Both tools will do the job, it really Depends on your skill level and familiarity with either tool...As you alluded to, being able to put the comparatively short cutting surface of the hatchet where its needed is key...It is fascinating to observe an indigenous child manipulate (and with great skill) a large cutting tool such as a Parang or machete through a wide range of tasks. Used for everything from preparing meals to building natural shelters or removing a thorn imbedded in his or her foot. Northern cultures display equal skill with the Axe...all this to say, Practice, practice, practice. Truth is, most modern humans don't use these tools often enough to become very skillful in their use.
I love to baton with a large knife. I personally feel that in most circumstances that it is safer. When it’s dark out or your cold or getting impatient, I think you can really hurt yourself much easier with an axe. I love my axes though and enjoy using them.
I know what you mean by that, but I love a good axe myself, the versatility of a 19-24 inch handle suits what I do a bit more, if you got the time check this video out by TA outdoors, they go over a lot of different and safer techniques, I learned a bit from it and plus it killed a lazy Saturday night for me! th-cam.com/video/0_4JKywBom0/w-d-xo.html
Ever since I saw the Aurora Borealis Kodiak Chopper I had to have one. At 73 now, I've cut & split cordwood for decades & have processed campfire wood for many campfires. I've enjoyed collecting, using & sharpening loads of fixed blade knives, but I profess that the Kodiak at .27" thick is my favorite chopping knife along side of the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri at .3125" thick. Thanks for making the public aware of this awesome knife. You're one of the few that I've viewed using this tool & I hope that Alex gets to market many more of these as word gets out.
Both really cool tools, if I had to pick one it would be the axe. Paired with a smaller knife I think the combo would be more versatile. Great video my friend 🤠
I'm actually shocked at how well the knife held up next to the hatchet. I was sure there would be no comparison, but it seems the knife is more useful than I thought.
Drop you off in the middle of Norther winter snow and ice, below freezing Temps, and frozen hardwoods and knotty, resinous pines....the large knife will become useless pretty quickly. 😉 But in the northern parts, Spring-early Fall...a large knife or quality machete is all you need. My outdoors pack is minimalist but has both an axe and machete for year round use. If I absolutely had to pick a large knife, "one tool option" it would be something like my ESEE Junglas (or knives like this Kodiak) paired with a Silky Bigboy2000 saw.
@michaeldumas4907 "Safer" comes down to which tool you're more experienced with, overall woods experience, and being properly rested and alert instead of tired when going to work. I don't think the tool matters, necessarily. I've never hurt myself with an any of my axes. I have almost taken my left index finger completely off using a large chopper knife (admittedly, I was tired and rushing my work). And you don't always have to swing around the axe like a crazed lumberjack to get a lot of work done with one. One could also argue axe has a much smaller cutting surface to worry about as opposed to a large knife.
Hello Wade! I have to admit I am a Gransfors Bruk fan. I have their outdoor axe, small forest axe, and large splitting axe. Depending upon what I am doing, i.e. backpacking vs. canoeing, the outdoor axe or small forest axe coupled with a mora garberg , and a saw (agawa canyon or silky) and I feel pretty prepared for any trip. Honestly, can’t see the large knife replacing one of these tools. Thanks for the video and glad to see you healthy and moving well after your surgery. Take care my friend and stay safe. Better times ahead for us in Ontario!
Hey buddy thanks for watching and commenting! I'm a big GF fan myself, I have the same ones as you but add in the Scandinavian Forest Axe. The best production axes out there👍
As you mentioned, the tool for the job, you may carry more, but the right tool gets the job done. I would carry all three, ax, a small blade knife and a folding saw, more weight but I have more options, one tool tends to fail, three will save the day
24 in forest axe with convex grind and long cheeks. I can process everything from kindling to logs. You want a good weight and leverage with a good grind that is a little more weildy and safe to use in multiple instances. I also use a mora garberg and gave it a scandi grind for fish processing and carving but can also make tinder.
I'll take a hatchet over a knife, anytime. I got an outdoor axe about a year ago and it doesn't disappoint. Thanks for the comparison, Wade! That is a beauty of a knife tho!🖖
The axe has a definite place in the woods. I rarely go out without one. That Outdoor Axe seems more a tomahawk than an axe (imho), and I really like it. But I gotta say the Kodiak is a superior tool. I tend to go for the large blades. I will carry a large chopper, and a smaller fixed blade (4-5 inches), along with a folding saw.
I'm like you, I rarely go out without an axe. I've lost count how many I have now lol. The Kodiak is a good performer though and fun to use. Thanks for the comment my friend 👍
The Kodiak seemed to have much more bite during the chopping, and when batoning you’re coming down on the blade shape or tang, which is a lot more durable than putting pressure along the wood handle of the Outdoor Axe. It looked like you could baton near the base of the Outdoor Axe itself, but that looked like a pretty small sweet spot that could easily be inaccessible once you’re deeper into the wood.
Large Knife VS Small Axe. Man you are brave😆. In truth I like them both but for different reasons. I find I carry my large knife (Teava Skrama) more than my axes or hatchets. Thanks for sharing Wade
Had to look this knife up when you mentioned it. The first link was to Varusteleka, and as a fan of 'Forgotten Weapons' I am obligated to say that I very much approve.
Nice comparison Wade. I think you clearly showed that both can do the job. Of course one better than the other for certain tasks. It simply comes down to preference and use. If it works for you and it covers your needs, then you're happy. End of discussion.
Another thing maybe worth mentioning is the axe has a hammer on the back of the head making it useful for driving stakes amongst other tasks which the knife just wouldn't be able to accomplish.
A thick knife made of Cpm3v or tool steel can be used as a stake driver as well. My axe only gets pulled out for splitting, or felling. And down here I don't really (need it for that either)
Lars Fält was involved in the design of the Outdoor Axe, so we know that it is a serious tool. My family is from sub-artic Sweden. I think that the Outdoor Axe is well suited to that sort of Taiga biome. A light hatchet or axe does well with spruce, pine, and some birch. I appreciate lightweight, compact tools when I am hiking the hills and mountains sub-artic & artic Sweden - say from Jamtland to Sarek. Lars is from Sweden, so this is most likely what he had in mind when designing this tool. On the other hand, where I live now, the biome is essentially identical to the woods we see Wade in. I don't think that the Outdoor Axe is big enough, or heavy enough, to deal with the oak, maple and ash in these woods. I have a Gränsfors Small Forest Axe. The head is a good size and shape for what I need to do, but I find the curve of the handle to be awkward for one handed use. If Gränsfors would make a larger version of the Outdoor Axe, with a straight handle, that could be used primarily one-handed, but sometimes two handed, I would buy that in a heartbeat. I really don't understand the curve of the handle for a small axe - one wants the head to strike exactly on target, and a handle like a hammer ensures this. Fält chose a straight handle for the Outdoor Axe for a reason, I just think that it is too short and light for the biome that Wade and I do most of our fieldcraft in. My Wetterlings Bushman/Les Stroud axe is a great tool. I went to a store that had them in stock, years ago, and sorted through their collection to get the best one. I bought one of the second generation axes, when they had worked out a few issues. It is more of a splitter than a one-hand hatchet, but is a great all-around compromise. It does everything well enough, and a few things exceptionally well. It teams up well with my Helle Temagami. I am hoping to see a Helle Nord in Wade's hands sometime this summer, by the way. Thank you Wade, for the terrific videos. This is my absolute favorite channel. It puts a smile on my face everytime. Be well.
The Wetterlings Bushman axe was a great axe...until the head loosens up on MANY of them, including mine. ☹️ I haven't got around to rehanging the whole thing but the eye is just too round, especially for that weight of a head. Now come to think of it, I wonder if I can convert it into a tomahawk style slip fit head instead... 🤔
Interesting. I haven't had that happen yet, but that does sound like a design flaw, rather than a quality control issue, so maybe it will eventually. The first generation didn't have a wedge, and there were definitely problems. My axe is from the second generation, and has a wedge that has worked so far. Although, with axes, nothing lasts forever. Maybe the tomahawk handle idea will work. If you work that out, I suspect that there would be a bunch of people who would be interested to see how you did it. @@pennsyltuckyreb9800
Excellent review of 2 very capable tools. I only use these tools when backpacking or day hiking. In my younger days I was a hatchet/axe guy with my favorite being the 19" GB small forest axe. Over the past few years I've gone more to a big knife such as the BK9 or the Skrama. For me I feel safer using the large knives and enjoy using them more than an axe.
Hi Wade.... This juuust made my morning... I own the GB outdoor Axe and actually designed my own from same model... I believe (in general) that it will out gun "most" bushcraft knives in say firewood prep..... But you didn't bring any regular bushcrafte knife my friend... So I would call it very even... No winner... But in my eyes you actually look a but more accurate with the knife... Just something I noticed... All the best from me 🇩🇰🇨🇦
Good morning buddy, nice to hear from you! The knife did bite harder I believe, due to the finer edge. Both were equally sharp(razor sharp😉) so I think it was a pretty honest comparison. And yes, that was not a normal bushcraft knife lol😁. Talk to you soon my friend!🍻
I've lived in the rocky mountains for almost 20 years now. Not once did I ever even think of splitting wood with my knife or even with my outdoor axe and I for sure wouldn't use either one to chop a log in half like that. I wonder where these ideas came from. I carry three knives, I use them for gutting and skinning fish and game and cutting rope and string, and one big one for self defense against predators. I use my outdoor axe for limbing logs and branches that I use for my shelter and use it to pound in tent pegs and to make wooden stakes and pegs. I use my folding silky saw for cutting logs and limbs. Up here in the mountains there are so many dead branches and logs on the ground everywhere that you would never have to split one, just use your saw to cut the appropriate size from any one of a hundred dead branches on the ground and low on the tree. I use my chainsaw and gas powered hydraulic splitter here at home to cut and split wood. Seems like using your knife and axe to split wood is a modern day city slicker idea of being woodsy, why in the world would you ever do that. And it seems like all of the bushcraft videos all center around this idea and knife manufactures keep making bigger and bigger knives for the sole purpose of cutting and splitting wood logs and branches. I find it quite bizarre.
Thanks for the comment! I’m a axe , saw and knife guy myself and rarely baton wood. Having said that some people who are not proficient with a dangerous axe like to have another option. Just giving folks options my friend.👍Take care.
It's without a doubt an exhausted and impractical exercise for the amount of attention it gets. The few that will press their tools to these limits from time to time (legitimately), will be those who are minimizing weight, covering miles of terrain, in environments that can be less friendly. Only once have I genuinely needed to batton, in a northern rainforest, with a 3.5" blade in appropriate size kindling.
I believe your comment wasn't made out of hostility however it comes across as very ignorant. Simply because YOU don't see a use for batoning in your usages or skillset or preferences certainly doesn't mean it isn't a viable option for others. This hardheaded mentality of "I have done it this way for 400 years and never needed to try anything different" just seems to shout insecurity in your own skills as an outdoorsman. Many people find batoning useful and have good reasons for doing so, however you chose not to actually make any good counter arguments aside from "I have lots of wood laying around so its stupid for everyone else". Hopefully the younger generation of people will be more tolerant and willing to understand what others do different from themselves rather than just assume its a bunch of "city slickers with no experience and stupid ideas". Shameful comment.
i grew up in the woods of northern BC and have had a life long love affair with knives, big and small. i really REALLY want to favour the big chopper but even i have to admit that a blade has its limitations. as others have mentioned it depends on what you're doing: if it's modest bushcraft and trail camping stuff then yes, i think the big blade is a great tool to have at hand: functional, fully capable and fun. but if you're into stuff that requires breaking down larger timber (multi-day cold weather camping and/or doing deep woods construction projects) then a good axe is the friend you want to have at your side. stating the obvious but the key is to know your tools and to pick the right tool for the job. as it ever was. :)
@@Woodswalker1965 exactly! It’s like chainsaws, I’ve got a T540XP top handle climbing saw that’s got a 16” bar and weighs eight pounds that you can run with one hand and a 395xp with a 36” bar that’s nearly 20 pounds, both are chainsaws true enough but they are wildly different in terms of ideal use!
Love a big knife... U can batton it through 3.4.or 5 feet of wood,when u run out of wedge with an axe ur stuck.also a big knife will work as a draw knife.and not much 2 break or loosen up.keep the awesome videos coming thanks
I think the axe would be preferable. If I want a Machete I would get one of those. The axe just looked more comfortable to use especially for preparing fire materials and it looked more comfortable chopping. My favorite small axe is the Scandanavian forest axe; little bigger but not so much so that it is unwieldy. Thanks for the video.
Nice job Wade...I have a chopper, and use it, but I reach for the sm forest axe...just easier to use, but it's substantially larger than your outdoors ax.....
Great demonstration brother. Both very capable tools. The last chunks were gnarly. Also good that you pointed out how the hatchet may seem like a beginner ax.... but do not underestimate a small axe. They are way way way more dangerous in the hands of a novice. I recently did the same test, no video just me seeing for myself about a month ago. My camp axe that I put together and my kukri I picked up from canoe brand gear (you may have seen both on my IG). I came to the same conclusion. My axe being a 21” and a tad heavier than the kukri will still most likely accompany me on winter treks where I’ll be processing more wood. Both great tools, but I’ve been swinging an axe and hatchet for better than thirty years. I’m just more proficient and efficient with it. So it does the wood a bit faster when I need it in the winter.
Some great observations there brother. Each tool has its place and experience is an asset. 👍 BTW I've been heating my house with wood for more than 20 yrs and axes still command a lot of respect from they. They can bite! Take care bud!👍
Got to go with the knife. I believe the axe/hatchet may be the better tool if you were raised with one, but living in a subtropical climate I lean more towards machetes or choppers.
I would choose the knife hands down. Have both love the Kodiak. Just watch the knife in the first log chop. Fewer chops, doesn't come bouncing out like the hatchet. I like big knife small knife and saw. I would also carry a quality multi-tool also. He does an excellent job in his demonstrating. Very informative. We have different wood here in the west but most of this applies to where I live. Great job keep the vids coming👍
Hi Wade hope you're keeping well. Nice demo, not sure if there is an outright winner, but I prefer a big blade at this scale of tool size, especially if de-limbing branches is required. Thanks Wade and take care mate 👍🙂
In the mountains, where i live you mainly find very knotty and relatively hard, because grown very slowly, spruce, pine and larch. I find that there i quickly reach the limits of a large knife for wood processing. I therfore normaly cary a tomahawk l, a mid siced knife (like my kephart or a bushlore) and a mulitbladed folder like a camp knife or a stockman. When weight is not much of an issue i swap the tomahawk for a adler 19" canoe axe. Sometimes, when I'm just out for the evening, having a smaller bond fire with some friends i take a bolo machete with me. It works well enough for most spruce branches one finds as dead wood and the cool factor is not to be underestimated😇
Wade, would like to have seen fire stick task comparison. I’m thinking the small axe along with a saw would perform very well in the fire prep / maintenance process, also in tent peg and sticks for cooking tool requirement. This would be my first choice until proven otherwise.
Thanks for watching and I agree with you. I am a axe and saw type of guy but it’s fun to try other tools and give people options when it comes to sharp things.👍🔥🌲
My friend when useing a smaller axe ( they are great but more danger then bigger ones ) split the wood sideways :) easy and safer/ hanks for sharing ! That knife looks nice. For big knife I loved Esse Junglas. Life time warrenty to. If I could wish for anyhting it would be if it was made in 3pm cv or something
Hi Wade, that was a great comparison which I think many people enjoyed, myself included. I personally don’t have a preference either way as I love my Axe collection as well as my knives and folding saws. Here in Australia we have some ridiculously tough hardwoods and quite often the easiest way to drop a small tree either green or dead for whatever reason is simply by putting the Silky saw to use. Other times it’s easier to grab the hatchet or a chopper and get into it depending how thick the scrub is etc etc. But then depending on what I want to do with that piece of timber can call for either an axe/hatchet or a good chopper like my Esee Junglas. For example if I’m sitting around a campfire and need to carve a few stakes for the tarp then the hatchet can be quicker and easier. Another example is tonight while inside the cabin on a very wet and rainy night we needed some kindling for the fireplace and all I currently have for firewood is some 3 to 4 inch pieces of ironbark and spotted gum so for me it’s a no brainer to simply grab the Junglas or Esee 5 and baton through it, which is much safer and more practical to me than swinging the Outdoor axe while inside. When it comes to going on a hike I just try to decide which tools I feel like taking with me when packing. Everything has its place and when people like us love all these wonderful tools, the hardest decisions I find are always when to limit yourself and how much weight you feel like carrying 🤔😂 Anyway, another great video mate and thanks for taking the time to do them.
0:30 Trio - agreed! 3:30 chopping - knife outperformed the hatchet quite comfortably! 5:50 Splitting - here the hatchet did better, but the knife wasn't batoned as would normally be the case. 8:02 contact splitting - hatchet better here too, but why was the knife point not stabbed down vertically, as is usually done? 11:00 Batoning a large log - about evens, given that neither tool is intended for this task. Wooden wedges would have been far better. The danger of damaging the knife blade is much greater. Conclusion: for me the big knife would be the better option, with the caveat that I would not use either on such large wood as the last one! As above, I feel using wedges is preferable. Also, I agree with the sentiment that axes generally are much more dangerous to use.
Great video.. I like both, but would go for a longer handle on the axe. I don’t think the extra weight or size of a medium length axe handle is much of an issue to carry, but for me the added usability when chopping and I guess the overall safety too is worth it. Thanks for the vid 👍
@@Woodswalker1965 I think I’m a bit of an odd one out with the longer axe handle thing.. I’m using a Hultafors Qvarfot at the moment and love it. Mainly hardwood in the forest areas I utilise and I find the combination of head shape, grind, and handle length perfect for me. Keep up the good work on the channel very informative, thanks.
As always, another well detailed video, Wade. For me, I will stick with the ax and regular sized fixed blade knife. Or, a saw. As I get older I don’t want to wail away on anything anymore. 🤠
A smaller knife, an hatchet, a golok style matchete(Golok Mil Spec Camo G10 is the style I like), and a foldable saw, that would be a great kit for an outing in the woods.
I’ve built a couple bows with an ontario sp-10. In my case it was seasoned hickory staves so very hard and tough. I have a large heavy baton I use that probably weighs around 3 pounds. I’ve beat that knife just about as hard as I could around knots and it’s held up. I do want to add a small axe/hatchet to my collection though
I have always preferred hatchets over axes as I would rather swing a lighter tool with accuracy and speed then heavier hits that will chunk more would but I found exhausted me quicker. If you focus on where the hatchet hits for me it was always a more pleasant experience.
I will almost always prefer to pair my wood handled golok with a saw and knife for my adventures. The exception is when I know conditions will be consistently below 20 F and large fire will be needed all night, then I will bring my h&b tomahawk which splits well above it weight.
Hi Wade - new to the channel here and came across this comparison. Really a nice job! My 2 cents would be I’ve never had a contractor show up to do a project on my house with just one tool… they have several or more and I put the knife and axe in the same category. I do all my fire prep with an Agawa saw and a GFB small forest axe since I usually carry them on my pack. It would be great to add the big blade knife, a bigger axe for real chopping and you can see how the list can on…. The more you learn the more you want! The axe gives me a good hammer if needing to pound sticks for a possible shelter is the main reason I’d stick with the axe if I can only have one. ‘So many tools and so little time’. Great review. Happy Holidays🤙🏼
11 hits for the knife, not counting one miss. 19 hits for the hatchet. As soon as I saw the narrow head of the hatchet, and the huge width of the knife, I knew this knife would absolutely crush that hatchet... Kudos for going for a practical diameter target (unlike many TH-camrs). The knife itself was a good choice too: You did not mention that it was a High Sabre Hollow Grind. I find Hollow Grinds excellent for chopping, because they sink "softer" into the wood, so are less hard on the user. Generally, against a Fiskar 16.5" hatchet, a knife over 10.5" or 11" in blade will be a near match, but a knife rapidly drops to about 30-40% more hits needed than a hatchet at 9", unless the knife blade is very wide (over 2"). Where the hatchet shines is in tiredness over hundreds of hits. It doesn't outperform a really large knife, but it is less tiring on major tasks. I still find the knife way easier to carry inside the waistband.
That was fun! I'll take one of each please. You made it all look easy, but I would be nervous doing the contact splitting with the big knife since it seems like the blade is close to the hand holding the wood, certainly compared to the hatchet. Thanks very much!
I think batoning is really stressful for a blade. A really good alternative in my books is banging out a few wedges and a mallet with either tool and having at it.
That works great as well. A knife built like the Kodiak can take some batonning, although I admit those logs were way too big and twisted lol.😁 Thanks for the input buddy👍
To me it looked like you had more control on the knife,the hatchet looked a little light for some of the heavy wood although it is a great hatchet,I’ve used both styles and lean more to knife nowadays
👍 Good demonstration. On the tests conducted I would call it a tie. I would like to have seen how each tool did making feather sticks and carving a tent peg, but it probably have been another tie. Given that, as the hatchet was lighter and a little more compact I would probably select that tool. Your cautionary note about the use of a hatchet was spot on. All axes take some “on the job training” and a large knife might have a slightly lower learning curve. Good video.
Thanks very much! Both tools are capable of simple carving tasks you are right. This comparison was more or less comparing these tools as part of a trio, a chopping tool, saw and a smaller knife. The smaller knife would of course take over the carving tasks. I appreciate your comment my friend!👍
@@Woodswalker1965 Understood your Trio concept and agree as I am not a fan of the “one tool option” concept. I was interested in your demonstration because the Trio I am experimenting with is similar sized hatchet, a folding saw, and a medium to large SAK. Again, very good video, thank you.
To baton with the hatchet/axe, lay the work piece on its side and baton the tool by penetrating from the side in multiple areas up an down the piece, much like you would split a rail. Because once you bury the axe/hatchet head batoning from the end of the work piece (like you would with a knife) then you have nowhere to strike the tool to continue through the work piece. With the knife the blade is long enough to strike it on the protruding end.
I've had a BK9 strapped to my pack for years and rarely carried an axe even in winter ...but I also had plenty of wood from fallen tree / branches and didn't need to section up wood and most trips were only 1-2 nights ... my humble opinion....long term Axe...Short Term BK9 ....happy holidays !!;:;:; Spook
@@Woodswalker1965 living day to day brother been a rough couple years but hoping to get back at the content and adventures 🙏....happy holidays my friend I appreciate you
at around 3.20 using the axe you hit a branch inside the tree, making the area of impact a lot harder to penetrate it seemed. I have a hatchet, a big knife and a smaller bush craft knife. I find myself using the hatchet and bush craft knife a lot more than the larger knife.
As more of an axe guy...it may sound contradictory, but between the two...I'd take the big chopper over the small axe. For me, I like an axe with a heavier head and longer handle. Part of that is personal preference, the other is the safety issues you stated with the smaller axe. In truth, I end up doing most of my axe work/splitting at the end of a long day, when I'm making camp, tired and prone to more accidents! I've used other choppers (like a BK2), and I find they are awesome combined with a baton when splitting kindling. Far less chance of injury with the chopper than a small axe. In the winter, I'll always carry an axe and a smaller bushcraft knife. Last couple years I've been using the Husqvarna Carpenters axe for cold weather bushcraft trips....but I've been putting together a light weight summer bag and I usually end up bringing a chopper and an SAK(or multitool)! Its hot here in summer, I don't need to process tons of wood...the chopper will do the job....now I need to convince my wife that I NEED that chopper in your video! lol
Hi Chuck thanks for watching brother. I agree with what you say. A time and place for the right tool! Would you like me to talk to Mrs Timberdogz for you?🤣🤣🤣
First test - 12 strikes with the knife - 19 strikes with the hatchet. Overall it seemed to me the knife edged out the hatchet. I certainly agree that the hatchet could be a bit harder to control and so a little less safe.
Thanks for the feedback on the video. Each tool has its own strengths for sure but it was very close and at the end of the day personal preference would win out. I personally prefer an axe but I agree the big knife seemed to edge out the small axe👍
Hey Wade great comparison. I prefer the big knife ( I have a Becker 9 as you know). The main reasons are : the knife gives you more contact surface thus less dangerous when you swing it . Also for batoning it works way better than an axe. Finally my Becker is lighter than most axes/hatchets. Cheers !
Nice to see you out and about Wade. Good review. I liked both in your demos and totally agree that one must pick the tool he/she is comfortable with for the task. It all comes down to user preferences. You are good with carving and I am curious if you had crafted a bigger mallet if either tools in their tasks would of performed better. Not sure I’d go personally for either as my preference. I’d pick a good Bushcraft knife, a bigger axe, and a folding saw. Hope to see you on outdoor travels when the Covid regulations lessen in Ontario.
glad you're back Wade AND moving well. I love the comparisons and enjoy using my big knife (only 11" handmade for me) as much as using an axe. UNTIL I use my axe and then I am loving the feel of the axe as I sit and process the wood down to what I need. But then I grab my knife and begin to baton and the circle keeps going round and round 😂🤣😜🔪🪓 - that gnarly wood at the end I wouldn't even touch with my knife or hand axe but would get my buddies hydraulic wood splitter LOL - again thanks for a great video
Well very interesting comparison, love the heavy Kodiak blade. I have a gb small forest axe for my companion on my pack. But thinking the Kodiak may be a good companion too. Great video 👍👍
I have this Boreal knife and I like it alot. I like that when you have to do some felling in tight space, or do some clearing, you don’t have to be precise because of the lenght of the blade. Therefore, you can be efficient even in awkward position. I do prefer a hatchet with a smaller knife for versatility, although I like a bigger hatchet, but this knife is fun to use and Could be your one tool option if needed. I was surprised to be able to do some fine task with relatively good ease, at least for a knife this size. I love the high Saber grind (some will call it a full flat) with the convex edge. I would love to see you do a review of the Nomad knife by WorkTuff. I don’t know if WorkTuff is the knife maker that are manufacturing the Boreal knife for Aurora Borealis but their work is similar: steel, quality, finish. Thanks for the review.
Hi Bob thanks for the comment. Fun to use is right, I'm liking the Kodiak a lot. I'm like you though in that I use a bigger axe most of the time. It's good to have options!👍
? In my area CT/NY there is soo much Rose thorns/Briars that can cover quite a large area while hiking which blocks your way. I was looking at the Kodiak attached to a hiking staff to sweep thru briar patch clearing a path. 🤔. Does this seem doable to you?? Thnx 😉
Hmmm, not sure about that. Sounds like a machete type tool would be more appropriate for your situation. The Kodiak is very capable but a bit thick and heavy to be attaching to a pole. Thanks for the question👍
Hi Wade, good video again buddy. I'd take the knife any day as a stand alone tool, with a saw and a small knife I really don't know, depending on my mood 😜
Makes sense, that would be a good comparison. I've never tried the Trail Hawk but I've tried another hawk, the CRKT Chogan and I really liked it. Make it, I'll watch it👍🍻
Wade, Brother...how are you? I really enjoyed this video. I own lots if axes and a few 'big' knives and have tended to lean towards smaller axes for the tasks you do in this video. I also concur with the comments of my friend MTWoodsrunner (Hi Dave)! and acknowledge the skills of young indigenous people with parangs, goloks and the like. I noticed my wife who spent her first 10 years in the bush readily uses a machete when doing traditional cookery. Northern cultures are indeed more conversant with the axe and they are still more widely used, though arctic/tundra peoples such as Sami (one side of my long ago heritage), use the leuku because and axe is not the best tool for hacking scrub willows and Arctic Birch species for fire making (when they are often 2-3" diameter). I like the GB Outdoor Axe, but not yet sure I can justify buying one, though I have experimented by making up an old JBStohler, 1.5lb head (very wedgy) on a 24" Wetterlings shaft and found it to be a very effective tool. Batoning is an activity I rarely need to do, so I cannot comment in the knife vs axe. Take care, WS
Good morning Wade.... great to see you are keeping well mate. Nice comparison video. I keep looking at the large choppers, maybe I will get one this year. The Kodiak looks a beast 👍. Thanks for taking the time, all the best, Mark :)
Interesting experiment...I’ve been playing with 2 of basically the same length and weight. The GF Wildlife Hatchet and Bark River’s Tracker. First outing the hatchet definitely won the chopping/splitting part. The original geometry of the hatchet was much better while the knife wanted to just bounce off what it hit. After several attempts at getting the geometry similar they performed much the same while in chopping/splitting. I preferred the knife in other tasks. The jury is still out for me as to my overall preference. I do have to say when you combine a carry method the hatchet wins in size and weight...it’s been fun and interesting test so far...
In hindsight at this point I would have to give it to the Tracker (kind of a knife...lol) for it comfortably performs more tasks while being fairly equal overall...
My initial theoretical thought experiment would have gave it to the hatchet from pure physics. I’ve been a Axe guy as a tool since I was a kid. Big knives for me are fairly new and rising in the last 20 year’s. As I regress back to a kid again later in life, I’m at that point I think “Big Blades” are going to be my winner for this weight class for sure...knives have definitely risen to Toy status rather than just being another Tool...
Hi Wade, nice to see you again.I just love to play with big Bowie knives now that I own a few. I have been taking out the knives alot more the last few years. A 1st world problem to have to decide what to take along😁. I vote for the big knife. Take care my friend.🇺🇸🔪🔥🌲
Great review, and video! I use my Becker BK9 for such chores. But would love to get a small axe at some point as well. What are your view on the CRKT Birler for a small axe?
In my opinion, I think it was too close to call. Both performed well and you can do the same tasks with both for the most part. Its really what you feel more comfortable with. Me personally I like choppers over axes but that's me. I do feel like despite having a bigger blade, machetes are easier to control.
Yes a knife can do anything an axe can do but the real question is are they the same in terms of maintenance the answer is no generally speaking a axe is easier to maintain than a knife lets say something happens and a ton of force is applied to the knife and it bends u cant use that knife anymore if such thing happens at least not effectively but if something happens and the axe handle breaks u can always replace it with a suiting stick u can find around the trees or u can use the axehead like a chisel with battoning and besides in terms of edge maintenance a knife is harder to sharpen than a axe generally because the knife edge is thinner than a axe edge u can sharpen a axe with random small round rock but u cant do that with a knife unless ur precision in sharpening is insanely good but in terms of average sharpening skills u won't be able to sharpen a knife with a small round stone in fact u may and probably will dull it even more but an axe edge is thicker hence its easier to keep the angle right when grinding the edge to sharpen it on the other hand there are things a knife can do that a axe cant such as attaching it to a long stick with rope of duck tape u name it u will get a spear a useful hunting weapon in the wild but with a axe u cant do such thing and if ur gonna hunt with it its gonna be kind of harder so thats a little cool trick there about the knife also if a animal is attacking u like for example a coyote or maybe wild boar because a average human can defend himself against a single coyote without any tools so a wild boar will require a tool to fight or defend yourself against with an animal of that size and strength a knife is more handy in self defense because u can stab with it however u cant stab with an axe u can only chop with it and if the animal has made contact with u its harder to defend yourself with a hatchet in ur hand than a knife because ur gonna have to try chopping chunks of meat out the animal with ur hatchet but u will be in very small range to charge each attack with a single arm and chances are u may cause deadly wounds but they wont be good enough to end the animal immediately it may actually kill u before dying from bleeding or fainting but a knife u can easily target certain parts of the animal with the knife its more precise and a knife has a point unlike the axe the knife point makes it easier to stab than a axehead yes u can also stab with a point from ur axe head but its quite hard and often ineffective and will require both hands mostly while the knife u can stab with it with one hand many times u can stab the neck the guts or other parts that will cause a damage wich will kill an animal almost in an instant or at least stop it from attacking so yeah these are my thoughts about it i don't know if anyone shares the same or agrees with them but i think this will be helpful information for people who read it
Ive seen multiple axe injuries when working in the bush as a geologist with experienxed axe users. Hell i even got myself in the hand once. The problem is when you are tired or in my case hypothermic, you lose dexterity and precision and make dumb decisions you otherwise wouldnt have. Id prefer to baton a knife or baton the axe head in a survival situation for those reasons. If my body temp is normal and im at normal energy levels axe all the way. Id prefer the big knife for those reasons if im carrying for survival.
I have a 1974 eswing hunters 14 inch hatchet that would make both of your depicted look like butter knives. However I do get the point you're trying to make I would probably make a better point with my Woodman's pal but there's no way that any one of your two tools could cut better than my Eswing. I believe many of us know that it depends on the hatchet machete knife etc and that these or perform better in their particular recommended environment.
Very true Paul. This was a subscriber request to compare these two. Several people actually commented that the Outdoor Axe would 100% outperform the knife. I thought it was fairly close. Having said that, I am an axe guy. I carry an axe 99% of the time. Thanks again for watching 👊
Khukris are a good tool 👍I’m not certain of the entire WTG lineup, you should check their website or contact them via email with your inquiry. Thanks for watching!
Hi Wade, thanks for the interesting comparisson. In this specific test in my opinion the codiac clearly won. I think the gransfors sfa would have beaten the codiac. Maybe. Or better probably. If i am in the forest i always prefer a hatchet for splitting wood in practise. To me it seems safer and the tool does what its made for. But my heart beats for this codiac...man, i wish i could get one. What a piece of power. As a chopper its not just a kind of knife, its also nearly an axe. That makes it difficult to decide. But i am a knifeguy primary, so if i had to choose between this both tools... you know it. Good to see youre doing well Wade. Cheers my friend
If I had to choos a hatchet or large hawk over that big blade it would be heavier - minum weight would be a gransforse brucks wildlife hatchet, the forrest axe would be ideal. I have tried that one and I sold it, just too lite it does split light stuff wellbut overall too lite weight for my use. Might as well use a big blade which in your case I think it performed better and could do more chores and do them safer. Just my opinioin of course.
You make some very good points. Actually I chose the Outdoor Axe based on viewer comments suggesting it would out perform the knife. I think you would need to go heavier as well, the SFA is perfect! Thanks for the comment👍
To me they looked about the same. A little better one task to the next but in the end about equal. I'm an axe guy by far. I pick the Rinaldi Calabria over the outdoor axe. A little wider blade and a longer handle for around the same weight and a fraction of the cost. I feel a lot safer with an axe than a big knife. In fact I've got a finger recovering from chopping with a knife exactly like you did in this video. Made me a bit nervous if I'm honest. Just goes to show you how it varies person to person.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm actually a Axe guy too. I chose the Outdoor Axe in this case because it was requested by several subscribers, as it turns out it was pretty close as you said. I guess there's no right or wrong just personal preference. Cheers 👍
A knife has more capability than just wood processing. I don't own a large knife but have a few machetes, unless felling big trees a machete is preferable to small axe
3 Tool Rule reigns supreme.. If you're truly SOL, a knife is the ultimate 'general tool'. Has been since we started making tools. You can make a fire without bucking wood. But for anything involving more than about 2.5 inches of wood.. you're much better off with an axe - whether it's a hatchet, a camp axe, boys axe, or felling axe or derivative thereof.
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Both tools will do the job, it really Depends on your skill level and familiarity with either tool...As you alluded to, being able to put the comparatively short cutting surface of the hatchet where its needed is key...It is fascinating to observe an indigenous child manipulate (and with great skill) a large cutting tool such as a Parang or machete through a wide range of tasks.
Used for everything from preparing meals to building natural shelters or removing a thorn imbedded in his or her foot.
Northern cultures display equal skill with the Axe...all this to say, Practice, practice, practice.
Truth is, most modern humans don't use these tools often enough to become very skillful in their use.
Very well said my friend!!👍
Right on Dave!...the master of the 'Mystery Knife' ...LOL!!
"An indiginous child"
White people can't be indiginous or something?
I love to baton with a large knife. I personally feel that in most circumstances that it is safer. When it’s dark out or your cold or getting impatient, I think you can really hurt yourself much easier with an axe. I love my axes though and enjoy using them.
Good point my friend, I agree!👍🔪
I know what you mean by that, but I love a good axe myself, the versatility of a 19-24 inch handle suits what I do a bit more, if you got the time check this video out by TA outdoors, they go over a lot of different and safer techniques, I learned a bit from it and plus it killed a lazy Saturday night for me!
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I'm more of an axe guy myself actually. Each tool has its place and deserve to be handled safely👍
EXACTLY how I feel.
Why not baton the axe?
Ever since I saw the Aurora Borealis Kodiak Chopper I had to have one. At 73 now, I've cut & split cordwood for decades & have processed campfire wood for many campfires. I've enjoyed collecting, using & sharpening loads of fixed blade knives, but I profess that the Kodiak at .27" thick is my favorite chopping knife along side of the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri at .3125" thick. Thanks for making the public aware of this awesome knife. You're one of the few that I've viewed using this tool & I hope that Alex gets to market many more of these as word gets out.
Thanks so much Barry! Alex has had multiple runs of these knives it’s been a great success for him👍
Great video Wade. Both tools have their uses....and that’s why we buy them both...lol.
Yup, you're right! Lol😁
Nice to see you back in the woods !
Thanks buddy!
Both really cool tools, if I had to pick one it would be the axe. Paired with a smaller knife I think the combo would be more versatile. Great video my friend 🤠
Thanks for the comment, much appreciated my friend!👍
Yeah, that kodiak looks like it would be very awkward doing normal knife stuff around camp. It almost looks like a dedicated chopper
I'm actually shocked at how well the knife held up next to the hatchet. I was sure there would be no comparison, but it seems the knife is more useful than I thought.
They both have their place for sure, but if somebody definitely prefers a knife it can do a lot of work👍
@@Woodswalker1965 safer too
Drop you off in the middle of Norther winter snow and ice, below freezing Temps, and frozen hardwoods and knotty, resinous pines....the large knife will become useless pretty quickly. 😉
But in the northern parts, Spring-early Fall...a large knife or quality machete is all you need.
My outdoors pack is minimalist but has both an axe and machete for year round use.
If I absolutely had to pick a large knife, "one tool option" it would be something like my ESEE Junglas (or knives like this Kodiak) paired with a Silky Bigboy2000 saw.
@michaeldumas4907 "Safer" comes down to which tool you're more experienced with, overall woods experience, and being properly rested and alert instead of tired when going to work. I don't think the tool matters, necessarily.
I've never hurt myself with an any of my axes. I have almost taken my left index finger completely off using a large chopper knife (admittedly, I was tired and rushing my work).
And you don't always have to swing around the axe like a crazed lumberjack to get a lot of work done with one. One could also argue axe has a much smaller cutting surface to worry about as opposed to a large knife.
I love the echo in the forest. Didn’t seem to bother the birds either. Very spiritual for me. The work was great as well.
Time spent in the woods heals for sure! Thanks very much friend👍
Hello Wade! I have to admit I am a Gransfors Bruk fan. I have their outdoor axe, small forest axe, and large splitting axe. Depending upon what I am doing, i.e. backpacking vs. canoeing, the outdoor axe or small forest axe coupled with a mora garberg , and a saw (agawa canyon or silky) and I feel pretty prepared for any trip. Honestly, can’t see the large knife replacing one of these tools. Thanks for the video and glad to see you healthy and moving well after your surgery. Take care my friend and stay safe. Better times ahead for us in Ontario!
Hey buddy thanks for watching and commenting! I'm a big GF fan myself, I have the same ones as you but add in the Scandinavian Forest Axe. The best production axes out there👍
As you mentioned, the tool for the job, you may carry more, but the right tool gets the job done. I would carry all three, ax, a small blade knife and a folding saw, more weight but I have more options, one tool tends to fail, three will save the day
You're correct a trio of cutting tools is optimal!👍
My skrama in the summer and small axe in the cooler months but like always if your not comfortable with it you probably won’t carry it
I agree. Each of these tools could probably be interchangeable. The most important thing is to be safe while using them. Take care👍
24 in forest axe with convex grind and long cheeks. I can process everything from kindling to logs. You want a good weight and leverage with a good grind that is a little more weildy and safe to use in multiple instances. I also use a mora garberg and gave it a scandi grind for fish processing and carving but can also make tinder.
That’s a great set up, thanks for sharing 👍
@@Woodswalker1965 a little research goes a long ways with tools
Great video! I like how you take feedback in the comments to guide a new video.
It's a community my friend!👍👊
I'll take a hatchet over a knife, anytime. I got an outdoor axe about a year ago and it doesn't disappoint. Thanks for the comparison, Wade!
That is a beauty of a knife tho!🖖
Thanks for watching buddy! I like my outdoor axe too, it's been a go to for several years now👍
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The axe has a definite place in the woods. I rarely go out without one.
That Outdoor Axe seems more a tomahawk than an axe (imho), and I really like it.
But I gotta say the Kodiak is a superior tool.
I tend to go for the large blades. I will carry a large chopper, and a smaller fixed blade (4-5 inches), along with a folding saw.
I'm like you, I rarely go out without an axe. I've lost count how many I have now lol. The Kodiak is a good performer though and fun to use.
Thanks for the comment my friend 👍
The Kodiak seemed to have much more bite during the chopping, and when batoning you’re coming down on the blade shape or tang, which is a lot more durable than putting pressure along the wood handle of the Outdoor Axe. It looked like you could baton near the base of the Outdoor Axe itself, but that looked like a pretty small sweet spot that could easily be inaccessible once you’re deeper into the wood.
Ya I think the knife was better at batonning, the axe was a better splitter. All in all a close comparison. Thanks a lot for the comment my friend.👍
Large Knife VS Small Axe. Man you are brave😆. In truth I like them both but for different reasons. I find I carry my large knife (Teava Skrama) more than my axes or hatchets. Thanks for sharing Wade
Lol, thanks a lot buddy!!👍🔪🤣
Had to look this knife up when you mentioned it. The first link was to Varusteleka, and as a fan of 'Forgotten Weapons' I am obligated to say that I very much approve.
Nice comparison Wade. I think you clearly showed that both can do the job. Of course one better than the other for certain tasks. It simply comes down to preference and use. If it works for you and it covers your needs, then you're happy. End of discussion.
Perfect! Paddle your own canoe right!?😁
Another thing maybe worth mentioning is the axe has a hammer on the back of the head making it useful for driving stakes amongst other tasks which the knife just wouldn't be able to accomplish.
Very true, an axe is very versatile👍
A thick knife made of Cpm3v or tool steel can be used as a stake driver as well. My axe only gets pulled out for splitting, or felling. And down here I don't really (need it for that either)
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This was a great video. No nonsense straight to the point, unbiased comparison. I was shocked on the first test!
Thanks very much, I tried to be fair in my testing!👍Take care
Hey to ya Wade glad your back with us,take care my friend
Thanks Bob, always good to hear from you👍
Lars Fält was involved in the design of the Outdoor Axe, so we know that it is a serious tool. My family is from sub-artic Sweden. I think that the Outdoor Axe is well suited to that sort of Taiga biome. A light hatchet or axe does well with spruce, pine, and some birch. I appreciate lightweight, compact tools when I am hiking the hills and mountains sub-artic & artic Sweden - say from Jamtland to Sarek. Lars is from Sweden, so this is most likely what he had in mind when designing this tool.
On the other hand, where I live now, the biome is essentially identical to the woods we see Wade in. I don't think that the Outdoor Axe is big enough, or heavy enough, to deal with the oak, maple and ash in these woods. I have a Gränsfors Small Forest Axe. The head is a good size and shape for what I need to do, but I find the curve of the handle to be awkward for one handed use. If Gränsfors would make a larger version of the Outdoor Axe, with a straight handle, that could be used primarily one-handed, but sometimes two handed, I would buy that in a heartbeat. I really don't understand the curve of the handle for a small axe - one wants the head to strike exactly on target, and a handle like a hammer ensures this. Fält chose a straight handle for the Outdoor Axe for a reason, I just think that it is too short and light for the biome that Wade and I do most of our fieldcraft in.
My Wetterlings Bushman/Les Stroud axe is a great tool. I went to a store that had them in stock, years ago, and sorted through their collection to get the best one. I bought one of the second generation axes, when they had worked out a few issues. It is more of a splitter than a one-hand hatchet, but is a great all-around compromise. It does everything well enough, and a few things exceptionally well. It teams up well with my Helle Temagami. I am hoping to see a Helle Nord in Wade's hands sometime this summer, by the way.
Thank you Wade, for the terrific videos. This is my absolute favorite channel. It puts a smile on my face everytime. Be well.
Thanks so much for your kind words and your personal experiences with your outdoor life. Well done my friend👍
The Wetterlings Bushman axe was a great axe...until the head loosens up on MANY of them, including mine. ☹️
I haven't got around to rehanging the whole thing but the eye is just too round, especially for that weight of a head.
Now come to think of it, I wonder if I can convert it into a tomahawk style slip fit head instead... 🤔
Interesting. I haven't had that happen yet, but that does sound like a design flaw, rather than a quality control issue, so maybe it will eventually. The first generation didn't have a wedge, and there were definitely problems. My axe is from the second generation, and has a wedge that has worked so far. Although, with axes, nothing lasts forever. Maybe the tomahawk handle idea will work. If you work that out, I suspect that there would be a bunch of people who would be interested to see how you did it. @@pennsyltuckyreb9800
Excellent review of 2 very capable tools. I only use these tools when backpacking or day hiking. In my younger days I was a hatchet/axe guy with my favorite being the 19" GB small forest axe. Over the past few years I've gone more to a big knife such as the BK9 or the Skrama. For me I feel safer using the large knives and enjoy using them more than an axe.
Thanks for the comment my friend!👍🔪
Skrama is a beast of a knife almost identical to Indigenous knives used in Europe.
Hi Wade.... This juuust made my morning... I own the GB outdoor Axe and actually designed my own from same model... I believe (in general) that it will out gun "most" bushcraft knives in say firewood prep..... But you didn't bring any regular bushcrafte knife my friend... So I would call it very even... No winner... But in my eyes you actually look a but more accurate with the knife... Just something I noticed... All the best from me 🇩🇰🇨🇦
Good morning buddy, nice to hear from you! The knife did bite harder I believe, due to the finer edge. Both were equally sharp(razor sharp😉) so I think it was a pretty honest comparison. And yes, that was not a normal bushcraft knife lol😁. Talk to you soon my friend!🍻
Dude love that Kodiak.
"Thats not a knife, THIS is a KNIFE!"
😂😂😂😂
I've lived in the rocky mountains for almost 20 years now. Not once did I ever even think of splitting wood with my knife or even with my outdoor axe and I for sure wouldn't use either one to chop a log in half like that. I wonder where these ideas came from. I carry three knives, I use them for gutting and skinning fish and game and cutting rope and string, and one big one for self defense against predators. I use my outdoor axe for limbing logs and branches that I use for my shelter and use it to pound in tent pegs and to make wooden stakes and pegs. I use my folding silky saw for cutting logs and limbs. Up here in the mountains there are so many dead branches and logs on the ground everywhere that you would never have to split one, just use your saw to cut the appropriate size from any one of a hundred dead branches on the ground and low on the tree. I use my chainsaw and gas powered hydraulic splitter here at home to cut and split wood. Seems like using your knife and axe to split wood is a modern day city slicker idea of being woodsy, why in the world would you ever do that. And it seems like all of the bushcraft videos all center around this idea and knife manufactures keep making bigger and bigger knives for the sole purpose of cutting and splitting wood logs and branches. I find it quite bizarre.
Thanks for the comment! I’m a axe , saw and knife guy myself and rarely baton wood. Having said that some people who are not proficient with a dangerous axe like to have another option. Just giving folks options my friend.👍Take care.
Everyone does things different. Eastern forests have real wood (hard woods) and the outdoor axe if perfect for splitting firewood.
It's without a doubt an exhausted and impractical exercise for the amount of attention it gets. The few that will press their tools to these limits from time to time (legitimately), will be those who are minimizing weight, covering miles of terrain, in environments that can be less friendly. Only once have I genuinely needed to batton, in a northern rainforest, with a 3.5" blade in appropriate size kindling.
I believe your comment wasn't made out of hostility however it comes across as very ignorant. Simply because YOU don't see a use for batoning in your usages or skillset or preferences certainly doesn't mean it isn't a viable option for others. This hardheaded mentality of "I have done it this way for 400 years and never needed to try anything different" just seems to shout insecurity in your own skills as an outdoorsman. Many people find batoning useful and have good reasons for doing so, however you chose not to actually make any good counter arguments aside from "I have lots of wood laying around so its stupid for everyone else".
Hopefully the younger generation of people will be more tolerant and willing to understand what others do different from themselves rather than just assume its a bunch of "city slickers with no experience and stupid ideas". Shameful comment.
i grew up in the woods of northern BC and have had a life long love affair with knives, big and small. i really REALLY want to favour the big chopper but even i have to admit that a blade has its limitations. as others have mentioned it depends on what you're doing: if it's modest bushcraft and trail camping stuff then yes, i think the big blade is a great tool to have at hand: functional, fully capable and fun. but if you're into stuff that requires breaking down larger timber (multi-day cold weather camping and/or doing deep woods construction projects) then a good axe is the friend you want to have at your side. stating the obvious but the key is to know your tools and to pick the right tool for the job. as it ever was. :)
Very well said my friend, thank you!👍
I feel like both did really well, they are just different tools for different tasks and have their strong points and weaknesses.
Exactly! No need to choose only one tool, have fun out there and change it up every so often👍
@@Woodswalker1965 exactly! It’s like chainsaws, I’ve got a T540XP top handle climbing saw that’s got a 16” bar and weighs eight pounds that you can run with one hand and a 395xp with a 36” bar that’s nearly 20 pounds, both are chainsaws true enough but they are wildly different in terms of ideal use!
Great way to describe it, thanks!👍
Love a big knife... U can batton it through 3.4.or 5 feet of wood,when u run out of wedge with an axe ur stuck.also a big knife will work as a draw knife.and not much 2 break or loosen up.keep the awesome videos coming thanks
Thank you! A big knife is handy once you get used to using it👍
I think the axe would be preferable. If I want a Machete I would get one of those. The axe just looked more comfortable to use especially for preparing fire materials and it looked more comfortable chopping. My favorite small axe is the Scandanavian forest axe; little bigger but not so much so that it is unwieldy. Thanks for the video.
I love my Scandinavian Forest axe too, thanks for sharing and watching 👍
Nice job Wade...I have a chopper, and use it, but I reach for the sm forest axe...just easier to use, but it's substantially larger than your outdoors ax.....
Hey Sean, I agree the SFA is possibly my favorite pack axe to use. Take care bud!👍
Great demonstration brother. Both very capable tools. The last chunks were gnarly. Also good that you pointed out how the hatchet may seem like a beginner ax.... but do not underestimate a small axe. They are way way way more dangerous in the hands of a novice.
I recently did the same test, no video just me seeing for myself about a month ago. My camp axe that I put together and my kukri I picked up from canoe brand gear (you may have seen both on my IG). I came to the same conclusion. My axe being a 21” and a tad heavier than the kukri will still most likely accompany me on winter treks where I’ll be processing more wood. Both great tools, but I’ve been swinging an axe and hatchet for better than thirty years. I’m just more proficient and efficient with it. So it does the wood a bit faster when I need it in the winter.
Some great observations there brother. Each tool has its place and experience is an asset. 👍
BTW I've been heating my house with wood for more than 20 yrs and axes still command a lot of respect from they. They can bite! Take care bud!👍
My bush blade is a 15 inch heavy duty cleaver and I love it.
Perfect, sounds awesome👍
Got to go with the knife. I believe the axe/hatchet may be the better tool if you were raised with one, but living in a subtropical climate I lean more towards machetes or choppers.
Very true a machete or chopper would suit your area just fine👍
I would choose the knife hands down. Have both love the Kodiak. Just watch the knife in the first log chop. Fewer chops, doesn't come bouncing out like the hatchet. I like big knife small knife and saw. I would also carry a quality multi-tool also. He does an excellent job in his demonstrating. Very informative. We have different wood here in the west but most of this applies to where I live. Great job keep the vids coming👍
Thanks very much Sir! I always carry a multi-tool as well. I like the Leatherman Charge👍
Hi Wade hope you're keeping well. Nice demo, not sure if there is an outright winner, but I prefer a big blade at this scale of tool size, especially if de-limbing branches is required. Thanks Wade and take care mate 👍🙂
Hey Mike ,thanks for stopping by buddy. A big knife is a lot of fun and pretty useful! Take care👍
@@Woodswalker1965 definitely I've been using a billhook recently and it is really fun, but a real danger too.
In the mountains, where i live you mainly find very knotty and relatively hard, because grown very slowly, spruce, pine and larch. I find that there i quickly reach the limits of a large knife for wood processing.
I therfore normaly cary a tomahawk l, a mid siced knife (like my kephart or a bushlore) and a mulitbladed folder like a camp knife or a stockman.
When weight is not much of an issue i swap the tomahawk for a adler 19" canoe axe.
Sometimes, when I'm just out for the evening, having a smaller bond fire with some friends i take a bolo machete with me.
It works well enough for most spruce branches one finds as dead wood and the cool factor is not to be underestimated😇
Thanks for your insights and recognizing the importance of the cool factor haha👍
Wade, would like to have seen fire stick task comparison. I’m thinking the small axe along with a saw would perform very well in the fire prep / maintenance process, also in tent peg and sticks for cooking tool requirement. This would be my first choice until proven otherwise.
Thanks for watching and I agree with you. I am a axe and saw type of guy but it’s fun to try other tools and give people options when it comes to sharp things.👍🔥🌲
My friend when useing a smaller axe ( they are great but more danger then bigger ones ) split the wood sideways :) easy and safer/ hanks for sharing ! That knife looks nice. For big knife I loved Esse Junglas. Life time warrenty to. If I could wish for anyhting it would be if it was made in 3pm cv or something
Thanks for watching my friend, great comment !👊
Hello Wade! Thanks for the tech. Info!👍😉♥️
Thanks a lot for watching Alice👍
Hi Wade, that was a great comparison which I think many people enjoyed, myself included.
I personally don’t have a preference either way as I love my Axe collection as well as my knives and folding saws.
Here in Australia we have some ridiculously tough hardwoods and quite often the easiest way to drop a small tree either green or dead for whatever reason is simply by putting the Silky saw to use. Other times it’s easier to grab the hatchet or a chopper and get into it depending how thick the scrub is etc etc. But then depending on what I want to do with that piece of timber can call for either an axe/hatchet or a good chopper like my Esee Junglas.
For example if I’m sitting around a campfire and need to carve a few stakes for the tarp then the hatchet can be quicker and easier.
Another example is tonight while inside the cabin on a very wet and rainy night we needed some kindling for the fireplace and all I currently have for firewood is some 3 to 4 inch pieces of ironbark and spotted gum so for me it’s a no brainer to simply grab the Junglas or Esee 5 and baton through it, which is much safer and more practical to me than swinging the Outdoor axe while inside.
When it comes to going on a hike I just try to decide which tools I feel like taking with me when packing.
Everything has its place and when people like us love all these wonderful tools, the hardest decisions I find are always when to limit yourself and how much weight you feel like carrying 🤔😂
Anyway, another great video mate and thanks for taking the time to do them.
Thanks a lot my friend, great comment about your experiences and use!👍
Great Side By Side Comparison, Love That Kodiac Glad You're Back Wade Stay Safe, Friend ! ATB T God Bless
Thanks Terry it's great to hear from you, stay safe as well my friend!👊
0:30 Trio - agreed!
3:30 chopping - knife outperformed the hatchet quite comfortably!
5:50 Splitting - here the hatchet did better, but the knife wasn't batoned as would normally be the case.
8:02 contact splitting - hatchet better here too, but why was the knife point not stabbed down vertically, as is usually done?
11:00 Batoning a large log - about evens, given that neither tool is intended for this task. Wooden wedges would have been far better. The danger of damaging the knife blade is much greater.
Conclusion: for me the big knife would be the better option, with the caveat that I would not use either on such large wood as the last one! As above, I feel using wedges is preferable.
Also, I agree with the sentiment that axes generally are much more dangerous to use.
Thanks very much for your interest in my video. I enjoyed reading your breakdown, well done👍
Great video.. I like both, but would go for a longer handle on the axe. I don’t think the extra weight or size of a medium length axe handle is much of an issue to carry, but for me the added usability when chopping and I guess the overall safety too is worth it. Thanks for the vid 👍
Great points thanks for the comment👍
@@Woodswalker1965 I think I’m a bit of an odd one out with the longer axe handle thing.. I’m using a Hultafors Qvarfot at the moment and love it. Mainly hardwood in the forest areas I utilise and I find the combination of head shape, grind, and handle length perfect for me. Keep up the good work on the channel very informative, thanks.
Thank you for the comment.That axe is actually a nice size and the grind is very slicey. 👍🌲
As always, another well detailed video, Wade. For me, I will stick with the ax and regular sized fixed blade knife. Or, a saw. As I get older I don’t want to wail away on anything anymore. 🤠
Hi Russ, thanks for watching buddy.
A smaller knife, an hatchet, a golok style matchete(Golok Mil Spec Camo G10 is the style I like), and a foldable saw, that would be a great kit for an outing in the woods.
I agree John, my choice is a trio usually. Thanks buddy!👍
Apples and oranges here. I have and use both large knife and small forest axe size axe. Some tasks are better suited for each!
I agree thanks for the comment!👍👊
I’ve built a couple bows with an ontario sp-10. In my case it was seasoned hickory staves so very hard and tough. I have a large heavy baton I use that probably weighs around 3 pounds. I’ve beat that knife just about as hard as I could around knots and it’s held up. I do want to add a small axe/hatchet to my collection though
Thanks for sharing your experience, much appreciated💪
People tend to underestimate how useful a large knife is. Probably because they are used to a very limited range of use for both knives and axes
Very true. With a bit of altering of technique a large knife is very capable. Thanks for the comment👍
Subscribed. This was a great video!
Thanks very much, I appreciate it.👊
I have always preferred hatchets over axes as I would rather swing a lighter tool with accuracy and speed then heavier hits that will chunk more would but I found exhausted me quicker. If you focus on where the hatchet hits for me it was always a more pleasant experience.
Accuracy is key for sure!👍
I will almost always prefer to pair my wood handled golok with a saw and knife for my adventures. The exception is when I know conditions will be consistently below 20 F and large fire will be needed all night, then I will bring my h&b tomahawk which splits well above it weight.
Right tool for the job, absolutely. Thanks for the comment👍
Awesome video Wade.
I think my choice would be the Kodak.
Keep them videos coming.
Cheers 👍
Thanks Paul, Cheers bud!
Hi Wade - new to the channel
here and came across this comparison. Really a nice job! My 2 cents would be I’ve never had a contractor show up to do a project on my house with just one tool… they have several or more and I put the knife and axe in the same category. I do all my fire prep with an Agawa saw and a GFB small forest axe since I usually carry them on my pack. It would be great to add the big blade knife, a bigger axe for real chopping and you can see how the list can on…. The more you learn the more you want! The axe gives me a good hammer if needing to pound sticks for a possible shelter is the main reason I’d stick with the axe if I can only have one. ‘So many tools and so little time’. Great review. Happy Holidays🤙🏼
Welcome buddy, and I like what I'm hearing about your tool choices. Well said! 💪
11 hits for the knife, not counting one miss. 19 hits for the hatchet. As soon as I saw the narrow head of the hatchet, and the huge width of the knife, I knew this knife would absolutely crush that hatchet... Kudos for going for a practical diameter target (unlike many TH-camrs). The knife itself was a good choice too: You did not mention that it was a High Sabre Hollow Grind. I find Hollow Grinds excellent for chopping, because they sink "softer" into the wood, so are less hard on the user. Generally, against a Fiskar 16.5" hatchet, a knife over 10.5" or 11" in blade will be a near match, but a knife rapidly drops to about 30-40% more hits needed than a hatchet at 9", unless the knife blade is very wide (over 2"). Where the hatchet shines is in tiredness over hundreds of hits. It doesn't outperform a really large knife, but it is less tiring on major tasks. I still find the knife way easier to carry inside the waistband.
Thanks for that insightful comment my friend, you know your tools! 👍💪
That was fun! I'll take one of each please. You made it all look easy, but I would be nervous doing the contact splitting with the big knife since it seems like the blade is close to the hand holding the wood, certainly compared to the hatchet. Thanks very much!
Thanks for watching buddy!👊👊
I think batoning is really stressful for a blade. A really good alternative in my books is banging out a few wedges and a mallet with either tool and having at it.
That works great as well. A knife built like the Kodiak can take some batonning, although I admit those logs were way too big and twisted lol.😁 Thanks for the input buddy👍
To me it looked like you had more control on the knife,the hatchet looked a little light for some of the heavy wood although it is a great hatchet,I’ve used both styles and lean more to knife nowadays
Thanks for the comments and observations, I appreciate it!👍😁
👍 Good demonstration. On the tests conducted I would call it a tie. I would like to have seen how each tool did making feather sticks and carving a tent peg, but it probably have been another tie. Given that, as the hatchet was lighter and a little more compact I would probably select that tool.
Your cautionary note about the use of a hatchet was spot on. All axes take some “on the job training” and a large knife might have a slightly lower learning curve. Good video.
Thanks very much! Both tools are capable of simple carving tasks you are right. This comparison was more or less comparing these tools as part of a trio, a chopping tool, saw and a smaller knife. The smaller knife would of course take over the carving tasks.
I appreciate your comment my friend!👍
@@Woodswalker1965 Understood your Trio concept and agree as I am not a fan of the “one tool option” concept. I was interested in your demonstration because the Trio I am experimenting with is similar sized hatchet, a folding saw, and a medium to large SAK. Again, very good video, thank you.
@@ROE1300 Nice! Let me know how you like incorporating the SAK into your trio!👊 Cheers
@@Woodswalker1965 Will do.
To baton with the hatchet/axe, lay the work piece on its side and baton the tool by penetrating from the side in multiple areas up an down the piece, much like you would split a rail. Because once you bury the axe/hatchet head batoning from the end of the work piece (like you would with a knife) then you have nowhere to strike the tool to continue through the work piece. With the knife the blade is long enough to strike it on the protruding end.
Thanks for watching and for the input👍👌
I've had a BK9 strapped to my pack for years and rarely carried an axe even in winter ...but I also had plenty of wood from fallen tree / branches and didn't need to section up wood and most trips were only 1-2 nights ... my humble opinion....long term Axe...Short Term BK9 ....happy holidays !!;:;:; Spook
Nice to hear from you my friend, I hope you’re well✌️ The right tool for the right job, that’s experience talking buddy! Take care💪
@@Woodswalker1965 living day to day brother been a rough couple years but hoping to get back at the content and adventures 🙏....happy holidays my friend I appreciate you
@@maritimespook Take care brother, I know you’ve had a rough few years , you’re a strong man, stronger than most.💪Cheers
at around 3.20 using the axe you hit a branch inside the tree, making the area of impact a lot harder to penetrate it seemed. I have a hatchet, a big knife and a smaller bush craft knife. I find myself using the hatchet and bush craft knife a lot more than the larger knife.
Thanks very much for the comment. In general use I’m a axe and small knife guy too!🔪
As more of an axe guy...it may sound contradictory, but between the two...I'd take the big chopper over the small axe. For me, I like an axe with a heavier head and longer handle. Part of that is personal preference, the other is the safety issues you stated with the smaller axe. In truth, I end up doing most of my axe work/splitting at the end of a long day, when I'm making camp, tired and prone to more accidents! I've used other choppers (like a BK2), and I find they are awesome combined with a baton when splitting kindling. Far less chance of injury with the chopper than a small axe. In the winter, I'll always carry an axe and a smaller bushcraft knife. Last couple years I've been using the Husqvarna Carpenters axe for cold weather bushcraft trips....but I've been putting together a light weight summer bag and I usually end up bringing a chopper and an SAK(or multitool)! Its hot here in summer, I don't need to process tons of wood...the chopper will do the job....now I need to convince my wife that I NEED that chopper in your video! lol
Hi Chuck thanks for watching brother. I agree with what you say. A time and place for the right tool!
Would you like me to talk to Mrs Timberdogz for you?🤣🤣🤣
@@Woodswalker1965 LOL....You can try, but I've been trying to convince her that I'm a trophy husband for some time now...she aint buying it! lol
First test - 12 strikes with the knife - 19 strikes with the hatchet. Overall it seemed to me the knife edged out the hatchet. I certainly agree that the hatchet could be a bit harder to control and so a little less safe.
Thanks for the feedback on the video. Each tool has its own strengths for sure but it was very close and at the end of the day personal preference would win out. I personally prefer an axe but I agree the big knife seemed to edge out the small axe👍
I think they both have their place in the woods. I would take both of them, if given to me.
You're right, they both have a place!👍
Thank you
Thanks for watching my friend 👍
Hey Wade great comparison. I prefer the big knife ( I have a Becker 9 as you know). The main reasons are : the knife gives you more contact surface thus less dangerous when you swing it . Also for batoning it works way better than an axe. Finally my Becker is lighter than most axes/hatchets. Cheers !
Hey Claude nice to hear from you buddy👍🔪
Nice to see you out and about Wade. Good review. I liked both in your demos and totally agree that one must pick the tool he/she is comfortable with for the task. It all comes down to user preferences. You are good with carving and I am curious if you had crafted a bigger mallet if either tools in their tasks would of performed better. Not sure I’d go personally for either as my preference. I’d pick a good Bushcraft knife, a bigger axe, and a folding saw.
Hope to see you on outdoor travels when the Covid regulations lessen in Ontario.
Hey Jeff, thanks brother! I'm sure a mallet or a proper baton would have been more efficient, absolutely.
Take care and yes, let's open up Ontario!👍😁
glad you're back Wade AND moving well. I love the comparisons and enjoy using my big knife (only 11" handmade for me) as much as using an axe. UNTIL I use my axe and then I am loving the feel of the axe as I sit and process the wood down to what I need. But then I grab my knife and begin to baton and the circle keeps going round and round 😂🤣😜🔪🪓 - that gnarly wood at the end I wouldn't even touch with my knife or hand axe but would get my buddies hydraulic wood splitter LOL - again thanks for a great video
I admit those big gnarly pieces were too much for both tools but they did it lol😁! Thanks for watching buddy and for the welcome back!👊
Great to see ya buddy! Looking good.
Take care my friend, hopefully our borders will open soon, I miss the DAKs!👍🍻
Well very interesting comparison, love the heavy Kodiak blade.
I have a gb small forest axe for my companion on my pack. But thinking the Kodiak may be a good companion too.
Great video 👍👍
The SFA is a favorite of mine as well my friend!👍
I have this Boreal knife and I like it alot. I like that when you have to do some felling in tight space, or do some clearing, you don’t have to be precise because of the lenght of the blade. Therefore, you can be efficient even in awkward position.
I do prefer a hatchet with a smaller knife for versatility, although I like a bigger hatchet, but this knife is fun to use and Could be your one tool option if needed. I was surprised to be able to do some fine task with relatively good ease, at least for a knife this size. I love the high Saber grind (some will call it a full flat) with the convex edge.
I would love to see you do a review of the Nomad knife by WorkTuff. I don’t know if WorkTuff is the knife maker that are manufacturing the Boreal knife for Aurora Borealis but their work is similar: steel, quality, finish.
Thanks for the review.
Hi Bob thanks for the comment. Fun to use is right, I'm liking the Kodiak a lot. I'm like you though in that I use a bigger axe most of the time. It's good to have options!👍
? In my area CT/NY there is soo much Rose thorns/Briars that can cover quite a large area while hiking which blocks your way. I was looking at the Kodiak attached to a hiking staff to sweep thru briar patch clearing a path. 🤔. Does this seem doable to you?? Thnx 😉
Hmmm, not sure about that. Sounds like a machete type tool would be more appropriate for your situation. The Kodiak is very capable but a bit thick and heavy to be attaching to a pole. Thanks for the question👍
Hi Wade, good video again buddy.
I'd take the knife any day as a stand alone tool, with a saw and a small knife I really don't know, depending on my mood 😜
It's all about having fun with shiny sharp things Rob. What can I say, I'm a bit odd😂
I'm thinking of doing a CS trail hawk V outdoor axe video, what do you think?
Makes sense, that would be a good comparison. I've never tried the Trail Hawk but I've tried another hawk, the CRKT Chogan and I really liked it.
Make it, I'll watch it👍🍻
Really hoping to get ahold of one of those Kodiaks when Alex is ready, great axe though thanks for the comparison
You won't go wrong with the Kodiak my friend👍
Wade, Brother...how are you? I really enjoyed this video. I own lots if axes and a few 'big' knives and have tended to lean towards smaller axes for the tasks you do in this video. I also concur with the comments of my friend MTWoodsrunner (Hi Dave)! and acknowledge the skills of young indigenous people with parangs, goloks and the like. I noticed my wife who spent her first 10 years in the bush readily uses a machete when doing traditional cookery.
Northern cultures are indeed more conversant with the axe and they are still more widely used, though arctic/tundra peoples such as Sami (one side of my long ago heritage), use the leuku because and axe is not the best tool for hacking scrub willows and Arctic Birch species for fire making (when they are often 2-3" diameter). I like the GB Outdoor Axe, but not yet sure I can justify buying one, though I have experimented by making up an old JBStohler, 1.5lb head (very wedgy) on a 24" Wetterlings shaft and found it to be a very effective tool. Batoning is an activity I rarely need to do, so I cannot comment in the knife vs axe. Take care, WS
Thanks brother you make some great points. Each tool has its place and use👊
Good morning Wade.... great to see you are keeping well mate. Nice comparison video. I keep looking at the large choppers, maybe I will get one this year. The Kodiak looks a beast 👍. Thanks for taking the time, all the best, Mark :)
Hello my friend! Thanks for watching Mark, it's always a pleasure.👍🍻
Interesting experiment...I’ve been playing with 2 of basically the same length and weight. The GF Wildlife Hatchet and Bark River’s Tracker. First outing the hatchet definitely won the chopping/splitting part. The original geometry of the hatchet was much better while the knife wanted to just bounce off what it hit. After several attempts at getting the geometry similar they performed much the same while in chopping/splitting. I preferred the knife in other tasks. The jury is still out for me as to my overall preference. I do have to say when you combine a carry method the hatchet wins in size and weight...it’s been fun and interesting test so far...
In hindsight at this point I would have to give it to the Tracker (kind of a knife...lol) for it comfortably performs more tasks while being fairly equal overall...
So safe to assume it was a close call? It fun and interesting as you say, playing with pointy and sharp things isn’t it?!😀
My initial theoretical thought experiment would have gave it to the hatchet from pure physics. I’ve been a Axe guy as a tool since I was a kid. Big knives for me are fairly new and rising in the last 20 year’s. As I regress back to a kid again later in life, I’m at that point I think “Big Blades” are going to be my winner for this weight class for sure...knives have definitely risen to Toy status rather than just being another Tool...
Hi Wade, nice to see you again.I just love to play with big Bowie knives now that I own a few. I have been taking out the knives alot more the last few years. A 1st world problem to have to decide what to take along😁. I vote for the big knife. Take care my friend.🇺🇸🔪🔥🌲
Hey brother nice to hear from you! Too many knives? Nooooooo!!!!🤣
I think the kodiak knife is better at batonning but I like the control with the axe better for bushcraft projects.
Thanks for watching and commenting my friend!👍
The JX5 is a chopping beast
It is for sure!
Great review, and video! I use my Becker BK9 for such chores. But would love to get a small axe at some point as well. What are your view on the CRKT Birler for a small axe?
I haven't used the Birler but I do like the CRKT Chogan👍 Thanks for watching!
In my opinion, I think it was too close to call. Both performed well and you can do the same tasks with both for the most part.
Its really what you feel more comfortable with. Me personally I like choppers over axes but that's me. I do feel like despite having a bigger blade, machetes are easier to control.
I agree, very close wasn’t it!? Thanks for watching and giving your opinion, much appreciated 👍
@@Woodswalker1965 yes! And no problem
That knife looks awesome
It sure is👍
Big knife seemed to do slightly better at more task's, I guess it would come down to which felt better in hand to use.
Exactly right my friend!👍
Yes a knife can do anything an axe can do but the real question is are they the same in terms of maintenance the answer is no generally speaking a axe is easier to maintain than a knife lets say something happens and a ton of force is applied to the knife and it bends u cant use that knife anymore if such thing happens at least not effectively but if something happens and the axe handle breaks u can always replace it with a suiting stick u can find around the trees or u can use the axehead like a chisel with battoning and besides in terms of edge maintenance a knife is harder to sharpen than a axe generally because the knife edge is thinner than a axe edge u can sharpen a axe with random small round rock but u cant do that with a knife unless ur precision in sharpening is insanely good but in terms of average sharpening skills u won't be able to sharpen a knife with a small round stone in fact u may and probably will dull it even more but an axe edge is thicker hence its easier to keep the angle right when grinding the edge to sharpen it on the other hand there are things a knife can do that a axe cant such as attaching it to a long stick with rope of duck tape u name it u will get a spear a useful hunting weapon in the wild but with a axe u cant do such thing and if ur gonna hunt with it its gonna be kind of harder so thats a little cool trick there about the knife also if a animal is attacking u like for example a coyote or maybe wild boar because a average human can defend himself against a single coyote without any tools so a wild boar will require a tool to fight or defend yourself against with an animal of that size and strength a knife is more handy in self defense because u can stab with it however u cant stab with an axe u can only chop with it and if the animal has made contact with u its harder to defend yourself with a hatchet in ur hand than a knife because ur gonna have to try chopping chunks of meat out the animal with ur hatchet but u will be in very small range to charge each attack with a single arm and chances are u may cause deadly wounds but they wont be good enough to end the animal immediately it may actually kill u before dying from bleeding or fainting but a knife u can easily target certain parts of the animal with the knife its more precise and a knife has a point unlike the axe the knife point makes it easier to stab than a axehead yes u can also stab with a point from ur axe head but its quite hard and often ineffective and will require both hands mostly while the knife u can stab with it with one hand many times u can stab the neck the guts or other parts that will cause a damage wich will kill an animal almost in an instant or at least stop it from attacking so yeah these are my thoughts about it i don't know if anyone shares the same or agrees with them but i think this will be helpful information for people who read it
Thanks very much for your input , I invite discussions like these!👍
Ive seen multiple axe injuries when working in the bush as a geologist with experienxed axe users. Hell i even got myself in the hand once. The problem is when you are tired or in my case hypothermic, you lose dexterity and precision and make dumb decisions you otherwise wouldnt have. Id prefer to baton a knife or baton the axe head in a survival situation for those reasons. If my body temp is normal and im at normal energy levels axe all the way. Id prefer the big knife for those reasons if im carrying for survival.
Thanks for relaying that personal experience, it makes a lot of sense!👍
High, this was very interesting. Kindly Fiete
Thanks very much Fiete!👍
I have a 1974 eswing hunters 14 inch hatchet that would make both of your depicted look like butter knives.
However I do get the point you're trying to make I would probably make a better point with my Woodman's pal but there's no way that any one of your two tools could cut better than my Eswing. I believe many of us know that it depends on the hatchet machete knife etc and that these or perform better in their particular recommended environment.
Very true Paul. This was a subscriber request to compare these two. Several people actually commented that the Outdoor Axe would 100% outperform the knife. I thought it was fairly close. Having said that, I am an axe guy. I carry an axe 99% of the time. Thanks again for watching 👊
Does Work Tuff have a Khukri, because their knives are built well, and that is a all in one tool imo.
Khukris are a good tool 👍I’m not certain of the entire WTG lineup, you should check their website or contact them via email with your inquiry. Thanks for watching!
Hi Wade, thanks for the interesting comparisson. In this specific test in my opinion the codiac clearly won. I think the gransfors sfa would have beaten the codiac. Maybe. Or better probably. If i am in the forest i always prefer a hatchet for splitting wood in practise. To me it seems safer and the tool does what its made for. But my heart beats for this codiac...man, i wish i could get one. What a piece of power. As a chopper its not just a kind of knife, its also nearly an axe. That makes it difficult to decide. But i am a knifeguy primary, so if i had to choose between this both tools... you know it. Good to see youre doing well Wade. Cheers my friend
Hey buddy thanks for the comment! I believe the SFA would overpower the Kodiak as well. It's just a bigger tool, more of a proper axe. Take care!👍
Thanks for Sharing
You’re very welcome my friend!
How much does that Kodiak knife weigh? Thank you in advance.
Thanks for watching! I go over the specs of the Kodiak here in this video.
th-cam.com/video/gFVChRGCygE/w-d-xo.html
If I had to choos a hatchet or large hawk over that big blade it would be heavier - minum weight would be a gransforse brucks wildlife hatchet, the forrest axe would be ideal. I have tried that one and I sold it, just too lite it does split light stuff wellbut overall too lite weight for my use. Might as well use a big blade which in your case I think it performed better and could do more chores and do them safer. Just my opinioin of course.
You make some very good points. Actually I chose the Outdoor Axe based on viewer comments suggesting it would out perform the knife.
I think you would need to go heavier as well, the SFA is perfect!
Thanks for the comment👍
To me they looked about the same. A little better one task to the next but in the end about equal. I'm an axe guy by far. I pick the Rinaldi Calabria over the outdoor axe. A little wider blade and a longer handle for around the same weight and a fraction of the cost. I feel a lot safer with an axe than a big knife. In fact I've got a finger recovering from chopping with a knife exactly like you did in this video. Made me a bit nervous if I'm honest. Just goes to show you how it varies person to person.
Thanks for watching and commenting. I'm actually a Axe guy too. I chose the Outdoor Axe in this case because it was requested by several subscribers, as it turns out it was pretty close as you said. I guess there's no right or wrong just personal preference.
Cheers 👍
A knife has more capability than just wood processing. I don't own a large knife but have a few machetes, unless felling big trees a machete is preferable to small axe
Very well said. The right tool for the job is important👍
Hey Wade!! I missed ya! I enjoyed watching the two tool compete against one another. Hope you’re doing well🙏🏽😁
Thanks a lot buddy, nice to be back and hear from you!👍
That's a sweet knife. What brand is it? Searched for Kodiak, can't find it.
It's a knife by Aurora Borealis Knives.
Alex doesn't have a website but his email is:
auroraborealisknives@gmail.com 👍🔪
@@Woodswalker1965 Thanks! Found them on Facebook as well.
That's awesome!👍
In the chop test you gave the knife a no knot section the axe had a knot. I choose the axe. Big knife cool Axe more useful.
Thanks for watching and commenting on your choice! Cheers👍
@@Woodswalker1965
Good video cool camp tools
3 Tool Rule reigns supreme..
If you're truly SOL, a knife is the ultimate 'general tool'. Has been since we started making tools. You can make a fire without bucking wood. But for anything involving more than about 2.5 inches of wood.. you're much better off with an axe - whether it's a hatchet, a camp axe, boys axe, or felling axe or derivative thereof.
Long live the Trio!!!!👍