Quote:
Originally Posted by cosmok
x SF med, I don't have any experience with any convex type choppers and the only big straight edged choppers are machetes. I can't really give you an honest opinion on this. I can tell you that the gutshot chopper, as pictured, cuts very well. I am able to get 4 cuts on a full water bottle, I guess that would be a soft material and it does well on 2x4's as well. I think the only way I can answer this is to make 3 similar knives, one with each blade style and put them in a little head to head to head contest!! It will have to wait until I have enough steel to make all 3 out of the same type to keep things as honest as I can.
Eric
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Eric,
Good answer.
I have not made many of the re-curve knives and when I do there is section of blade that is also curved in the other direction.
The re-curve gathers material ahead of the cut and works well in the Nepalese Khukuri because many of these famous blades are also made from thicker stock and are heavy.
If one watches what I think is the ultimate chopping competition, the Stihl Timber Sports Series with the best axemen in the world, it used to be a seven lb. axe was about the weight limit but now some of the guys are using up to 9 lb. axes. It takes some serious horsepower to make a 9 lb. axe move fast.
Mel Lentz was here last week, he is one of the legends of the sport. I watched him chop a couple days ago and noted the axe is accelerating all the way into the strike. Our knives do not have long enough handles to do this well.
There are no restrictions to what axe can be used as long as it meets the safety protocol of being pinned through the head to the handle to prevent an axe head from coming off.
We also have to consider how much a knife can weigh because there is a lot of other gear for soldiers to pack.