How much difference does 5 oz make??

S

Sidelock1220

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Jan 14, 2010
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All alcohol jokes aside!!!

This isn't a "which is better" question but rather "which would you prefer?"

The CG NMFMB seems to come in around 29 oz with the BWM tipping the scales at 24 oz. That's not a huge difference between the two.

I'm planning on purchasing one of these blades but having never held one its a difficult decision.

I'm leaning towards the BWM as this knife will reside on my pack and be used for trail clearing and battoning, not a lot of heavy chopping BUT...a lot of folks here love the Nuke!

For those who have both, is the difference in feel, weight, etc that noticable? Also, for those who have used both, is the chopping difference so noticable that I would have wished for the heavier knife when on the trail?

And unfortunately, get both is not an answer! I will have a Boss St on my belt for the small stuff as well.

So for a trail knife, which would you prefer and why?

Thanks
 
i cant comment about the knives you are looking at, dont have either one.

but weight can make a big difference depending on how the knife is balanced as far as cutting/chopping.

re carry, 5 oz may not seem like much, but if your humping a lot of gear, every oz matters. if you are able to trim oz's here and there, you may end up saving a couple pounds.
 
After seeing a number of reviews, arm fatigue seems to make a big difference in how much you'd be able to chop. You'll see a lot of huffing and puffing in the reviews, so I think you'd be able to get more chopping done overall with a lighter blade, even though single chops are probably better done by the NMFBM.
(no I don't own them yet, I do have a number other BMs around here)
BUT>>>>
Just to be on the safe side, I'd get the NMFBM if you're going to do any batoning. I have never bought a knife for batoning, because I don't need to, but I understand it's pretty hard on a knife in general.
 
I own both and there is a huge difference in performance and I mean

HUGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!


Those 2 knives aren't even in the same universe performance wise.

The NMFBM is more blade heavy than the BWM is, the knives don't even feel the same.

You could be blindfolded and tell the difference with no problem.
 
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So Ankerson,

Is the NMFBM so much heavier to the point that you wished for a lighter blade? I understand the balance point is quite a bit forward for the NMFBM but for clearing a trail and some battoning around the fire (where you're not constantly chopping) does its weight lead to excess fatigue?
 
Sidelock1220 said:
So Ankerson,

Is the NMFBM so much heavier to the point that you wished for a lighter blade? I understand the balance point is quite a bit forward for the NMFBM but for clearing a trail and some battoning around the fire (where you're not constantly chopping) does its weight lead to excess fatigue?
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I really don't think you would notice the difference in weight really carrying them in a sheath or on your pack.

Using the NMFBM is less fatigue because it will go through with less effort than the BWM will so you will be chopping less, less chopping less fatigue. :)
 
also i think the BWM measured in around 22oz and the NMFBM around 29-30...so its over a half pound diff to be more specific :)
 
I am presently waiting on the BWM and the BWM LE but have used a NMFBM now since they came out .... it is by some large margin my most used Busse .... you can use it like a machete if you need to and stripped and fully convexed to a very sharp edge it can cut free hanging branches no problem .... I have used it to cut a path to drag deer out of thick forestry plantations and over grown fire trail ditches like this for a few hours and not been unduly fatigued ... I find the extra reach helpful over the 10 inch blades that I have .... it is particularly good at chopping larger limbs or even taking down trees .... if I had to pick just "one" between the two I am sure I would'nt part with my NMFBM.... but it will be a heavy knife if you have'nt used a knife like this before .... from your description of what you need to do the BWM is perhaps more suited .... however you will much more easily sell a NMFBM if you get one and think it is too heavy .... trading up to one after getting a BWM is likely to be harder and more costly ...
 
Between the CG FBM, FBM LE, and the NMFBM LE I can say... don't get in the way of a NMFBM LE!!! That thing will cut through a Toyota Corolla like it was a Birthday cake!!!
 
I agree with Ankerson on this one. There is a HUGE difference between these two blades. I don't have the exact knives you are refering to but I have a BWM LE and a NMFBM satin with black paper which is essentially an LE blade with different handles.



The NMFBM is a monster compared to the BWM LE, which I have come to the conclusion is a great all around blade with excellent chopping ability. In hand the weight difference is very significant, mainly due to balance. On the hip I feel the NMFBM will be much more noticeable simply because of length and overall mass. It's like comparing a SHSJ to a FSH . . . they don't compare. Granted these are both mistresses but they are that different.


.
 
Well, I have a CG BWM, an FBM LE and an NMFBM LE and if I could only have one, it would be the Nuke. I didn't keep the piece of softwood 2x6 I chopped up with all three as there was nothing left when I was done, but one good swing went fully half way through as in 3 of the 6 inches with the NMFBM LE. The other two are good don't get me wrong, but they are a ways behind the Nuke when it comes to chopping.

Now if I was going to be chopping infrequently and only doing light brush clearing machete type work, and weight was a BIG concern, the BWM would be the first choice. It is a great chopper for it's weight and a heck of deal right now. You can see a small piece of the hardwood 4x4 in the right side of the pic though, that was with the BWM in about 15 chops.

My biggest deciding factor for comfort with an XXL glove size is that the NMFBM fits my hands best and doesn't have the pinky bite the BWM does. This could be remedied by taking the ski jump down a bit to look more like a SF handle. Also with such large hands, I find the belly in the BWM handle to not be as comfortable as it could be. You will notice I have tried to make my BWM's slabs feel more like my NMFBM but it still isn't the same.

The P38 can opener test showed me that the thinner BWM has it's advantages too in that it was easier to penetrate thick sheetmetal with. It didn't get a mark on the (hand convexed by me) edge other than where some of the sheetmetal actually fused to the blade and had to be scraped off with my Jack Hammer. I was very impressed with the overall toughness of the BWM, so if your hands are smaller than mine, I believe you will be very happy with it.

My Mistress' like to play rough, but they clean up well so they can come to the rescue by steeling hearts when razing hell and getting hammered with a tank full of jack. ;)
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35lb5gl.jpg
 
mhawg said:
Between the CG FBM, FBM LE, and the NMFBM LE I can say... don't get in the way of a NMFBM LE!!! That thing will cut through a Toyota Corolla like it was a Birthday cake!!!
Click to expand...


Or anything else one feels like chopping though. :D :thumbup:
 
5oz of extra weight would add about 1500 lbs of pressure per mile to your knees. 10 pounds of weight reduction will result in a 48000 lbs of compressive load savings on your each knee per mile!!! It adds up!
 
Do you want to walk in big circles or little circles?
 
Hog Feet said:
5oz of extra weight would add about 1500 lbs of pressure per mile to your knees. 10 pounds of weight reduction will result in a 48000 lbs of compressive load savings on your each knee per mile!!! It adds up!
Click to expand...

That’s a cool calculation…

It would really depend on your activity. I’ve done some super light trail running and count the ounces on every piece of gear right down to belt and straps. On the other hand on a couple of mile hike to base camp I’ll carry a four cell mag-light, which is certainly not weight efficient.
 
Well, decision made, money sent, and patientiently waiting on a CG NMFBM!

Listenting to everyone here and doing a bit more research I figured that i would appreciate the extra reach, the extra muscle, and if this isn't the one it would be easier to sell or trade for a different blade.

Thanks everyone for your help! Especially Ankerson, this is the second time you've helped me with pics and unwittingly have become very good at spending my money!
 
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