiner model. It is sort of like a Kabar Becker BK-9 that many like; certainly in the same use family. I need to do some chopping with it and see how it does. My sense is that it will do okay.

Most of the machetes I suggest for woods use (for chopping) are not the thin flexible "jungle" machetes generally. I've never broke a machete chopping. Not much fun to chop dry pine or a hardwood unless you have to. Saws work better. That's why I generally go with a regular sort of knife (5-6") and a saw. I can skip the chopping all together unless I'm just limbing or doing it for fun. The longer you plan to spend in the woods, the more severe the choices of blade hardware.
 
My two favorites are the Condor Speed Machete (16" blade, very well balanced) and the CRKT Halfachance parang. Both do a good job at the tasks you described.
 
another vote for the Terava Skrama ...... simply the best lighter weight chopping tool I have encountered in my 30+ years of collecting and 500+ knife choices from my personal collection....

and I don't say that lightly..... there is just something almost mystical in its ability to preform above its weight....every once in awhile you run across an item that just got it right the first time..... the Skrama is one of those items.....

imho
 
another vote for the Terava Skrama ...... simply the best lighter weight chopping tool I have encountered in my 30+ years of collecting and 500+ knife choices from my personal collection....

and I don't say that lightly..... there is just something almost mystical in its ability to preform above its weight....every once in awhile you run across an item that just got it right the first time..... the Skrama is one of those items.....

imho

^^^^^
This
17 ounces. The plastic liner can’t add much to that. Hold it at the pommel and wrist-flick it. The nine-inch blade will chop like it is four inches longer. Choke up on the handle and feel the weight disappear for close work.
Seventy bucks, shipped. Not $170.
 
I
another vote for the Terava Skrama ...... simply the best lighter weight chopping tool I have encountered in my 30+ years of collecting and 500+ knife choices from my personal collection....

and I don't say that lightly..... there is just something almost mystical in its ability to preform above its weight....every once in awhile you run across an item that just got it right the first time..... the Skrama is one of those items.....

imho
I'm always laughing maniacally when chopping with the Skrama. Is it just me?
 
I want them to make a bigger skrama, tbh, ... it would become fairly epic, esp if the pricing stays in line. 80crv2 joy
 
Another vote for the Skrama. My favorite delimbing tool. Pair it with a folding saw (Gomboy 210) and you can split everything you can saw through. You could make a log cabin. The 80CrV2 tool steel is as close to indestructible as you can get.
A Skrama weighs 611 grams, is 4 mm thick and has an inclusive grind angle of 17 degrees. Convex the original 32 degree flat bevel to something that is only a few degrees steeper than the main grind (say about 20 degrees) and yes, you will be laughing maniacally when you use it, for chopping as well as fine tasks. The steel can take such a keen angle without suffering during hard use - I frequently chop through hazel and hawthorn with mine and inch-thick limbs just fly off.
Of course any big chopper is way over the top if you are just on a hike and don't want to beat a whole forest into submission.
 
I want them to make a bigger skrama, tbh, ... it would become fairly epic, esp if the pricing stays in line. 80crv2 joy
I think the balance would change too much forward unless they gave it a sword-like two-handed handle and it would become unwieldy. They seem to have hit the sweet spot.
 
May I suggest my camp Kaiju model?
10.5 inch blade of CPM 3V
5.75 Inch handle (grey terotuff)
Finger choil.
Full convex grind.

I do not have a scale but it is relatively light for being 0.220 thick.


It is used. Was passed around here on bladeforums. It has been resharpened. I can clean up the bevels if you decide to go for it. And refinish the handles. View attachment 1191183 View attachment 1191184
View attachment 1191178 View attachment 1191179 View attachment 1191180

Damnit! Knew I missed my turn at the passaround:mad::D
 
Sadly not in production right now but the Becker BK4 is a very versatile tool.
Pound for pound a very good chopper
 
May I suggest my camp Kaiju model?
10.5 inch blade of CPM 3V
5.75 Inch handle (grey terotuff)
Finger choil.
Full convex grind.

I do not have a scale but it is relatively light for being 0.220 thick.


It is used. Was passed around here on bladeforums. It has been resharpened. I can clean up the bevels if you decide to go for it. And refinish the handles. View attachment 1191183 View attachment 1191184
View attachment 1191178 View attachment 1191179 View attachment 1191180

I was going ty give another vote for a CPK Chopper and add your Kaiju in the mix ... but you beat me to it ...
 
Hey all,

I am a guide, so I spend a fair bit of time in the woods, sometimes in fairly remote areas. I like to run my trips with something of a bushcraft bent, but keeping weight low is a high priority. In the warmer months I tend to carry a small-medium knife for most tasks as well as a larger chopper. At present, that is an ESEE Junglas. Great knife, but HEAVY with a listed weight of 23 ounces without sheath! I'm looking for something of similar or better quality, but lower weight. I expect I will need to sacrifice length and/or blade thickness. I have been looking at the Bark River Canadian Camp ii, but I don't have a lot of experience with choppers of quality other than the Junglas. Any suggestions?

May I suggest my camp Kaiju model?
10.5 inch blade of CPM 3V
5.75 Inch handle (grey terotuff)
Finger choil.
Full convex grind.

I do not have a scale but it is relatively light for being 0.220 thick.


It is used. Was passed around here on bladeforums. It has been resharpened. I can clean up the bevels if you decide to go for it. And refinish the handles. View attachment 1191183 View attachment 1191184
View attachment 1191178 View attachment 1191179 View attachment 1191180

OP, I would seriously consider Colin's offer. I have one of his knives, and another on the way...he knows his s**t!:thumbsup:
 
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