Chopping videos in HD, 29+ Knives, axe, hatchet and saws (+ new SARGE 7)

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l2lku2

Joined
Feb 7, 2009
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I took 15 knives, 9"+, out for some chopping fun today and shot some video in HD. These are mostly for my own knife knowledgebase but some of you may enjoy them or find them informative in some way. I typically test without gloves but I had to wear gloves today because my hands are hurting and I have a blister on my little finger from chopping the last few days.

And in anticipation of the comments, I like my Mickey Mouse t-shirt.

Happiness is a bag full of knives.

IMG-20120127-00157_resize.jpg



In order of appearance (not a ranking)
Fehrman Final Judgment
Swamp Rat M9 Limited Edition (M9LE)
Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580
Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580 (Re-handled, re-profiled)
Becker BK9 (Ka-Bar)
Cold Steel Trailmaster (Carbon V)
Benchmade 171 Chopper
Busse Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress Limited Edition (NMFBMLE)
Busse Fusion Battle Mistress Limited Edition (FBMLE)
Busse Bushwacker Mistress Limited Edition (BWMLE)
Busse ASH Wacker 9.5 Prototype
Busse Basic 11 (B11)
Busse Basic 11 (B11) Asymmetric Grind
Busse Basic 10 Limited Edition (B10)
Busse Bushwacker Mistress Competition Finish (BWM CF)



Fehrman Final Judgment

[video=youtube;68GDiYAMxgw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68GDiYAMxgw[/video]


Swamp Rat M9 Limited Edition (M9LE)

[video=youtube;t8KO1qEQ6hA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8KO1qEQ6hA[/video]


Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580

[video=youtube;ocBvtPBiGWA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocBvtPBiGWA[/video]


Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580 (Re-handled, re-profiled)

[video=youtube;2mgE_DypCEo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mgE_DypCEo[/video]


Becker BK9 (Ka-Bar)

[video=youtube;s30odftxfEU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s30odftxfEU[/video]


Cold Steel Trailmaster (Carbon V)

[video=youtube;iJRFP4zUBOk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJRFP4zUBOk[/video]


Benchmade 171 Chopper

[video=youtube;OCqVDzNhR_8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCqVDzNhR_8[/video]


Busse Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress Limited Edition (NMFBMLE)

[video=youtube;u_Jd8VypCHc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_Jd8VypCHc[/video]


Busse Fusion Battle Mistress Limited Edition (FBMLE)

[video=youtube;1u26TIabpLE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u26TIabpLE[/video]


Busse Bushwacker Mistress Limited Edition (BWMLE)

[video=youtube;jw_AH36cNTE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw_AH36cNTE[/video]


Busse ASH Wacker 9.5 Prototype

[video=youtube;X72ZXDG3Hok]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X72ZXDG3Hok[/video]


Busse Basic 11 (B11)

[video=youtube;nz_F5-y_ZPg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz_F5-y_ZPg[/video]


Busse Basic 11 (B11) Asymmetric Grind

[video=youtube;MP0lAvCjeVQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP0lAvCjeVQ[/video]


Busse Basic 10 Limited Edition (B10)

[video=youtube;jELI5AkRsUc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jELI5AkRsUc[/video]


Busse Bushwacker Mistress Competition Finish (BWM CF)

[video=youtube_share;nXQWSfsIugg]http://youtu.be/nXQWSfsIugg[/video]
 
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Great post . Quite the knife collection as well ! I noticed that in some of them you pointed to the handle and your finger in one . I'm thinking some of the handles are not as comfortable as other for chopping . So this seems like a good time to ask what handle you found the most comfortable when chopping .


HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !
 
Nice Job Tim. Which B11 do you prefer and did they accomplish any noticeable differences compared to the 10? Really eager to try that Bechmade out, looks like it works pretty well. Thanks again for sharing.
 
Great vids Bro!!! The only thing you aught do is list in order your best liked performer to the least. Looks like the ASHwacker kept sticking on you, that's not to good. From here it looked like the Benchmade 171 Chopper showed up in the lead w/the NMFBM a close 2nd.
 
I must be stupid or something because I have done this for a while but there are still some knives that I cannot figure out. Sometimes they impress me and sometimes not.

One of the reasons I make these videos is because I really find it hard to remember the small variances in many of the knives so I am hoping these will provide me with some info. E.g. as Mike-The-Knife pointed out correctly, I point to the areas that cause hotspots for me.

For this type of chopping, hard(ish) strikes against thick wood, there are only 3 standouts for me in terms of performance. The Benchmade 171, the B11 Asym and the regular B11, in that order. Without regret I could easily sell every knife here, except for those 3, and perhaps the Browning Crowell/Barker. I think the 171 is the best i.t.o pure performance, but what goes in my backpack however is the B11. It is my most used chopper and favorite large knife.

Don't get me wrong, I like many of the others, but they all have some things that I don't like, mostly regarding handles causing issues, balance etc. For me, the best chopper is useless if I cannot use it for extended periods because of sore hands, blisters etc. I don't have the toughest hands. For others it is less of an issue.

I think it is interesting that the knives with the most comfortable handles are also the ones that I find are the best performers for me. I could not exert maximum power with all the knives because my hands are sore. You will notice that I seem to generate a lot more speed with the 171 and the B11s, which is due to balance and weight but also handle comfort. I think for that reason I could probably best some of these larger knives with a SAR 8. I will test that theory again but I have done so in the past when I had to put larger knives away due to sore hands and could only use the SAR 8.

Russ, I chopped a lot yesterday with the FBMLE and the B11s and they got stuck too. Different wood though. I cannot seem to identify a common set of parameters of when they will stick and when not, e.g. dry / wet / resin / soft / hard. It is probably my inexperience but it seems random.

For other types of chopping, de-limbing, chopping thinner softer wood where I do not need to expend too much power & energy, I like some of the lighter, very efficient choppers. That is where the Browning Crowell/Barker shines, especially the re-profiled ones, as well as the ASH Wacker, but, the ASH Wacker handle causes pinky bite. The lighter knives cause much less fatigue and are more accurate so I always use them for the lighter chopping tasks.

Those are my impressions so far and they have been pretty much consistent on the top 3 for a long time. The reason I still do these is because I am trying to figure out the lower rankings but I am finding it very hard to do.

Anyways, those are just my impressions and they will be different for everybody so I am not trying to start any controversy here. Some may consider other knives here to be the best choppers but they may for example tire me out too quickly or be too heavy to be accurate for me, but not for a bigger stronger guy perhaps. Everybody does things different. My choices just work for me according to my preferences.
 
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Great review l2lku2! I always enjoy your comparison posts.

and I still want a benchmade 171 when I can afford it!
 
drbarnes said:
Great review l2lku2! I always enjoy your comparison posts.

and I still want a benchmade 171 when I can afford it!
Click to expand...

Believe it or not, I thought of you today when I was chopping, because I was really missing a chopping lanyard and I know yours will be here Monday! I will make some vids with it.
 
Thanks for the great videos; you had quite a workout. I was amazed to see what the Benchmade 171 Chopper could do.
 
knife hunter said:
nice vids:cool:

looks like the fbmle did well too.
Click to expand...

She did good. I think with a slight re-profile she will be awesome. With the bottom rear of the handle removed or the angle reduced to remove pinky bite she will be even better.

I also need to get my hands on a .25 NMFBM.
 
Tim, Well done Bro!!! I new you hands were getting tired and sore. Anytime the hand/wrist/arm takes that much impact it's going to affect you. I was watching how the knife was beginning to roll in your hands and man I've been there. All good knifes you have there with some having better characteristics than others. Thanks for all your info and I have to say sorry for your hands also.
 
I wanted to compare my smallest hatchet, my favorite backpacking axe and the folding and pocket chainsaw to my favorite choppers today.

For the potential "unfair comparison" comments - these are my own learning videos that I am sharing, they are not reviews of axe vs knife vs saw.

After the first video I changed the camera angle to a close-up which provides a better perspective. In retrospect I should have done all of the videos this way. I will do so in future.

Despite having blisters, I started bare hands just to see whether I could still use the axe / hatchet even with blisters as they usually do not cause hotspots for me. axes, but I had to give up and wear gloves after a while.

In order of appearance (not a ranking)
Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet


Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580
Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet
Benchmade 171 Chopper
Busse Basic 11 (B11) Asymmetric Grind
Wetterlings Small Hunting Axe
Kershaw Folding Saw
SaberCut Saw


The Browning Crowell/Barker is not a favorite heavy duty chopper of mine. I include it here because it is a favorite light duty chopper. I used the factory standard one for these videos. My re-profiled ones are better performers.


Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet

[video=youtube;dLz5jdBmALE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLz5jdBmALE[/video]


Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet - In Pocket

The holes in my t-shirt are a standard feature on all my t-shirts - I have the terrible habit of wiping knife blades (mostly folders) with my shirt. :confused: :D

[video=youtube;j4jVZk9s_Xw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4jVZk9s_Xw[/video]


Close-up angles:

Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580

[video=youtube;9whO5RfaXEo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9whO5RfaXEo[/video]


Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet (Close-up)

[video=youtube;D8Km2NzAC9o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Km2NzAC9o[/video]


Benchmade 171 Chopper (Close-up)

[video=youtube;3PeQsdAyhzA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PeQsdAyhzA[/video]


Busse Basic 11 (B11) Asymmetric (Close-up)

The blisters that I show here are not from the single use of this knife. They were there before I started from days worth of chopping.

[video=youtube_share;vgP-jrII_k8]http://youtu.be/vgP-jrII_k8[/video]


Wetterlings Small Hunting Axe (Close-up)

[video=youtube;4Wd4zvgzI4I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wd4zvgzI4I[/video]


Kershaw Folding Saw (Close-up)

The top-down view did not show the depth of cut clearly so I sawed a notch just for illustrative purposes.

[video=youtube;5kF9_2Q4qZQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kF9_2Q4qZQ[/video]


SaberCut Saw (Close-up)

This is the first time I experienced binding with this saw. I don't know if there is any change I can make to my technique to overcome it. I don't want to carry lubricants.

[video=youtube_share;2JXLExr1uo8]http://youtu.be/2JXLExr1uo8[/video]
 
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Awesome, I enjoy the reviews because you have so many tools/toys! What would be your choice for keeping one in your vehicle? How about a backing choice/combo? What would be your choice for yardwork or pruning? What would you say is the largest diameter tree you would want to chop with a knife?

Also how would you compare the rubber handle on the 171 to resiprene c?
 
I did some close-up angle videos today of the 9"+ blades but I also added a few of my favorite 6" - 8" knives.


Bag o' knives (36.5 lbs of goodness :D)

IMG_0150_resize.jpg


IMG_0152_resize.jpg



[video=youtube;loIgkyzlNQM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loIgkyzlNQM[/video]


In order of appearance (Not a ranking)

6" - 8"
Busse SAR 8
Busse NMSFNO
Busse DSSF
Swamp Rat Chopweiler

9"+
Fehrman Final Judgment
Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580 (Re-handled, re-profiled)
Cold Steel Trailmaster (Carbon V)
Swamp Rat M9 Limited Edition (M9LE)
Busse BWMLE
Busse BWM CF
Busse FBMLE
Busse NMFBMLE
Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet


Close up angles:


Busse Search and Rescue 8 (SAR 8)

[video=youtube_share;-a8tEiP2-OY]http://youtu.be/-a8tEiP2-OY[/video]


Busse Nuclear Meltdown Special Forces Natural Outlaw (NMSFNO)

[video=youtube;os-a0A7QBzI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os-a0A7QBzI[/video]


Busse Desert Storm Stealth Fighter (DSSF)

With these gloves that have fairly smooth palms, the knife felt like it was sliding forward with each stroke so accuracy and power was compromised. With bare hands it might not be as much of an issue.

[video=youtube;LkYTgUIaZ-M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkYTgUIaZ-M[/video]


Swamp Rat Chopweiler

[video=youtube_share;4vJXj1rCXoo]http://youtu.be/4vJXj1rCXoo[/video]


Fehrman Final Judgment


[video=youtube;V9sv0ISwoAE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9sv0ISwoAE[/video]


Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife, Model 580 (Re-handled, re-profiled)

[video=youtube;ElpKUsGtWzM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElpKUsGtWzM[/video]


Cold Steel Trailmaster (Carbon V)

[video=youtube_share;QjeIvelLaK0]http://youtu.be/QjeIvelLaK0[/video]


Becker BK9 (Ka-Bar)

[video=youtube;8X8vJZkm32o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X8vJZkm32o[/video]


Swamp Rat M9 Limited Edition (M9LE)

[video=youtube;PN0fWqd_Ltw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN0fWqd_Ltw[/video]


Busse Bushwacker Mistress Limited Edition (BWMLE)

[video=youtube;FGehXByBP5s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGehXByBP5s[/video]


Busse Bushwacker Mistress Competition Finish (BWM CF)

[video=youtube;lXTfuOWkJRk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXTfuOWkJRk[/video]


Busse Fusion Battle Mistress Limited Edition (FBMLE)

[video=youtube;vHvbM3VYKOc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHvbM3VYKOc[/video]


Busse Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress Limited Edition (NMFBMLE)

[video=youtube_share;BjLphcd5PTk]http://youtu.be/BjLphcd5PTk[/video]


Gransfors Bruks Mini Hatchet - Pocket Rocket


[video=youtube;eQnRETByjLI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQnRETByjLI[/video]
 
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