Glad you like my little saying. The cool thing about car camping is that you can carry a bunch of stuff to use. I do not own either of those tools, but I've seen some vids on both of them. I don't think that either of them would be effecient at cutting that size hardwood. That was what I was trying to show in this vid. I think an axe will perform much better. Whatever you choose, get out there and use it and decide for yourself! To me, that's a lot of fun, and I always learn something. Thanks
You are absolutely right about a pound is only a pound for a short distance. When I was younger, I enjoyed thru hiking, and tried to cover a lot of ground. Winter backpacking in the 1980's for me meant a 60lb-80lb pack. Now that my health has gotten bad, I usually go for much shorter distances and stay at each camp longer. Actually my last 5 day trip, only covered about 10 miles and one campsite. I hiked in 5 miles and set up camp. I just hiked around my camp each day. I still had a great time.
I had a similar sheath with plastic insert. I took a heat gun and heated the plastic and then pressed it down. My knife doesn't move anymore. I also superglued the plastic insert to the outer material and that has held for a few years. Now I love the sheath.
I am a Lineman by trade, and quality boots are very important to those of us who climb poles and towers for a living. I also enjoy backpacking, and those two things are very hard on your feet. I haven't found boots that do everything well, but I like Danner Military boots for my outdoors exploits. I use Red Wing boots for climbing. I bought a pair of Danner Fort Lewis Jump boots many yrs ago and they were great for backpacking, hunting, and general outdoors. Those boots lasted for almost 10yrs.
Fun vid Van. Great tomahawk, and nice country there! I love my axe in the wood shed, but never take it camping; prefer the old bow saw and big knife...even though my kindlin' hatchet is a great truck-camping splitter! Damn, that makes me want to get into the mountains!!
I believe the idea of using a belt axe/poll axe/hawk as a woodsman tool started here in North America in 1607 (Jamestown, VA). I've always prefered an intermediate size axe for winter camping, and cutting down larger wood. I like the Hudson Bay design, and I have had a Norlund axe and hatchet of that design since I was a boy. This weekend the temps will be over 100 degrees here, so a knife and a small saw would easily fill the need for providing wood for fire.
I think those of us with a lot of field experience, and flat feet, know that boots can make or break our enjoyment afield. Temps, terrain and loads carried, are huge factors in deciding what boots I use for sure. Backpacking has always trended toward ultra light. Truth is, all of us would rather hump a 30 -40 lb pack over a 70 - 80 lb pack. Most of my backpacking these days are during colder temps, so my loads are heavier, and I want a boot w/ good arch support, toe box and ankle support.
I have a small hatchet I've been using to get some wood for bows. for experiments I've tried it out on a few trees that were dead hardwood like this. From my experience you can reduce a lot of the slamming on your hand if you try to make a less steep cut, as in striking at a much more vertical/parallel angle with the wood instead of so perpendicular. My little hatchet was prob half the length of your hawk and I could only use 1 handed comfortably but at that angle I got through the wood fairly quickly because even though I wasn't trying to go so deep with each chop the chips pryed away from the tree and consequently I didn't have to chop so much. great video thanks for the demonstration.
i pack a saw a tomahawk from Beaver Bill and a Busse those 3 tools are my lifeline. Especially in the winter. Great vid a good comparison of the reality of wood processing in the bush.
I agree that finding seasoned Oak is not easy, and that's why I took advantage of this one. In this piece of woods, there are lots of hardwood, but I haven't seen any cedar. I love the way it smells. BTW That wood frozen?... Oh my! That would have sucked!! LOL Thanks
Hi Gunz, yeah, Thanx to you, I got the larger Tomahawk, and, no regrets, by the way, I'm so into my Swamp Rat's, I just got the Rodent 7, and I already had the Rodent Solution, my Ratmandu, (I have it in the INFI Steel too), one of my favorite choppers, the Rodent 9, now I just ordered the Rodent Rucki, (which I just ordered it today), and pending the Rodent 4, with this larger Tomahawk, I can make several knife carries, I always enjoy your video's, and you have influenced me on some knife purchase's, Thanx.
I have to give the nod to the Voyager, especially for winter camping. It is a little heavier, but it's still lighter than most axes, and it provides good chopping power. If your outdoor exploits are mostly Spring or Summer, then the Long Hunter will serve you well.
in Africa I use a very thin triangle blade forged from a truck spring and pounded into an acacia branch as a handle to make a traditional axe/club, since you don't have the weight of a proper axe you need to make up for it with a very thin sharp blade with a flat taper as to get good penetration. (Cutting dead trees is a pain)
I agree, the tomahawk can be a very useful tool when you understand the capabilities, and that is the point of this vid. I really enjoy mine. BTW they are a lot of fun to throw too!! Thanks
The bowie knife is my favorite style of knife! The bowie represents a great design for fighting, but it's not a great design for camping/survival. Due to it's slender tip and sharpened/near sharpened swedge, it cannot preform many duties around camp(like batoning) as well as others designs. As for chopping, the design actually sucks b/c of weight distrubution. To each their own, and I used to love carrying my bowies camping, but the more that you use it then you'll see the weakness of the design
Actually my experience has differed. For hardwood like this well seasoned oak, I prefer an axe for felling. I love a good saw, and I think they are the best tool for cutting up wood into usable lengths. This year I came back to this spot and used the remaining oak to make a vid on three pack saws. I posted the vid "Pack Saw Shoot Out" Thanks
Being a big blade person, I've always been skeptical of how TOPS knives perform since they're always designed with form over function. We all know there is a bit more than goes into a knife (and an ax) than a sharp edge
A folding saw and a knife can be an effective light weight alternative, but you have to rely on using smaller wood. In this case, the only saw I brought with me was a folding saw, and it was very very difficult to create usable lengths for a fire. If a situation requires the effecient use of energy, than using a folding saw for that oak was as poor a choice as the knife and hawk. The bolo did perform well for splitting w/ the use of a baton. I do have a vid using the bolo to split that oak.
Good to see someone actually using a axe/knife to cut a tree down. Most just swivel the tool in front of a camera and then hack on a stump in their backyard.
I wasn't getting much done b/c the oak was seasoned. These two tools were sharp, but they didn't have enough weight to bite into the wood very deep. The tree really didn't sway very much at all.
Say Heah GunZ, I just recieved my WarBeast WoW Devin did a great job on it it's like a piece of art, but the three sharp edges does make a difference I notice it both in the bite and pull out, it's basically a Voyager but with three edges, it's awesome, again Thanx for making me aware of 2Hawks.
Knives can be very versatile tools. Knives are very critical for survival, but they have limitations and in an emergency, I would never abuse my knife beyond these limitations. Thanks
Belt axes (Tomahawks) were used for all sorts of camping chores by European armies for centuries. Their use as a weapon was secondary to their utility use including chopping wood. If you took the time to watch the vid, I was making the point of using an axe. BTW The Fiskars axes that I've seen had plastic handles, and are worthless for chopping anything larger than a good size stick
Actually this bolo is a very capable knife the thick steel has good heft, and it chops well. The whole point of this vid was to show folks who serf the web more than they stomp around in the woods, that you need the right tool for the right job. Knives and hawks can be very useful tools, but they can never replace suitable saws and axes for cutting up larger wood and hardwood.
There is no area where a large knife can beat out a chopping tool like a hawk, axe or a capable saw. I like big knives too, but facts are facts. I sometimes choose to carry a big knife, but I also realize the limitations. That doesn't change whether you camp from a vehicle or a pack.
I good knife is always my first choice for a woodsmandhip, or survival tool. I enjoy using my hawk, and it adds capability, but I prefer an axe and saw for cutting serious fuel for winter fires.
Sorry I missed this comment. Sounds like a great combination. I have to admit that in the winter, I mostly use an axe and saw. Thanks for the kind words
It all depends on skill level. I find it quite easy to split wood w/ an axe/hatchet/hawk There are many techniques for splitting a piece of wood, and some of them are a lot more effecient than bashing a knife through a piece of wood. I like batoning wood though, I first learned from my Uncle when I was a boy. He used a military bolo that he carried in WWII.
@Blackcatatnight1 I agree!! It can be difficult to pack a chainsaw though. LOL Actually a small axe w/ a 18"-23" handle and 1 3/4 - 2 pound head can chop that tree down fairly easily. That was the point I was trying to make. If you require to process big wood for fires, then bring enough axe!
I agree with that! Just to be clear, this is not a battle tomahawk. A couple of hundred years ago, this was called a belt axe, or a poll axe by the Europeans who brought them over here. I'm sure these poll hawks were used in battle though.
The boss at work invited me to take down a medium-sized problem pine at his weekend cabin tomorrow. We'll be riding motorcycles, so there's no room for a chainsaw. All I'll have is my very sharp Wetterlings and the knowledge I gained from watching this video. Now I know not to cut too low, to notch on the side of the direction I want the tree to fall (with the top of the notch being angled, and the bottom straighter) and the back cut being a little higher than the front cut. I'm thinkin' that on Monday, word might get around work that I know what I'm doing! Thanks for the info. that gave me some confidence! --Scott
Hey man, not all hawks are better choppers than all knives. But not all knives are better choppers than all hawks. Nice idea for a vid though and I'll do a vid kinda similar to this but probably about two closer relatives, the hatchet and the tomahawk. I'll do an actual test though and see which is better (or really more preferable to which task you may have to accomplish). Anyway it's all preference hawks may chop better (depending on the products) but I like large knives better because they are more versatile. Thanks for the vid though good job.
That tree kinda chuckled at the hawk. With the Tops, it was like "Oh stop! That tickles!" Stubborn damn tree lol. But yeah, I do agree with what someone else said about picking your battles. In a real life or death situation, I'd just pick another damn tree haha
That's a sweet Hawk! That tree is hard as hell. I know that sound. Worked forestry clearing for a few yrs. I actually gravitated to a council tool due to their handles being a little thinner, giving more whip and shock absorption. I loved my old axe. Have no idea what happened to it. Still have my CapRock shovel, though! Great video.
DannoCrutch My Father gave me a hatchet, and then a Hudson Bay axe from Norlund back in the 70's. I've not seen a reason to replace them, and I have since added a few more Norlunds that seem to have the same great quality.
GunznGear Yea. In my opinion, best old age axe heads for performance. The story I have always heard is that the Swedes came to the US to learn some about forging axe heads but then made some improvements too, so Norlund, in his seeking perfection, went to the Swedes to learn what they were doing. The results were phenomenal.
Thanks for the posting! I'm planning on doing some backpacking this summer in the northwest as I pursue my wildlife photography ambitions. Was told by big knife guys it's the end all be all survival tool. I think I'm siding with a small axe/hatchet/hawk if in a woods environment! Though I will undoubtedly bring a couple knives for fun as well!
great vid. im a bow saw man myself. a good hawk and a bow saw. i like a hawk over a hatchet or small ax. cause the handle shape is much easier to make if you had to. i did make one back in my BSA days. never got the big knife thing.
I had a packable saw that I used to cut it in smaller pieces, and that was even harder. With hardwood of any size, I prefer an axe... or better yet, a chainsaw! Thanks
Those tools you brought with you are fun, no doubt. But the combo of my $30 Estwing hatchet, and my $15 Fiskars folding saw would take down anything. Add my $20 Mora and I can do anything in the woods for about half the price of a quality big knife.
+Tribune of The Plebs But burning less calories and with less fatigue. Saws and real axes are superior. A heavy Billhook with a small hook like a "Serpe genie/standard/portable I. e French army model (genie means engineer/engineering )" could be a good compromise, it has not changed since 1865 so it must be good. There are some good hewingknifes knives made in Finland Hauki and the Skrama. If it is made and sold in Finland it is good and will function in cold.7
@ArmyStinger150 I'm a fan of a good hawk also!! Thanks buddy! The Power Eagle is a great knife, and a awesome chopper. I'll be posting another vid to better show how it preforms.
"Respect an axe and use it and you cant help but love it. Abuse it, and it will rub your hands raw and open your foot like an over-cooked sausage". -Richard Proenneke
A good axe and saw are great kit for camping, but if you decide not to chop down petrified oak, and pick on smaller stuff, then a good hawk or big knife will do just fine. Thanks
Yeah, a buddy of mine taught me that trick a few years back. I'm just disappointed that TOPs doesn't provide better sheaths for their high priced knives. Thanks
Lol, I just fell a 12" dead maple the other day. I would not even think about using my knife on it, plus its too big for my Fiskars saw. I used my Husky felling axe, which still took me about 10-15 mins to fell it. Just for giggles I used my hatchet to see what it would do, it sucked compared to my felling axe. However I just ordered a CRKT chogan woods hawk, so I'll see how that compares to my axe and hatchet, buts a 2lb hawk so it should do somewhere in the middle.
Weight really is the key. Most tomahawks are fairly light weight, so they don't cut very deep into wood. This tomahawk is bigger and heavier than most, yet it still had trouble biting into this seasoned oak. And the knife... forget about it!
Oh I completely understand that and it was a very good demonstration. I know you know what you're doing. I didn't think you picked that tree because it looked green lol
A hawk and a good knife together are what we all need in the wild. Each has its place and uses. There is no such thing as a do it all tool or weapon, but a good knife is really hard to beat most of the time if its all you got.
Barkies are among my favorites. Mike Steward is an outstanding man. Just this past week, I called and he and I talked knives for about an hour!! He is a tremendous source of knowledge. I'll be making vids to share that conversation soon. I've loved tomahawks since I was a boy watching Davey Crocket, and Daniel Boone TV shows! I've seen vids where folks do all sorts of cutting chores w/ their hawks. I'm sure you could get by w/ just using a hawk. It probably isn't easy, but could be fun to try!
We do love our big knives! I know I do anyway. Not sure why so many defend the big knife for use as a chopping tool though. It will never compete with a decent axe. If you watched the vid, then you saw that I was making that very point.
Because it is a chopping tool. It just doesn't chop as well as hatchets or hawks. However, it's arguably more versatile and for the size trees I usually chop it does the job pretty much as well as a hatchet.
You do have to cut deeper for larger trees, but firewood for camping generally means much smaller trees. You are just trying to cut enough so you can push it over. Thanks
I'm not sure that a longer handle would really help with a tomahawk. They are handy tools, but b/c of their light weight, they are more suited for lighter tasks.
That looks like damn hard work. Such situations perhaps require a little help from Mr 00 Buck. And I agree with that chap above about the spring steel being the khukhuri influence - I was thinking where the hell did the designer put the khukhuri, but the call of spring steel was certainly a good spot by that adamanime2. Nice goin man
I prefer a light saw for sectioning and felling. Use the axe or hawk for splitting, you can manufacture a wooden wedge with your hawk and split that size tree pretty well using that hawk as a hammer. Much more efficient to cut with the saw and worth every bit of the extra 16-18oz of a good saw like Bob's Quick Buck Saw. Nice reality check for folks who haven't actually tested their gears.
To be honest, that Oak was a lot harder than I thought it would be, I think I put equal effort, but when I first hit that tree w/ the knife, I knew I wasn't going to use it very long. Both of those tools will work, but they're not as efficient as a good saw or axe.
Geez Gunz I almost forgot about you, how you been, are you still dipping, and how's Major and the Family ?, anyhow even though this is a older video, it's nice to see you.
According to Devon Price (2hawks) he has sold quite a few of his hawks to soldiers heading off to Iraq or Afganistan, and they seem to like them. I'm not a fan of those extra edges, that's why I bought the Voyager.
If you understand the limitations of your gear, then you can thrive in the woods. I will disagree with generalizations like "travel light, travel smart" Weight has to be considered, especially if it effects capability.
Yeah, I've chopped a bit of wood in my day and layed into some trees with blades and that stuff just wouldn't take the blade. We don't have trees like that in Montana. Very little hardwood at all. Mostly pine etc.
I don't mean to disagree, but I feel that it's most efficient to cross cut through wood with a light folding saw, and then split the wood with a knife and baton. That's what works best for me, and is the lightest method I have found.
Purty good demo of how big knife or a light hatchet or tomahawk perform at chopping a hard dead tree. They're bad at it, especially the knife. I get a little tired of the one-tool-solution attitudes.
I like the "lazy chops", I really do. Too many people out there that are flailing away (aimlessly and thus senselessly) at wood and they are out of breath in no time. You let the tool do the job.
I don't think much of cable saw, b/c most are of poor quality. Those that are made well enough to use I end up using like a bow saw. BTW the vid was not about the best way to cut that Oak tree, but rather, how these two type of tools would perform. I would choose a larger axe over a bow saw anyway. Thanks
Sorry, I missed this. Knife cannot chop as well as a axe. If you keep the size of wood managable, then a knife, hawk/hatchet, or folding saw well do ok. I actually used my folding saw to cut a few pieces of that log for firewood... but never again! That was way too much work. A medium size axe and take down bucksaw are best for wood that size or bigger.
I prefer the big knife and trailblazer sawvivor combo. As long as I've got my saw, I can go through any density of wood, and the knife is great for splitting it.
For chopping the axe, hatchet or tomahawk is the way to go. A big knife is for fighting or skining large game. The old mountain men carried axes , hawks & knives in their gear . It made sense then & now.
Not really, Tomahawks really come from belt axes that europeans brought to North America. Settlers and soldiers alike used them for both camp chores and fighting
Modern tomahawks are deliberately built for bushcraft. Instead of just "thinking" before giving people "false or incorrect information dude," maybe you should research the topic you're commenting on. Or even try handling a blade or two. By the way, great video GunznGear! Two thumbs up!
With my Big bowie I chop from as many angles as i can (as against one angle like if you use an axe), and it works for me. It works well when you try to cut room and weight in your pack. I never used a hawk, but for it's inability to baton i don't think it's worth it. And i personally would buy an axe if i went for more than a week.
Glad you like my little saying. The cool thing about car camping is that you can carry a bunch of stuff to use. I do not own either of those tools, but I've seen some vids on both of them. I don't think that either of them would be effecient at cutting that size hardwood. That was what I was trying to show in this vid. I think an axe will perform much better. Whatever you choose, get out there and use it and decide for yourself! To me, that's a lot of fun, and I always learn something. Thanks
"Hey man I backpack a thousand miles a week and other bullshit and a big knife is the thing to have", Looking at you nutnfancy.
I have several hawks but after watching this I now know I need a good camp axe. But I did enjoy your talk!
Sounds like a great combination for cutting chores! I like your combo, and I also like a good saw to help round out the cutting chores. Thanks
You are absolutely right about a pound is only a pound for a short distance. When I was younger, I enjoyed thru hiking, and tried to cover a lot of ground. Winter backpacking in the 1980's for me meant a 60lb-80lb pack. Now that my health has gotten bad, I usually go for much shorter distances and stay at each camp longer. Actually my last 5 day trip, only covered about 10 miles and one campsite. I hiked in 5 miles and set up camp. I just hiked around my camp each day. I still had a great time.
I had a similar sheath with plastic insert. I took a heat gun and heated the plastic and then pressed it down. My knife doesn't move anymore. I also superglued the plastic insert to the outer material and that has held for a few years. Now I love the sheath.
I am a Lineman by trade, and quality boots are very important to those of us who climb poles and towers for a living. I also enjoy backpacking, and those two things are very hard on your feet. I haven't found boots that do everything well, but I like Danner Military boots for my outdoors exploits. I use Red Wing boots for climbing. I bought a pair of Danner Fort Lewis Jump boots many yrs ago and they were great for backpacking, hunting, and general outdoors. Those boots lasted for almost 10yrs.
Fun vid Van. Great tomahawk, and nice country there! I love my axe in the wood shed, but never take it camping; prefer the old bow saw and big knife...even though my kindlin' hatchet is a great truck-camping splitter! Damn, that makes me want to get into the mountains!!
I believe the idea of using a belt axe/poll axe/hawk as a woodsman tool started here in North America in 1607 (Jamestown, VA). I've always prefered an intermediate size axe for winter camping, and cutting down larger wood. I like the Hudson Bay design, and I have had a Norlund axe and hatchet of that design since I was a boy. This weekend the temps will be over 100 degrees here, so a knife and a small saw would easily fill the need for providing wood for fire.
I agree, but when I found the tree, I thought it would provide a good example to show the limitations of a good hawk and a good big knife. Thanks
I think those of us with a lot of field experience, and flat feet, know that boots can make or break our enjoyment afield. Temps, terrain and loads carried, are huge factors in deciding what boots I use for sure. Backpacking has always trended toward ultra light. Truth is, all of us would rather hump a 30 -40 lb pack over a 70 - 80 lb pack. Most of my backpacking these days are during colder temps, so my loads are heavier, and I want a boot w/ good arch support, toe box and ankle support.
I have a small hatchet I've been using to get some wood for bows. for experiments I've tried it out on a few trees that were dead hardwood like this. From my experience you can reduce a lot of the slamming on your hand if you try to make a less steep cut, as in striking at a much more vertical/parallel angle with the wood instead of so perpendicular. My little hatchet was prob half the length of your hawk and I could only use 1 handed comfortably but at that angle I got through the wood fairly quickly because even though I wasn't trying to go so deep with each chop the chips pryed away from the tree and consequently I didn't have to chop so much. great video thanks for the demonstration.
i pack a saw a tomahawk from Beaver Bill and a Busse those 3 tools are my lifeline. Especially in the winter. Great vid a good comparison of the reality of wood processing in the bush.
I agree that finding seasoned Oak is not easy, and that's why I took advantage of this one. In this piece of woods, there are lots of hardwood, but I haven't seen any cedar. I love the way it smells. BTW That wood frozen?... Oh my! That would have sucked!! LOL Thanks
Hi Gunz, yeah, Thanx to you, I got the larger Tomahawk, and, no regrets, by the way, I'm so into my Swamp Rat's, I just got the Rodent 7, and I already had the Rodent Solution, my Ratmandu, (I have it in the INFI Steel too), one of my favorite choppers, the Rodent 9, now I just ordered the Rodent Rucki, (which I just ordered it today), and pending the Rodent 4, with this larger Tomahawk, I can make several knife carries, I always enjoy your video's, and you have influenced me on some knife purchase's, Thanx.
Thanks for stopping by
I have to give the nod to the Voyager, especially for winter camping. It is a little heavier, but it's still lighter than most axes, and it provides good chopping power. If your outdoor exploits are mostly Spring or Summer, then the Long Hunter will serve you well.
i own the power eagle and absolutely love it. good to know someone else appreciates it too. thanks for making the vid
in Africa I use a very thin triangle blade forged from a truck spring and pounded into an acacia branch as a handle to make a traditional axe/club, since you don't have the weight of a proper axe you need to make up for it with a very thin sharp blade with a flat taper as to get good penetration. (Cutting dead trees is a pain)
I lived in Yazoo, MS as a boy. Folks used to tell me stories about the "Rouge a Rue". He is a Werewolf type creature that lived in the swamps there.
I agree, the tomahawk can be a very useful tool when you understand the capabilities, and that is the point of this vid. I really enjoy mine. BTW they are a lot of fun to throw too!! Thanks
The bowie knife is my favorite style of knife! The bowie represents a great design for fighting, but it's not a great design for camping/survival. Due to it's slender tip and sharpened/near sharpened swedge, it cannot preform many duties around camp(like batoning) as well as others designs. As for chopping, the design actually sucks b/c of weight distrubution. To each their own, and I used to love carrying my bowies camping, but the more that you use it then you'll see the weakness of the design
I certainly agree, thanks for your input.
Actually my experience has differed. For hardwood like this well seasoned oak, I prefer an axe for felling. I love a good saw, and I think they are the best tool for cutting up wood into usable lengths. This year I came back to this spot and used the remaining oak to make a vid on three pack saws. I posted the vid "Pack Saw Shoot Out" Thanks
Being a big blade person, I've always been skeptical of how TOPS knives perform since they're always designed with form over function. We all know there is a bit more than goes into a knife (and an ax) than a sharp edge
A folding saw and a knife can be an effective light weight alternative, but you have to rely on using smaller wood. In this case, the only saw I brought with me was a folding saw, and it was very very difficult to create usable lengths for a fire. If a situation requires the effecient use of energy, than using a folding saw for that oak was as poor a choice as the knife and hawk. The bolo did perform well for splitting w/ the use of a baton. I do have a vid using the bolo to split that oak.
Good information on cutting technique. What a pain to be without a saw. Thank you
Good to see someone actually using a axe/knife to cut a tree down. Most just swivel the tool in front of a camera and then hack on a stump in their backyard.
I wasn't getting much done b/c the oak was seasoned. These two tools were sharp, but they didn't have enough weight to bite into the wood very deep. The tree really didn't sway very much at all.
Absolutely, i like to carry both when wood processing is a high priority.
Say Heah GunZ, I just recieved my WarBeast WoW Devin did a great job on it it's like a piece of art, but the three sharp edges does make a difference I notice it both in the bite and pull out, it's basically a Voyager but with three edges, it's awesome, again Thanx for making me aware of 2Hawks.
I would have pulled out the bow saw a long time ago on that tree. Enjoyed the video, thanks.
Knives can be very versatile tools. Knives are very critical for survival, but they have limitations and in an emergency, I would never abuse my knife beyond these limitations. Thanks
Haha it is kinda big! It's a lot of fun to chop with too. Thanks
Belt axes (Tomahawks) were used for all sorts of camping chores by European armies for centuries. Their use as a weapon was secondary to their utility use including chopping wood. If you took the time to watch the vid, I was making the point of using an axe. BTW The Fiskars axes that I've seen had plastic handles, and are worthless for chopping anything larger than a good size stick
Actually this bolo is a very capable knife the thick steel has good heft, and it chops well. The whole point of this vid was to show folks who serf the web more than they stomp around in the woods, that you need the right tool for the right job. Knives and hawks can be very useful tools, but they can never replace suitable saws and axes for cutting up larger wood and hardwood.
There is no area where a large knife can beat out a chopping tool like a hawk, axe or a capable saw. I like big knives too, but facts are facts. I sometimes choose to carry a big knife, but I also realize the limitations. That doesn't change whether you camp from a vehicle or a pack.
I love the Tomahawk Van! You probably have seen mine in my videos, I love a good hawk!!! The Power Eagle is awesome man! Great video brother!
I good knife is always my first choice for a woodsmandhip, or survival tool. I enjoy using my hawk, and it adds capability, but I prefer an axe and saw for cutting serious fuel for winter fires.
Sorry I missed this comment. Sounds like a great combination. I have to admit that in the winter, I mostly use an axe and saw. Thanks for the kind words
It all depends on skill level. I find it quite easy to split wood w/ an axe/hatchet/hawk There are many techniques for splitting a piece of wood, and some of them are a lot more effecient than bashing a knife through a piece of wood. I like batoning wood though, I first learned from my Uncle when I was a boy. He used a military bolo that he carried in WWII.
@Blackcatatnight1 I agree!! It can be difficult to pack a chainsaw though. LOL Actually a small axe w/ a 18"-23" handle and 1 3/4 - 2 pound head can chop that tree down fairly easily. That was the point I was trying to make. If you require to process big wood for fires, then bring enough axe!
Kukri's are very good knives. This knife looks like a Bolo to me, and Bolo's also have been used with great success as combat weapons. Thanks
I agree with that! Just to be clear, this is not a battle tomahawk. A couple of hundred years ago, this was called a belt axe, or a poll axe by the Europeans who brought them over here. I'm sure these poll hawks were used in battle though.
The boss at work invited me to take down a medium-sized problem pine at his weekend cabin tomorrow. We'll be riding motorcycles, so there's no room for a chainsaw. All I'll have is my very sharp Wetterlings and the knowledge I gained from watching this video. Now I know not to cut too low, to notch on the side of the direction I want the tree to fall (with the top of the notch being angled, and the bottom straighter) and the back cut being a little higher than the front cut. I'm thinkin' that on Monday, word might get around work that I know what I'm doing! Thanks for the info. that gave me some confidence! --Scott
I hope all goes well for you. Thanks for the kind comment
Hey man, not all hawks are better choppers than all knives. But not all knives are better choppers than all hawks. Nice idea for a vid though and I'll do a vid kinda similar to this but probably about two closer relatives, the hatchet and the tomahawk. I'll do an actual test though and see which is better (or really more preferable to which task you may have to accomplish). Anyway it's all preference hawks may chop better (depending on the products) but I like large knives better because they are more versatile. Thanks for the vid though good job.
That tree kinda chuckled at the hawk. With the Tops, it was like "Oh stop! That tickles!" Stubborn damn tree lol. But yeah, I do agree with what someone else said about picking your battles. In a real life or death situation, I'd just pick another damn tree haha
That's a sweet Hawk! That tree is hard as hell. I know that sound. Worked forestry clearing for a few yrs. I actually gravitated to a council tool due to their handles being a little thinner, giving more whip and shock absorption. I loved my old axe. Have no idea what happened to it. Still have my CapRock shovel, though! Great video.
I prefer an axe as well. I have a couple of old Norlund axes that I am fond of. Thanks
GunznGear Yea, Norlund's are among the absolute best choppers. He really made great efforts to produce top of the line tools.
DannoCrutch My Father gave me a hatchet, and then a Hudson Bay axe from Norlund back in the 70's. I've not seen a reason to replace them, and I have since added a few more Norlunds that seem to have the same great quality.
GunznGear Yea. In my opinion, best old age axe heads for performance. The story I have always heard is that the Swedes came to the US to learn some about forging axe heads but then made some improvements too, so Norlund, in his seeking perfection, went to the Swedes to learn what they were doing. The results were phenomenal.
DannoCrutch
Sounds funny since the Swedes have been making axes thousands of years before Columbus , but maybe there is something to the story .
Thanks for the posting! I'm planning on doing some backpacking this summer in the northwest as I pursue my wildlife photography ambitions. Was told by big knife guys it's the end all be all survival tool. I think I'm siding with a small axe/hatchet/hawk if in a woods environment! Though I will undoubtedly bring a couple knives for fun as well!
great vid. im a bow saw man myself. a good hawk and a bow saw. i like a hawk over a hatchet or small ax. cause the handle shape is much easier to make if you had to. i did make one back in my BSA days. never got the big knife thing.
I had a packable saw that I used to cut it in smaller pieces, and that was even harder. With hardwood of any size, I prefer an axe... or better yet, a chainsaw! Thanks
Those tools you brought with you are fun, no doubt. But the combo of my $30 Estwing hatchet, and my $15 Fiskars folding saw would take down anything. Add my $20 Mora and I can do anything in the woods for about half the price of a quality big knife.
+Tribune of The Plebs But burning less calories and with less fatigue. Saws and real axes are superior. A heavy Billhook with a small hook like a "Serpe genie/standard/portable I. e French army model (genie means engineer/engineering )" could be a good compromise, it has not changed since 1865 so it must be good. There are some good hewingknifes knives made in Finland Hauki and the Skrama. If it is made and sold in Finland it is good and will function in cold.7
Have to say, that Power Eagle resembles a barong more than it does a bolo. Very informational video, thank you for posting.
@ArmyStinger150 I'm a fan of a good hawk also!! Thanks buddy! The Power Eagle is a great knife, and a awesome chopper. I'll be posting another vid to better show how it preforms.
"Respect an axe and use it and you cant help but love it. Abuse it, and it will rub your hands raw and open your foot like an over-cooked sausage".
-Richard Proenneke
Yeah Bob's Buck Saw is the best packable Saw that I've ever used, but I don't use it for felling. I prefer using an axe. Thanks
A good axe and saw are great kit for camping, but if you decide not to chop down petrified oak, and pick on smaller stuff, then a good hawk or big knife will do just fine. Thanks
@TheMultiGunMan Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!
Yeah, a buddy of mine taught me that trick a few years back. I'm just disappointed that TOPs doesn't provide better sheaths for their high priced knives. Thanks
Lol, I just fell a 12" dead maple the other day. I would not even think about using my knife on it, plus its too big for my Fiskars saw. I used my Husky felling axe, which still took me about 10-15 mins to fell it. Just for giggles I used my hatchet to see what it would do, it sucked compared to my felling axe. However I just ordered a CRKT chogan woods hawk, so I'll see how that compares to my axe and hatchet, buts a 2lb hawk so it should do somewhere in the middle.
They are all good tools when we use them knowing their limitations. Thanks
Weight really is the key. Most tomahawks are fairly light weight, so they don't cut very deep into wood. This tomahawk is bigger and heavier than most, yet it still had trouble biting into this seasoned oak. And the knife... forget about it!
Not sure about him, but I have used big knives for decades, and I agree w/ him.
This Bolo is a very capable knife. Thanks
Oh I completely understand that and it was a very good demonstration. I know you know what you're doing. I didn't think you picked that tree because it looked green lol
A hawk and a good knife together are what we all need in the wild. Each has its place and uses. There is no such thing as a do it all tool or weapon, but a good knife is really hard to beat most of the time if its all you got.
Barkies are among my favorites. Mike Steward is an outstanding man. Just this past week, I called and he and I talked knives for about an hour!! He is a tremendous source of knowledge. I'll be making vids to share that conversation soon.
I've loved tomahawks since I was a boy watching Davey Crocket, and Daniel Boone TV shows! I've seen vids where folks do all sorts of cutting chores w/ their hawks. I'm sure you could get by w/ just using a hawk. It probably isn't easy, but could be fun to try!
Those saws are ok for occasional light use, they are obviously built for the recreational backpacker, and not for serious use.
Personally, I prefer the Voyager. The poll is the same length, but the head is larger and more capable.
We do love our big knives! I know I do anyway. Not sure why so many defend the big knife for use as a chopping tool though. It will never compete with a decent axe. If you watched the vid, then you saw that I was making that very point.
Because it is a chopping tool. It just doesn't chop as well as hatchets or hawks. However, it's arguably more versatile and for the size trees I usually chop it does the job pretty much as well as a hatchet.
You do have to cut deeper for larger trees, but firewood for camping generally means much smaller trees. You are just trying to cut enough so you can push it over. Thanks
I'm not sure that a longer handle would really help with a tomahawk. They are handy tools, but b/c of their light weight, they are more suited for lighter tasks.
That looks like damn hard work. Such situations perhaps require a little help from Mr 00 Buck. And I agree with that chap above about the spring steel being the khukhuri influence - I was thinking where the hell did the designer put the khukhuri, but the call of spring steel was certainly a good spot by that adamanime2. Nice goin man
I prefer a light saw for sectioning and felling. Use the axe or hawk for splitting, you can manufacture a wooden wedge with your hawk and split that size tree pretty well using that hawk as a hammer. Much more efficient to cut with the saw and worth every bit of the extra 16-18oz of a good saw like Bob's Quick Buck Saw. Nice reality check for folks who haven't actually tested their gears.
To be honest, that Oak was a lot harder than I thought it would be, I think I put equal effort, but when I first hit that tree w/ the knife, I knew I wasn't going to use it very long. Both of those tools will work, but they're not as efficient as a good saw or axe.
That's a good combo!
Geez Gunz I almost forgot about you, how you been, are you still dipping, and how's Major and the Family ?, anyhow even though this is a older video, it's nice to see you.
its one hell of a work out, some ppl have nooo idea!
I see the Kukri influence: the thick spine. other machetes don't have ¼ inch thickness or more.
btw: great video, I enjoyed watching it!
According to Devon Price (2hawks) he has sold quite a few of his hawks to soldiers heading off to Iraq or Afganistan, and they seem to like them. I'm not a fan of those extra edges, that's why I bought the Voyager.
Hahaha They are a lot of fun to throw!
If you understand the limitations of your gear, then you can thrive in the woods. I will disagree with generalizations like "travel light, travel smart" Weight has to be considered, especially if it effects capability.
Yeah, I've chopped a bit of wood in my day and layed into some trees with blades and that stuff just wouldn't take the blade. We don't have trees like that in Montana. Very little hardwood at all. Mostly pine etc.
I don't mean to disagree, but I feel that it's most efficient to cross cut through wood with a light folding saw, and then split the wood with a knife and baton. That's what works best for me, and is the lightest method I have found.
Purty good demo of how big knife or a light hatchet or tomahawk perform at chopping a hard dead tree. They're bad at it, especially the knife. I get a little tired of the one-tool-solution attitudes.
I like the "lazy chops", I really do. Too many people out there that are flailing away (aimlessly and thus senselessly) at wood and they are out of breath in no time. You let the tool do the job.
Knife, Ax / hatchet / hawk, saw. Knife for shaving and precision work, ax /hatchet / hawk for splitting, saw for cutting against the grain.
I don't think much of cable saw, b/c most are of poor quality. Those that are made well enough to use I end up using like a bow saw. BTW the vid was not about the best way to cut that Oak tree, but rather, how these two type of tools would perform. I would choose a larger axe over a bow saw anyway. Thanks
I agree. I really enjoyed the video.
@fisherdigital Yeah, I use saws a lot too, but I love tomahawks! I guess that's my childhood coming through.
Sorry, I missed this. Knife cannot chop as well as a axe. If you keep the size of wood managable, then a knife, hawk/hatchet, or folding saw well do ok. I actually used my folding saw to cut a few pieces of that log for firewood... but never again! That was way too much work. A medium size axe and take down bucksaw are best for wood that size or bigger.
Loved the video,also proves in some cases a laplander saw would be great to have in your pack.
Thanks, I appreciate it
I prefer the big knife and trailblazer sawvivor combo. As long as I've got my saw, I can go through any density of wood, and the knife is great for splitting it.
For chopping the axe, hatchet or tomahawk is the way to go. A big knife is for fighting or skining large game. The old mountain men carried axes , hawks & knives in their gear . It made sense then & now.
Not really, Tomahawks really come from belt axes that europeans brought to North America. Settlers and soldiers alike used them for both camp chores and fighting
Hahaha I'm behind the times on many things!! I probably have 6lbs of crap in my pockets!! LOL
good video and that looks like a lot of work
For this application, tomahawks beat big knives, axes beat tomahawks, silky saws beat axes (lighter, quieter, faster).
Modern tomahawks are deliberately built for bushcraft. Instead of just "thinking" before giving people "false or incorrect information dude," maybe you should research the topic you're commenting on. Or even try handling a blade or two. By the way, great video GunznGear! Two thumbs up!
With my Big bowie I chop from as many angles as i can (as against one angle like if you use an axe), and it works for me. It works well when you try to cut room and weight in your pack. I never used a hawk, but for it's inability to baton i don't think it's worth it.
And i personally would buy an axe if i went for more than a week.