Newbie Q.: Kukri, Machete, or Hatchet/Forest Axe?

W

Will_Power

Joined
Aug 22, 2011
Messages
51
Hi guys,

First post here, but I've been lurking occasionally for the past couple of months. I've got a question that I'd appreciate your input on.

I've only gotten into the whole outdoors, camping, preparedness thing in the last year or so (at 28, you could say I'm a late bloomer). Some time ago, I bought my first proper camping and utility knife, a Becker BK-2. The thing is a dagum tank, and I've been very, very pleased with it as an overall utility/survival knife.

With that said, I'm looking to refine my approach and diversify into two tools: a smaller knife for more delicate work such as food prep and general utility work, and secondly - this is where I need your help - a larger tool for the heavier work such as wood cutting, etc.

I'm new to all this and am having a hard time sorting out my options and what would be best for my needs. I'm not looking for any tactical combat situation, just general purpose camping, survival, and utility that's small/light enough to be backpacked with.

Would a kukri, machete, or hatchet / forest axe be my best bet? I know there are lots of variations within these three categories, but generally speaking, what would folks suggest? I'm leaning towards a thicker kukri, but am not sure...
 
Personally I like a machete--picking the right pattern for your area is important though!
 
I'd say either a machete or an axe depending on how much you want to pack. If you're backpacking, you may want to stick with a large bladed knife or machete rather than an axe for the weight savings, but if you do pack a hatchet or an axe and deal with the extra weight it's a much more efficient tool for splitting. Depends on what you want to do.

Actually, to keep things simple, just get all of the above.
 
A cold steel trail hawk and a SAK with saw blade. That's what i carry but really it depends on where you are. I live in colorado, but if your in say FL, then a KuKri would be better.
 
I prefer a machete over an axe (if you're just going to take one) because of its greater versatility in terms of possible targets. An axe is the clear choice for dedicated felling and splitting, but 90% of the time most folks need to cut lighter brush, brambles, branches, or green vegetation. An axe does poorly for most of those tasks, while a machete excels. And you can still fell and split with a machete if needed, though it takes a little more work to accomplish the task.
 
I agree with FortyTwoBlades. Machete all the way. Thick or thin, it depends on what the job is, but a machete can certainly do most tasks that it may encounter.


Ross


____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Machetes at:
http://www.akiblades.com
 
A khukuri in the right size and weight can perform the tasks of machete, axe and knife.
 
First - congrats on the BK 2. Whole bunch of knife for the money.

To your question, like others have already said, kinda' depends on your location and situation, as far as Axe vs. machete.

If you're in the Amazon hacking through the jungle ... Machete.
If you're in the North West chopping wood ... Forest Axe/Hatchet

You might want to consider a folding saw. Light, compact, and processes wood like crazy. JMHO

Maybe pair up your BK 2 with a Mora or a SAK. (or both)

Best thing to do it try different stuff and see what works for you. Remember, you can always sell a GOOD knife if you don't like it.



This is one of my favorite combos - not much you can't do with these

Corona Folding saw
Husqvarna hatchet
ESSE 4 (BHK Bushcrafter is giving some competiton)

DSCF4748.jpg


When weight isn't an issue I like to bring along a few "friends" too :D

DSCF4734.jpg


Good luck and stay safe out there.
 
Khukuri--get a Himalayan Imports one. Great blade that, as Karda says, can perform a wide variety of tasks (much more versatile than any other blade out there), and many of them come with a smaller blade for more delicate tasks. Plus, they've got that cool factor that axes and machetes just don't, in my mind.
 
Whichever you like most really. I can see the benefits of all three for every climate and locale. Though if you're going to trail blaze and hack through brush and brambles I'd suggest a machete or kuk.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
Khukuri--get a Himalayan Imports one. Great blade that, as Karda says, can perform a wide variety of tasks (much more versatile than any other blade out there), and many of them come with a smaller blade for more delicate tasks. Plus, they've got that cool factor that axes and machetes just don't, in my mind.
Click to expand...

FortyTwoBlades said:
While I agree that HI kukris are fantastic and versatile blades, I have to respectfully disagree with you on that point. :)
Click to expand...

Me too. Versatility is in the brain of the user and not the tool. Plus, I find goloks and parangs a lot cooler then kuks. :D
 
Well gee shotgun, when you put it that way, you make it hard to disagree! I'm personally not a fan of the way Goloks and parangs look; there's just something about the way that a khuk is put together that calls to me (and probably always will).

But I've got my rationale for my admittedly biased contention, don't expect false grounds...

I think the blade forward geometry of the khuk makes it a better chopper for those really heavy tasks than most machetes (most, not all, but I'd take a cheap kukri machete over a cheap machete any day for chopping). I could absolutely chop down a largish tree with a khuk in the unlikely circumstance that I had to. I can't say I'd feel quite the same assurance with a machete, although I grant some of you machete lovers might.

Machetes make better tools for light clearing tasks, no question about it, just like an axe does better at that heavy chopping, but the khuk does a pretty good job at it all. I think that's well evidenced by the amount of tasks that the good folks in Nepal can perform with a khukuri.

And on an unrelated side note, I've been here too long; I just typed in the word "Condor" into Google and expected it to return Condor Tool and Knife as the first hit... What was I thinking!
 
raschalt2000 said:
Wait, on second thought just get one of everything.
Click to expand...

I don't know what your budget is, but I agree with this statement. Maybe you don't have to do this all at once... gradually researching and acquiring gear can be a pleasure. There are cheap but good versions of every tool if you shop carefully.

I got a later start than you, watching Nutnfancy and his big knives. So that's what I got. I soon caught wind of Ray Mears and other Bushcrafters, and decided to try the axe. It's my preferred tool now. There are a lot of axe-phobic people on this forum, but if you educate yourself (ask questions here, read books, watch videos, find people to practice with), it's easy to acquire the right skills. At some point, you owe it to yourself to try one. As for weight savings, you can find hatchets that will weigh as much as a big blade. My Fiskars hatchet weighs less than 19 oz., although the new version will be a few ounces heavier.
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
And on an unrelated side note, I've been here too long; I just typed in the word "Condor" into Google and expected it to return Condor Tool and Knife as the first hit... What was I thinking!
Click to expand...

You're not the only one that's happened to. :p

As far as a versatile chopper for all target types is concerned, that's why I designed this fella'. I'm just hoping it makes it into production. I'm sure some of you are getting sick of me posting pics of this, but what can I say? I'm proud of my baby. :o

CIMG9716-1.jpg

CIMG9713.jpg
 
crimsonfalcon07 said:
but the khuk does a pretty good job at it all. I think that's well evidenced by the amount of tasks that the good folks in Nepal can perform with a khukuri.
Click to expand...
Same can be said about machetes in latin countries. When my friend was in Belize he saw many a tree felled with a machete.
 
Many people forget that the hardest wood in the world...is found in Central and South America. :p:thumbup:

Heck--I live in Maine, which is the epitome of "the North Woods" and I choose a machete hands down. I stumbled on their utility long before joining up here, and was surprised by all of the "machete in the south, but an axe in the north" opinions that were always put forward. I think that most folks who are of that opinion either are much more familiar with axes, and thus are more comfortable with them, or have never really put the theory to the test. To reverse the equation, I'm sure that the right axe would get you by just fine in the south, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top