Woodsmans Pal?

[S.B.]

Does anybody use or have one of these? I see them advertised in all the outdoor magazines but, they don't give these away(read expensive). Tell me about your experiences with this tool, please?

[ripmyfly]

They are nice... however way to expensive. Corona (sp) make one very similar & about 10.00. I put mine on my edgepro & it has held an edge very well. I picked up mine at Ace. Also, handle come plain, I sanded mine & let it sit in Minwax overnite.

[Beers]

They are pricey, but I've not seen any kind knockoff that will do the duty as admirably. I think they stand head and shoulders above any machete I've seen. How many machetes can split firewood? If I could only have one blade to take camping, this would be it. You could say I'm a fan of them.

Corona does make a "cane knife" that looks very similar, but it's not nearly as useful or substantial. The "cane hook" on the Corona isn't sharp, nor is it wide enough to really be useful to anyone that's not cutting sugar cane. As far as "substance", though they're the same length, the Woodsman's Pal weighs twice what the Corona does. Where the huge price difference comes in, is that the Woodsman's Pal is made with much better steel, and each one is hand built from start to finish by an American.

[S.B.]

Pretty short for splitting fire wood, aren't they?

[Beers]

Yes they are. It's certainly not the recommended tool for the job, but it can do it as long as you don't get too ambitious. You're not gonna lop a 10" diameter log in half with it, but you'd be surprised what it can do in a pinch.

[d_hiker]

I have had mine for 20 to 25 years and love it.  Working in the field as a surveyor it has had plenty of use.  One time I did cut down an 8" dia. maple tree that was in the way.  It was too long of a walk back to the truck to get the saw.  My biggest problem with it was trying to keep it hid from the kids.