Bushwacker Mistress: A Working Knife

Thanks HD - I was waiting for one of your reviews on this.

If you say it is up there with your DF, then it has to be a good one... :-)
 
Been out for a while. The BW is lighter and faster than my FBM and FFBM were, but it chops nearly as well. I convex the edges on all my knives, but the BW chopped fairly well with the factory edge. The sheath is the 10" Scrap Yard Cordura sheath (Dog Father). I probably went a little extreme on the convex edge, but as you see, it held up well. I figured that if the Sarsquatch CE could go that thin, I could do it on the Bushwacker. We all have our preferences, and the FBM is a fine knife, but I prefer the lighter BWM. This is a great all-around knife, much like the DFLE and M9LE. I really like this one a lot.
 
good pics. I really need to get a Bushwacker. I am tempted to sell my FBMLE to fund it, or put the Ash1 up to scrape together some cash before it is pulled.
 
Bigfattyt said:
good pics. I really need to get a Bushwacker. I am tempted to sell my FBMLE to fund it, or put the Ash1 up to scrape together some cash before it is pulled.
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As nice as the BWM is, I wouldn't sell a FBMLE to get one. Maybe for the BWMLE :D
 
Nice post, as always, Horndog. I am glad to read that your edge held up fine. Your edge is a lot thinner than we are used to seeing on this forum.
 
I have a Battle Rat that passed through HD's hands and it is a laser and chops like crazy with zero durability problem.

It was my sharpest knife until I got my bandicoot from him too! Although my Vex and Sage 2 are s-h-a-r-p too!!
 
iamtoast said:
Nice post, as always, Horndog. I am glad to read that your edge held up fine. Your edge is a lot thinner than we are used to seeing on this forum.
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Haha, yeah. I got a bit carried away with that one. But so far, no problems. When my green and tan BWM gets here, I'll put a more "conservative" convex on it. Wouldn't want to scare anybody. I took the BWM out today to compare it to my RTAK II. Those knives are just so similar, they beg comparison. Both have thinned out edges, too.
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While they both weigh in at around 23 oz, the RTAK II feels lighter in the hand, and is faster. The balance points are different.
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The RTAK slashes palmettos a bit easier, but both do it well.
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The Busse is a little easier to chop with as it doesn't stick in the wood like the RTAK II does. You just have to use the flat ground RTAK like a machete. Both chopped through in about the same number of chops. I did quite a bit of chopping and slashing today with both of them.
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I got a few minor chips in the RTAK edge, but the Busse, even with my thin edge, showed no damage at all.
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I have always liked my RTAKs, but wished for one in INFI. Jerry made it happen. They feel different in the hand, though. Both get the job done. I use my bush blades a lot. I just enjoy whacking stuff, I guess. Here is the BWM in its natural habitat.
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I thinned an FBM edge and cut a "petrified" 2x4 with it. The edge looked a little wavy afterwards, but straightened right out with light stropping. Great stuff, INFI.
 
tomthebaker said:
I thinned an FBM edge and cut a "petrified" 2x4 with it. The edge looked a little wavy afterwards, but straightened right out with light stropping. Great stuff, INFI.
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It is the ultimate knife steel. I didn't used to take them down that thin until I got my Sarsquatch CE and saw that it had a thinner edge than any of my other Busses, even after I had reprofiled them. So I don't worry about it any more. If I mess one up, I can usually steel it out.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Good comparison!

Now for the RAT Junglas. . .;)
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Yes, the Junglas and the Bushwacker are even more similar in profile than the RTAK II and the BWM. They should be comparable performers in everything short of chopping concrete blocks. And while not nearly as tough as INFI, properly heat treated 1095 still does pretty well for most chores. I really don't need INFI. I am not some Special Forces commando in Afghanistan. But I want INFI, just the same. Some of us are just INFInatics, I guess. :D
 
Thanks, Tom. I hope you are enjoying your new BWM. I am still trying to figure out the balance thing. I guess the flat grind and bigger handle on the RTAK II moves the balance point to the front of the scales. It sure makes the knife feel lighter than the BWM. Not that the BWM is all that blade heavy, but it does make the RTAK slightly faster for machete work. On the other hand, the convex grind on the BWM makes it not stick in the wood for easier chopping. It is surprising how two similar looking knives of almost identical weight and size can feel so different in use. I didn't baton with either knife today, but I have done so with both knives before. Both work fine, but the rounded spine of the BWM is a nice touch for saving wear and tear on my baton. I just love this new Busse. Finally, a fast, light bush knife in INFI! Not that my DFLE, M9LE, or RTAK II ever failed me. I just prefer the superior all around performance of INFI.
 
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