Shout out to Ike for my new camping/hiking companion.
I was debating getting a bigger knife, and realized what I actually wanted is an axe. Not a hatchet (which I have), since that did most of the jobs as a big chopping knife. A proper 2-ish hand axe. Something that can split a little better than batoning, light felling, and all around camp hammer.
To say I'm happy is an understatement. I am not on team ultralight, so the extra ~2.75 lbs strapped to the side of my pack isnt even noticeable, and now my capability is so far expanded.
The quality is amazing. Ike hand forges the heads, and the handle and fitment is just beautiful and super comfortable. Amazing grind and bevel, not super thin but not a splitting wedge.
In TN campground areas, you can't fell trees but anything on the ground is fair game. Needless to say most of the deadfall branches were already scavenged. But all of the thick fatwood knots on downed pines and a fallen ~4-6in Oak was fair game. And thats where this thing shined. Never would you be able to baton the awkward angle to chip these knots off a log. And never could you process a 12ft fallen oak branch with a camp knife. "Bring a saw" I guess but lets be honest. This is 100x more fun.
Can't recommend enough. And excited for my next trip.
-Til Next Time