BK&T Brute vs Busse ???

Dave Costin

Dave Costin

Joined
Oct 14, 2000
Messages
466
Hi,

I have posted part of this before but I have another question now.

I have went ahead and purchased a CRK Shadow IV for on person carry (only because I got a good deal used) but am now looking for a "pack" knife. Something that will do the heavier work...chopping, ect.

Should I look at that BM-E or the SH-E. I definetly want the E handle.

Now to the title, I have a BK&T Brute that is strapped to my 4-wheeler. I have layed the edge back on my belt sander and was chopping some branches today. It worked supprisingly well especially since I layed the edge back. Going right through 1" limbs and branches with one sweep! (at an angle of course) No problems with the blade either after loading my trailer 2 times.

So the question to you guys is, which Busse would be comparable (better:D ) than the Brute that I currently have. I'm not looking to replace just something to take along on hikes ect. As I said the Brute is Strapped to my 4-wheeler and besides I WANT a Busse!;)

Thanks for any and all help.

Dave
 
I don't own a Brute, but I play with one in a local shop everytime I'm checking in to see if he has any unwanted Busses;) (you'd be surprised what might pop up:D)

Anywho, the Battle Mistress would be the closest in size and I imagine (exceeding;))the chopping ability to that of the Brute.

Heck, the Steel Heart may chop just as well in the end with the more comfortable dropped handle. It would allow you to work longer before becoming tired AND you won't have to touch the edge up as frequently either:cool::cool::cool:
 
Dave,
I don't own a Brute, but you can't go wrong with either the SH-e or BM-e.

After all they are Busses ;):D:D
 
Hey Dave,

Do you plan to trek with three knives? If not, are you looking for something to supplant the Brute? If so, I would look at the Battle Mistress.

I have used the older model Battle Mistress and, the E handled Steel Heart; despite the initial advantage found in the greater size and weight of the Battle Mistress, I tend to favor the Steel Heart E for comfort and versatility( although, my Battle Mistress feel smaller each time I use it ). The ergo handles live up to all of the claims regarding enhanced use, my Steel Heart performs like a larger knife.

I have no personal experience with the Ergo Battle Mistress. However, nearly all posts written about it concur with my performance claims of the Steel Heart, I would expect it to be a rather nice way to accouter your four wheeler. Either way, you will not make a poor choice.

CAVEAT: After your first, you will most likely not be able to contain your purchase to one.
 
My name is Mike, and I'm an INFIholic.

Ditto on the "you can't stop with one" philosophy...

Let me know if you want to see some INFI.

Mike
 
I had a Brute, and liked it, except the handles didn't fit-not secure. 'Course neither do the E handle Busses-not comfortable. I like my Basic 9 better than any of them-secure and comfortable:)
If you like the E-handle, Battle Mistress all the way. I wouldn't expect the SH to outchop the Brute...
 
I do not own a steelheart as yet, but I have owned a brute (and C7)and I know that My 'NO' surpasses both in performance (for me). Therefore the SH-E being a larger version of the NO, I would say...........GET ONE!

BK&T make an awesome knife, Busse makes a better one! (in my opinion).

I am trying to be political.can ya tell.........;)
 
Well thanks everyone. ("laughing" at Mike, that was good.:))

So Gundy, you think the NO chops as well as a Brute? I was thinking I would have to go with a BM but might get away with a SH. Actually hoping it would chop as well or better than the Brute and I would save some weight over the BM although I do like the "BIG" choppers.:)

I like the handles on the Brute when I just hold it but it seems to be alittle unsecure when I chop. The back seems to kind of flop in my hand which is why I'm REALLY looking forward to an E handle. I just know I will like it.

No, I'm not looking to replace or add to the Brute. I have it securely fastened to my 4-wheeler where it will stay. It was rather inexpensive compared to others in it's catagory which is why I don't mind if it gets rained on when the 4-wheeler sits out while camping locally. Also, whenever someone is around they always grab it and "whack" something. Plus I'm not always right there and you never know when something will disappear. Better to be a $75.00 knife/beater than a $350.00 prized possession.

So in summary, I think I'm wanting a chopper that will outperform the Brute but will be carried in my pack to carry out the tougher chores. I only mentioned the Brute because I have one and wanted to be able to compare to it.

Thanks,

Dave
 
The edges on the larger Becker knives like the Machax and Brute, are far thicker and more obtuse than on the Busse line, and the Beckers have far more obtuse primary grinds as well. Thus even a much smaller and lighter Busse will out chop (and obviously out cut) something like the Brute.

However with edge modification, like you noted, you can make the Beckers cut well. You won't reach the performance of the Busses though, because of the difference in primary grind, but you can get very close. There are steel differences obvious as well, but the grind profile differences will swamp these out initially.

The BM-E is the obvious choice for a Brute-like knife.

-Cliff
 
Cliff, what you said is what I was thinking but wanted to hear it from someone who knows.:)

Since you know these knives well, do you think the SH-E would chop as well as or maybe even better than the Brute. All I did to the Brute was lay the edge back slightly with a belt sander and followed up with a very fine file. As I said, I only use this knife as an all around "beater" and even though it is very sharp it does not have a fine, hair-shaving edge. I was hoping to save alittle weight if possible. Plus I would probably be more likely to opt for the SH-E on my side now and then more often than the BM-E obviously due to weight and size.

Thanks,

Dave
 
My Machax, chopped at about 55-65% of my Battle Mistress, which had some slight edge work at the time. I would assume the Brute is similar to the Machax in raw chopping ability, and thus I would expect the Steel Heart to be in the same league. Greg Davenport posted up some comments awhile ago for example on how the Steel Heart readily out chopped the much larger and heavier Anaconda from TOPS. For pure wood craft, and general cutting, I would slim down the NIB edge on the Steel Heart, as it is built to minimize damage for much rougher use like chopping bone and even harder work. However in general, NIB, Busse Combat blades have much more acute profiles than other production blades, and even many customs [of the same blade class], due simply to a greater understanding of steel and geometry on the part of Busse.

-Cliff
 
Hi Dave,

Given that this is to be a "pack" knife for heavier work and not a regularly worn belt knife where weight is more of a consideration, I will recommend the BM-E. It is a fine chopping blade that loves to chew on wood all day long. But when you choke up on the handle and use the choil cutout, it acts like a much shorter & quicker blade due to the shift of balance point relative to your hand. This makes it versatile enough to handle kitchen chores and other pure cutting tasks as well. The SH-E shares this same attribute, with some saving of weight & commensurately lower chopping efficiency.

Either one would work well for your purposes. However, physiology & your pack will also play a part. How tall & stocky you are or are not, how much swinging endurance your arm has, whether and how often the blade will be removed from the pack and worn as a belt knife, how much pack space you've got to spare, and how close your pack is to your maximum allowable weight will tip the decision in the direction of the BM-E or the SH-E.

If the heavier work you want to do with this pack-along blade is chunking up deadfall for firewood and other wood work, a folding pruning saw might be a much lighter choice in your pack. IIRC Cliff recommends the triad of a saw, a mid-size limbing blade, and a small blade optimized for slicing/cutting as a way to cover your camping wood handling needs. Plus you can still buy a Busse (BM-E, or SH-E to save weight) as the pack-along limbing blade. ;) I have found a folding saw plus BM-E to be quite an effective pair for clearing and chopping up laurel branches, which is quite a soft wood, around my place.

For comments on a handy folding saw that Cliff gives good marks and that is my primary pruning saw, search these forums for the word "Tashiro". Picture of it here (it's called the Pocket Saw). http://www.tashirohardware.com/special.html

However, if you want only one tool for the heavier work and you choose for that tool to be a knife, IMHO when you pick a Busse you've chosen the best.

- Greg -
 
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