What is Batoning? The Proper Batoning Technique

One of the primary concerns when it comes to bushcrafting and outdoor survival is cutting wood into smaller pieces. For that, an axe or a hatchet might come very handy, but they are not always available to us. Additionally, we may opt to choose a knife as it offers more precision. But what exactly is batoning?

Batoning is a method that we can use to split wood in half or in smaller pieces without too much effort. You only need a good knife and something to hit the knife to make the cut, such as a small log. It’s a helpful technique to use in the wild for splitting wood or accessing the dry material inside the wooden core.

How to Baton with a Knife (Proper Batoning Technique)

In essence, batoning is a simple technique that can have great results. But doing it right requires some practice and of course, a good tutorial like this. You might also want to ask someone to show you this technique so you can see it in flesh.

Batoning improperly or with the wrong materials can damage your knife, but you can also hurt yourself if you’re not careful. Avoid using bricks or rocks to hit the knife, as it will damage your knife!

Here’s a step-by-step guide of how to baton with a knife.

Step 1: Set it Up

First, get everything ready and set the “scene” up. Get a piece of wood that you’ll baton with, and you’ll also preferably have a stump ready. Not only will this give you stability, but it will also prevent the knife from hitting rough surfaces. And of course, have the knife ready.

Step 2: Place the Knife

Next, you’ll want to place the knife properly. Set the piece of wood on top of the stump or on a steady piece of ground. Then, place the knife where you want to make the cut. Make sure the tip faces to the right of you. Make sure the knife is placed straight down, not at an angle.

Step 3: Take the Stick

Take the batoning stick in your other hand. This stick or a piece of wood, should be strong and hefty enough to allow the knife to make the cut.

Tip: Make sure you hold the knife with your weaker hand, as you’ll need some force with your stronger hand on the batoning stick.

Step 4: Hit it!

Start hitting the knife with the batoning stick or piece of wood. It might take several hits to make the cut, and of course, a good, sharp knife.

The Advantages of Batoning

So now that you know how to baton, you’ll want to know why you would do this. After all, you’re putting your valuable knife at risk, and there are other options that will give you more power. So what are the advantages of batoning?

• First of all, you’ll get more precision. Chopping with an axe can be hard to get right, especially if you’re cutting a smaller piece of wood. You’ll be able to make cuts exactly where you want to make them with batoning.
• Batoning requires less effort. That’s even more important if you consider that you need to conserve energy while in the wild. Chopping will be more intense, and it will take a lot more energy, even if you are able to exert more force.
• It’s a great technique if you don’t have a chopper or a hatchet around. This can be a great technique for real-life situations that you might find yourself in one day. Without a hatchet, and just your knife.
• Batoning is a great technique for beginners. Not only does it conserve more energy and require less power, but it’s also a relatively low-risk technique of cutting wood. You’ll be able to get some precision even if you’re a beginner.

Disadvantages of Batoning

But of course, batoning can have some disadvantages, especially if you don’t use the proper technique. While it’s a great method for precision, batoning doesn’t give you that much power for cutting larger logs. So bear these risks in mind when you’re using this technique the next time.

• Batoning can damage your knife. There are two ways that you can damage your knife with this technique. First, if you choose the wrong material to baton with. Rocks and bricks will probably damage your knife, so refrain from using them. Additionally, you might damage your knife as you come to the bottom of the log you’re cutting and the knife hits a patch of rough terrain.
• You don’t get as much power as you would with chopping. That makes this technique almost useless for larger logs and even trees, although it can work. It just requires much more effort to get it done. I know some people refrain from batoning as they think that chopping is more powerful, which is true. But there are also instances where batoning can be considered instead.
• Batoning is ineffective if the log is wet. So only consider using this technique when you’re cutting a dry log, or a slightly smaller logs where you want to split it or access the core.

Is Batoning Bad for Your Knife?

Batoning can be bad for your knife, especially if you’re not doing it properly, or if you’re not using the right materials.

One of the most common reasons why batoning can damage your knife is if you’re batoning from a wrong angle. This happens when you hold the knife at an angle instead of positioning it straight down the middle. Make sure that next time you do it, your knife is facing straight down instead of being pointed at an angle. It can break your knife.

Another potential issue with this technique is that people tend to use wrong materials to baton with. For example, rocks might damage your knife significantly and dent it. It’s a tempting option as it’s a rough material and there’s plenty of it, but refrain from using it. Instead, use sticks or wooden logs to baton with.

Many people have reported that batoning is bad for their knives; but this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. If it is done properly, it’s one of the simplest and most effective techniques for cutting wood.

Can You Baton with a Folding Knife?

Batoning with a folding knife is not the best idea. While many people only have a folding knife, you should only use it as a last resort. But if you have a choice, always choose to baton with a fixed blade knife. Why is that?

When you’re hitting the fixed blade knife with a baton, the impact of the hits will be spread throughout the whole blade. And these knives are much more secure. Their structure is far more rigid and solid.

Folding knives are obviously designed for portability, so they have a design with a pivot pin that will let you extend the blade when you need it. This pivot pin is also holding the knife extended, although it doesn’t support harder impacts or hits which can happen during batoning.

As a result, the pivot pin will get severely damaged, which will make your folding knife pretty much useless. Folding knives have many advantages, but batoning certainly isn’t one of them.

 You should only baton with a folding knife in extreme cases. For example, when your survival is in question, and when you desperately need to cut a log. In other cases, refrain from using it for batoning and use a fixed blade knife instead.

What is the Best Knife for Batoning Wood?

But which knife to use then, you might ask? Well, in my opinion, the knife has to be sturdy enough to take the beating. The handle needs to be comfortable enough, and the material crude enough to withstand the pressure.

The best knife for batoning is…

Last update on 2024-03-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

You Can also Check The KA-BAR on HERE

You simply can’t go wrong with KA-BAR. It’s a full tang, heavy-duty knife with a 1095 cro-van steel blade. Splitting wood with it will feel like a pleasure instead of a chore. It also has an ergonomic, smooth handle so you’ll be able to use the knife for longer periods.

It’s a highly maneuverable knife capable of cutting with precision. Its 5.5-inch blade will help you make precise cuts, but it will also cover an impressive amount of area. But above all, this is a knife that will help you with just about everything else you need for bushcrafting.

Whether that’s shelter building, skin game, hunt, slice vegetables and food, and everything else that’s needed for survival. This knife just delivers. And it also offers a stellar performance for batoning and splitting wood. It won’t get damaged that easily, and it’s very compact and unlikely to break that easily.

Summary

Batoning is a technique that’s used in the wild to split wood and cut woods with the help of a knife. We’ve learned that fixed blade knives worked best, while it’s also crucial to use the right batoning technique and materials.

I’ve given you my recommendation about what the best batoning knife is – the KA-BAR Becker BK2, which is a great, versatile knife to have with you in the wild.