Pros/Cons: Hatchet vs large chopper vs cleaver

[psy-ops]

I was just out in the back yard wacking off

75 wacks with a large chopper 10" blade 1/4" thick carbon usmc bolo chopper.

75 wacks with a hatchet

75 wacks with a 1/4" cleaver

4" thick birch log

pros/cons

The hatchet was by far the most comfortable and cut in the deepest. a big plus for the hatchet is that is doesn't raise an eyebrow with anyone you meet.
my biggest problems with a hatchet are: not as versatile as a lg. chopper. plus the added awkwardness as a defensive weapon. I find for defensive effectiveness that follow cuts are difficult due to the weight ratio of head to handle. if you choke up on the handle to make it more controlled you lose alot of power. also holding the head and using it for fine work is uncomfortable.

The chopper allowed snap cuts that were accurate and more controlled. snap cuts are also very effective for brush and limb clearing. It very effective for defensive techniques. it can also be used as a draw knife, skinning, preparing food. It is extremely fluid for defense making my weapon of choice.
when cutting through a decent size piece of wood the vibrations were pretty uncomfortable. which made my hands sore. people definitely raise their eyebrows when they see it.


The cleaver was awkward and I would not recommend it for anything other than processing meat.
There were also uncomfortable vibrations with the cleaver when striking the wood.


so for backwoods I think I would lean towards the hatchet being that self defense isn’t as much an issue and it will cover everything you need along with a multi-tool and small knife.

Though tasks were “uncomfortable” they were still do-able. So whatever the limitations of the tool at hand it will still do the job. Which in the end is an essential element of a survivalist making the best of a situation that is less than ideal.

 

[Robert H]

Since I get so many hawks, knives, and hatchets through my shop I see a great variation on this subject.

Up North here I would definately lean torwards a hatchet over a large knife. Most small fires, shelters, and tools can be easily constructed with the shorter more concentrated blade of a hatchet or small hawk.

The nice thing about a good hatchet is the fundemantals of hawk fighting translate into the hatchet, or claw hammer for that matter.

Of all I have seen I think the Gerber camp axe is the best value, the ATC Ranger spike the most robust and battle worthy, and the Gransfors probably the most traditional. I also just got in a piece from Two Hawks that is really nice in the hand. Since it is a customer blade I can't chop my nightly firewood with it, but I am impressed by the feel and edgework. Nothing works better in the Northern woods than a good camp hatchet. Combine that with a smaller sharp knife and you'd have to be a Democrat to die in the woods.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Cleavers generally have very thick and obtuse edges as most types are intended to be able to chop heavy bone. For wood work you can easily cut the edge in half. With the very thick and obtuse NIB profile, the edges tends to crush the wood more than cut it on impact and thus produce a heavy impact shock. You should be able to get a smooth cut with a cleaver with a proper wood cutting edge profile.

That being said, since the sides are flat, it will bind easily on thick woods, and the handles are usually thin and straight, not ideal for heavy chopping. They are a lot cheaper than a decent hatchet though, and will for example do deep slices through heavy vegetation and other thick materials much better. You lack the poll of the hatchet however, and that can be very useful.

In regards to a large blade, my preferences are much as you describe. If I had to just chop thick wood I'd pick the hatchet. But if I had to do any amount of brush clearing I would definately pick the blade. A decent khukuri will combine both aspects, the 18" Ang Khola from HI for example.

-Cliff

 

[nomadhiker]

I gave up on large knives a while back for many reasons. For one you come under close scrutiny and are viewed with suspicion, the backcountry is getting a lot more crowded these days, a hatchet is not even given a second thought. Secondly a large knife of descent quality will cost you a pretty penny compared to a decent camp axe or hatchet, like a Snow and Neally. It takes far less energy to build a shelter with a small axe than a large knife, an axe is vastly more efficient. They also work well for driving in stakes for traps and snares, digging or making a hole in the ice for water and fishing. From what I have seen taking people out in the wilds is they only use there large knives less than 10% of the time, the rest of the time they are using a small fixed blade or an SAK with a saw.
When it comes to defense I would choose a small axe over a large knife any day. Lets say a black bear comes after you, chances are you are only going to get in one really good blow that would amount to real damage (they are really quick and strong). Getting good lethal placement in an organ would difficult to say the least, on the other hand a full power hit with an axe in a much larger target like the head, neck, shoulders, spine, would make for a quick deterrence if not death. The same things apply for a human, I assure you when standing off with another human with a hatchet in his hand verses a knife; you are going to think twice! Look at the Native American Warriors, they could deliver quick decisive fatal blows with minimal effort.
My everyday outing’s always include Snow and Neally’s Penobscot Bay Kindling Axe and a small 4” fixed blade knife like a Dozier or FallknivenF1 and a SAK w/saw Trailmaster.

Of course these are only my opinions after living in the Alaskan bush for 8 yr. and having to deal with bears and humans and process big game on a regular basis!
If we are strictly talking defense, I carry my Taurus .454 Casull were allowed ESPECIALLY TO THE OUTHOUSE !

Got winded!

 

[Sgian Dubh]

For use in Europe I always carry a Fiskars (Gerber with a high vis. handle) med. camp axe and a Falkniven F1. Both shaving sharp. My SAK or smaller Spyderco will do everything else. A hard to beat combination but YMMV.
A friend, who knows about these things, has always pointed out to me that a person with one or two good stab wounds, but pumped up on adrenaline, is capable of fighting and killing you before dying of blood loss or whatever themselves. This is not the case with a hatchet blow to the head, neck, shoulder or chest; it's a show stopper if you deliver the full weight of the blow. The only "knife" that's coming in anywhere near is a khukri, but I still want my hatchet. I've never even had a fist fight out in the wilds, let alone engaged in mortal combat, get something you can use to keep warm and dry.
Happy trails
IBV