Nowt wrong with a bit of batoning. It's my knife, and I'll abuse it if I want to
When all is said and done it's no different from the arguments over which knife is best. Who cares? Just do it the way you enjoy it; it's only a hobby.
Dont batton with your knife
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When all is said and done it's no different from the arguments over which knife is best. Who cares? Just do it the way you enjoy it; it's only a hobby.
I like your thinking
No, no, no, no no! Your all wrong!
The correct way to split wood is with a spoon.
(It must be a full tang spoon though, none of this amateur plastic handled rubbish)
Obviously there's something wrong with him,,,,,,,(-;
I must admit to not being a fan of batoning (or using my knife with a ferro rod) but there would be situations where I may be forced to do so and I'm sure my knives would take the abuse.
But out of personal preference I just don't do either, I have an axe and saw for larger pieces of wood and a striker for the ferro rod - it's even permanently attached with a piece of handy cord!
But as has been said it's folks own toys and they can do as they please - I just wouldn't lend them my knife to do so. Though the chances of me lending it unless I like you a lot and trust you is pretty slim anyway.
But out of personal preference I just don't do either, I have an axe and saw for larger pieces of wood and a striker for the ferro rod - it's even permanently attached with a piece of handy cord!
But as has been said it's folks own toys and they can do as they please - I just wouldn't lend them my knife to do so. Though the chances of me lending it unless I like you a lot and trust you is pretty slim anyway.
If you're around camp and need to split a good thick log, just carve yourself a wedge or 2, baton the knife just to split the fibres along the end of the log, then knock in the wedges. It's not a race to split logs.
At home it's a froe or maul for me, depending on size of the round.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
At home it's a froe or maul for me, depending on size of the round.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2
Yep, he's obviously a complete ametuer. Everyone knows to hold the concave side of the spoon away from them.
Honestly...
No I think it's good survival thinking- always have at least two uses for everything you carry. Now ask me what I use the portable bidet for.
I must admit, I never used to baton that often, few times a month, I'm doing it constantly now, when the blade of your knife is 4.5mm thick and its full tang with a Scandi, it does it with ease .
.
I have broken a knife when battoning. It was my total lack of knowledge of the metal which was at fault. It was 440c investment cast. Sharp but brittle and to my horror I broke a half moon shape out of the blade.
So, after i learned this expensive lesson, i had an all rounder made which i could batton with. A Longstrider Battoneer varient 2, this is now my main carry. Sharp, robust and i know i can trust it.
Skill, knowledge and the correct type of steel all help.
I do carry an axe when using the car, but rarely when walking.
Alan l.
So, after i learned this expensive lesson, i had an all rounder made which i could batton with. A Longstrider Battoneer varient 2, this is now my main carry. Sharp, robust and i know i can trust it.
Skill, knowledge and the correct type of steel all help.
I do carry an axe when using the car, but rarely when walking.
Alan l.
I batton with a knife... have done for years and years and years... and years.
Anyone who looks over my shoulder and tells me to stop will get battoned.
Anyone who looks over my shoulder and tells me to stop will get battoned.
Only ever had one small fail while battoning with a knife and put a small dink in the edge. I have also had axes chip while splitting wood.
I baton to do precise splits on smaller pieces of wood (using an axe would - for me anyway - be clumsy, and using a wedge would be like using a rocket launcher to swat a fly).
I can quickly, easily, safely and efficiently baton a length of branch up to about 5" in diameter far quicker and with far greater accuracy than I can split it with any other tool.
Batoning is a skill worth learning, and has its place - as do all skills.
Only thing that's ever gone wrong for me when batoning was a few months ago where my knife curved profoundly with the grain of the wood... and was quite unnerving. That said, it's a very high quality knife (ESEE RC6) and straightened itself within about 10-15 minutes having been withdrawn from the wood. This was witnessed by several people in the Suffolk group as it happened at a meet. No permanent damage, and it hasn't happened since so I'll call it a fluke and carry on.
For splitting firewood... use an axe. That said, I rarely actually have to split firewood! I use smaller stuff and baton it to produce kindling, and once I establish the fire I start applying solid logs starting with thinner stuff and working up to the chunky ones. They burn for longer with less surface area exposed anyway!
I can quickly, easily, safely and efficiently baton a length of branch up to about 5" in diameter far quicker and with far greater accuracy than I can split it with any other tool.
Batoning is a skill worth learning, and has its place - as do all skills.
Only thing that's ever gone wrong for me when batoning was a few months ago where my knife curved profoundly with the grain of the wood... and was quite unnerving. That said, it's a very high quality knife (ESEE RC6) and straightened itself within about 10-15 minutes having been withdrawn from the wood. This was witnessed by several people in the Suffolk group as it happened at a meet. No permanent damage, and it hasn't happened since so I'll call it a fluke and carry on.
For splitting firewood... use an axe. That said, I rarely actually have to split firewood! I use smaller stuff and baton it to produce kindling, and once I establish the fire I start applying solid logs starting with thinner stuff and working up to the chunky ones. They burn for longer with less surface area exposed anyway!
I knew you had bent your Knife at the meet, but did not know it had straighten its self, weird to say the least... I have to say... would like to see it happen...
Have you tried a froe? I really can't understand how a knife offers more options than a froe - or how it is people can pound on the spine of a knife, but can't pound on the spine of a froe?
Because going for a wander or a quiet camp-out one usually has a knife, but I'm hanged if I can mind the last time I had a froe with me at anything but a settled camp......that I drove to.
cheers,
M
cheers,
M
I would not of thought that many have a froe in their tool kit so I would agree with you Chris. I know the guys that have them I have camped with don't take the every time they go, myself I use an axe and gluts
Not many people take a splitting wedge either (which the poster was talking about)
I don't disagree with batoning a knife because its what you have with you
I was surprised by the statement
is all. I believe that a froe would be as quick and with greater accuracy (given the eye orientation gives the ability to direct the split)
It was not me that started the comparison with "any other tool" - I merely queried someone else making it!
Ahhh... the sign of a good thread when BR has to go "legal" because such an important and emotive subject gets everyone angry and finger pointy. Love it.
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