I'm not sure I understand the pipe test but the other chopping results meet with my experience with the SOD. It isn't an axe and I don't think it will out chop one, but for a 7" knife it is by far the best chopper I have experienced. I thinned out my edge and changed it to a convex grind. This didn't seem to make too much difference in the chopping department, but it is much better at slicing and fuzz stick making now.