Right,
This is a good news / bad news story.
The good news...I've conducted the test. The bad news -...I dropped my chuffin digital camera doing it and smashed it!
:aargh4:
Anyway, I've written the results down and they may be interesting anyway
Here they are..
Tests
1. Split a 4" diameter 10" long log down to 1" sq kindling (straight grain splitting)
simulates cutting dry wood from dead standing timber
2. Cut straight through a 1" thick pole (cross grain cutting)
simulates cutting green shelter materials e.g. hazel stems
3. Sharpen a stake (diagonal to grain slice)
simulates sharpening for shelters, fire cranes etc.
4. Feather a fire stick (fine shaving)
simulates a real activity and pressing a heavy tool to fine work
5. Cut thick foliage (soft grain multiple stems)
simulates cutting bedding or thatch
6. Cross grain chop through a thick pole
simulates felling activity
Science[/b] Wholesale stolen from gregorach
Technically, it's not the force you're interested in (mass x velocity) to perform a cut, because you're rotating the tool about a pivot point (wrist, elbow or shoulder, depending how you're using it) it's the rotational moment of inertia (torque) you're interested in - which is given by the integration of force x distance from the pivot over the length of the lever. In effect, the further the mass is from the pivot point, the faster the velocity imparted by the person weilding the tool and the longer the distance from pivot to impact, the greater the torque and momentum on the cutting area.
However, you can deliver a similar amount of torque using a brick hammer to a hand axe - it doen't make it a great cutting tool. Such areas as blade profile, blade length, resistance of the wood etc. will come into play. For example, my limbing axe - a GB Scandinavian Forest Axe (which actually has a slightly concave and very narrow profile) penetrates very deeply into wood given the length of its handle (3/4 length). However to split wood, its a poor tool as, due to its narrow profile and short blade width it tends to penetrate the wood grain on, say, a 6" log rather than pushingit apart. My Roselli Allround though, given the same imparted energy, tends to split a similar log as it forces the grain apart due to its wider profile rather than penetrate it. Interestingly, the 11" blade of the Wiseman Survival knife (that I received yesterday and am having great fun "testing") splits a similar log quite efficiently. I suspect this may be due to the fact that the blade length, being longer than the log is wide, tends to cause a more eficient split, whereas the scandy, being narrower than the log diameter, and also narrow in profile, leaves enough wood behind for the log not to split and also doesn't force the wood apart enough for the crack to always run across the width of the log. If I was trying to cut off a side branch though, The Scandy, due to its superior penetration, cuts through ACROSS the grain far more efficiently than the Roselli or the "big knife" - its sharp, has a narrow blade and hence penetrates, has a long handle and hence more rotational velocity.
Results
1. Split a 4" diameter 10" long log down to 1" sq kindling (straight grain splitting) simulates cutting dry wood from dead standing timber
Winner
The Roselli was easily top in this category...it easilly split the log through in a single cut. Down sides of this tool were that when fine splitting (say a 2" by 1" piece being cut to 2 x 1" lengths, the pieces tended to fly around as the broad blade profile throws chips quite violently.
Second
The Wiseman tool split 2/3 of the way through the log in a single blow. Two more lifts and strikes completed the split. Cutting down fine kindling was a joy - just like using a kindling knife in fact
Down side? When cutting through swirled grain and a "knot" I had to batten the blade through as it struggled with cross grain cutting when embedded in the log.
Last
The GB really struggled to make an impact on first blow. A few lifts and taps soon completed the splt though. Upside was fine splits were neat and controlled.
2. Cut straight through a 1" thick pole (cross grain cutting) simulates cutting green shelter materials e.g. hazel stems
Winner
None ...or all...all three tools passed this task in a single blow
3. Sharpen a stake (diagonal to grain slice) simulates sharpening for shelters, fire cranes etc.
Winner
Gransfors Bruks..The fine, ultra sharp blade cut an acceptable point in 3 strokes and a very neat one in two more.
Second
Tie between the Roselli and Wiseman knife. Both managed this task easily - albeit not quite as easily as the GB
4. Feather a fire stick (fine shaving) simulates a real activity and pressing a heavy tool to fine work
Winner
Wiseman knife. The fine blade grind near the handle of the Wiseman Survival Knife made this task a doddle with the Wiseman.
Second
Gransfors Bruks. Holding the axe by the poll, it was perfectly possible to shave slightly "broad" feathers with the GB
Last
Roselli. I was surprised to find that the Roselli managed a broad feather quite easily although it was the weakest tool for this job
5. Cut thick foliage (soft grain multiple stems) simulates cutting bedding or thatch
Winner
No surprise - The Wiseman knife easily outpaced both axes, easily cutting large swathes of Bracken, grass and soft twigs
Second
Hard to call between the axes - both managed this task - just
6. Cross grain chop through a thick pole simulates felling activity
Winner
Gransfors Bruks. I used a 2 1/2 " thick green wood limb for this task. The Forest Axe needed two cuts in a V formation and one light cut to sever the remaining wood
Second
Roselli. I needed to make 2 sets of V cuts here before the coup de gras but it chewed through the wood.
Last
Chopping heavy wood is just not a knifes forte. The Wiseman tool surprised me in fact, accomplishing the task in 8 cuts - I was exerting far more energy than with either axe however.
Conclusion
Don't believe that a "big knife" can only cut soft foliage (as I did before these tests). Even in my inexpert hands, the Wiseman Survival tool was the only tool able to complete every test to an acceptable standard out of the six tests here. That said, if you used a sharp bush knife to cut bedding and feather sticks in combination with an axe, I believe the Wiseman would only win the thatch cutting test (however 2 tools against 1 is hardly fair). My conclusion here is in fact that a good broad spined large knife should not be underestimated as ageneral utility tool even in temperate climes!
Red
