Chopping is all about momentum meeting resistance, which is just geometry and physics. A longer blade develops more rotational momentum than a shorter blade. Handle offset (cant) introduces leverage angle as a mechanical advantage, with dropped handles enhancing momentum over straighter handles, which is how the Machax performs. A thinner edge/thinner blade cuts with less resistance, because it's having to cut through and spread less material to penetrate to equal depth as a thicker edge/blade. When you say your machete smoked the others, that's its design. Thin, flat steel with much greater blade length for momentum and penetration. However, the machete won't stand up to abuse because it has no lateral strength, and it's so thin that it will tend to bind in thicker wood because its thin blade penetrates deeply without spreading the wood enough to overcome the resulting friction the sides of the cut exert on the blade flats, once it comes to rest in the wood. So on skinny branches and weeds, none of the others can keep up with the machete, although you could buy several machetes for what any of those other knives will cost. The TGLB isn't designed as a dedicated chopper, because its role as a combat knife requires speed and balance that isn't a priority for a dedicated chopper. Doesn't mean you can't chop with it; just means that if you want a dedicated chopper you should probably look for a different Busse design. For example, a Basic 9 is in the same blade length range as your Becker, and is probably even lighter overall, but I guarantee you the Becker will not stand up to a Basic 9 as a chopper, because the weight-forward design of the reduced-tang Basics and the asymmetrical edge of the Basic 9, which enhances penetration in wood, will eat the Becker's lunch.
