BM vs Chris Reeves Project 1

[muzzleup]

AMENDMENT:Sorry, this was a poor question since I was under the impression that the P1 had a 9" blade. I suppose the only fair test would be with the Steel Heart.
However, thanks for all of the comments.
Ron

OK, I suppose this has already been done somewhere on the forums but I have not seen it yet.
I have a BM on order from Andy and also have a pending deal on a Project 1. What I was wondering was what will the P1 do that the BM won't do? So far I am reconsidering the P1 deal in lew of a Mean Street instead. Does anyone out there in knut land have an experience with both knives and if you do, would you get them both again?

Awaiting the mushroom cloud experience!

Ron Cassel

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Ron,
Now Thets-A-Noif Shop
Bremerton, Washington

[This message has been edited by muzzleup (edited 08-16-2000).]

 

[project2lover]

the bm wont hold matches or fish line in the handle

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after the take our guns away they're comin after our knives

 

[Wulf]

The only other thing the Project 1 will do that the Battle Mistress won't is... succomb! (Nah, I'm not biased

)

 

[muzzleup]

Well, I am leaning towards the Busse line since I already have a Basic#7 but I would encourage any CR folks to respond too. I have a very good deal lined up but need to be convinced.

I kind of want to have at least 1 CR knife but I also want more Busse's.

Wow, what a decision to have to make at my age!!

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Ron,
Now Thets-A-Noif Shop
Bremerton, Washington

 

[muzzleup]

Now thats cute! but have you had both and compared them or were you born a "BUSSE-ITE"?

Originally posted by Wulf:
The only other thing the Project 1 will do that the Battle Mistress won't is... succomb! (Nah, I'm not biased

)

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Ron,
Now Thets-A-Noif Shop
Bremerton, Washington

 

[Wulf]

Ron,

Nah, I'm just being a wise-a$$. I've read some really good reviews of Chris Reeve's fixed blades, and I'm looking at possibly trading for a Shadow1 now. However, I haven't yet met a blade as tough as a Busse, and I'd be pretty surprised if I ever did.

 

[straightblastpfs]

I own a number of different maker's knives, and enjoy them all. Chris Reeve makes a fine knife. My daily carry folder is a large sebenza, and it is great. His one piece knives are well made, and although I have never "tested" the knives, my use of them has been hard and they held up well.

When you start comparing things to a Busse Battle Mistress, or the Variant Steelheart that is with me always, you really are talking about high clover. If I could only own one big knife, it would be a Battle Mistress. If I could own 2, it would be the BM and SH-E. If I could own 3, it would be those 2 and a Livesay Company knife. No mark against other makers, but my experience has proven these knives to serve different purposes, and serve them perfectly. By the way, friends have given me fixed blades they have made, and they hold a special place in my heart. When I go to the field though, I carry a Busse...and I paid retail for all of them.

Good luck in your choices.

 

CRK are really nice and I would love to get my hands on a Sebenza. But for fixed blades Busse just has the whole field covered. If you have a choice between a Project 1 and a mean street, get the project 1 and tell me who was selling the mean street.

Busse knives are just better.

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Everything is negotiable!
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/albumList?u=879893&Auth=false

 

[Cliff Stamp]

muzzleup :

What I was wondering was what will the P1 do that the BM won't do?

Based on working with a straight BM and a P1 :

The P1 is far easier to use for point work and for most light work in general, slicing and that type of thing. The advantage in point work is fairly significant, in slicing and such, cutting wise they are so close the difference is not significant (the BM pulls slightly ahead generally) , however the grip ergonomics on the P1 are significantly better (secure, no hot spots) and thus I could do more work in a given time frame.

Concerning the grip as well there are security advantages for the P1. If the grip is wet, soaped or even oiled it is still very secure and I could slice, chop and even stab and pry with it. When I did the same with the BM it would slip around in my hands. The talons would prevent it from coming out of my hands, but the functionality was low.

The BM easily outchops it though, on light wood it is about 2:1, on larger softer wood it pulls ever futher ahead. The edge is also more durable and stays sharp longer.

Of course for the P1 to be functional you have to be able to use the checkered steel grip, if you can't you will find the handle far too uncomfortable and get very frustrated trying to use it. I had friends bring it back within days with this very complaint. You can of course do any number of wrappings and such but you then lose a lot of the security benefits.

More details can be found in the reviews.

The new "E" handles may have a significant impact in the areas I described above. They would enhance security, chopping and in general raise cutting performance, lower fatigue etc. .

-Cliff

 

[storyville]

There are certainly knives that are as "tough" as Busses, or perhaps even tougher (although that may be moot for practical purposes). Rather, it is difficult to find (at least among production blades) Busse’s toughness combined with its ability to take a fine edge, and hold it for a long time. Busses have proven to be pretty corrosion-resistant, to boot. That makes for a really impressive all-round package, no doubt.

But depending on your design interests, there are legitimate options at Busse’s price point, or even much less. I haven’t used CRK’s Project line, but have used the Mountaineer II. In practical contexts, it would be nearly impossible to make either "fail." For a more convincing argument, see Greenjacket’s posts in the CRK forum. Beyond Busse and CRK:

5160 with a quality differential heat treat makes a great "poor man’s" blade. The HI khukuris are good examples. Many bladesmiths – experienced and novice – like its combination of extreme toughness and very good edge-holding. Among stock-removal makers, Allen Blade offers very affordable, differentially tempered 5160 in many, if not all, of his models.

A bit more expensive is 3V, but it can be had in a custom blade in a price that give Busses a run for their money. I haven’t yet had the opportunity to give it a go, but 3V appears to rival INFI in toughness and edge-holding, in an extremely thin edge geometry.

Busses have certainly earned their "nuclear tough" status and outstanding reputation; but there are "legitimate contenders." And its that persistent raising of the bar that challenges the best, including Busse, to ceaselessly refine and improve.

(How boring it would be – wouldn’t it? – if the "ultimate knife" has, indeed, already been made!?!)

$0.02
Glen

 

[muzzleup]

Thanks a lot Cliff and everyone else for you opinions. As it stands right now I think I will go with the Busse line for all of my needs/wants. Am considering a piggyback combo of the E BM plus the Mean Street. I think that should do everything I will want a pair of knives to do

Once again, Thanks All!
Ron

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Ron,
Now Thets-A-Noif Shop
Bremerton, Washington

 

[ProEdge]

A better comparison would be the CR Shadow 1 and the BM since they are both in the 9.0" blade category..
CR makes top quality fixed blades as does Busse..
Ryu why do you say Busse knives are just better.. Have tested both extensivley?
Please let me know..

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Murray Haday
ProEdge Knives
www.proedgeknives.com
Tel: 905 328 8212

 

[Gator97]

Hi All,
I guess I won't say anything new, Especially after Cliff's post.

I hope dear reader will tolerate this awfull report, I'm not very good at chopping or reviews either.

Anyways, today just for the testing purpose I've done some chopping with PJ II & BM.
Unfortunatelly I didn't have handy my PJ I & more importantly my Jereboam II, which would be a more appropriate candidate for this task.

I was chopping ribbs (Cow) on the wooden board, U know, helping in a kitchen

.

BM had the original edge, since I have used it only once, chopped some wood & although it was still shaving sharp, just couple strokes with ceramic rod + flitz loaded leather, to make things better.
PJ II, I've resharpened once, with my EdgePro, thinned the edge, 2-3 degrees.
I've started with PJ II.
To cut through one bone, with PJ II, I needed 4 hits. After procesing the first bone I've examined the edge. Unfortunatelly it was rolled & chipped in several places. Now, this is my fault too, because I've thinned the edge on PJ II. I've stopped with PJ II at this point & switched to BM.
The rest of the ribbs were processed by BM, 6 of those, to be precise. Whenever I hit with the blade tip, like first 3 inches, it would cut cleanly through the bone & penetrate the board as well. closer to the blade center I needed the second hit.
After every bone, I'd examine the edge. Overall, no chipping, only one place where the edge rolled. I suspect, this one was my screwup too. I hit the bone with the center of the blade, but apparently I wasn't holding the blade horizontally, so the blade tip hit the board & the knive got stuck in the bone, so I had to twist it to pull it out.
When I was done, I've checked the edge. It wasn't shaving anymore. I've used a ceramic rod to restore it. 4 strokes & it was back. Shaving sharp.


I don't think the comparison is quite fair though. BM is heavier, bigger, plus the assymetrical edge IMHO is definitely stronger than PJ II edge.

Overall:
BM was more than impressive

Don't have much to add to the results above.
I guess, I should say one more big thanks to Mr. Jerry Busse

I think this an abusive test. IMHO for it's size & weight PJ II did fairly well, & with the thicker edge I'd have the better results.
During the prior tests on the wood, my PJ II was doing very well. No chipping whatsoever, edge holding was good too.

My opinion - BM is a definite winner for heavier tasks, including chopping. Holds the edge better too.
Whenever smaller & lighter knife is more appropriate, slicing for example, (if 7 inch is small

PJ II is a great knife. Donno how it'd compare with SH, because don't have SH yet, waiting impatiently , however

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zvis.com
Have Fun,
Alligator

 

[GREENJACKET]

Its no secret that I am a CR Project fan as I have carried one for years (and miles). My Project excelled at the job that I wanted it for. See Cliff Stamp's recent review post on the forum.
I haven't handled a Busse so cannot make any solid coment.
However, I suspect that the Busse BM may well do certain tasks better, for its a different animal to the Project. For one it has more metal. Its a heavier knife with a bigger bodied blade, which should make it a mean chopper.
My advice would be to carefully think of how, where, how often and what you are going to use the knife for. Most knives you carry a whole lot and use a little.
I would't want anything shorter or heavier than a mechete in the jungle; or anthing less than an axe to build a log cabin (chain saw even better

).
I would love to get my hands on a Busse, just for the fun of it.