PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION..your experience is needed.

T

TIERRAVENTURA

Joined
Oct 6, 2012
Messages
394
I´m slowly planning the purchase of a Battle Mistress, waiting for the right one to come out, since I consider miself a collector, I choose carefully my pieces, but I´d like to bring a discussion to the options this time.

The applications of the knife will be in this order:

1. General Camping purpose. Cuting rope, fabric, food processing, carefull prying (I have to admit I do it) etc.
2. Brush clearing, clearing branches off the path.
3. Wood Processing.

Therefore I´ll need a long knife, but I dont know what differences in performance would be in lenght, thicknes, etc. I have used machetes extensively, so I know what I need in that field, but I cant comment on a 1/4 in thick-10inch-NOT-FLEXIBLE blade.

I have never owned or used a battle mistress, I dont know if there is any difference in performance between a CGFBM, and FFBM or a variant, I have seen the MOAB performing and I believe it´s a dream!!!...but I can´t afford it. I´ve never tryed the 1311 at work, but I´ve seen a few videos on youtube and I wasn´t impressed to be honest, but I saw one or two videos of the rat waki and they were jaw droping (a total awakening for me)...

I do need your comments...thanks
 
1. General Camping purpose - Very well suited but IMHO works best when accompanied by a smaller preferably non coated blade for food prep etc. The only reason you'll need to be careful while prying is for your (a others) safety. The knife can take it.

2. Brush clearing, clearing branches off the path- Really depends on the brush. Smaller harder limbs can bounce off the blade and be difficult to cut through. The Rodent Wakki you mentioned can be more effective with these harder limbs because it's thinner and two hands can generate more speed for slicing. Again IMHO

3. Wood Processing. This is where it excels. It's very well suited for chopping and batoning even hard wood.

Google and Youtube are your friends!
Hope this helps.
 
I have only had one Mistress in my life so far :D she was a BME and she performed really well in all the categories you mention above.. Now on the other hand my main chopper is a KZ2 and i use a sarge for smaller tasks.. The last few days i have been using my NMFSHLE for lots of different work and it is starting to feel like this might be the best allround blade i have ever put my hands on.. The anniversary Mistress is coming out soon so i would put my money down for one of those:thumbup: .

The CGFBM and the FFBM are similar in size but the thickness of the FFBM makes it quite a bit more front heavy and from what i have seen it chops like a dream but i think with General Camping purpose as # 1 on your list the CGFBM might be a better choice... Hmmmm have i really given you any good advice,NO i don't think so you better just give in and realize that you need to get them ALL:D

Here is a vid of Noss testing the FFBM, also with a chopping comparison with the CGFBM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irEZB8hvGzw
 
TIERRAVENTURA said:
I´ve never tryed the 1311 at work, but I´ve seen a few videos on youtube and I wasn´t impressed to be honest, but I saw one or two videos of the rat waki and they were jaw droping (a total awakening for me)...
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure you can write the 1311 off that easily.:confused: I know plenty of folks who will vouch for the 1311 being one nasty piece of SR-101.....:cool::thumbup:

It's quite possible that the videos you have seen were by folks who might not have the best chopping technique.

Here's a thread with photos of the chips of wood which were displaced with a 1311 from a poplar tree, along with some other camp chores.....

http://www.scrapyardknives.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=673429&an=0&page=2#Post673429


You can find 1311's on the exchange for less than $250 currently, which is less the a quarter of the price of a MOAB.....:eek:

I believe there are many here on the forums that will agree with me when I say long live the 1311, Dan's Price to Performance on steroids.:):p
 
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I have done everything you listed with my FFBM and can honestly say it excelled in all areas. I have cleared brush in the back 40, cleared trail, chopped down a 12" alder tree (considered weeds in this area and not controlled by the USFS), and batoned hundreds of pieces of firewood. I have also used it for food prep around camp. Is it perfect in all tasks? Of course not! It was kind of silly using it for food prep, but it was entertaining. And honestly it wasn't that good at cutting down a stack of cardboard boxes; but this might be because the edge needs to be touched up. As dd mentioned above, processing wood is where it excels. I think the combination of length, thickness, and weight makes it perfect in this area. I keep my FFBM and a rubber mallet right next to the wood stove for making kindling. Wouldn't replace it with any hatchet, ever.

It is heavy and I have to admit I have never put it on my belt. But I throw it in my backpack every time I head out of town. And due to its size, its a little hard to sharpen. But if you have skills and patience, both of which I lack, it is fine.

Can't go wrong with a FFBM!
 
I would go with the 1311 and a smaller knife. I have used the 1311 a bunch so far and It chops almost as good as my NMFBM. Don't let those videos fool you .
 
I'd have to agree with the guys above. I sold my CGFBM and bought the 1311. Its not pretty, but it's a phenomenal chopper. Res-c handle is glorious, and the fact that it's 3/16" allows it to bite DEEP. Pry with it all you want... if it breaks, they'll replace it. And at a ~$250 exchange price, it's hard to beat. If your set on Busse, I'd go CGFBM. It's the lightest weight, shortest length (unless you count the NMFSH, which is heavier by a few ounces), and chops like a champ. Goodluck!
 
First of all thanks for taking the time to answer with your experiences...

Lennox, I have thought about the aniversary edition BME that is comming soon, I read somewhere that it performs very good, and the thickness is very appropriate I believe, the only drawback in my opinion is that it looks exactly like the 25bucks machete the company provides us...LOL, I dont like the shape to be honest, I promised me one of those though, and I´ll get it for shure. The KZ2, well, I havent even seen one in person, I saw a video about it on the tube and it certainly outperformed the mistress in a hand-to-hand-chop comparo and it certainly looks expensive hahaha. To this point...the waki I guess will work better. I have seen the video you recomended before, That is one of the reasons I wanted to stick with the idea of a Mistress.

aaaa_cccc, I know about the 1311, it looks like the perfect survival knife, it´s like a machete on steroids...every soldier knows you cant go wrong with steroids LOL...just kidding...my experience said, that might be the perfect knife for the task in hand, but the videos I bumped ito on youtube were disturbing...the fist time anyone holds a machete in their hands will know how to use it by instict, and this guys were waking trees and the bloody thing just bounced right on... I´ll do a bit more research on it...

Jarhead, I dont use a machete for foodprep, but I have done it, Since the first time I brought a mora, everybody here seems to be wanting one...and that is the perfect complement for the machete, I believe a mistress will work pretty much the same way needing an smaller knife to complement it...

Smurf and beckerhead, you just re-inforce the idea of the 1311, I might give it a try...

All in all, as Lennox said, the NMFSH looks like the perfect all-round blade...I got myself two of those at the ganza, I´ll give one of them the opportunity, we´ll see what happens.

One question remains, but I believe this might have been answered before, between a FBM, CGFBM, or a BME...how would you describe each ones performance?

but what about, a waki + a short thick utility knife...sounds like a good combination doesnt it?...That is probably the best combination I believe...the only problem is...if it works, I´ll ran out of excuses to get me the Mistress...

tks.
 
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I picked up a 911 a few months back. So far, I like it. I've used it for food prep, chopping, batoning. No complaints.
 
i LOVE my 1311. I've used it to clear shrubs, process wood, and i have actually processed several deer with it. I was frankly SHOCKED at how well it performed in that capacity.

I have never handled a BM, but since i got my 1311, I don't have a strong urge to get one
 
TIERRAVENTURA said:
First of all thanks for taking the time to answer with your experiences...

but what about, a waki + a short thick utility knife...sounds like a good combination doesnt it?...That is probably the best combination I believe...the only problem is...if it works, I´ll ran out of excuses to get me the Mistress...

tks.
Click to expand...

My thoughts are that something like a Boss Jack would pair pretty well with the Waki.

Personally, I like the versatility and redundancy that a M/O Kill Devil Hawk + 1311 + Boss Jack affords. Basically, it amounts to a tomahawk, machete and combat knife setup.

Many people do not like redundancy in their setups but I feel that it is worth an extra couple of pounds in a pack. I'd really prefer something like a 6" Elmax/Res-c ultra-light slicer in place of the Boss Jack, but it does not exist yet unfortunately.....:o

The Boss Jack rides on my belt at all times and is there incase I lose or get separated from the others.

I always have a Scrapivore around my neck as it does the little stuff with ease, holds a great edge and won't scare any sheeple that might be around.

If I wanted a single knife option, I would choose the Basic 10 LE choilless. It's long enough to function as a light chopper/heavy short machete, light/sharp/balanced for bushcraft tasks and also good for food prep/butchering/processing.

I hope this helps, just my $.02
 
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aaaa_cccc said:
My thoughts are that something like a Boss Jack would pair pretty well with the Waki.

Personally, I like the versatility and redundancy that a M/O Kill Devil Hawk + 1311 + Boss Jack affords. Basically, it amounts to a tomahawk, machete and combat knife setup.

Many people do not like redundancy in their setups but I feel that it is worth an extra couple of pounds in a pack. I'd really prefer something like a 6" Elmax/Res-c ultra-light slicer in place of the Boss Jack, but it does not exist yet unfortunately.....:o

The Boss Jack rides on my belt at all times and is there incase I lose or get separated from the others.

I always have a Scrapivore around my neck as it does the little stuff with ease, holds a great edge and won't scare any sheeple that might be around.

If I wanted a single knife option, I would choose the Basic 10 LE choilless. It's long enough to function as a light chopper/heavy short machete, light/sharp/balanced for bushcraft tasks and also good for food prep/butchering/processing.

I hope this helps, just my $.02
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aaaa_cccc...You know you are a big help here... I used a hatchet for a while, I tried a candian..polymer handle and thin blade...I dont remember the brand...it is 420hc...wonderfull piece...then fiskars, great ones...then I experimented with sog and other cheap tomahawks... Great combination...pretty Nesmuk sort of combination.

I own an Ontario Signature Series Afghan and RD6, both 10mm thick=.375 thick in S7, I figured I can pair one of those with the waki...or maybe a .3x ASH....but the whole idea was to pair the Mistress with something...

I believe most of you guys are reading my mind here...I must have called this thread Jungle survival combination or something like that...

I keep on getting good feedback on the 1311, I´ll probably start looking for one.. but to be honest, the only thing that bothers me is the short handle...that is what i hate about machetes...and what made me think about the waki...by the way, aren´t they the same steel, treatment, lenght, thickness and width?... so the difference goes to double hand handle and about 100 more?

I´m feeling I want to make my own Scrapy-MOAB.mistress...
 
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The Battle Mistress is an amazing knife...

[video=youtube_share;V0_L-xE9HPw]http://youtu.be/V0_L-xE9HPw[/video]
 
RobStanley said:
The Battle Mistress is an amazing knife...

[video=youtube_share;V0_L-xE9HPw]http://youtu.be/V0_L-xE9HPw[/video]
Click to expand...

Hi there Rob, I found out a couple of your videos before, the one you just posted...I´ve never seen it...Needless to say...Impressive.
 
I sold off my Mistresses ( ever since I got a Zilla, none of the ones I had really compared) but they tend to be a bit to short and thick for effective clearing of anything. The 1311 would actually great for numbers 2 and 3 on your list.

I've never found the waki to be particularly effective at anything ( chopping or clearing). I lean more towards the Scrapizashi between the two swords, and even then, neither are great at anything

Picture!
54406831-F47C-434E-95A1-FD9B5E72F98D-1080-000001CABD7D9CCB.jpg
 
While a FBM or a new NMFSH would suit the purpose of all of the tasks it wouldn't be the best for food as its so thick.

I'll admit when I was a little younger I didn't have the money for a Busse, I used a 10 dollar cold steel panga, they hold up extremely well. It was used daily 5 days a week.
 
With everything your describing I would say a Stripped Battle Rat would be your dream knife at a much lower cost than a CGFBM but that's just my 2 cent. I love my CGFBM but they get a bit heavy on the trail. The Battle Rats are getting harder to find than the CGFBM's here lately tho, so I would say you could sub a 911 for it. They are easy to find for now anyway!

IMG_0175-1.jpg
 
Jroden5446, Thanks for the illustrative picture I didn´t know the Zilla was so close to the 1311, I noticed the video I saw was the zilla against the BM and others...Dwarfing the others at the task off course...but to be honest, I don’t really like kukris anymore...I saw another video, about a mistress vs an Himalayan imports kukri...and that, was the true definition of embarrassing. (Sorry for my honesty)...about the waki, it sounds not be effective at anything certainly, but it is 2in longer than the 1311, same width, same thickness, same steel, etc....it has to be good for something...(not defending it...I´ve never had one, but just trying to argument)

SubaruSTi the start of this conversation, is the effectiveness against the 20dollar machetes I know thickness will be the most competitive feature of the more expensive blades...

fhm615 Thanks for the other options... I never considered the battle rat or the 911, I´ll give it thought, although I discarded other 9in blades because I have the NMFSH... great combo by the way -splitter & 911-

These are some of the videos I referred to:

[video=youtube;zRnVY9qLCEE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRnVY9qLCEE [/video]
[video=youtube;aNHbS9R8yuE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNHbS9R8yuE [/video]
[video=youtube;i5VhmbvWcnE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5VhmbvWcnE [/video]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy0wf0fkVWY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRnVY9qLCEE

I cant seem to find the Zilla vs FBM....

Thanks...Keep it comming.
 
I have found the 1311 to be a great chopper but not as great at batoning. Maybe because of its width.
 
How about a Basic 11? Absolutely love mine... And I'm a huge mistress fan. :D

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But I'll have a mistress or three... Another one of my favorites is a FBM with .270" thick and a full height grind.

03FBMSE20081679.jpg

01FBMSE20081675.jpg


And another favorite... FBM proto... :)

03ProtoBM1stUse2926.jpg

ProtoBMADSet1891.jpg


.
 
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