- Joined
- Oct 18, 2001
- Messages
- 20,978
I took my 15" BAS and my 13.5" Bulldog Villager out for a test in a small wooded area across the street. It had just rained the day before and everything was still very wet. For me - that's perfect testing grounds.
So, how did the villager stack up against the BAS?
Specs:
BAS = 15"; moderate bend; moderate belly: less than Ganga Ram but more than Sirupati; polished and sharpened blade; medium-sized horn handle; blade thickness = 1/2"; weight = 20 oz.;
BDog = 13.5" Bulldog Villager; mild bend; deeper belly; unpolished and mildly sharpened blade; thicker, wooden handle; blade thickness = 9/16" - very thick; weight = 18 oz.;
Parameters:
1. I tried to place each hit on the upside of the recurve - as much as physically possible.
2. BAS was first on every test
3. Hits were placed with moderate force - the kind you would use if you had to do it all day.
4. Basic purpose = clearing a path.
5. It is a given that a longer/heavier blade would outperform either of these, side-by-side. However, these 2 khuks are more sheeple-friendly and easier to carry, making them ideal for trips under public scrutiny.
Test #1 - Balance
BAS - very nice balance, feels very solid, swing feels natural.
Bdog - very front heavy - perhaps due to the thicker blade/lighter wood handle. Feels kinda "stumpy"
Test #2 - sticking depth:
One solid whack into a 6" tree
BAS - sank 1.5"
BDog - 1"
BAS clearly outperformed because of the longer blade ahead of the recurve.
Test #3 - overhead swing:
Clearing branches over 7' in the air.
BAS - Easily lops off branches up to 1" thick with one swing
BDog - Also lops off branches up to 1" thick, but sticks every once in a while, and doesn't reach as well (you wouldn't think that 1.5 inches would make such a difference, but it does!)
Test #4 - low branches:
Branches less than 12" off the ground.
Both perform equally. However, I was more inclined to use the Bulldog because the smaller blade allowed me more accuracy in between the branches and the trunk - when needed.
Test #5 - Medium sized branches:
Branches over 2" at chest level.
BAS - 2 hits was all it ever took.
BDog - sometimes 2 hits, sometimes 3 hits, once 4 hits.
Test #6 - Wear/Tear in the hand
measured in caluses.
The BAS left no caluses or sore spots, while the BDog rubbed out the bottom corner of my palm (opposite the thumb). My guess is that the wider, flared handle gave it more surface contact and that over time a light abrasion appeared. Nothing painful, of course.
Test #7 - Sheathing/Removal
The BAS went in and out of its sheath very smoothly and easily. The BDog had a hard time, perhaps because the scabbard was set very tightly. It required 2 pushes, rather than just 1 with the BAS. However, the BAS was more inclined to back out when accidently held upside-down. The BDog stayed stuck, of course, and I felt more secure with it.
Test #8 - Dulling/Denting
Neither blade noticeably dulled or dinged from the testing.
Overall Impression:
While the BAS outperformed on nearly every test, the Bulldog Villager was not far behind. I had supposed that it would not be able to cut as well, given the short recurve on a shorter blade. So, naturally, I was very surprised to see it only need 1 more hit than the BAS. The weight really helped the Bulldog, despite making it feel awkward in the hand.
My recommendation:
Get the BAS for backpacking, hiking, etc., for trips where you will need to clear a path, or for light chopping.
Funny note for the day:
I took my oldest son with me to play in the mud (much to the dismay of his mother ) while I was chopping. On the way back (still very early in the morning), I noticed a small bird that was unable to "lift off", only getting about 6" off the ground. I thought "Here's a chance to teach my son a quick biology lesson". I cornered it by jumping into the recessed patio of an apartment building. After catching the bird (gently, of course) I turned around casually and looked through the open sliding glass door to see an old lady in a wheelchair gazing at me in shock...I then realized that I still had both khuks in my left hand. I must have given her quite a scare. 
I apologized and left quickly before she could get back to her senses...
My son got 2 lessons that day!
So, how did the villager stack up against the BAS?
Specs:
BAS = 15"; moderate bend; moderate belly: less than Ganga Ram but more than Sirupati; polished and sharpened blade; medium-sized horn handle; blade thickness = 1/2"; weight = 20 oz.;
BDog = 13.5" Bulldog Villager; mild bend; deeper belly; unpolished and mildly sharpened blade; thicker, wooden handle; blade thickness = 9/16" - very thick; weight = 18 oz.;
Parameters:
1. I tried to place each hit on the upside of the recurve - as much as physically possible.
2. BAS was first on every test
3. Hits were placed with moderate force - the kind you would use if you had to do it all day.
4. Basic purpose = clearing a path.
5. It is a given that a longer/heavier blade would outperform either of these, side-by-side. However, these 2 khuks are more sheeple-friendly and easier to carry, making them ideal for trips under public scrutiny.
Test #1 - Balance
BAS - very nice balance, feels very solid, swing feels natural.
Bdog - very front heavy - perhaps due to the thicker blade/lighter wood handle. Feels kinda "stumpy"
Test #2 - sticking depth:
One solid whack into a 6" tree
BAS - sank 1.5"
BDog - 1"
BAS clearly outperformed because of the longer blade ahead of the recurve.
Test #3 - overhead swing:
Clearing branches over 7' in the air.
BAS - Easily lops off branches up to 1" thick with one swing
BDog - Also lops off branches up to 1" thick, but sticks every once in a while, and doesn't reach as well (you wouldn't think that 1.5 inches would make such a difference, but it does!)
Test #4 - low branches:
Branches less than 12" off the ground.
Both perform equally. However, I was more inclined to use the Bulldog because the smaller blade allowed me more accuracy in between the branches and the trunk - when needed.
Test #5 - Medium sized branches:
Branches over 2" at chest level.
BAS - 2 hits was all it ever took.
BDog - sometimes 2 hits, sometimes 3 hits, once 4 hits.
Test #6 - Wear/Tear in the hand
measured in caluses.
The BAS left no caluses or sore spots, while the BDog rubbed out the bottom corner of my palm (opposite the thumb). My guess is that the wider, flared handle gave it more surface contact and that over time a light abrasion appeared. Nothing painful, of course.
Test #7 - Sheathing/Removal
The BAS went in and out of its sheath very smoothly and easily. The BDog had a hard time, perhaps because the scabbard was set very tightly. It required 2 pushes, rather than just 1 with the BAS. However, the BAS was more inclined to back out when accidently held upside-down. The BDog stayed stuck, of course, and I felt more secure with it.
Test #8 - Dulling/Denting
Neither blade noticeably dulled or dinged from the testing.
Overall Impression:
While the BAS outperformed on nearly every test, the Bulldog Villager was not far behind. I had supposed that it would not be able to cut as well, given the short recurve on a shorter blade. So, naturally, I was very surprised to see it only need 1 more hit than the BAS. The weight really helped the Bulldog, despite making it feel awkward in the hand.
My recommendation:
Get the BAS for backpacking, hiking, etc., for trips where you will need to clear a path, or for light chopping.
Funny note for the day:
I took my oldest son with me to play in the mud (much to the dismay of his mother
) while I was chopping. On the way back (still very early in the morning), I noticed a small bird that was unable to "lift off", only getting about 6" off the ground. I thought "Here's a chance to teach my son a quick biology lesson". I cornered it by jumping into the recessed patio of an apartment building. After catching the bird (gently, of course) I turned around casually and looked through the open sliding glass door to see an old lady in a wheelchair gazing at me in shock...I then realized that I still had both khuks in my left hand. I must have given her quite a scare. I apologized and left quickly before she could get back to her senses...My son got 2 lessons that day!
