I have a brute and just ordered a machax a few hours ago. I'll do some chopping over winter break and post results. I bought the machax because I found the brute to be too tiring for serious chopping. In general I don't think a 9in blade is the right tool to chop down a tree. But specifically, the blade didn't generate enough momentum to efficently chop branches 3" thick. (this is all relative, and my idea of efficiency is probably not universally shared, but I'm comparing the momentum of the brute's blade with that of my gerber sport axe which weighs less but has a higher center of gravity and which I feel is very efficient) I know the machax isn't any longer than the brute and striking speed will be the same, but I'm hoping it has more head weight because of the bulge and the lack of false edge grinds along the spine. The brute also wanted to leave my hand on the swing, so hopefully the angle of the machax handle will give me more security retaining the knife while reducing fatigue. When chopping something at full arm's length, I found that straightening the wrist at the end of the swing was what wore out my forearms the most. Also an old tennis injury in my right wrist is what chopping with straight blades agravates. So the more the knife approaches an "L" shape, the less I have to move my wrist to allign the blade with the wood and the happier I am. I don't normally buy two blades that are made to do the same job, but at only 70 dollars a piece, I have spent the same amount that I would have paid for a trailmaster. And no blistered hands to show for it.
[This message has been edited by generallobster (edited 12-05-2000).]
