This is the best comparison I have seen on this forum, Jerry. We live in similar terrain, but I have to say that having spent quite a few days and even nights in the swamps, that I'd take a big bowie, kukri, or machete over an axe. There is little need for the chopping power of an axe there. The RTAK, Ontario Survival Bowie, any good machete, the old thin 10" CS Kukri are great there. The DF is a bit too heavy for that, but it would work. The new Ratweiler and a lockback would be perfect. I leave the axe back in camp or in the boat or jeep. A good lockback or a nice small fixed blade like the SS4, YK, Bravo-1, DM, or HR and you are set for anything. This is based on my own experiences in such terrain and I've caught a lot of grief for carrying such big a** knives from fellow hunters....until we needed it! But if I had to carry just one knife, it would be the Scrapper 6. It will do it all.
Vic, my next comparison will pit the RatManDu and Crash Axe against the Yard Keeper and a Gerber Hatchet.
And I agree that for swamp work a hatchet is too much. And once you get into mangroves and hammocks that we've got around here I wouldn't even want a machette, I'd want a chainsaw. However, I still feel that outside of this area a hatchet and 5ish inch blade will carry you through just about anything.
Right now I've got a piggyback sheath on order that will carry the Ratweiler and Swamp Warden. That combo should easily carry me through just about anything around here and then some. If I didn't pick up the swamp warden then my trusty SAK would be my small blade companion, heck it still might.
