Someone Please Arrange a Chop Off (ASHBM VS NMFBM)

Rob_Mob

Rob_Mob

Joined
Oct 16, 2013
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Hey Everyone,

It's Saturday so please help resolve one of the most nagging questions on my mind. Which beast is the ultimate chopper, the ASHBM or the NMFBM? Video would be ideal but pictures will suffice. Thanks! ;)

Do it for 'Merica. Do it for the red, white, and blue. Do it for me and you. Do it for the inner hog in you. Do it to cure the INFI flu.
 
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its prob pretty close. i haven't had the ashbm but I've def swung most of the other mistresses including the nmfbm . id say per chop the nmfbm would be more beastly as it weighs more and that convex edge bites. But the ashbm is lighter so you may be able to get way more swings in. id be very interested to hear someone with both speak on it or show us :)
 
Aaaand done!! Pics and write up incoming from Tyrade83.
It's MUCH closer than you think concreteadaptation !! ;)
 
I whipped up a quick comparison just for you Rob :D

I grabbed my buddy stjones, a good old faithful NMFBM, a nice mint 1/300 ASHBM, and a B11 just for the heck of it.

The combatants!



The weigh in!

1/300 ASHBM



NMFBM



B11




Thickness at the ricasso:

1/300 ASHBM: 0.311
NMFBM: 0.288
B11: 0.259


Thickness at the shoulder they measured:

1/300 ASHBM: 0.040
NMFBM: 0.069
B11: 0.055

The test medium was some 4"x4" kiln dried Douglas fir posts.

First up was 5 swings per knife by myself and stjones (I had the greyish block, he had the red one)



Then another 15, for a total of 20



Then 30 more, for a total of 50



Our conclusion was that they are all pretty even at the 50 swing mark. The thickness of the NMFBM starts to hamper it at that point IMO, but a zero edge would probably bring it clearly into the lead. But it is nearly a pound heavier than the B11, and almost a half pound more than the ASHBM (granted it might be a bit lighter than an LE or CG due to the swedge, but it's what I have). The NMFBM definitely hits harder, but I'd rather carry another knife along with my B11 or ASHBM for the same weight as the NMFBM.

Comfort while chopping I'd say went to the ASHBM. It seemed to lock into my grip better than the NMFBM. I'm a big fan of the Basic 11, and the ResC was as good as expected, but I did experience a small bit of slippage. With the NMFBM, I found I was readjusting my grip every couple swings, even with gloves on.

All in all, I'd rate the three overall as B11, ASHBM, NMFBM, simply because the B11 kept right up with the MUCH heavier competition, and who doesn't like Basics? :)

Straight up chopping beast rating, NMFBM (would be even BETTER with a zero edge), ASHBM, B11. Much like engines, there's no replacement for displacement.

But just because I ranked the ASHBM second, it definitely surprised me with how it did against the others, and it definitely displayed what it is capable of.

As usual, this is just my opinion, and YMMV.
 
I do not have a NMFBM, but I am going out soon to do a chop off with ASHBM, NMFSH, and 1311. If all goes well I'll shoot vids.
 
Tyrade83 and Stjones -- you guys rock!! Thanks for the excellent and thorough review with pics. It's members like you fine gents that make this sub forum a pleasure to frequent daily. Cheers.

Now about the results -- I'm curious how much of the NMFBM beast chopping power was due to its weight vs handle design vs edge geometry. If it's mostly due to it's weight I think I would prefer to keep the ASHBM as my flagship Beast Chopper Knife. Don't get me wrong all three of those knives deserve a mantle of their own.

Also, did the ASHBM swing faster or bite deeper? Did it vibrate considerably more than the other two? Also, did it get stuck/wedge to the point that it slows it down or requires more calories per # of chops as the other two? Thanks guys!!
 
Rob, the edge geometry is the definitive factor. The NMFBM has a very obtuse edge where as the ASHBM is zeroed and considerably thinner. The B11 is convexed and quite thin which is what I believed to help it keep up with it's heavier brothers.
Both Tyrade an I preferred the ASHBM handle for this test. Seemed to "lock" your hand in. Pinky bite didn't bother me at all with no gloves. In my opinion the Original straight handle design is where it's at. My FAV Busse handle design.
The ASHBM is def the faster knife and feels so much lighter in hand.
None of the knives vibrated that I noticed.
Tyrade had no "sticks" with any of the combatants and I had one with the ASHBM. It stuck good but out of 50 chops it wouldn't concern me.
 
Great report, thanks. :thumbup:

Geometry cuts. Geometry cuts. Geometry cuts. What I tell you three times is true.

That fat shoulder at 0.069" is what holds back the NMFBM. Grind that down, narrow the angle, or convex it thinner, and it will outchop most anything, especially with the weight behind it. But ... do you want to carry or swing that weight for long? So lighter knives, as you indicate, can be more efficient, and more versatile. I love my skinny 1st Gen CG NMFBM, after stripping and thinning it is a chopping monster (BTW, love all those naked blades). But I wouldn't want to carry it. Eventually, I will have a CG ASHBM, and can run a test like this for myself.

SY 1311, SHBM x 2, TTKZ (Garth regrind), CG NMFBM, Asym B11, thinned CG FBM ... no lack of choppers here for comparison. :rolleyes:

4x4 douglas fir. :eek: That's a pretty serious test medium. :cool:

hmmm, maybe I should take my collection to the next INGO Chop-In, and get them timed on a 2x4 chop.
 
I just added one more combatant to the mix, my Custom Shop MOAB :D

Weight: 2.620 lb
Thickness at the ricasso: 0.382"
Thickness at shoulder: 0.052"

My 5, 20, and 50 chop pics







stjones' 5, 20, and 50







The MOAB definitely won by a large margin. Like Resinguy posted while I was typing this out, geometry cuts. The weight and thin edge of the MOAB made it almost all the way through, another 10-15 swings and I feel it would be through.

I DEFINITELY wouldn't feel under gunned with the ASHBM. Pound for pound, it's way up there in chopping proficiency.
 
Awesome test and pics!
I love seeing ppl use, document and post all the fun they have w/ their knives. :)
 
Nice work guys, very useful info here. I love my ASHBM CG, it's surprisingly fast in the hand and always bites deep. I've enjoyed using it several times this past spring for trimming some trees, makes quick work out of everything I throw at it.
 
Vids of today's chop-off as promised earlier in the thread.
After last time I used my NMFSH, I thought it performed better then the ASHBM both with factory edge.
So I sharpened the knives and did a chop off to see which one I like better. I also added a 1311 with factory edge to see how that one will compare.
First started with ASHBM, the lanyard, kept trying to spin the knife in my hand, that was annoying (I re-positioned it later for another vid)
Very deep cuts, and very effective, of course swinging those 27 oz was pretty tiring.

[video=youtube;ATntlPbCGdE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATntlPbCGdE[/video]

Off to the NMFSH, this one chops well, but felt less powerful than the ASHBM, as expected I guess. Same issue with the lanyard.

[video=youtube_share;NU4TEOWsfsE]http://youtu.be/NU4TEOWsfsE[/video]

The 1311, needs a better edge and will be very good chopper. It is light and fast, the handle is the best of the three IMHO, easiest to hold on to. The size is smaller and that make sit easier to hold tight to it compared to the other two.

[video=youtube_share;26p4LyHrjsc]http://youtu.be/26p4LyHrjsc[/video]
 
Next, I figured I'd cut the tree in half with the 1311, it did the job pretty well.

[video=youtube_share;v3_sxdFwRG4]http://youtu.be/v3_sxdFwRG4[/video]

Finally I used the ASHBM to cut rest of the tree in half, I wanted to make sure it indeed performed so well. Very impressive, knife. I put the lanyard trough the first rivet hole, and that solved the problem with the knife trying to spin in hand.
I was pretty tired by that time, that was the 5th consecutive chopping for the chop off...those heavy blades are no jokes.

[video=youtube;jQTmhWUGzJ8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQTmhWUGzJ8[/video]


For today the ASHBM won the chop off. Second place for the 1311. Last the NMFSH.

If one needs a great all around light to medium task chopper the 1311 is a great choice.
For smaller blade with a lot of power, the NMFSH will be a great choice.
If you want to go full out, the ASHBM should be the choice.
I am hunting after NMFBM, and FBM to compare against the ASHBM, hope I get them both fairly soon for some more chop-offs.
 
Totally awesome work!!!
Outstanding comparison and reviews!!!!! Thank you all!!!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Now I'm lusting after a MOAB too!!! :eek: :D
 
Nice work, guys. Thanks for doing the testing, for posting the results, and for giving us your impressions--very helpful. :thumbup:
 
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