I wasn't sure if posting a cross forum post is okay, if it's not I will certainly remove the link.
http://www.ramanon.com/forum/showthread.php?79158-busse-s-newer-khukuri-vs.-their-test-team-design
heres a truncated version of that thread:
The TTKZ is thinner right at the edge, and thinner stock thicknes at the spine, but it's grind geometry is a much fatter convex. The first part of the bite will sink in better with a ttkz, but it will stop about 1/2 way into the blade because of how fat the grind is. The KZII is more likely to sink deeper, as long as you give it a more acute edge.
Roughly the same size, but with a variety of different features that make the chopping experience. Next to it is a custom-handled 18" HI Ang khola. People will say "omg the kz's are so huge", well... not really.
Even though, yes, they are big, they are not nearly as thick as most standard Nepalese khukuries:
and with an average size of 18-20" for 'dedicated chopper' models, they are average in their overall dimensions, just with a lot more metal in the handle.
Here are the three handles:
handle shapes:
One important difference, the TTKZ has rounded corners everywhere. The KZII doesn't have "sharp" corners, they are slightly rounded at the edge, but they are much much sharper then the TTKZ. They will bite into your hand if you try to chop with it holding it there.
Another example of the sharp corners, this time at the ricasso.
gratuitous shot:
tips
The TTKZ has a finer tip, but the KZII takes longer to get to full thicknss, it has a more acute flatter overal grind even though it's thicker right after the edge.
Handle side by side
The KZII allows you to 'roll' the handle in your hand, letting you 'snap' the blade with your wrist, where the TTKZ is locked solid no matter where you have it positioned
Difference in handle positions. The KZII gives you a better up/down position versatility - but the pommel flare makes it brutal on the wrist/palm. You will be more comfortable holding up in the up position, which requires more muscle endurance because you have to hold it against slipping into the down position. That said, you only get one real grip with the TTKZ, so if your arms going to give out it'll give out without a whole lot of options for moving your grip to a less-strenuous position. Not shown here is a "chocked up" grip where you finger is where the choil would have been - the KZII is better for that grip because it's less tall. The TTKZ is really, really tall at the ricasso which makes it hard to hold in that position.
Options for getting a better knife out of both models (in my opinion) -
-Send the TTKZ in to have it's grind flattened and thinned out by garth
-Grind down/sand down the sharp corners of the KZII handle slabs
-Send the KZ2 in to have it's pommel flare removed by garth
and just for the sake of having it, here is the TTKZ next to a NMFBM handle
