- Joined
- Mar 18, 2007
- Messages
- 663
I got to head out yesterday for the first time in a while. Me, my dad, and brother hit the outdoors for some shooting, and me some chopping for blades comparison. What a beautiful day we had for it. I did not take my pull-over off until around noon. The only bad thing was my phone camera died before I got to take a lot of pics of the devastation that the Bussekin created, I realized this when I went to take the pics of the blades togetherreason for only partial cuts in the pics. Any way here goes a little review with limited pics.
This is the blades I took with me yesterday: B-11, DFLE, M9LE, SODLE, and a Moore manufactured machete from TX. The area I was in is typical Oklahoma undergrowth of vines, scrub grass, scrub oak, and blackjacks. To me, there is not much worse here in Oklahoma than scrub oak that is dried outgood for nothing except adding fuel to a fire.
First up was the B-11 with a Horn Dog convex edge. Wow, that is what came to mind. The scrub oak chunks started flying. The B-11 is fast and nimble, does not take a lot of hard force, and does not fatigue.
Next up was the DFLE with a Horn Dog convex. Wow again. Once again the chunks of wood were flying. Fast, and the larger grip, not much larger than the B-11, felt really good.
Next was the M9LE. The M9LE is a favorite of mine, looks bad to the bone and is tough. The M9LE still has the factory edge but still sharp as all get outwood chips flew again. Now the handles of the M9LE are not the most comfortable but it works.
Up next is the SODLE with a Horn Dog convex. We all know the attributes of the SOD and LE but since it had a fresh convex edge I took it along. Not surprising the wood chips flew once more.
The last blade was a machete made by Moore out of TX. This machete is my fathers and he just got it. The edge on it was ok, not great but ok. After seeing my Bussekin blade with Horn Dogs work I think it will be making a trip to GA for a makeover. The machete did well, but nothing like the Busskin.
All of the blades made short work of thin stuff but the convex edges did extremely well. Here is a little aftermath of what laid on the ground of the lighter vegetation.
Now to my findings:
B-11 and DFLE are too close to call, especially since both have a HD convex. The B-11 has a longer blade and Infi steel. The DFLE has a bit larger handle and was cheaper at release than a B-ll. Both cut into the scrub oak with ease, both held their edges to paper clicing, and both are light enough to carry in the field. Both blades cut through the vines and grasses it came into contact with. Down sides, the B-11 has a smaller handle and the DFLE is SR77 which needs a little more attention to keep it from rusting.
The M9LE is a good overall knife, great edge, and weight is balanced differently due to the full tang. The M9LE when released was cheaper than the B-11 also. Most of the vines and grasses fell easily to the M9LE but a few did not clean cutmaybe my technique. Down side of the M9LE is the extra care that is needed to keep rust and discoloration from forming and the handles are not the most comfortable for chopping.
The SODLE .great overall walk/truck/bag knife. In Oklahoma I feel that this blade would do the majority of tasks needed. In fact, it is the BOB blade of choice right now.
The Moore machete, it is a machete that has some refinements only a machete can have. I am not sure of the steel but I figure it is 1095 carbon. We will see this machete again in the future after it gets some work done.
Overall, I love my SODLE .as most of you know, what is there not to like about it. Right now if I had to take only one of the larger Bussekin blades I have it would be a hard choice as the B-11 and DFLE are so close in performance. The M9LE would be third only because I find the Res-C handles more comfortable. Basically you can not go wrong with any three of the large Busse blades above, just find one and give it a try.
Long live the Yard, Busse knives, and the pursuit of good times in the outdoors.
This is the blades I took with me yesterday: B-11, DFLE, M9LE, SODLE, and a Moore manufactured machete from TX. The area I was in is typical Oklahoma undergrowth of vines, scrub grass, scrub oak, and blackjacks. To me, there is not much worse here in Oklahoma than scrub oak that is dried outgood for nothing except adding fuel to a fire.
First up was the B-11 with a Horn Dog convex edge. Wow, that is what came to mind. The scrub oak chunks started flying. The B-11 is fast and nimble, does not take a lot of hard force, and does not fatigue.
Next up was the DFLE with a Horn Dog convex. Wow again. Once again the chunks of wood were flying. Fast, and the larger grip, not much larger than the B-11, felt really good.
Next was the M9LE. The M9LE is a favorite of mine, looks bad to the bone and is tough. The M9LE still has the factory edge but still sharp as all get outwood chips flew again. Now the handles of the M9LE are not the most comfortable but it works.
Up next is the SODLE with a Horn Dog convex. We all know the attributes of the SOD and LE but since it had a fresh convex edge I took it along. Not surprising the wood chips flew once more.
The last blade was a machete made by Moore out of TX. This machete is my fathers and he just got it. The edge on it was ok, not great but ok. After seeing my Bussekin blade with Horn Dogs work I think it will be making a trip to GA for a makeover. The machete did well, but nothing like the Busskin.
All of the blades made short work of thin stuff but the convex edges did extremely well. Here is a little aftermath of what laid on the ground of the lighter vegetation.
Now to my findings:
B-11 and DFLE are too close to call, especially since both have a HD convex. The B-11 has a longer blade and Infi steel. The DFLE has a bit larger handle and was cheaper at release than a B-ll. Both cut into the scrub oak with ease, both held their edges to paper clicing, and both are light enough to carry in the field. Both blades cut through the vines and grasses it came into contact with. Down sides, the B-11 has a smaller handle and the DFLE is SR77 which needs a little more attention to keep it from rusting.
The M9LE is a good overall knife, great edge, and weight is balanced differently due to the full tang. The M9LE when released was cheaper than the B-11 also. Most of the vines and grasses fell easily to the M9LE but a few did not clean cutmaybe my technique. Down side of the M9LE is the extra care that is needed to keep rust and discoloration from forming and the handles are not the most comfortable for chopping.
The SODLE .great overall walk/truck/bag knife. In Oklahoma I feel that this blade would do the majority of tasks needed. In fact, it is the BOB blade of choice right now.
The Moore machete, it is a machete that has some refinements only a machete can have. I am not sure of the steel but I figure it is 1095 carbon. We will see this machete again in the future after it gets some work done.
Overall, I love my SODLE .as most of you know, what is there not to like about it. Right now if I had to take only one of the larger Bussekin blades I have it would be a hard choice as the B-11 and DFLE are so close in performance. The M9LE would be third only because I find the Res-C handles more comfortable. Basically you can not go wrong with any three of the large Busse blades above, just find one and give it a try.
Long live the Yard, Busse knives, and the pursuit of good times in the outdoors.
Last edited:
