- Joined
- Apr 24, 2001
- Messages
- 801
No rocket science here, just honest observations after haveing put both blades through some good use cumulating with my annual end of school backcountry hike with the kids. Last year had the Busse BM-E,this year( just got back) the Allen Blade 9" Combat Patrol Bowie. The Busse needs no intro, the CPB - 9" 3/16"O1 hollow ground bowie blade, grey finish somewhat like seen on Greco blades. Micrata swelled handled. Kydex sheath. Very light for the size and very fast in hand (imho).
Area hiked with busse - near Chapleau Ont. - boreal forest - jackpine
blackspruce, some birch. A storm from the year befor had left a huge amount of blow down in the bush and a hacker was need to pass on the trails.Weather was hot and dry
Area hiked with the CPB - near Thunder Bay Ont. Transition with boreal forest. mixed pine, ceders, birch,populars along with hard woods for fun. Still lots of blow downs, but not as much as in Chapleau. Weather hot and rain)
Chopping - Busse wins hands down. No surprise here. The weight and the blade grind lends itself to this. Dead dry branches on downfalls across the trails that I recall the Busse clearing off with one swipe, the CPB took more than one. In fact on hard dry dead wood greater than 2" around ( estimate I don't bring a tape w/ me hiking
) the CPB was really hard to use. Part was the handle is made for I guess combat ie thrusts very secure thrusting but swing it in a choping fashion hit a hard non moving branch and the knife wants too or does roll in your hands. Anyway the CPB either was so inneffective I ended up walking around instead of clearing deadfalls with large branches. The Busse BMe how ever cleared everthing in its path up to large branches estimated 6" around with minimal effort. However on green wood the Busse still wins but not by as much. The Busse chops green wood the CPB slices it.
Splitting fire wood - Busse worked great again just raise it up bring it down, and strike the wood and it would split. CPB - I used a baton wacked the spine and fire wood spliting was great.
Making poles for tarps - Busse - cutting saplings to make poles to keep over my camp area. Busse did the job as well as any knife.
CPB- this knife wow - can you whittle with it! I guess because it feels so light in the hand and the grip style and the guard you don't worry about fingers slipping on the blade. I took some small twigs and whittled them down.This knife has excellent control for fine stuff.
Penetration - CPB wins hand down - into live softwood thrusting just for fun
to dead wood obviously imho because it has a bowie clip it begs to be thrust, also the straight handle vs the e- handle a trade off of thrust vs chop also the tip of the bowie was used to dig stuff out like pine resin for fire starter much easier than with the Busse.
Edge Holding - Both held there edge for 5 days w/o sharpening with the Busse in my subjective opinion having a slightly shaper edge upon arrival at home.
Finish - both blades over the time I've had ( busse now gone Traded for CPB)held up well no rust problems although I tuff cloth them when ever possible. In field I clean them by slicing them along a tree after use
Portability - Busse I felt the weight of it on my pack. It is a heavy knife. The CPB I had to check a few time to ensure it was there it is very light
Conclusion - If I was going on an expedition for an extended length of time where I was bringing one large knife for many tasks such as chopping, splitting, replacing axes,etc I'd take a Busse. For every day hiking or that once a year hike I'd take the CPB It'll do almost all the busse can do and is lighter. If I was flying on a bushplane that went down I'd feel comfortable with either knife in a survival situation with a slight edge to the CPB for its whittling sklls ( course' I'd have a few other knives anyway
) regarding shelter making either would make a lean to, get fire wood and keep you amused waiting for rescue if that was the case becase both are awesome
edited for usual spelling errors
Area hiked with busse - near Chapleau Ont. - boreal forest - jackpine
blackspruce, some birch. A storm from the year befor had left a huge amount of blow down in the bush and a hacker was need to pass on the trails.Weather was hot and dry
Area hiked with the CPB - near Thunder Bay Ont. Transition with boreal forest. mixed pine, ceders, birch,populars along with hard woods for fun. Still lots of blow downs, but not as much as in Chapleau. Weather hot and rain)
Chopping - Busse wins hands down. No surprise here. The weight and the blade grind lends itself to this. Dead dry branches on downfalls across the trails that I recall the Busse clearing off with one swipe, the CPB took more than one. In fact on hard dry dead wood greater than 2" around ( estimate I don't bring a tape w/ me hiking
) the CPB was really hard to use. Part was the handle is made for I guess combat ie thrusts very secure thrusting but swing it in a choping fashion hit a hard non moving branch and the knife wants too or does roll in your hands. Anyway the CPB either was so inneffective I ended up walking around instead of clearing deadfalls with large branches. The Busse BMe how ever cleared everthing in its path up to large branches estimated 6" around with minimal effort. However on green wood the Busse still wins but not by as much. The Busse chops green wood the CPB slices it. Splitting fire wood - Busse worked great again just raise it up bring it down, and strike the wood and it would split. CPB - I used a baton wacked the spine and fire wood spliting was great.
Making poles for tarps - Busse - cutting saplings to make poles to keep over my camp area. Busse did the job as well as any knife.
CPB- this knife wow - can you whittle with it! I guess because it feels so light in the hand and the grip style and the guard you don't worry about fingers slipping on the blade. I took some small twigs and whittled them down.This knife has excellent control for fine stuff.
Penetration - CPB wins hand down - into live softwood thrusting just for fun
to dead wood obviously imho because it has a bowie clip it begs to be thrust, also the straight handle vs the e- handle a trade off of thrust vs chop also the tip of the bowie was used to dig stuff out like pine resin for fire starter much easier than with the Busse.Edge Holding - Both held there edge for 5 days w/o sharpening with the Busse in my subjective opinion having a slightly shaper edge upon arrival at home.
Finish - both blades over the time I've had ( busse now gone Traded for CPB)held up well no rust problems although I tuff cloth them when ever possible. In field I clean them by slicing them along a tree after use
Portability - Busse I felt the weight of it on my pack. It is a heavy knife. The CPB I had to check a few time to ensure it was there it is very light
Conclusion - If I was going on an expedition for an extended length of time where I was bringing one large knife for many tasks such as chopping, splitting, replacing axes,etc I'd take a Busse. For every day hiking or that once a year hike I'd take the CPB It'll do almost all the busse can do and is lighter. If I was flying on a bushplane that went down I'd feel comfortable with either knife in a survival situation with a slight edge to the CPB for its whittling sklls ( course' I'd have a few other knives anyway
) regarding shelter making either would make a lean to, get fire wood and keep you amused waiting for rescue if that was the case becase both are awesomeedited for usual spelling errors