KZ vs KZII

redbeardrob

redbeardrob

Gold Member
Joined
May 25, 2011
Messages
827
Anyone know comparison specs on all forms of Killa Zilla? I might be in the market for one very soon but I first need to decide which one. Pics much appreciated!
-Rob
 
If no one gets you the info you need call or email me tomorrow at the shop and I will get what you need.

Garth
 
I'm personally fond of the Test team zilla design, but that's the only one if used, I handled the 2 at Blade2010, the 2 has a more traditional kukri shape

e62f2006.jpg


30ca8110.jpg


Just my two cents
 
As a Gold Member you can do a search function ... both myself and Last Visible Canary have done comparisons on the TTKZ and the KZII. It would give you detailed information without needing to do lot's of re-typing.

The basic issues are - the KZII has a very large handle / grip profile which tends to have the user either sliding on the grip or gripping further up the handle where the middle palm swell is not central to the palm ... you almost have enough room for two seperate grips ... a very rearward one or a very forward one ... griping right in the middle can be a little slippy.

The KZII however has a convex blade profile which is slightly thinned down at the shoulder ... more of an appleseed shape which means it can bite deeper into wood. The TTKZ were perhaps a little thick at the shoulder on the first run ... this can be thinned down though by sharpening and re-profiling ... I did mine on a belt sander no problem ... the good news though with the TTKZ is that the grips on that blade are perhaps the best Busse has ever done for a chopping knife. Very secure ... very comfortable.

KZII's were available with coated blades and were a bit cheaper. I stripped mine and gave it a satin finish and re-ground the pommel to give the grip a profile as close as I could to the the TTKZ handle. I still need to drill out the grips and replace them with a re-ground set which gives a more central locked in hand grip akin to the TTKZ grip.

Choice wise I much prefer the Zilla's with the TTKZ grips ... re-profiling an edge is a load easier than re-doing the grips ... but both have been done on here. JRoden ?? if I remember rightly has done a fantastic job on doing his own grips. ( I see he has posted his Zilla above whilst I was typing ).

If $ are an issue and you have the skills ... the KZII would be a cheaper buy ... and you may like it as is ... it is still a great chopper in it's normal guise ... but as a general consensus I would say most who have both really appreciate the TTKZ's as being the better of the two.
 
Side by side comparison pic...

Busse_TTKZ-KZII.jpg


Surely specs have been posted before...? :)
 
Peter and LVCs reviews and write ups were what drove me to get the TTKZ, both guys have done outstanding threads on the subject
 
As Peter mentions above, the TTKZ has a thick shoulder which hurts it's chopping ability. After a trip to the shop for a reprofiling by Garth, mine is now a much better blade.
 
Here's another vote for the TTKZ. The 2011 Spring KC show had some amazing TTKZs there, they felt amazing and you could tell they would be beastly users. The handles felt natural, if I didn't have the FFBM, I would have picked up one of them :o

The KZII handles don't feel half as good (IMO).

However, the coated proto KZs from 2011 Blade do feel pretty awesome too :thumbup:
 
Never used either of them yet, which is why I didn't offer an opinion.
Still in love with my B11 and I keep reaching for that when I want to do some chopping. :D

ETA: Should mention that when the time does come, my KZIILE will get the first swing. The handle on the TTKZ makes me nervous...think I need a chopping lanyard on that sucker before I dare dance with it. I like my legs...attached. ;)
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the quick responses from everybody I wasn't expecting that! I found LVC's old thread here for anyone else who might be interested. Still reading it currently, 'tis quite a comparison!
 
redbeardrob, say Bro do a search for Killer Ziller Specs. For some blooming reason I can't post a thread over so here is the info on a great thread LCV posted inof in I think you find helpful.
Recommendation?KZ, TTKZ, or KZII?
Started by Gr80Cakes, 05-12-2011 11:00 PM1 2
Replies: 31
Views: 1,373
Last Post: 05-22-2011 04:33 PM by PeterPHWS
Forum:
Busse Combat Knives

PARDON I should have looked at your post in front of me, DUH!!!
 
PeterPHWS reviews/posts:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...asic-11-KZII-and-TTKZ-marathon-session!/page2
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/735878-Working-with-the-KZ-....-a-brief-review

Reviews/posts from me:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/756267-mwuahahaha?highlight=kzii+ttkz
(kzii modified)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/811689-KZ2-back-from-the-shop?
(ttkz modified)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/855530-Custom-Shopped-TTKZ?highlight=kzii+ttkz


In their stock form I would go with the TTKZ with the caveat that the blade is thick behind the edge, it has a very short main grind. The handle on the KZII is frustrating because of it's length and it's 'tennis ball in hand' geometry that makes you want to slip down or up on it, as well as it's palm/wrist crushing pommel flare (depending on how you use it and your anatomy). The TTKZ has a great handle, it's filling yet it's still somewhat flat giving you good indexing properties, it's tight in the hand without pinching at the pinky position. Even if you remove the flare from the KZII it still wants to move around in your hand a lot.

Both knives are thick behind the edge with you first get them, but the TTKZ is thicker in grind geometry. Both handles need to be sanded to knock down the sharp corners of the micarta/g10, or they will eat your hand up. Especially around the tube fasteners.
 
I had the KZ II and used it extensively and while it was a beast the handle was hard to get a grip on ue to it's length. The blade shape was nice though and it had a good sweet spot.

If I had to do it again I'd buy a test team zilla. But personally for the weight and cost I think the NMFBM is the winner :)
 
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