Battle Mistress Chopping

Andrew Lynch

Andrew Lynch

Joined
Feb 6, 2000
Messages
3,021
Look guys, here's my problem. I'm not sure whether to buy a Battle Mistress E or a Steel Heart 2 E. If the BM can't really chop that great, then I'll probably get a SH2 and a khukuri. If it CAN chop quite well, then I'll get a BM.

I know it's hard to grade chopping ability, but are you guys impressed with its chopping ability? What does it compare to, for example? I mean, it's not a very big blade as far as a chopping blade goes. Can a 9.5" blade really chop that great?

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK!?
 
I think these pictures speaks for themself!
The BM is a great chopper.

<a href=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1470075&a=12180929&p=44934612>See my photo, 2bmhugg at PhotoPoint</a>

<a href=http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1470075&a=12180929&p=44934623>See my photo, 1bmhugg at PhotoPoint</a>


Best Regards from Norway
smile.gif
 
The Battle Mistress E is a natural born chopper. Go ahead and get both.

Cool pics Snowman.
 
Speaking of the old style, the BM chops very well for its size. It has a decent mass, forward balance, thin edge and high primary grind. If you are chopping in a fast/whippy manner you would probably prefer a thinner and lighter blade but for heavier chopping with a strong follow through it does fine.

If is was longer it would obviously chop better as it would have an increase in both mass and velocity (impact point would be further out on the blade). So you could order a custom 15" BM and you would get a much better chopper than the regular 10" one.

On a less vague note, it has chopped better than all the similar blades I have used in its class like the Trailmaster, Machax, PAB etc. . It will even readily outperform a nice hatchet like the Wildlife Hatchet from Gransfors Bruks on small wood (2-3 in diameter).

So basically it will perform very strong on light brush to moderate size wood. Both in regards to felling and limbing. As the wood size increases you would be better off with a nice small hatchet it it will start to outchop the BM significantly on larger wood. Then again a decent swede saw will outperform it.

NIB the edges are not optomized for clear wood chopping simply because they are meant to be able to handle much harder tasks. If you are going to just be cutting clear wood you could cut the edge down to about 10 degrees per side and you will note a significant increase in wood chopping ability.

Note, however, if you do thin the edge out this much, and it sees contacts on hardened metal, bone or even a hard knot you will see minor denting/rolling.

-Cliff


[This message has been edited by Cliff Stamp (edited 03-31-2001).]
 
I think I'll try to pick up a BM next time there's when for sale that's cheaper than retail.

Thanks for the responses!!
 
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