Saw or axe? Axe or Machete? Machete or big knife?

[madisonsfinest]

I think he's a Dr. so I'm not too surprised he would do that. Definitely going to watch the video!!

[madisonsfinest]

Ok that dude is bad ass! I think that confirms that he has the sharpest knives ever damn that cut deep

[7.62WildBill]

My choice is an 18" Ontario Knife machete. I have been carrying mine in the woods for 20 years. It's perfect for clearing shooting lanes, brushing blinds, and crude field butchery.

[ra2bach]

My choice is an 18" Ontario Knife machete. I have been carrying mine in the woods for 20 years. It's perfect for clearing shooting lanes, brushing blinds, and crude field butchery.

that's the one made with 1095 steel? there's a lot of respect for that one.

what do you like about it better than, say, a large knife?..

[7.62WildBill]

that's the one made with 1095 steel? there's a lot of respect for that one.

what do you like about it better than, say, a large knife?..

Much better mechanical advantage than a big knife. The heavier blade with greater length can do some work. You can chop some pretty thick limbs in one swipe, and take down small trees without too much effort. About 15 years ago, I spent a few hours giving it a wicked sharp edge, and it is still pretty damn sharp. I always carry a small folder and sometimes a medium size skinner, if I need to do any fine work.

[K_K]

my ESEE-6 its a large knife with enough heft for a good swing, full tang, and 1095 Carbon steel. I really don't see the point of having a smaller knife than the -6, it would do the majority of jobs in a survival situation. The ESEE-6 overall is 11.75". I guess depending were I would be I would still have to evaluate whether axe, saw, or machete. Probably saw and my ESEE.

[SeriousStudent]

nono, I wasn't' trying to shut you down. I wanted you to explain in what circumstances you find yourself turning most to, with the assumption that we are discussing something that will be carried on foot, and basic needs are fire and shelter building, and/or possibly trail clearing. so please, if you have something to add, it will be an important part of this discussion...

I think there's a lot of overlap between these tools, especially when you add a fixed knife of whatever size. my point is there are people here with widely differing experience and yet still different preferences. I was hoping to start a discussion to explore these circumstances and what people have found in their own experience works best.

I'll say, I like using an axe/hatchet in the 14"-18" range as I have used them since a scout and actually enjoy the activity of chopping (whatever that says about me...). with a small axe/hatchet, I am able fell small trees, trim and cut them to useful length, split them to reach the dry inside, and by choking up on the handle, even use it like a large knife to shave and slice wood into kindling.

a lot of people prefer a saw and I carry a small sliding one in my hunting pack for quietly building blinds and trimming branches for shooting lanes. where I find limitations with a saw is that on branches/wood smaller than 2"-3", that an axe that can chop through with one or two strokes, it requires more strokes/work overall with a saw. added to that, if you intend to further process that wood, it requires another tool.

however, if cutting wood into useful lengths, and/or precision cuts are required, anything over about 4" leans to use of a saw. 6" is at the useful limit of my 10" saw though I hardly see a need to attack anything larger in general camping or survival mode...

My apologies, then, I misunderstood your post.

I honestly view the knife/saw/hatchet/axe tools the way most people looks at 1st, 2nd and 3rd line gear. I tend to add tools as my ability to carry them increases. So as I progress from just pockets, to carrying a small pack, then week-long pack, then vehicle; the size, number and capabilities increase.

I agree with you on the overlap as far as application in concerned, and will often plan accordingly. No big stroke of genius there, everyone does it. If I'm carrying a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp, I'll carry a saw. I can use the large knife and baton through a lot of wood.

I have a ESEE-3 in D2 I'm fond of, and will frequent pair it with the Hults Bruks Hunting Axe. Regarding it's origin, I actually got it off ebay. The seller was not really aware of what he had on the market, and I recognized the forging stamps. The tough part was finding a good quality hickory handle to match it up with. I am a huge fan of Swedish axes and hatchets, and they have spoiled me for just about anything else. I would like to try some Japanese woodworking tools someday, just for a comparison.

I've got a big heavy-duty Plano box like this: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Plano-Spor...Black/20893857

It's got an GB axe, a saw, folding shovel, jumper cables, first aid kit, tools, tow strap, air compressor, flares, gas can, yada yada yada. So that's the "3rd line" stuff, I guess.

I am blessed/cursed with in-laws that call me when they have problems. This big box of stuff allows me to fling it into the vehicle, and go help them solve their frequently self-inflicted problems.

I used the Winnebago as a reference, do the the frequency of people getting in over their heads when traveling. It does seem that every year, you hear about a couple of families who get lost in the summer on a back road and die of dehydration. Or they take a wrong turn and get stuck on a snowy mountain road and freeze to death. They may not plan on finding themselves in a fieldcraft or survival scenario, but do to poor decision making end up in one.

Many years ago when I lived in Kentucky, we had a lot of people freeze to death on an highway during a very bad snowstorm. They had no plans or supplies, and they died. Some of them did not even have a winter coat to keep them warm, they just hopped in the car and took off down the road. Blizzard hits, car stops.

In regard to machete-type tools, I had a 14" golok that I bought many years ago in Thailand. Great tool, it had different bevels along the blade for chopping or slicing. It also had a smooth handle of polished water buffalo horn, which made it easy to use without blisters. You could build a field-expedient shelter very quickly with it, or clear away brush for a field of fire.

Like a fool, I sold it to a friend when left the military. I've seen a couple like it for about 200 bucks.

I've got a Condor model golok on the way from Central America, hopefully it will prove to be okay.

I hope that was helpful, and I'm sorry for the earlier miscommunication on my part.

[AKDoug]

Doug, my saw is a Fiskars, probably the same as your Gerber, just rebranded and like it a lot too.

What size is your machete? what ways do you find it more useful than an axe?..

I currently have an 24", the last of my old Collins machetes. The new ones just aren't as good with lots of hard spots in them that make them hard to sharpen. I am going to pick up a Cold Steel one soon as I tend to need more than one around the house.

I find it more useful than an axe in many ways. I use it for cutting alder and willow brush under 3". I can do that in most cases in one clean swipe. That is difficult to do with an axe. I also use it for clearing light brush and grass around camp. Something you can't do with an axe. I use a machete to trim small branches as I make my way through the woods, as well as cut down devil's club (google it). Something you can't do with an axe.

Axes are better for splitting wood, being used as a hammer, and cutting down larger trees. They are also twice as heavy as a machete to carry. Between my folding saw and my machete I can easily collect plenty of firewood for a night's camp. If I need a hammer I just cut a birch or alder club with my machete

My machete is literally shaving sharp and that is the mistake most machete haters make. They just don't sharpen it well enough.

I'm a Stihl chainsaw dealer and just received some Stihl arborist hand saws and they look awesome. I can't wait to try them out. I might just replace my Gerber with one.

[ra2bach]

I currently have an 24", the last of my old Collins machetes. The new ones just aren't as good with lots of hard spots in them that make them hard to sharpen. I am going to pick up a Cold Steel one soon as I tend to need more than one around the house.

I find it more useful than an axe in many ways. I use it for cutting alder and willow brush under 3". I can do that in most cases in one clean swipe. That is difficult to do with an axe. I also use it for clearing light brush and grass around camp. Something you can't do with an axe. I use a machete to trim small branches as I make my way through the woods, as well as cut down devil's club (google it). Something you can't do with an axe.

Axes are better for splitting wood, being used as a hammer, and cutting down larger trees. They are also twice as heavy as a machete to carry. Between my folding saw and my machete I can easily collect plenty of firewood for a night's camp. If I need a hammer I just cut a birch or alder club with my machete

My machete is literally shaving sharp and that is the mistake most machete haters make. They just don't sharpen it well enough.

I'm a Stihl chainsaw dealer and just received some Stihl arborist hand saws and they look awesome. I can't wait to try them out. I might just replace my Gerber with one.

I'd give a second thought to Cold Steel machetes. just for grins I picked up their Kukri machete and Jungle machete. both are made in S Africa and came with horrible blades with visible rolled over edges and burrs, etc.. if you are handy with a grinder they come around pretty quick but if all you have is a hand file make sure it's a sharp one...

[Campbell]

I think your skill level with a particular tool factors heavily here. Swinging sharp steel things around your body is a good way for noobs to practice emergency wound care...
I've used a machete/axe all my life...I kept a 12" machete on my alice pack, and there is usually one on the tractor now, or on the floor board of my truck. I've got several decades in use...enter the kukri. I bought one on a whim 6 months ago, and I'm starting to learn how to use it. The first couple of months were ugly, and yes I had a few very close calls that could have been costly. Just a friendly reminder.