Always wanted one of these. I have a Nata that is real nice for delimbing as well. I really like how Silky designed the handles. Two piece, easy to reattach, and super solid. The scabbard tho, on ono, is way sleeker. The Nata is able to rattle around a bit in its scabbard, but mos definitely worth the buy. Thanks for the thorough review.. seems like you cant go wrong buying anything silky.
@@Hot.Tamale714 Hey Tam, sorry for the super late response. I imagine you have already bought one or the other, but in any case since I love and own several hatchets of different varieties I would lean toward the Nata since the Ono is pretty much a thinner version of a hatchet. Plus you can "kind of" use the Nata as a fro.. (KIND OF) and I like that for when I am spoon carving. The Nata I imagine will be better for clearing standing foliage, like you do when clearing a path. But don't get me wrong I would love to own the Ono, it looks like Silky designed it well . I do like how thick the tang is on the Nata, super durable edge and so many uses. The grip is great too..Which one did you end up getting?
True, but silky got a fit and finish that's amazing... Also, the Japanese Nata stood definitely model for this one and that shows. I prefer it over the bill hooks and square Nata myself.
Great gear review. Recently changed jobs from post-wildfire arborist to working for a utility company and I had seen the Ono while working the Camp Fire. Another arborist carried it and did cambium checks of the trees affected by the fire. I've been using the Gransfors Bruks and love it but I was impressed by the Ono's size and ability to combine with the already-heavy gear I carry. The design is cool and I've seen a Gerber product that's close in appearance but wasn't anything I'd choose for the field Your product reviews tick all the boxes when it comes to the information I want about a tool that I am considering. I would love to see you with some eye protection while using the saws, blades and such. Here in Berkeley, CA we have Hidal Tool - a shop exclusively for Japanese cutting tools. Huge selection of Silky. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Cheers Brian. I know them mostly from my years living in Japan. Just a different take on a familiar tool based on their Nata tradition. I do wear eye protection when I forge or grind, not when I use saws or axes. I do this full time for carving, outdoor education etc. and it is just not realistic.
I am not a fan of tacticool gimmicky things or all in one (that rarely have one decently executed, usable tool) either. However I do like practicality, usability and versatility in my tools.. and the Silky Bigboy folding saw is the only saw I really use. For harvesting pieces to carve, camping or yardwork, its my go to. This has me eying the Ono as my budget hatchet since Silky brand is usually pretty cheap but decent quality. Does this hold its egde well? Well enough to finish on a strop and actually hold up to cutting tasks without dulling fast or rolling an edge? Would you recommend it for carving to someone on a very tight budget, or something else? Everything I get must be very budget friendly, I'm on a fixed budget that does not even pay cost of living, all purchases effect what I eat that week... otherwise I would be going straight for a Woodsmans Finest, because I will be using it for the same thing, carving. Every time I find a thin slicey one, it turns out to be too soft for carving and im sharpening all the time. I used a vaughn roofing hatchet for years and instead of replacing, I want to find something more suited to carve and rough out. I am not just on a budget but somewhat minimalist. I carry my woodcarving tools on or with me in a similar fashion to many of your videos. A silky bigboy, a hatchet, and a small "book pouch" about the size of a Kindle e-book with straps inside it, holding a pencil, T square/ruler, a compass (also serves as caliper) a chip carver, a thinner fine detail chip carver, a loop blade from a 1950s Exacto knife kit, and a backless strop. Wine corks on the knives and toss it in a cargo pocket or pack. I also made a strop tin (altoids size) that has compounds, a few grits of trizact paper in case I chip an egde or sharpen someone elses pocket knife, and a bit of eraser to clean a blackened strop. I can hold it all in one hand.
Great hatchet but wouldn't recommend for carving necessarily. On a budget? Get a yard sale hatchet from old steel, rhineland pattern. Add a cheap axe file and you are better off than any "budget" tool out there.
Great! And thanks for the information, as well as your sharing on youtube. It seems I was on the right track because I am a fan of older steel and I've been looking at the resale and thrift stores for something similar to that, It's just a matter of when something shows up. Found plenty of smashers (very thick behind the edge). I love their saws and seing the ono is thinner than many, but likely hard enough, I thought I would run it by someone with experience with one. Thanks again.
It works like a nata. Way thicker than parang. Shorter. Integral construction with lots of weight in the handle. It is like a mix of axe, Bill Hook, nata and ulu. I just lent it to a friend working as a wrangler in the Yukon. Cut off from a thing but horseback and float plane access for months. That's how much I trust it.
@@woodsmansfinest3814 @@woodsmansfinest3814 I doubt that I questioned anybodys trust in the product or whether or not it is justified. The ono as far as I can tell is 5.7 mm thick, my duku granted is only 540 grams compared to the 770 grams of the Ono, but the blade 6.3 mm thick. The length of the business part of the edge is about the same as the Ono, I think maybe a bit more. The ono is about the length of the roughly 30 cm blade of my duku, which in total is around 48 cm. The added length should compensate somewhat for the lighter weight on a whipping swing I believe. The cutting edge is not as curved as an ulu, and certainly it would likely be no good for skinning type jobs, but it’s curved enough that I can do minor “rocking” jobs should the need arise and if I wanted more curve I would just sharpen the last more curved half of the blade towards the handle. However that would preclude me from doing a choke hold which affords more or less the same “whittling” type capacity that you can probably get from the Ono with a choke hold. I have cut plenty of meat and prepared plenty of meals with it. Chops as finely as a kitchen knife if your technique is down ... I would not directly compare a duku type parang to a nata, but one of my favourite parangs has effectively the same shape: A squarish blade, widening towards the point with at bit of a drop to the overall curve. I have found no name for this parang and I doubt you could buy one online, but it’s made on sangihe in Indonesia and I bought mine in Manado, Sulawesi many years ago. As a bonus the flat square point is sharpened so it also works as a wide wood chisel. Of course neither of these parangs allows you to pull things towards you like a bill hook but the heavier version of my Sangihe parang has a pointy “snout” poking upwards at the square end which along with the curved drop of the blade affords some pulling capacity or allows you to spike and pick up things from the ground. But that’s a tool unto itself that I would not bring hiking, Like you I am no fan of batoning, but should you want to my heavy duku will take that kind of abuse. However it has more or less the splitting power as a small axe, and weighs the same as most of the trekking size classic axes from well reputed manufacturers. The spine is sharp enough for all manner of wood scraping and smoothing jobs. It does not have a full tang and for good reason as the balance is different for this type of tool and it’s traditional usage, you would not want weight in the handle. Plus it’s somewhat of a shock absorption feature as well I guess. I am not a tropical user, mind you. I spend time in the arctic alone for weeks or months periodically completely isolated, living off the sea the land and some fairly modest supplies. My combination of choice is a small mora type knife, a parang and a light weight folding saw. A normal axe would be overkill for most purposes as trees rarely grow very tall or more importantly very wide that far up north - and I need a flexible blade more so than a heavy wood processing machine (which the ono does not appear to be either). The Ono is the closest thing to an axe type tool that I might consider as an alternative to a parang - exactly because it approaches a number of other useful functions than an axe. Cheers mate. P.S. Parangs are PERFECT for pruning and your knuckles do not get involved ...
@@dansherman1980 no it is not. I lived in Japan for years, got a high teachers degree in traditional martial arts, I'm called Sensei there and still don't wear traditional Japanese clothing. I lived in Canada for years, worked with First Nations and still would never dare to wear their interesting clothes. In Austria and Bavaria our attire changes every village. We have traditions and customs you don't seem to be aware of and so I'd like to make you understand that playing dress up with the traditions of other cultures is actually discriminating. This is not about ethnicity but culture and respect.
I shot the footage of axing out a spoon blank with it, but then again, why would I use a allround tool like this or my small forest axe for a specialised job I have a dozen axes for... This is a wilderness Allrounder and stays in my pack.
Sure... But when I'm in the middle of a provincial park in northern Ontario in a canoe by myself, that's exactely what I need. Also way easier to bring on my belt when clearing brush or cleaning up to prune greenwood. Actually it is really good at a lot of things. It is a question of mindset. Would I get this as a kitchen knife or as a spooncarving axe... Hell no... But can I bring all of that along on a portage trip... Nope.
yeah,, i havnt been to your side of the world, or your environment, but as a one tool, the nata seems more geared for wood prep and clearing than food prep and scraping,, each to their own though,, i should get both and try for myself,, so the ono is your go to one tool for all your future solo canoe trips?
Looks nice but shit is that thing overpriced. I am going to play devils advocate here as well and say I dont think I really like the handle. It looks great right up until you lose one of the pieces. then you are screwed. Probably charge 50 bucks for replacement rubber pieces. Sharpen up a 12 dollar hatchet from harbor freight and you got yourself nearly the same tool at 100 bucks cheaper.
I totally agree, I have one and I love it! 👍
Cheers for the feedback!
Always wanted one of these. I have a Nata that is real nice for delimbing as well. I really like how Silky designed the handles. Two piece, easy to reattach, and super solid. The scabbard tho, on ono, is way sleeker. The Nata is able to rattle around a bit in its scabbard, but mos definitely worth the buy. Thanks for the thorough review.. seems like you cant go wrong buying anything silky.
I'd sum it up just like that! Thank you!
I’m debating on whether to get the ono or the nata. What do guys recommend going with first? Does your nata get alot of use?
@@Hot.Tamale714 Hey Tam, sorry for the super late response. I imagine you have already bought one or the other, but in any case since I love and own several hatchets of different varieties I would lean toward the Nata since the Ono is pretty much a thinner version of a hatchet. Plus you can "kind of" use the Nata as a fro.. (KIND OF) and I like that for when I am spoon carving. The Nata I imagine will be better for clearing standing foliage, like you do when clearing a path. But don't get me wrong I would love to own the Ono, it looks like Silky designed it well . I do like how thick the tang is on the Nata, super durable edge and so many uses. The grip is great too..Which one did you end up getting?
Cool looking tool. Several other manufacturers make these type of tools, but Silky should be able to do it well. Thanks for sharing!
True, but silky got a fit and finish that's amazing... Also, the Japanese Nata stood definitely model for this one and that shows. I prefer it over the bill hooks and square Nata myself.
@@woodsmansfinest3814 👍
Great gear review. Recently changed jobs from post-wildfire arborist to working for a utility company and I had seen the Ono while working the Camp Fire. Another arborist carried it and did cambium checks of the trees affected by the fire. I've been using the Gransfors Bruks and love it but I was impressed by the Ono's size and ability to combine with the already-heavy gear I carry. The design is cool and I've seen a Gerber product that's close in appearance but wasn't anything I'd choose for the field Your product reviews tick all the boxes when it comes to the information I want about a tool that I am considering. I would love to see you with some eye protection while using the saws, blades and such. Here in Berkeley, CA we have Hidal Tool - a shop exclusively for Japanese cutting tools. Huge selection of Silky. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Cheers Brian. I know them mostly from my years living in Japan. Just a different take on a familiar tool based on their Nata tradition. I do wear eye protection when I forge or grind, not when I use saws or axes. I do this full time for carving, outdoor education etc. and it is just not realistic.
Awesome review! I just ordered one as a companion for my 240mm Nata... Keep up the good work!
Cheers for the kind words! It's a great addition for any yard or light forest work. Very safe!
Surely you meant "keep up the wood work" ...
What’s the other silly in the large sheets looks like it has the nata handle?
That's a Temagari! Amazing saw
Are you still using the Silky Ono?
Yup... Also been in BC working hard in the bush.
I am not a fan of tacticool gimmicky things or all in one (that rarely have one decently executed, usable tool) either. However I do like practicality, usability and versatility in my tools.. and the Silky Bigboy folding saw is the only saw I really use. For harvesting pieces to carve, camping or yardwork, its my go to. This has me eying the Ono as my budget hatchet since Silky brand is usually pretty cheap but decent quality.
Does this hold its egde well? Well enough to finish on a strop and actually hold up to cutting tasks without dulling fast or rolling an edge? Would you recommend it for carving to someone on a very tight budget, or something else?
Everything I get must be very budget friendly, I'm on a fixed budget that does not even pay cost of living, all purchases effect what I eat that week... otherwise I would be going straight for a Woodsmans Finest, because I will be using it for the same thing, carving.
Every time I find a thin slicey one, it turns out to be too soft for carving and im sharpening all the time. I used a vaughn roofing hatchet for years and instead of replacing, I want to find something more suited to carve and rough out.
I am not just on a budget but somewhat minimalist. I carry my woodcarving tools on or with me in a similar fashion to many of your videos. A silky bigboy, a hatchet, and a small "book pouch" about the size of a Kindle e-book with straps inside it, holding a pencil, T square/ruler, a compass (also serves as caliper) a chip carver, a thinner fine detail chip carver, a loop blade from a 1950s Exacto knife kit, and a backless strop. Wine corks on the knives and toss it in a cargo pocket or pack. I also made a strop tin (altoids size) that has compounds, a few grits of trizact paper in case I chip an egde or sharpen someone elses pocket knife, and a bit of eraser to clean a blackened strop. I can hold it all in one hand.
Great hatchet but wouldn't recommend for carving necessarily. On a budget? Get a yard sale hatchet from old steel, rhineland pattern. Add a cheap axe file and you are better off than any "budget" tool out there.
Great! And thanks for the information, as well as your sharing on youtube. It seems I was on the right track because I am a fan of older steel and I've been looking at the resale and thrift stores for something similar to that, It's just a matter of when something shows up. Found plenty of smashers (very thick behind the edge). I love their saws and seing the ono is thinner than many, but likely hard enough, I thought I would run it by someone with experience with one. Thanks again.
Nice tools. I would like to take it for my bushcraft videos.
It is very versatile.
@@woodsmansfinest3814 yeah.
How would you recommend sharpening the Ono.
Just like a knife. I teach a 1€ course on boon.tv/woodsmansfinest on budget sharpening. Cheers
What I like about this is it seems to work a bit more like a parang. But then again - so do my parangs ...
It works like a nata. Way thicker than parang. Shorter. Integral construction with lots of weight in the handle. It is like a mix of axe, Bill Hook, nata and ulu. I just lent it to a friend working as a wrangler in the Yukon. Cut off from a thing but horseback and float plane access for months. That's how much I trust it.
@@woodsmansfinest3814 @@woodsmansfinest3814 I doubt that I questioned anybodys trust in the product or whether or not it is justified.
The ono as far as I can tell is 5.7 mm thick, my duku granted is only 540 grams compared to the 770 grams of the Ono, but the blade 6.3 mm thick. The length of the business part of the edge is about the same as the Ono, I think maybe a bit more. The ono is about the length of the roughly 30 cm blade of my duku, which in total is around 48 cm. The added length should compensate somewhat for the lighter weight on a whipping swing I believe.
The cutting edge is not as curved as an ulu, and certainly it would likely be no good for skinning type jobs, but it’s curved enough that I can do minor “rocking” jobs should the need arise and if I wanted more curve I would just sharpen the last more curved half of the blade towards the handle.
However that would preclude me from doing a choke hold which affords more or less the same “whittling” type capacity that you can probably get from the Ono with a choke hold.
I have cut plenty of meat and prepared plenty of meals with it. Chops as finely as a kitchen knife if your technique is down ...
I would not directly compare a duku type parang to a nata, but one of my favourite parangs has effectively the same shape: A squarish blade, widening towards the point with at bit of a drop to the overall curve. I have found no name for this parang and I doubt you could buy one online, but it’s made on sangihe in Indonesia and I bought mine in Manado, Sulawesi many years ago. As a bonus the flat square point is sharpened so it also works as a wide wood chisel.
Of course neither of these parangs allows you to pull things towards you like a bill hook but the heavier version of my Sangihe parang has a pointy “snout” poking upwards at the square end which along with the curved drop of the blade affords some pulling capacity or allows you to spike and pick up things from the ground. But that’s a tool unto itself that I would not bring hiking,
Like you I am no fan of batoning, but should you want to my heavy duku will take that kind of abuse. However it has more or less the splitting power as a small axe, and weighs the same as most of the trekking size classic axes from well reputed manufacturers. The spine is sharp enough for all manner of wood scraping and smoothing jobs.
It does not have a full tang and for good reason as the balance is different for this type of tool and it’s traditional usage, you would not want weight in the handle. Plus it’s somewhat of a shock absorption feature as well I guess.
I am not a tropical user, mind you. I spend time in the arctic alone for weeks or months periodically completely isolated, living off the sea the land and some fairly modest supplies. My combination of choice is a small mora type knife, a parang and a light weight folding saw. A normal axe would be overkill for most purposes as trees rarely grow very tall or more importantly very wide that far up north - and I need a flexible blade more so than a heavy wood processing machine (which the ono does not appear to be either).
The Ono is the closest thing to an axe type tool that I might consider as an alternative to a parang - exactly because it approaches a number of other useful functions than an axe.
Cheers mate.
P.S. Parangs are PERFECT for pruning and your knuckles do not get involved ...
Where does one get a pair of those shorts?
Well, if you aren't Bavarian or Austrian then I don't think these are for you. Traditional clothing of my home.
What the what that’s discrimination.
@@dansherman1980 no it is not. I lived in Japan for years, got a high teachers degree in traditional martial arts, I'm called Sensei there and still don't wear traditional Japanese clothing. I lived in Canada for years, worked with First Nations and still would never dare to wear their interesting clothes. In Austria and Bavaria our attire changes every village. We have traditions and customs you don't seem to be aware of and so I'd like to make you understand that playing dress up with the traditions of other cultures is actually discriminating. This is not about ethnicity but culture and respect.
@@woodsmansfinest3814 nonsense what do you think fashion is?
@@dansherman1980 you don't get it. Fine. Good luck.
Carve a spoon with this hachet
I shot the footage of axing out a spoon blank with it, but then again, why would I use a allround tool like this or my small forest axe for a specialised job I have a dozen axes for... This is a wilderness Allrounder and stays in my pack.
thats the thing with a one tool option,, it does a lot of things ok,, but isnt real good at any of them,, just my thoughts
Sure... But when I'm in the middle of a provincial park in northern Ontario in a canoe by myself, that's exactely what I need. Also way easier to bring on my belt when clearing brush or cleaning up to prune greenwood. Actually it is really good at a lot of things. It is a question of mindset. Would I get this as a kitchen knife or as a spooncarving axe... Hell no... But can I bring all of that along on a portage trip... Nope.
yeah,, i havnt been to your side of the world, or your environment, but as a one tool, the nata seems more geared for wood prep and clearing than food prep and scraping,, each to their own though,, i should get both and try for myself,, so the ono is your go to one tool for all your future solo canoe trips?
@@bwillij depends on the trip. high volume portaging, yes, basecamping ill go with axe and knife
Its not worth it man. Its too expensive for a small axe and there are much better options for this price...
Looks nice but shit is that thing overpriced. I am going to play devils advocate here as well and say I dont think I really like the handle. It looks great right up until you lose one of the pieces. then you are screwed. Probably charge 50 bucks for replacement rubber pieces. Sharpen up a 12 dollar hatchet from harbor freight and you got yourself nearly the same tool at 100 bucks cheaper.
I disagree for many reasons but it really depends on application. To each their own