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!
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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