nmfbm vs ffbm (Praise your favorite Mistress)

M

mach 5

Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
609
Hello,

I have enjoyed reading the forum, and although I don't post much, I enjoy absorbing all the good advice offered here. I have a number of small and medium size busses and have the itch for a larger version. There are a number nice ffbms and one or 2 nmfbms floating around the used market; I just wondered how experienced users would compare the two. I really prefer satin blades. Also, although I know those of you who are dedicated heavy duty choppers will disagree, but I find knives that are really blade heavy to feel a bit clumsy. The overall weight is less important than the balance to me. Feel free to offer a vote and rational for any other Mistress of your preference.
 
I have owned many of both, although not as many as some other members; that is for sure! If you really want the mother of all Battle Mistresses and the best chopper, the NMFBM is your best bet. There are a number of satins for sale right now in the forum, and the satins tend to chop better than the combat grades due to less friction on the blade's edge. That being said, I LOVE the original combat grade release of the FFBM. The FFBM has a ton of forward weight due to the saber grind, and this can really help when choking back on the handle and letting leverage do the work. Also, I have a soft spot for fatties ;)

Either way man, you CAN NOT go wrong! I have one NMFBM and one FFBM, and they will be buried with me along with my favorite Swamp Rats. If you have any more specific questions regarding performance, fair prices, ect., feel free to email me.


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Here are a few of my Mistresses! Image 1. from left to right: FBM le, FBM le, Full Flat Ground FBM satin .27, FFBM, CGFBM

I find that the FBM is the perfect blade for me in size. As for thickness and balance, I absolutely love my FBM le! That being said the CGFBM is a nice light chopper in my opinion. I especially think the .27 full flat ground BM's are awesome as well. They have the feel of a CGFBM with the extra thickness, but not too thick, and have great balance. As far as chopping goes you can't beat the FBM... any FBM. I also throw mine and use it for just about everything from cutting steak to prepping camp and pounding in tent stakes. I personally think the FFBM is a little forward heave, it's a great chopper but feels extra heave to carry and swing. It's truly a destructive chopper, smashing as well as eating is way through anything in it's path.

If you're used to smaller knives you may want to start out with the CGFBM. I know some guys that think they're too big. Just my opinion. Good luck in your search... I hope this helps.

1.
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5.
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Whichever one has the smooth handles, machined stuff I do not like at all. :p
 
I had a FBMLE with hand shaped mags (done by a custom maker) with a false edge added to the spine.
It was a great balancing blade for a fatty.

.32 with a nice smooth polished convex edge. I spent a long time getting the edge convexed exactly how I wanted.

It was a chopping machine. I bet other more forward heavy versions might have out chopped it if I put the same edge on them too.

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close up of the convex edges.

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FBMLE took nice deep bites, not much wedging problem at all. The cutting would have been much much quicker, if the piece had been fixed (ie in the ground) or had been longer and not moved around so much.

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The Ash1 cg did better than I was expecting. It did give me some pinky bite, but I never felt like the handle was going to slip through my hand either, which was good because I had no lanyard.
You will notice that the cuts are much less less deep and there are many more than the FBMLE (to be expected of course). I went at this more piranha style, with less emphasis on well placed powerful blows, and quicker chops.
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Next up was my rifleman hawk. I expected much quicker chopping with this due to the mass (32 ounces all concentrated in the head, and the 19 inch handle giving more speed). The hawk bit nice and deep, which was expected, but it took longer than either the FBMLE or the Ash1 surprisingly. The problem was wedging. Every bite went deep, but I had to set the branch back on the ground and put a foot on it, and pull to get the hawk to release. the results would have been different if the sucker had been bigger/longer or still in the ground.
you will notice the large chips missing.
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here is a side by side shot of the cutting results.

notice the clean, large chops of the FBMLE, and the smaller but still cleaner chops of the Ash1cg. The mangled piece was the same width, but big chips came off top and bottom. Notice how much less clean it looks. (the edge on that hawk is still chopping sharp, but not shaving sharp as it has been thrown probably 2000 times since last sharpening).
I don't think I need to tell you which ones were the FBMLE/Ash1cg/hawk it is pretty evident.

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I think the NMFBMLE's would probably top my list of straight choppers right now. Factory satin, and a nice factory edge already on there. Bit longer blade. With hand shaped mags, you could not go wrong.


I don't have a FBM any more. Just a B11 and the KZII to satisfy the big chopper niche.
 
From the 2-choices I think for serious chopping I would go with the NMFBM. The NM has a fantastic blade length/weight ratio.
 
NMFBM the original one from the website, hand shaped micarta with .24-.25 thickness is a great knife, I still have one and my guns will go before it does or at least most of my guns.
 
I consider the NMFBM to be the ultimate (practical) chopper.
It's small enough to carry, yet large enough to destroy anything in its path.
The FFBM is a great chopper, but doesnt "chomp" quite like the NMFBM.
The hand shaped mag grips also put the NM on top.
 
Just got down from a 7 mile hike with a 2800 ft elavation gain. Cleared some trees that fell recently across the trail with a ffbm (thanks snwbrdr202) . Don't know about the nmfbm but it's hard to imagine a meaner chopper then the ffbm. But no pics so it didn't happen:D
 
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dieseldog said:
Just got down from a 7 mile hike with a 2800 ft elavation gain. Cleared some trees that fell recently across the trail with a ffbm (thanks snwbrdr202) . Don't know about the nmfbm but it's hard to imagine a meaner chopper then the ffbm. But no pics so it didn't happen:D
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I'm glad to hear you are using her! If you find the time, take some pictures and show her off a little :cool: Definitely one of the sharpest FFBMs I have ever seen!
 
I can't speak to the NMFBM because I have have never handled one, but I can tell you that my love for the FFBM grows every time I use it.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon working in my back yard. When I went out to work in the back 40 I stood there scratching my head for a minute wondering how I was going to get through the muskeg grass and ferns that were over 6 feet tall!! Remembering Jaxx's story about loaning his FBM to his gardeners, I ran into the house to grab mine (FBM, not gardener) and put it to work for several hours. I sliced with it in machete fashion. I chopped sticks, shrubs, bushes, and branches. And I dug a ginormous root wad out of the ground. The entire time it felt like a natural extension of my arm. When I was done I hosed it of in the yard and examined the blade. No damage and still sharp! Wiped it off on my Carhartts and put it away for next time.

I don't have any pictures either. I was working it like a crazed lunatic and nobody would come close enough to snap a photo.
 
Thanks to all who have replied. I have enjoyed all the responses and photos; please keep them coming. Before responding to my thread take a moment to send a card to the little girl in the " HOGS!!!!. . . We Have A Sick Little Girl Who Needs Our Help!!!!" thread. She has my prayers for sure!
 
agreed
awesome thread indeed
Im anxious to put in work with both and see which I like best
can't really go wrong with either I'm sure

card is ready to mail
and prayers are on the way
 
When making the choice I knew I would want the larger of the two.. I went with the NMFBM and absolutely love it. I beat the hell out of it and it takes all of it like a champ. Its a wood eater.

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Here are my mistresses. I'm partial to the CGFBM with CBT but between the NMFBM and FFBM, I'd go with the FFBM. I like its thicker stock and squared edges.

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I am in the NMFBM camp ... my first chopper was a FFBM and I did'nt like the balance and feel ... lots of time though for the NMFBM ... prior to the Khukri's coming out this was my main chopping blade.

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