I you had to choose.....BWM, or Rodent 9, or Basic 10

gunfixrjoe

gunfixrjoe

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Aug 11, 2011
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So, I'm torn. I would love to hold off and save enough for a FBM, but that may take a while. Need a good, full size, strap to my BOB chopper. Which would you choose and why? BWM, Rodent 9, or Basic 10. Any input will be appreciated, as I haven't the opportunity to handle any of them.
 
I have a BWM and a Basic 10. For a BOB, I guess I would go with the latter. It's just so much simpler, and it's definitely lighter. I find them both in the "big knife" category rather than choppers, but they could both handle that easily too.

I don't know, maybe my reasoning isn't good :p I just find that when it's an emergency, I just want something easy that'll work, and the Basics fill that role really well.
 
Can I choose all three?:D My reason is that they are all pretty awesome....... sorry, you can't make me choose :cool:
 
I have a B11 which is similar to the B10 but chops better. I think it would be a good choice due to its light weight and versatility.

Ive also extensively used a Junglas and for the price it can't be beat. It basically a BWM in terms of chopping ability and comfort but Much more affordable. Obviously it won't hold and edge nearly as long but it gets the job done very well.
 
I have traded off a R9, handled BWM a few times, I dont have a B10 but you cant beat res-c. I do have a satin battle rat, dfle, and b11. still sad I missed out on the b10, I'll be stalking the exchange when I get some more money.....

I say go for a B10 or B11 depending on which one you can get cheaper.
 
Come to AZ and I will let you try all three of mine, but I would go for the BWM, it is a pretty handy blade
 
Any reason why you are excluding the B11?

For me it is a clear choice over the others (I don't own a Rodent 9 though, so I cannot comment on that one).
 
Id say BWM because if I were bugging out i may be needing to bash something (glass/skulls) with the back of my knife. Cant do that with the Basic series. Also I would find the BWM more sturdy when using as a pry bar. Just my opinion. Anyone have come contrast to add?
 
I think you should try all of them. What is good for one is not necessarily good for everyone. For example, I don't really fancy res-c handles, but I think the Rodent 9 handle is brilliant. A lot of people would not agree. It's about finding whats right for you.
 
l2lku2 said:
Any reason why you are excluding the B11?

For me it is a clear choice over the others (I don't own a Rodent 9 though, so I cannot comment on that one).
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Not actually excluding the B11, but the three I mentioned, I have opportunity to purchase from different people right now.
 
I don't own a CG BWM so I cannot comment on that one. I do have a BWMLE, a CF BWM and a B10.

Of the the 3 I find the BWMLE to be the best chopper. With the limited testing I have done with the B10 so far I am struggling to find a clear differentiation between the B10 and the CF BWM. I need to do a lot more testing to decide for myself.

I do find though that the BWM handles give me pinky-bite after a while. That may just be because of how I grip the knife at the rear of the handle with a relatively loose grip. I can eliminate that by gripping more to the middle but that reduces performance and you have to grip much tighter so the knife does not slide forward so your hand fatigues faster.

The B10 handle has not revealed any discomfort yet, but I have not used it for extended durations yet.

So for me it would be a difficult choice because I prefer the chopping performance of the BWMLE but that performance will be limited and eventually eliminated by sore hands. For someone with tougher hands it might not be an issue. Gloves may make a difference also but I intentionally don't use gloves for testing.

As a chopper the B10 is not as good as the BWMLE but I know I can use it longer than a BWM without hurting so it will get the job done too, just over a longer period. I would rather be tired than have very sore hands so on that count I would probably choose the B10 if limited to those choices only.

But with any of those I still feel compromised. Not so with the B11.

P.S. But thinking a little further, the BWMLE with a modified handle with the rear drop removed (or angle reduced) and rounded, might be an option for me in future.
 
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I'm all about Res-C, so the B-10 LE is the hands down winner in my humble opinion. I have the Rodent 9, a couple B-10s, and had a BWM for a little while. I sold the BWM because I could not get used to the handle. I like the Rodent 9 handle much more, but Res-C is still king for choppers IMO.

The B-10 LE has several subjective advantages over the CG BWM: its blade is thicker yet lighter and more agile; it has a mean, razor sharp convex edge (at least mine do); it is Satin; it has Res-C handles, which offer more comfort and lighten the blade; it has a choilless option; and I'm sure there are other things I'm just not thinking of.

The B-10 LE is more comparable to the BWM-LE in my opinion, the main difference being that the BWM-LE is Sabre ground, while the B-10 LE is full flat ground and of course the B-10 LE can be had for A LOT less than the BWM-LE. If it's heavy duty chopping your doing, the BWM-LE will get the job done faster due to its added weight. I've never owned a BWM-LE because I already know that the handles don't work for me, but a lot of people say it is one of the all time classics. I think the B-10 LE will have a similar status some day, especially for those of us that like Res-C. It is just so incredibly agile, well balanced, and attractive to boot. It'll never chop like an NMFBM or other beefier BMs, but in my experience is more versatile for someone like me who needs to carry my blade for long distances and wants to have it ready on my person for clearing a trail or making a shelter. If you're looking to keep your BOB as light as possible, which is generally a good idea since you may be forced to cover a lot of ground if ever you are in a situation that requires your BOB, the B-10 LE will give you that plus the aforementioned versatility and more.

The main reason I did not like the BWM handle is because my hand was not quite big enough for the swells so it was uncomfortable and not secure. My hands are not tiny, but they are certainly not paws either (I wear a Medium or Large glove depending on the brand.) Then there is the dreaded pinky rub. Like the poster above said, if you wear gloves or have particularly calloused hands, you won't have this problem.

As you can tell, I am biased towards Res-C when it comes to 9"-10" blades. As a matter of fact, I am thinking of trading my second B-10 LE for a B-11 and filming an epic Res-C chop-off between the Basic 10-LE, Basic 11, Dog Father, DF-LE, Satin Battle Rat, and Scrap Yard 9-11 (when it comes out.) I may throw my Rodent 9 and NMSFNO into the mix just for the fun of it.

If you're thinking of getting one of the three, you'll most likely be happy with whatever you get and if you're not, you can always sell it and get one of the others. In the end, the best option for you is whatever best fits your needs. You also may want to think about the B-11, Dog Father or wait a bit for the Scrap Yard 9-11. Best of luck!
 
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l2lku2 and Flux bring up an often-overlooked but **VERY** important point: HANDLE ERGONOMICS

The handle is the interface between the user and the tool. If it doesn't fit YOUR hand, using the tool will be awkward, uncomfortable, inefficient, and/or dangerous.

In a field chopping situation, the blade of any of the Bussekin choppers mentioned in this thread will get the job done with aplomb due to their mass, length, and geometries. But, as our two fellow-Hogs mentioned, how the experience feels and how quickly it gets done can be significantly affected by the handle-user interaction.

My recommend: Consider the ergonomics first, instead of as a secondary or as an afterthought. Find the handle that fits *YOU*, then see which blade(s) are available with that handle.
 
I would suggest the B10 if you have the means to get a hold of one. If going on your BOB, you can't beat it. Light weight and a heck of a chopper. I have a B11 on my BOB and it adds very litte weight even with the sheath. With that said, you can't go wrong with any of these blades, they are all amazing.
 
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