BG/CG BB13, 1311 comparison

jd4320t

jd4320t

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Jul 30, 2012
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I'd been looking forward to comparing these BB13's to the 1311. As I've mentioned before in many threads the 1311 is the best chopper I've used. It's comfy and chops with ease.

I got my BG BB13 first. The initial reaction was wow. Lots of blade and definitely heavier than the 1311. We went out to beat on it and took along the 1311 and a freshly sharpened Dogfather. Sorry, we somehow forget to take any pics of the Dogfather.

The BGBB13 definitely hits hard and will make quick work of chopping needs. I alternated back and forth between it and the 1311 trying to compare them as good as I could. They seemed very evenly matched to me. The BGBB13 hit hard and deep but the 1311 did pretty much the same work with less effort. I was chopping on a fairly hard down tree and was getting vibration with both with the 1311 rocking my hand less.

A few days later I received my CG BB13 and took all three out to compare. Even though the CG is heavier it seemed to perform near the same as the other two. Again, the 1311 does it with less effort. All three vibrated on the really hard stuff.

I love the 1311. It's my go to chopper of choice and I could only see replacing it with the exact knife in INFI.

The BG and CG BB13's are great knives too. As of now I'm keeping them. They'll soon be stripped and sharpened. I'll also sharpen the 1311 so the next comparison is as equal as possible but I'm not stripping it yet.





 
Good comparison, thanks for the write-up. I agree, the 1311 feels nearly effortless in comparison after a lot of swings with each.
 
I haven't chopped with my CGBB13s yet but this is exactly what I expected. I really wish we got an INFI 1311 or at least a thin CG BB13. The 1311 is an amazing knife.
 
My 1311 seems to be substantially thinner behind the edge than the CG BB13's I received. That's likely the explanation for the reason the BB13's don't seem to chop any better. Thin that edge out similar to the 1311, and the results would likely be completely different. Yeah, it would likely still take more effort to chop with a BB13, but each individual hit would probably accomplish more work, with edge geometry being equal.
 
Thanks guys.

SpyderPhreak said:
My 1311 seems to be substantially thinner behind the edge than the CG BB13's I received. That's likely the explanation for the reason the BB13's don't seem to chop any better. Thin that edge out similar to the 1311, and the results would likely be completely different. Yeah, it would likely still take more effort to chop with a BB13, but each individual hit would probably accomplish more work, with edge geometry being equal.
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Yeah I definitely expect some things to change after they are stripped and my buddy sharpens the thick edges.
 
To me the 1311 is a marvelous rendition of a short machete. It combines some very nice ergos with superb cutting performance, and I think Busse stumbled on a winner. When I saw the 1311 offering, I jumped right in without a second thought.

Edge angle, width of blade, weight of the knife, thickness and length all play a part here. The variables can be mixed and matched, but the trick is to come up with an ultra efficient tool. For a camp knife, the 1311 is just about optimal in my book. The weight is perfect for even the longer treks into the back country. If ever there was a survival knife, this, my friends, is it.

That being said, I love the BB 13. Either you like the lines or you don't. I like recurve style blades, and this one is superb. The weight may be a tad heavy for protracted use, yet this styish, elegant blade could probably do just about anything asked of it.

Both of these classic knives are winners.
 
SpyderPhreak said:
My 1311 seems to be substantially thinner behind the edge than the CG BB13's I received. That's likely the explanation for the reason the BB13's don't seem to chop any better. Thin that edge out similar to the 1311, and the results would likely be completely different. Yeah, it would likely still take more effort to chop with a BB13, but each individual hit would probably accomplish more work, with edge geometry being equal.
Click to expand...


I had stripped and reprofiled my 1311 almost immediately upon receipt (thx DD!). No doubt that I will do the same to both the BG and CG BB13 come better weather. IMHO the Bussekin choppers all can greatly benefit from knocking down the heavy shoulder just behind the edge.

Geometry cuts. Geometry cuts. Geometry cuts.

You really cannot compare the cutting or chopping effectiveness of different blades if the edge geometry is very different. Or, you can, but you have to aknowledge that the difference in geometry is a very large contributor to performance.
 
Yep. Most manufacturers have thicker shoulders behind the edge than I like. That's one reason I like machetes so much. Seem to be thinner often. But I was impressed with how thin the edge on my CG B13 is. Better than most busse and good compared to most other brands.
 
For whatever reason my 1311 has the thinnest edge of any of my large Bussekin to date, I think it actually might be a little thinner at the edge than my BG AMS. I'm curious what it would measure if I reprofile the bevel to 15° per side, but the stock performance has been so good I haven't bothered.

Haven't taken measurements on my cgbb13 yet. By eye the bevel looks pretty wide/heavy near the ricasso and through the back half of the recurve, but then it appears to thin out toward the sweet spot/bolo section.
 
I have a thread on the SY forum begging for an INFI 1311. I absolutely agree with you. As of now, only thing taking the b11 off my pack is an INFI 1311.
 
legaleagle said:
I have a thread on the SY forum begging for an INFI 1311. I absolutely agree with you. As of now, only thing taking the b11 off my pack is an INFI 1311.
Click to expand...


Wow, is there still any action on the SY forum?

Or has it all consolidated here?
 
Nice work with the stripping. If you could get the 1311 in INFI, what thickness should it be?
 
Dauum! they certainly look nice now, great job....Well except for the blood. :eek:
 
Suppose you could take a spine shot comparing the BG and the CG? By the angles I have seen people post it doesn't look like much difference but it is hard to tell.
 
Skrapmetal said:
Suppose you could take a spine shot comparing the BG and the CG? By the angles I have seen people post it doesn't look like much difference but it is hard to tell.
Click to expand...

I got to handle those two this past weekend, holding them spline to spline the difference is maybe a 1/16" or so.
 
Jd...did you etch the CG? It looks a ton better than mine...It looks like the gremlins left yours alone.....or did they?
 
Looks like you got your first Love Bite from your BB13's!

They are sooooo sweet stripped!!!! :thumbup:
 
Spirch said:
that is ketchup :p

nice, both side pic?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it's real.

I'll try to get some more pics this weekend.

Stubai said:
Nice work with the stripping. If you could get the 1311 in INFI, what thickness should it be?
Click to expand...

I think the same thickness in INFI would be great.

d762nato said:
Dauum! they certainly look nice now, great job....Well except for the blood. :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks

Skrapmetal said:
Suppose you could take a spine shot comparing the BG and the CG? By the angles I have seen people post it doesn't look like much difference but it is hard to tell.
Click to expand...

There's definitely a difference. I'll try to get a pic this weekend.

DaKruiser said:
I got to handle those two this past weekend, holding them spline to spline the difference is maybe a 1/16" or so.
Click to expand...

Thanks

zombieassassin said:
Jd...did you etch the CG? It looks a ton better than mine...It looks like the gremlins left yours alone.....or did they?
Click to expand...

Both were etched with circuit board etchant. The CG definitely turned out great. I was pretty fortunate to only have some light grinder gremlin marks on the side without the logo.

evltcat said:
Looks like you got your first Love Bite from your BB13's!

They are sooooo sweet stripped!!!! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm pretty happy with them both.
 
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