[shubbell]

So picked me up another Becker BK-16. My 1st one broke several years ago. The paperwork with this one this time says specifically that batoning is not covered by warranty. Basically anything but delicate cutting and manufacture defect is not covered. It is a great knife. Some say pound for pound the best, "If" you do this or this and this then it is better than this brand or this brand or this brand. I will say I liked it a lot better when it was $66. Paid $87 + tax now. I made my own work around for the crappy zytel/grivory scales on my last one. I am going to get the Micarta for this one. Shape is excellent, fit/grip...not so much. Another $35-45. The CCP sheath is ok. I prefer to carry this size knife scout style, so new sheath, in kydex, minimal $30. It was ok sharp out of the box still had to spend 10 minutes on it to get it working sharp. I did take the truck bed finish off of my last one, not sure if I want to do that this time as it might be what holds it together. JK. Skins got to go. I am not sure where to classify this knife now after reading the warranty. Can't really call it a field knife if the manufacturer can't stand behind field use. Can't call it a survival knife for the same reason. It has the 1095CV which is right up there with Flexifuel as far as I am concerned. I have plenty of 1095 knives and never noticed a difference with the CV? At least it is full tang, however it is skeletonized. You ask "why did you buy this if all you are going to do is bitch about it?" Well for one, this is a great knife. Mr. Becker says it is his go to. He talks about hard use with it. I believe it can take the hard use because I used my 1st one hard. It was all stock other than a Paracord handle wrap. My beloved Schrade SCHF42D was $42 with very similar specs. My ESEE 4 was $110 with basically all the upgrades that the Becker would need. So now I am just curious. Change my mind.

 

[shubbell]

These are the 3. All of them are stock other than I painted the handles on the Schrade. Made them way more grippy. I REALLY regret not getting the canvas Micarta handles when they were available. Left to right:
Schrade SCHF42D
Becker BK-16 (comes with coyote brown scales as well.)

ESEE 4

 

[Think1st]

Well, I wouldn't let the warranty drive your classification of the knife. Batoning is pretty rough on a blade, and while a blade can handle it, most companies probably don't want to cover what really amounts to an abusive practice. Just because a knife can fill a quasi-hatchet role when splitting wood, they doesn't mean that it should fill that role. After all, it's a knife--not a hatchet.

Personally speaking, that is not something that I would even consider doing to any knife I own if I were in a survival situation. Rather than batoning, just cut a wedge from a piece of wood, and drive that into a split in the log. There's no reason to tear up a blade when there are other options available.

 

[moona11]

Well, I wouldn't let the warranty drive your classification of the knife. Batoning is pretty rough on a blade, and while a blade can handle it, most companies probably don't want to cover what really amounts to an abusive practice. Just because a knife can fill a quasi-hatchet role when splitting wood, they doesn't mean that it should fill that role. After all, it's a knife--not a hatchet.

Personally speaking, that is not something that I would even consider doing to any knife I own if I were in a survival situation. Rather than batoning, just cut a wedge from a piece of wood, and drive that into a split in the log. There's no reason to tear up a blade when there are other options available.

Boy you're opening a can of worms

 

[Think1st]

Boy you're opening a can of worms

I can't wait to see what comes out.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Just because a knife can fill a quasi-hatchet role when splitting wood, they doesn't mean that it should fill that role. After all, it's a knife--not a hatchet.

Tell that to this thing to the right of the imperial Providence RI knife... same thickness as the knife, just "hatchet shaped" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[ajole]

That’s what makes it a “hatchet”….

 

[CamoDeafie]

That’s what makes it a “hatchet”….

This thing is nowhere near 1 pound overall. Most hatchet heads start at 1.25 pounds. This feels less than that. In fact, my Ka-Bar 1211 knife is heavier than this. The thickness is 1/8" and the thing is made from a single piece of plate steel. FWIW, the knife next to it has a 4.5" long blade.

 

[greg_r]

@CamoDeafie is correct. Nothing wrong with batoning. Just need to have a tool designed for it.
here are 2 customs. The bottom one has never been batoned, and never will. The top one was made for batoning, and has probably processed a face cord of wood since I have owned it, none the worse for wear. It is not a chopper, but made for batoning.

Then there are bonifide choppers such as the Terävä Skrama. It is a great tool, capable of everything from chopping down small trees, limbing them, splitting them, and making feather sticks.

then there is an actual hatchet my Council Tools Flying Fox. It can do everything that the Skrama can do, it’s equal with chopping and splitting, and will feather, just not as efficiently as the Skrama. But it does one thing much better. It hammers. What! You are using a hatchet as a hammer!? You betcha’ it was designed to be able to do that.

And I have a set much like CamoDeafie has. The Ontario Rat 7 knife and the Ontario Camp Plus Hatchet. These tools are about the same size overall, have the same spine thickness, weigh about the same, and the steel runs from stem to stern. They both do the same job, but the hatchet is not superior to the knife in any way. Therefore the Rat 7 goes with me a fair amount of time while the Camp Plus mostly stays behind. Why carry 2 tools that do the same chore?

In reality, the choppers are relatively new to me. I went many years with my version of the Nessmuk Trio. (axe,saw, folding knife) My trio was normally the USMC Ka-Bar, The Estwing Sportsman’s Axe, and the large Case Sodbuster. I started carrying a saw as I found the saw to be more efficient than the axe, same with the knife, i can break down wood more efficiently by batoning. I still like my Sodbusters, but have basically replaced my folding knife with a smaller fixed blade.

my Nessmuk Trio

 

[Rabidwookie]

So picked me up another Becker BK-16. My 1st one broke several years ago. The paperwork with this one this time says specifically that batoning is not covered by warranty. Basically anything but delicate cutting and manufacture defect is not covered. It is a great knife. Some say pound for pound the best, "If" you do this or this and this then it is better than this brand or this brand or this brand. I will say I liked it a lot better when it was $66. Paid $87 + tax now. I made my own work around for the crappy zytel/grivory scales on my last one. I am going to get the Micarta for this one. Shape is excellent, fit/grip...not so much. Another $35-45. The CCP sheath is ok. I prefer to carry this size knife scout style, so new sheath, in kydex, minimal $30. It was ok sharp out of the box still had to spend 10 minutes on it to get it working sharp. I did take the truck bed finish off of my last one, not sure if I want to do that this time as it might be what holds it together. JK. Skins got to go. I am not sure where to classify this knife now after reading the warranty. Can't really call it a field knife if the manufacturer can't stand behind field use. Can't call it a survival knife for the same reason. It has the 1095CV which is right up there with Flexifuel as far as I am concerned. I have plenty of 1095 knives and never noticed a difference with the CV? At least it is full tang, however it is skeletonized. You ask "why did you buy this if all you are going to do is bitch about it?" Well for one, this is a great knife. Mr. Becker says it is his go to. He talks about hard use with it. I believe it can take the hard use because I used my 1st one hard. It was all stock other than a Paracord handle wrap. My beloved Schrade SCHF42D was $42 with very similar specs. My ESEE 4 was $110 with basically all the upgrades that the Becker would need. So now I am just curious. Change my mind. View attachment 77731

Cold Steel

 

[shubbell]

Well, I wouldn't let the warranty drive your classification of the knife. Batoning is pretty rough on a blade, and while a blade can handle it, most companies probably don't want to cover what really amounts to an abusive practice. Just because a knife can fill a quasi-hatchet role when splitting wood, they doesn't mean that it should fill that role. After all, it's a knife--not a hatchet.

Personally speaking, that is not something that I would even consider doing to any knife I own if I were in a survival situation. Rather than batoning, just cut a wedge from a piece of wood, and drive that into a split in the log. There's no reason to tear up a blade when there are other options available.

I was being sarcastic about the warranty. I find it humorous.

 

[ajole]

This thing is nowhere near 1 pound overall. Most hatchet heads start at 1.25 pounds. This feels less than that. In fact, my Ka-Bar 1211 knife is heavier than this. The thickness is 1/8" and the thing is made from a single piece of plate steel. FWIW, the knife next to it has a 4.5" long blade.

@CamoDeafie is correct.

Wait a second….are you guys telling me there some weight specification issued by some international hatchet certification board to designate when something is a hatchet, and not a knife?

Not buying it. Looks like a hatchet, used like a hatchet, works like a light weak hatchet….it’s a hatchet. And no…being built from one piece of metal doesn’t change anything. Nor does being bad at the job….I mean, even the people that MAKE the Ontario unit call it a hatchet.

So…..I’m right, aren’t I.

 

[shubbell]

ESEE actually advertises batoning on their site. They also stand behind their product as well. Similar to MOM.

ESEE-6

The ESEE-6 knives were designed as wilderness survival and tactical knives with superb cutting efficiency and multiple carry options. Except for knife only models, the ESEE-6 comes standard with a molded sheath. Optional MOLLE Backs and Pouches may be ordered.

www.eseeknives.com

Watch the video. It is short.

 

[shubbell]

This guy has batoned more wood than I can count. So much in fact that the G10 scales broke off. Downside of the knife is, it is not good for much else. Camillus makes the Swedge which is a dedicated batoning knife. A field knife should be able to do field tasks.

 

[ajole]

Define “field tasks”.

Sorry, but I’m in the anti-batoning camp. I can process FAR more wood MUCH faster with MUCH less effort using the correct tools.

I know batoning is a popular thing in some crowds….but so is gender fluidity and $10 cups of coffee…so that isn’t really saying much.

 

[greg_r]

This guy has batoned more wood than I can count. So much in fact that the G10 scales broke off. Downside of the knife is, it is not good for much else. Camillus makes the Swedge which is a dedicated batoning knife. A field knife should be able to do field tasks.
View attachment 77752

I own the Swedge. It is an excellent tool.

 

[Think1st]

Tell that to this thing to the right of the imperial Providence RI knife... same thickness as the knife, just "hatchet shaped" 🤣🤣🤣🤣
View attachment 77738
View attachment 77737

Well, it looks like a hatchet to me...

 

[CamoDeafie]

But it ain't a wood chopper, at the least, it's not an efficient wood chopper

There's a reason these aren't common... the ulu is said to do a better job skinning /removing hide from meat.

 

[greg_r]

Define “field tasks”

I would define field tasks an anything you want a knife to do. It generally takes a knife and makes it a Jack of All Trades, but a master of none.

Here is the Kansbol, Swedge, and Garberg

The Kansbol is a wonderful field kitchen knife. Wonderful slicer, and great for dressing fish and game. It does good with feather sticks, but starts falling short processing wood. I would do light batoning with it, anything I could do just using my hand, but I would not be striking the blade with anything more substantial.

The Swedge, you can beat the heck out of and make a pile of firewood in a hurry, but it is not a slicer. I did once clean a couple of trout with mine just to prove that it could be done, but it was a pain.

The Garburg can do everything that the Kansbol and Swedge can do, but it’s not as good a slicer on one side, and not as good at processing on the other. The Garberg has the reputation on being the best one knife option though

.

This would be the do it all setup.

This would be the minimalist setup.

 

[shubbell]

Define “field tasks”.

Sorry, but I’m in the anti-batoning camp. I can process FAR more wood MUCH faster with MUCH less effort using the correct tools.

I know batoning is a popular thing in some crowds….but so is gender fluidity and $10 cups of coffee…so that isn’t really saying much.

Oh I agree. If you have read some of my past posts, I prefer the right tools for the right job. That said, if a knife is being hyped up as a field/bushcraft/survival knife it better be able to handle some things that are out of the norm for the tool. A knife isn't a pry tool or a hammer either, but many are used as one for "field tasks" in some "camps". My whole point of the initial post was about the hype, yet the company won't back the product even when the creator is on record saying the exact opposite. I broke my 1st BK-16 batoning soft wood. My new one will not endure that pain. It is supposed to be the "best quality" budget knife available IF you add all the extras, which is laughable as it is now not a budget knife and will only be marginally better than the stock version. You can get an OKC TAK1 with similar specs and better scales for less than the stock Becker. A little bit more gets you the ESEE 4 with tons of options and better sheaths and unbeatable warranty. HYPE. The BK is a great knife and has its place, I just don't see it on the same level as the ones I just mentioned. Rabbit hole lol. None of what I have brought up should be considered choppers, but they should be able to chop to some degree. Out of the ones I have listed, the Schrade is by far the best. It also is a tad longer in the blade and thicker than the BK.