Top chop

[zenlifter]

Noss,

Being a Chopper Aficionado, I would like you to rate from 1-5 or 1-8 your favorite choppers that you have used in the field over the years or have tested here.
They can't all be Busse either.;)
Thx

[culpeper]

Anything that doesn't cost an arm and leg and made by Ontario. That's all I got.

[Noss]

zenlifter: Okay let's see.


1) Busse NMFBM Great powerful chopper great edge retention.

2) HI Chiruwa Ang Khola Great powerful chopper not the best edge retention.

3) Busse FFBM

4) Busse CGFBM

5 )Cold Steel kukri machete. Great chopper with a good edge installed. I used one of these for years in the field before I found Busse. They are one great bang for the buck.

6) Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife.

7) Becker BK9

8) Ka-bar large heavy bowie.

[xxo]

5 - spec plus bowie

4 - cs kukri machete

3 - fiskars hatchet

2 - GI machete

1 - laplander saw

[zenlifter]

Well I took the chainsaw and brought down 8 Box Elder trees and a couple of dead Elms so I have been in the process of reducing them down so I can burn them off. I spent 4 hours on it yesterday and 4 on it again today.

I was swinging a CS Kukri Machete that has 8 heavy washers JB welded on it :rolleyes: to bring the weight up to 22oz (checking to see if I want a real one that has that 22oz weight) but it was kicking my ass after about 2 hours or so. Hand fatique and forearm cramping set in with the Kukri so I switched to that 16oz CS Barong and I am here to tell you that I am diggin that thing. I can swing that puppy all day no problem and although its not quite as effective it still had damned good results and I am thrilled with it. Way easier then any of my hatchets or axes too. Faster recovery after every swing with or without finesse. Super light, easy to swing over and over and cuts plenty deep.

I was maybe thinking KO Outcast, its D-2, but hell its heavy too at 22 oz.

I don't know how you guys swing those heavies all day, I must just be a big puss.

Whats the weight on those big ass Busses anyway?

[will york]

Hey Noss,

That reminds me. Weren't you going to do a timed-event-style chop-off between a CGFBM, FFBM and NMFBM? Something like what you did with the hatchet/machete/knife thing awhile back. Set a timer, chop on a 4x4 while filming until you get through it, and rate each knife based on how long it took to get through the 4x4 and how many strokes it took?

Might be a nice index to have/use in the future with any knife claiming to be a chopper.

will

[will york]

Whats the weight on those big ass Busses anyway?

The FFBM and NMFBM weigh in at around 2 lbs each, the CG a little less. Those aren't bad, but the MOAB model might be a tad on the hefty side for extended chopping. Don't know the weight, but here are the dimensions:

OAL: 20 1/2"

Blade Length: 14 1/4" (3" longer than the NMFBM)

Thickness: .401" :D :D :D

pic:

[Madnumforce]

I recently bought a Fiskars hatchet, and i am trully impressed how it holds an edge and cuts like a razor! With my CGFBM, i have a monster hacking combo! On my next trip, i'll take them both to compare. I have also a CS kukri machete, but i'm not really happy with it. During the first use, i "bent" it (not really bent, i don't know the exact word, but you know, when the blade is not straight, and have an angle in the tip-pommel axis, doing like a spire). I also have a swiss shovel, and it's decent on small diameters. I can't really rank them for the moment.

[cutter]

The FFBM and NMFBM weigh in at around 2 lbs each, the CG a little less. Those aren't bad, but the MOAB model might be a tad on the hefty side for extended chopping. Don't know the weight, but here are the dimensions:

OAL: 20 1/2"

Blade Length: 14 1/4" (3" longer than the NMFBM)

Thickness: .401" :D :D :D

pic:

Hi Will

Where can I get a MOAB? Very nice pictures and very impressive dimensions. Do you have one? This could be a new benchmark as far as chopping is concerned:D

Take care, the MOAB rocks:rockon:,

cutter

[will york]

Where can I get a MOAB?

The first offering of this MOAB model, as far as I know, was at a recent show, and it was only available in limited numbers. I wasn't able to attend that show. I did contact Busse after the show to see if they might have a few left over, but no luck, so I do not have one--yet. You might be able to order one direct from Busse (info@bussecombat.com) as a custom build, but custom shop pieces ordered from Busse are even pricier than buying custom pieces at a show. The base price for the satin-finished model in the pic above was $2,197 at the show. I think the knife is viewed primarily as a curiosity, both by Busse and by its customers, especially at that price point. A collectible monster, but not something that has a dedicated design purpose beyond that.

I find swinging the NMFBM LE (satin Limited Edition) generates so much momentum that I prefer the CG like the one Noss tested because it's easier to control, and the LE is only a little thicker/heavier at .275" thick than the CG at .25". I can't imagine what kind of control issues you would encounter trying to make full swings with a .4" thick blade and another 3" of blade length. However, I have to admit I'd like to find out for myself.

[Noss]

Hey Noss,

That reminds me. Weren't you going to do a timed-event-style chop-off between a CGFBM, FFBM and NMFBM? Something like what you did with the hatchet/machete/knife thing awhile back. Set a timer, chop on a 4x4 while filming until you get through it, and rate each knife based on how long it took to get through the 4x4 and how many strokes it took?

Might be a nice index to have/use in the future with any knife claiming to be a chopper.

will


Will I sold my FFBM a few weeks ago. So I won't be able to do the chopping comparison test with it. I still have my NMFBM and CGFBM of course. Sorry about this.

In case some are wondering why I sold it ? I just didn't use it. I prefer the NMFBM over the FFBM so it's not going anywhere.

[will york]

I sold my FFBM a few weeks ago...In case some are wondering why I sold it ? I just didn't use it. I prefer the NMFBM...

I knew you liked the NMFBM best, but I didn't realize your preference was so strong you felt you no longer had a use for the FFBM. To me, that's as significant as any test you could have done. :cool: :cool: :cool:

thanks,
will

[cutter]

[QUOTE=will york;8227]The first offering of this MOAB model, as far as I know, was at a recent show, and it was only available in limited numbers. I wasn't able to attend that show.


So the MOAB will be far away for me:( If even you couldn`t manage to get one. I don`t think there will be a show in Germany where I could get one, because at german shows there aren`t even "normal" Busse knives. But my Particle Accelerator will dry my tears:D

Thanks a lot for your very detailed answer.

[will york]

So the MOAB will be far away for me:( If even you couldn`t manage to get one. I don`t think there will be a show in Germany where I could get one, because at german shows there aren`t even "normal" Busse knives. But my Particle Accelerator will dry my tears:D

Thanks a lot for your very detailed answer.

You're welcome, Cutter. There is another possibility for acquiring one, and that is on the Busse Knives For Sale By Individuals forum on Bladeforums.com. Sooner or later, someone who has one will sell one there. The trick is checking back often enough to see it before another buyer does.

Good Luck,
Will

[Noss]

the MOAB model might be a tad on the hefty side for extended chopping. Don't know the weight, but here are the dimensions:

OAL: 20 1/2"

Blade Length: 14 1/4" (3" longer than the NMFBM)

Thickness: .401" :D :D :D

pic:

This is one hell of a Busse but for the asking price of almost 2,200 it's out of reach. It would be fun to chop with I bet. I have no fear of heavy blades and I prefer them. The NMFBM has a nice weight spread out more compared to the FFBM. It feels great to chop with.

[1900]

Where is the Gransfors axe on the list?

[Noss]

Where is the Gransfors axe on the list?

It wasn't on my list since I was only referring to fixed blades.

Gransfors makes a damn fine axe and if I used one like I do my fixed blades I would buy one. :thumb:

[jankerson]

Hi Will

Where can I get a MOAB?

cutter

You can get them from the Busse Custom shop and or you can find some for sale on BF.

Be prepared as they are around $2500. :eek:

I am sticking with my CG FBM. :D

[will york]

MOAB prices...

You can get them from the Busse Custom shop and or you can find some for sale on BF.

Be prepared as they are around $2500...


I have a MOAB I'll sell for Busse's original price of $2,197 plus shipping. It's new, and I received it direct from Busse.

will

[jankerson]

MOAB prices...




I have a MOAB I'll sell for Busse's original price of $2,197 plus shipping. It's new, and I received it direct from Busse.

will

Like I said, they are HIGH. :eek:

Sweet though. :thumb:

[338 Stalker]

1) Busse NMFBM(11.5"). Great chopper with superb edge retention. This knife could do it all in the pinch!

2) Swamp Rat Chopweiler(7.5"). Sweet chopper with superb edge retention.

3) Scrap Yard SOD(7.5") There isn't much better in the 7" mark. Sweet knife that holds an edge great.
Chopweiler chopped better but the SOD is a better camp/hunting/do it all knife in the 7" bracket IMO

[David Wesner]

Just registered and figured I'd say Hello to everyone.

HELLO !! :rockon:

How about a necro-post :rolleyes: ......... reviving this old Chopper thread with some pics of my work.

Both of them are Choppers of course. One forged from W2 showing Hamon, the other from O1


http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i151/kckw/2010/100_3078-W2.jpg


http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i151/kckw/2010/100_0309-O1.jpg

I'll be see'in you guys around :thumb:



:cool:

[jankerson]

Those are very nice. :D

[Madnumforce]

Nice. Makes me think to an old french colonial troups knife/machete, we called the "coupe-coupe" (literally: cut-cut, as the were used by peoples speaking french with relatively few concern about othrograph and grammatics). They are a "modern" and jungle version of what the germans called "Faschinenmesser", it's almost a short saber, and it's incredibly heavy as it's 6mm thick. I have one, but not right here and now, that's the only picture I have found of these "coupe-coupe":

http://www.caverne-du-dragon.com/UserFile/Image/objetdumois/coupe-coupe%281%29.jpg

[Madnumforce]

Here is a picture I took to show more precisely this big camp knife:
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9624/dscf3086.jpg
From bottom to top: Fallkniven A2, which isn't precisely tiny, my faithfull CGFBM, the famous colonial camp knife/machete called "coupe-coupe", and my Tramontina machete, which blade must be 14" long. The blade of coupe-coupe is about 6mm thick, 1/4", so you imagine how much this thing weight. I haven't found the time (and courage) to test it for the moment, but this, in the hand, evokes the very concept of chopping itself. It is strangely mounted, it's not completly full tang as on the inner part of the handle, we can't see the tang. In fact, it's mounted like K98 german bayonets, with the wood only partially split with a saw. But the rivets are extremely sturdy, and they are laying on each side of the handle on a washer. There is no lanyard hole, so I had to improvise this features, so important on a knife you feel weight almost half as much as your whole arm!

And here is another picture I took with another colonial french knife: the douk-douk. Kind of Laurel & Hardy :D
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/8229/dscf3092e.jpg