CHOPOFF- Busse FFBM vs CS Trail Master!!!!

[Gman1128]

I promised this a while back, so here we go!


Here are the competitors
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff002.jpg?t=1213208215

Busse FFBM and Cold Steel Trail master. The FFBM is brand new and has a razor sharp factory edge. The trailmaster is used and has been sharpened. It is also very sharp. Both will shave hair and cleanly cut paper.

The Trailmaster is up first. This is going to be a 30 chop test.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff003.jpg?t=1213208420
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff007.jpg?t=1213208719
With its thin convex grind it bites very deep.

Now for the FFBM
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff005.jpg?t=1213208598

It bites very deep and got stuck a couple times.

[Gman1128]

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff006.jpg?t=1213208797
The FFBM's destruction.

But Wait! theres more! Here is the Buck Nighthawk vs the CS
GI tanto
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff008.jpg?t=1213208898

The Nighthawk after 30 chops.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff009.jpg?t=1213208998

And the GI tanto after 30 chops.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff010.jpg?t=1213209041

[Gman1128]

All the knives together.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll144/Gman1128/Chopoff011.jpg?t=1213209132

The FFBM was far superior to the trailmaster (not much surprise there) and the GI tanto did better then the nighthawk.

[Noss]

Cool :cool: Thanks for posting the test. This will help people see the comparisons between the knives. I tested all but the not the Trail master an not together.

Convex grinds are great at chopping. This is what helps the A1 do so well at this task. It takes some nice deep bites like the trail master.

[Sharp]

FBM = Destroyer of Wood Worlds. :D

[FOBOS]

Hi Sharp. How to you like your GI Tanto? It seems like another one of those cheap shite, soft metal, non-knives. In other words, it's a very good bargin , a good knife and everyone should have one!

[Tac45]

Excellent job Gman. Great pics and nice selection of knives. I like the look of the Nighthawk with the green insert. Mine are black and came with a crappy sheath. If the stud is undone the blade can come out very easy.

[Sharp]

FOBOS,

I don't believe I ever told anyone I had a GI Tanto? Did I?

I don't have a G1 Tanto.

I think you got me mixed up with Gman. He did the test, not me. :D

[eatingmuchface]

lol
it was an easy mistake.

ffbms and chop offs just says "sharp"
:D

[Sharp]

Hey, what's that suppose to mean? :D

[eatingmuchface]

it means... you post alot of chop offs and tests... most of whihc involving an ffbm...
lol

I though it was pretty self explanitory.

[Sharp]

Ok then... well you can give me your DFLE and it won't involve any more FBM chopping. :D

[Gman1128]

Thanks everyone! Chopoffs are very informative and lots of fun to do!

Don't worry Fobos, Sharp and I both have the same kind of FBM. As for the GI tanto, I really like mine. Its a decent all around knife. For the price its awesome and makes a great beater knife.

[sdt11670]

Being it this site i am not surprised that a chinese knife gained favor over a buck. I'll bet that buck will cut circles around that gi tanto even if it wont outchop it. I have the tanto and several bucks by the way.

[Tac45]

Oh no. GI Tanto. You have a slave labour knife. Won't you burn in hell for that? I don't have one so I must be safe. Of course I'm safe I only have about five made in China knives. I have two Buck Nighthawks One being the older out of production tanto. Mine are quite old and don't have the edge 2000. Buck put the edge 2000 on them because they were poor cutters. Buck even offered to resharpen and older models for free to the newer edge.

420HC has never had a reputation as being a good long term cutter. It's a low cost fairly corrosion resistant steel made for use in cheap general purpose knives. By the way I love my nighthawks just the way they are.

[Gman1128]

SDT, I never said the Buck was a bad knife. In fact it is a great knife and was the first quality blade I have ever owned. It is a great cutter and holds a fantastic edge, much better then the GI tanto.

If you read the title of this thread you will notice that it was a chopping contest, not an edge holding contest. This means that neither edge holding, nor country of manufacture was not involved in the test, only chopping ability. I prefer my knives made in USA as well but being made in China does not automatically make a knife bad.

[eatingmuchface]

and what makes you think ebcause it's "this" site that we will like the GI tanto more?
(the buck did do fantastic in the destruction test BTW)
I'm sure the buck is a good knife and 440 hc isn't bad at all really. (is it? seems to hold a good edge, with the little experience I've had with it)
:D

[Izan]

Why is that STD's guy in such a bad mood?

[Noss]

Being it this site i am not surprised that a chinese knife gained favor over a buck. I'll bet that buck will cut circles around that gi tanto even if it wont outchop it. I have the tanto and several bucks by the way.

SDT: This is knife tests.com not American made only knife tests.com :rolleyes:

[sharpshooter996]

Hey everyone, I need some knife advice. Im looking for a large chopper with a convex edge. I live it the north woods of new york where there will be a lot of hiking thru thick bush and some steep elevation. I love the FBM but price, avail, and weight are on my mind. I do like cold steel knives from ones I have used and am interested in the San Mai Trail master. I like the fact it has a convex edge and laminated blade and has no abrasive coating on it. However I do not like the fact it has no exposed tang, a guard which will make it hard to chock up on and the vg-1 im not sure if it will chip with some hard abuse. and suggestion on its use by anyone or a good alternative that will meet these goals please give me your advice. I would like to know how the browning comp knife is as far as chip resistance and impact strength, it looks like a nice knife.

[Thecarotidpulse]

Hey sharp,

here's my 2 cents.
In terms of choppers you are probably better off with a hatchet. But i don't think that's what you want,

so think about a Kukri. nice, cheap, great chopper and great workhorse knife.
I believe the Ranger RD7 on this forum gives you a nice convex edge and decent chopping, for less weight.

Now in terms of an all round/survival knife the reason why I picked the Gerber LMFII for myself was because it not only never chipped but also flexed with concrete. Cold makes steel more brittle... so therfore should be a knife to watch in winter ops.

As far as cold steel goes... I have to wrap my mind around the concept of carbon steel... I dont do the whole rust thing... But I think i'll go for a sog or a fallkniven next.


Btw if you're going to be camping in elevation where you'd need rope... partial serrations are your friend.

[Tac45]

How much thick bush do you need to clear? Is it to make a path through? Exposed tangs can also get mighty 'yuk' to hold if the temperature is very low. Is there a reason you need one?

[sharpshooter996]

Hey thecarotidpulse thanks for the advice. I do own I hatchet its a cold steel riflemans hawk, really good chopper but like the ease of carring a knife and the extra utility factor. have ordered the Kukri machete from CS. should arrive tomorrow, cant wait to test it out. part of the problem is there is so many choices and I dont think there is a perfect knife for every occasion and scenero, seems theres always a comprimise to make just like life. Lol. TAC45 for the most part the brush will not have to be cleared, just viewed it as an obstacle to clear. its only thick for a shorts while more of a pain especially in hot days than anything else. I like what I see with convex edges as far as cutting abiltiy and how far they bite into materials. Decisions decisions

[Gman1128]

If you like the Trailmaster I think that would be a great choice. Its a good chopper while still being light enough for some finer work. It is a very sturdy knife. I have beaten on it with a rebar baton, used the spine as a hammer, and used it as a pry bar and it has held up just fine.

As for chipping, I've chopped alot of hardwood with my trailmaster and its never chipped on wood. One time after I had used it to dig in rocky soil the edge near the tip had several tiny, almost microscopic chips afterwards, but they were so small that they did not affect the way the edge cut and I did not even bother to sharpen them out.

A cheaper alternative may be the carbon steel trailmaster but I don't think it is convexed and it has a black coating, but its like 1/3 the price.

[The Cameraman]

I am definitely not a resident expert like others here that can tell you about steel types, heat treatment, and design flaws. However, I do have a Browning Crowell Barker Competition Knife (courtesy of Noss), and I really like it. I use it for chopping firewood, yardwork, and chasing away trick-or-treaters and Christmas carollers. I haven't had any kinds of problems with it. The weight is not an issue, it's got a nice thick blade on it, and since I am not always the most accurate chopper, it has proven pretty chip resistant at times when I have accidently smacked it on the driveway. The only thing that you have to be careful of, which might be common knowledge when it comes to convex blade grinds (again, I'm no knife expert, just an Effing Cameraman :D), is that when you chop at a shallower angle, the blade can glance off the wood. While filming the field test, Noss accidently knicked his leg when he chopped like this. He was fine...but I had to cut the camera and console him until he could pull himself together and stop crying :D:D


SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS, THE EFFING CAMERAMAN

[eatingmuchface]

lol!
yeah a convex edge thats really high (or full convex) can do that... and it's a little scary actually, but not much of a problem as long as you chop right.

but I would've suggested the browning (well, if it didi good in the destruction test, whihc it probably did, since its 1085 I think) cause it seemed pretty lightweight, and can be used for machette work and chopping.
the coldsteel kukri would be a fine choice too.
:D

(and cameraman, sometimes it's the people that don't know all about steels and HT's and stuff give the best reviews. personnal experience is the best you can get. :D)

[Macgregor]

If I didnt have a DF I would get a Browning, think that goes for EMF too. :D

[sharpshooter996]

Hey everybody thanks for all the advice. thank you, thank you, thank you.. nice to have all the feedback and everyones personal opinion. All great points. One question on the convex edges. I read that they are easier to care for in terms of sharpening. that all you need to do is a good stromping or if quite dull to use wet/dry sandpaper and use that almost like a stromp. if that is the case that alone is quite an advantage. Im splitting feathers over the CS San Mai Trail master, and the Browning Comp. Both beautiful knives.
I wish Noss had the destruction test on the browning, would love to see how it would perform.

[eatingmuchface]

it's one of the 10 series carbon.. which normally do well.
it probably got at least a four. (thats just my guess I really don't know)

convex sharpening is easier once you gewt the hang of it.
a loaded strop from BRKT with black compound is probably all you will need in the field. (maybe some wet and dry just in case)

not only is it easier to maintain, it's often a better performer.

yeah, I was going to get a browning anyway actually for a while. (but I reconsidered)
I think if the coldsteel is worth the price to you (I'm not really a fan opf that design though, it looks kinda like a fighter to me... why put a guard on it???) that you should go for it, cause it probably will outperform the browning (just another guess) ... although the price is more than double! (if you find it cheap)

[sharpshooter996]

Ya i dont know why they had to put a guard on it. I think lynn thompson thinks every knife should be a fighter or a back up fighter, lol. what got me set off on the trail master is seeing the A1 test. the lament steel was tough and the convex edge was a great cutter and chopper. bring that up to around 10" all the makings of a great chopper woods knife. I have 4 knives from cold steel, make that 6 with the 2 new Kukris :D and I am very happy with all of them. for their use they are designed very well and are good quality. guess thats just a personal pref too. but i have couple of sypder folders, military and endura and i find more flaws with them and they were not too cheap either. the military is a great cutter but i would not rely on it in the field, tip is very thin and the lock does not inspire a great vote of confidence. then i have a couple of rat knives the rat-7 and Tak. great handling knives but i made the mistake of getting them in D-2 and they like to chip quite often, even on some hard chopping with the rat-7. and the tak chipped scrapping a magnesium fire starter not on the flint but the magnesium. my cold steels are a recon 1 folder tanto pt, 5" vaquero, Pendleton hunter, SRK cabon, and riflemans Hawk, and new yesterday.. Gurkha Kukri SK-5, and Kukri Machete. Guess I would just like to throw in a big Bowie and I would have one big happy family :D but after seeing what the Gurkha Kukri can do I might have to sit on this one for a while. what a beast, check out my e-vail on the other page. hope to have some pic's up soon.

[The Cameraman]

I filmed the destruction test for the Browning last year, but Noss hasn't yet posted it yet. It keeps getting put on the back burner and pushed farther down the list of things to do. But, I have faith that one day, someday, someday soon, Noss will get off his ass and post the destruction test :D I am pretty sure that the reason he hasn't posted it yet because I filmed it with mini tape, and now we film on dvd and its easier for Noss to render, edit, and post it....also he is a lazy bastard...................he's not really (lazy that is, he is a bastard) I am just bitter because he said that I prefer the less rigid trigger of my Springfield Armory XD 40 over his Glock because I have "dainty" wrists.............................bastard :D.



QUITE SECURE WITH MY DAINTY, ELEGANT FEATURES, THE EFFING CAMERAMAN

[eatingmuchface]

ha!
lol
"dainty"... thats a funny/insulting word.
:D
next time noss makes fun of you, kick him in the teeth, and run away!
...
(actually, I'm not sure thats a good idea)

[The Cameraman]

If Noss had posted on the "EDC Everyday Carry" thread, you'd never suggest this course of action :D Noss is always very equipped for a variety of scenarios and situations, up to and including domestic terrorism, biohazards, and pushy girl scouts selling cookies :D

A BIG FAN OF THIN MINTS, THE EFFING CAMERAMAN

[eatingmuchface]

lol, yeah, maybe thats not a good idea...
:D

ha!
one of the things my brother said about the kabar test (when he saw noss batoning on it) was "wow, noss must be strong" :D

[sharpshooter996]

Dainty, Lol sounds like something an english man would say... I would have figured Noss for a big German bruiser! any way Cameraman tell Noss to get that video of the browning up. ASAP :D but be polite you dont want him to club you with the butt of his Mauser.