For a user, how does the B11 stack up to the NMFBM?

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
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I had to sell my chopper (cgfbm) a few months back for cash, now I'm ready to buy another!.

I like the look of the NMFBM better, but since this is a user not a collection piece, I'm not sure it's worth the premium over the B11 for me. (or I may even be better off waiting for the B10 to go on the site)

Any input?
 
If I had better technique and more muscle mass Id go nmfbm, if. B11 is my favorite chopper for the $. Both are female doggin, bet your life on either.
 
I have both, I love both and I suggest you get both.
I have two of each :D one user and one safe queen.
If I had to keep only one it would be the NMFBM.
 
The basic 10 will have the large swamp rat style handle which is boxier and less refined than the basic 11's old style large basic handle. If you have larger hands you may find that the basic 10 has a better handle for you, but it will also likely be a noticable drop in chopping power over the basic 11, and thus making the gap between it and the NMFBM greater. The NMFBM is a great knife, but it does have it's own issues. It's really heavy for extended use, it doesn't carry very well on a belt because of it's weight, the handle has a very round center shape with a small pinky area making you have to grip a bit more at the front of your hand to keep all the weight and shock from going to your pinky. But, handles are very subjective and change depending on the size and construct of your hands. The basic 11 will carry easier, wear your out less quickly, cost less and still chop extremely well.

If you have the money, you might also try an LE version of the nmfbm or a TTKZ (preferably one of the few proto's from blade, or send it to garth to get the grind thinned down and flattened).
 
I have both, I love both and I suggest you get both.
I have two of each :D one user and one safe queen.
If I had to keep only one it would be the NMFBM.

+1
I would suggest you get a B11 or the soon to come B10 first. The NMFBM will out chop hands down but the B11 weighs 17 oz. and my NMFBM weighs in at almost 31 oz. I have no problem swinging the NMFBM but I don't want to carry twice the weight when the B11 does all I need it to do. Get a NMFBM later if/when you feel the B11 is not enough. Just some food for thought.
 
+1
I would suggest you get a B11 or the soon to come B10 first. The NMFBM will out chop hands down but the B11 weighs 17 oz. and my NMFBM weighs in at almost 31 oz. I have no problem swinging the NMFBM but I don't want to carry twice the weight when the B11 does all I need it to do. Get a NMFBM later if/when you feel the B11 is not enough. Just some food for thought.

Wow I didn't realize there was that big a weight difference between them.

Thanks for the help guys keep it comin! =D
 
I'll say both also. In the event that is NOT helpful, I offer you a quotation from myself as evidence:
NMFBM LE. For when the world ends, you'll have the best of the best to last 20,000 lifetimes. They'll find it in the future and wonder what kind of super-advanced civilization died out, but know that with utilitarian weaponry like the NMFBM LE, it was an inevitable conclusion.

It will be sent along with exploratory missions to the stars to silence evil aliens. Alien vs Predator VS NMFBM LE = No contest. NMFBM LE wins.

Your neighbors will look-on aghast, as you stand atop your roof holding your NMFBM LE over your head and scream "KING KONG AIN'T GOT $HIT ON ME"!

You'll hold it in your hand and wonder, what else do I need? Women? No, I've got this mistress here. Money? No, I've got this mistress here! (your wallet will be empty after you buy it, but it's well worth the scratch)

Ode to NMFBM LE:
Fractals and light
Steel and might
HOLY CRAP, this thing feels JUST RIGHT.

NMFBM LE, you complete me.
 
IMO the B11 is more lively in the hand due to the lighter weight... It is a fine chopper. The NMFBM is the king of choppers, though.
 
NMFBM gets my vote (only because of the lack of a full tang on the B11, and I'm not real big on Res-C handles :foot::foot:).
 
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I think the b11 is the best chopper buy. You might have a shot at a b10 direct soon so that might be another option.
 
My Bussekin Choppers weights:

NMFBMLE = 2 lbs 1 oz
FBMLE = 1 lbs 13 oz
BWM Pumpkin = 1 lbs 7 oz
BWMLE = 1 lbs 6 oz
BWM CF = 1 lbs 5 oz
M9LE = 1 lbs 3 oz
ASH Wacker 9.5 Proto 1 lbs 4 oz
B11 = 1 lbs (stripped)


My favorite for extended use and in my opinion best performance / weight:

B11 all the way.

While I did not like the FBM at all due to its very forward balance, I really like the FBMLE. I do not see it mentioned too often here but IMO also a very nice knife with great balance for its size and thickness. I will reach for that also before I reach for a NMFBMLE.
 
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I think a well-tuned NMFBM is the top Hog Busse chopper, but it is a heavy sow. A B11 won't give up much on pure chopping, but will be a better all-round knife that one can actually carry.


Go for the CGFBM!:thumbup:

+1. I have not yet done a chop-off between the B11 and CGFBM, but the FBM is a fave of mine.
 
B11 FTW. Lets not forget about the lack of transmitted vibration to the handle.
 
You could get 2 Basic 11s for the price of a NMFBM and probably 3 Basic 10s and have 90+% of the chopping power two to three times over for your money. :cool: We did see in the Blade pictures that Busse was selling a NMFBM for $422.00. If you could score one for that price instead of the $600+ secondary market price it would be worth it.
 
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Choosing between the B11 and a NMFBM involves weight comparisons but it is very important to factor in how you are likely to carry the knives. Both are long on over all length ... they both "flap" a great deal on your leg if worn on the belt ... so for me get carried in a rucksack or mounted outside on the straps ... and carried over the shoulders the weight is less noticeable ... so the big difference for me is on performance and intended use ...

If working on hard wood trees the extra performance of the NMFBM is "noticeable" ... on evergreen trees of average size the difference is hardly mentionable and the lighter weight of the B11 is a deciding factor ... if evergreen trees also means extreme cold such as the Artic Tundra then the advantage of the Res C grip is also a bonus ... but if chopping high density wood like Mesquite etc then the NMFBM is going to be the better option ...

Price wise the B11 is a clear winner ... unless you pick up a NMFBM direct from Busse at a show ... which closes the gap ...

Personally I alternate mostly between a Basic 9 for belt use ( so consider the new Basic 8 ) ... and then my Nuclear TTKZ for use on or in my rucksack ... which is better than my NMFBM on chopping ... going for maximum ability if it carries easily over my shoulders ... and the best form of belt carry being the Basic 9 which is light in weight and fits on a rear cross draw without catching my arms when moving ...

So for your use if you can only have "one" ... the answer probably lies in answering the above questions for yourself ...
 
So which NMFBM is the better chopper, the .25 or the thicker .29? Is the difference even noticeable or is it just the shape and weight distribution that makes the NMFBM great?
 
So which NMFBM is the better chopper, the .25 or the thicker .29? Is the difference even noticeable or is it just the shape and weight distribution that makes the NMFBM great?

This one has been debated a lot in the past ... my take on it is that it depends on how you sharpen the knife ... these older blades have quite a thick shoulder behind the edge ... which if thinned down so the convex grind is a bit more like a flat grind for the area above the edge and then blended into the area by the spine for an appleseed shape ... then which works the best probably depends on the "user" as the grinds are then at an optimum ...

What probably happened from people like myself who stripped their CG NMFBM and then cleaned the tool marks off is that this shape was created by hap-chance and the performance of the .25 NMFBM was "noted" as being pretty amazing ... and the guys who had a satin finish on the .29 NMFBM LE's were less inclined to mess with the satin finish ... but I think if they were both equally altered the heavier NMFBM LE would have the top slot ...
 
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