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chopper
- Thread starter RescueRiley
- Start date
That's a nice heap of INFI you've got there, Guyon. 
Have to like the BMs, especially the Fusions.
A fan of Busses as I am, I still don't think Busse represents the best value for money at all. Great knives, and they could be priced way higher and would still sell, but for a guy that just needs a good, real tough chopper, it's hard to justify recommending a 350 $ + FFBM when you could tell him to get a 120 $ Ranger RD9.
I do think it is quite fair to call Busse things like "top dog" - Busse does make ridiculously tough knives, that sell like the devil. In certain uses, like real heavy duty use, they certainly are the top dog. But of course, they're not good in everything. For precision stuff like wood carving, there's not a Busse in the universe that would match my handmade Tommipuukko.
Have to like the BMs, especially the Fusions. A fan of Busses as I am, I still don't think Busse represents the best value for money at all. Great knives, and they could be priced way higher and would still sell, but for a guy that just needs a good, real tough chopper, it's hard to justify recommending a 350 $ + FFBM when you could tell him to get a 120 $ Ranger RD9.
I do think it is quite fair to call Busse things like "top dog" - Busse does make ridiculously tough knives, that sell like the devil. In certain uses, like real heavy duty use, they certainly are the top dog. But of course, they're not good in everything. For precision stuff like wood carving, there's not a Busse in the universe that would match my handmade Tommipuukko.
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Busse, Swamp Rat, Fehrman, Bark River etc etc they all make OUTSTANDING blades, different choices for different folks.
as for 5160, try a chopper from Bill Siegel, as Keith Jackson says WHOA NELLY, Bill's heat treat on 5160 and the way he grinds a blade is amazing, scary sharp that holds a edge for a very long time.
52100, best heat treat and edge holding in that steel, my vote goes for Bill Buxton, screaming sharp, and holds its edge like you cant believe.
I like them all, there are so many makers out there, production and custom, that make great blades, its really hard to choose.
Ive used all the above and then some, again, I like all the blades ive used from them.
as for 5160, try a chopper from Bill Siegel, as Keith Jackson says WHOA NELLY, Bill's heat treat on 5160 and the way he grinds a blade is amazing, scary sharp that holds a edge for a very long time.
52100, best heat treat and edge holding in that steel, my vote goes for Bill Buxton, screaming sharp, and holds its edge like you cant believe.
I like them all, there are so many makers out there, production and custom, that make great blades, its really hard to choose.
Ive used all the above and then some, again, I like all the blades ive used from them.
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A fan of Busses as I am, I still don't think Busse represents the best value for money at all. Great knives, and they could be priced way higher and would still sell, but for a guy that just needs a good, real tough chopper, it's hard to justify recommending a 350 $ + FFBM when you could tell him to get a 120 $ Ranger RD9.
I do think it is quite fair to call Busse things like "top dog" - Busse does make ridiculously tough knives, that sell like the devil. In certain uses, like real heavy duty use, they certainly are the top dog. But of course, they're not good in everything. For precision stuff like wood carving, there's not a Busse in the universe that would match my handmade Tommipuukko.
Thoughtful points, and I agree with all of them. :thumbup:
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That's where I'm at. I'm all about performance curve against cost curve. It's what I call the "performance advantage". I have no need or desire to have the top perfoming ANYTHING in my life, because in order to get that, you're paying a whole lot of money for a marginally better product. So a Busse Battle Mistress costs 4 times what my RD9 cost. Does it perform better? Yes. Does it perform 4 times better? Not a chance. I try to look for the point where the performance curve levels out. That's where I like to buy. So I don't buy a Busse BM, I buy the RD9. I don't buy a Ferrari, I buy a Corvette. This is for my users, btw. As a collector, I will buy things of higher value because they are collectable. But if I'm looking to buy a chopper knowing full well I intend to beat the hell out of it, I'll go with the RD9 over the BM every time.
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I have an old machete too as well as a RTAK with a 10" blade (my wife has kind of taken over the RTAK) but I prefer the machete for most rough work. The Bark River Canadian Camp knife fits the hole nicely between the machete and my regular belt knife (NSW) or even a SAK. You can baton with it, chop, prepare food, whatever you need to do. It's really usable, sharp and tough.
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Here is a Yard Guard Riley...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508887
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=508887
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That brings up a good point, although the OP mentions he already has a machete. If you really want "best value," a $6 Tramontina is your ticket. They take a beating and keep on going. I have quite a few of them, and I enjoy using them for brush work.
And FWIW, I posted my pics not to show off, but to show that I do have an informed opinion about choppers. I like this style of knife and enjoy chopping and splitting wood with the knives. My own outdoor carry tends toward a big chopper and a smaller utility blade. I've used a bunch, and for my money, I like the above posted Busse the best. But all have their good qualities.
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I, for one, always enjoy seeing pictures of your knives. It helps to determine my focus when I win the lottery.
Just a quick question (in fact, I might have asked you before), have you ever compared the steels of the Cincinnatti (sp?) Machax with the one built by Camillus, and if so, what were your impressions?
Doc
Hey Guyon...I don't think you should be worried about showing off...that's a great colllection of knives you got and you should be proud of 'em. Hell, if nobody posted pics of their cool knives that they were proud of, there wouldn't be many pictures around BF.com, and what fun would that be.
....I think I see a Ranger in there!
The Busses are clearly not inferior knives. Neither are Rangers, Fallknivens, Tramontinas, Bark Rivers, etc, etc, etc.
They just all have some aspects where they are inferior/superior to others. If that wasn't the case, this whole thread would be pointless.
Lastly, "your favorite" is quite a knife! How long/thick is that bad boy?
....I think I see a Ranger in there!
The Busses are clearly not inferior knives. Neither are Rangers, Fallknivens, Tramontinas, Bark Rivers, etc, etc, etc.
They just all have some aspects where they are inferior/superior to others. If that wasn't the case, this whole thread would be pointless.
Lastly, "your favorite" is quite a knife! How long/thick is that bad boy?
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Disclaimer:
If Guyon wants to donate a user BM to me, I promise I will take it camping on my very next trip
I re-read my post and if I came off as having something to say about Guyon's post of all his choppers, I didn't mean to. I love seeing the pictures of everyone's knives. I seriously meant it as a joke Guyon.
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not alot sat about the rat knives such as the rat 7 or the rtak...any good??? what kind of grind are they?
Not my brand. When a maker comes up with better steel and tougher knives I will by them. No loyalty whatsoever.
You sound a little green eyed.
Skam
I think RAT's are decent blades for the price. I am no fan of D2 for hard use tho.
Skam
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They are full flat grinds, and are great knives for the price. I personally like the 1095 versions best.
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The RATS are full flat grinds and are a little thinner stock than the others mentioned here ( 3/16" as opposed to 1/4" ) however I have read very few bad comments about the RAT line and would imagine that they are up to any task that us mere mortals could throw at them !!!!
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I have pretty much all you have mentioned. I recommend a Khurki hands down. My BAS is just awesome. One of my favorite all rounders. I don't know how much chopping performance your going to get in that blade length range. But when I start grabbing a knife for delimbing I grab one of three: My khurk, Battle rat, or Tromantina.
In my opinion, my Leuku is like a small machete with good steel, not a whole lot of chopping ability. Here is a pic of my Khurk, a tad bigger maybe than what your looking for but it's all buisness. Cost like 60 bucks on the exchange.
With my favorite custom .357 and howler for comparison
Good luck in your search
Just wondering if those mountains are in Tucson or Oro Valley or just in between?
Lived there for 5 years, just thinking you might be in my second home. It all looks familiar, just like the 3/4 stone under your subjects in your pics.
Very nice blade too.
Lail