OBG, the hooked part of the blade is completely useless for chopping...but fortunately the flat section is broad enough to get into quite a bit of wood chopping wise. What makes it a poor chopper is it's lack of weight and lack of a 'wedge' shape like an axe or hatchet. It slices deep into wood but you have to go end to end...the wood won't 'split' unless you do.