TGLB/ TGULB questions

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Dylan Kermon

Joined
Apr 10, 2020
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Looking at ordering a TGULB while they’re still on the site, I know it’s thinner than the tglb and etc, and I know it’ll still handle batoning and such with ease, but, for those of you who have a team Gemini/tglb etc, how does it do with finer work such as small game skinning and feather sticks etc? Only info I can really find is on bigger chopping type tasks, and am wondering how it fares with smaller work, comfort and effectiveness wise
 
I have a TGLB. It will do the kinds of things you're talking about. It won't do them as well as a knife with a shorter blade and thinner geometry. The top guard would get in the way of putting your hand right above the blade for applying maximum force for feather sticking. Butchering a rabbit (the only small game I have experience with) would be more frustrating with a TGLB than a smaller knife, but you could get it done. I wouldn't try filleting a trout with it.

If you're intending to do these activities specifically, I would take a knife intended for those purposes. If you are getting a TGULB as a 'one knife' survival or emergency knife and you're asking if it will do those jobs in the one in a million chance you find yourself marooned on a desert island, then yes, definitely.

Also it is absolutely an exceptional knife, so even if you don't do those things you will still love it. :thumbsup:
 
Currawong said:
I have a TGLB. It will do the kinds of things you're talking about. It won't do them as well as a knife with a shorter blade and thinner geometry. The top guard would get in the way of putting your hand right above the blade for applying maximum force for feather sticking. Butchering a rabbit (the only small game I have experience with) would be more frustrating with a TGLB than a smaller knife, but you could get it done. I wouldn't try filleting a trout with it.

If you're intending to do these activities specifically, I would take a knife intended for those purposes. If you are getting a TGULB as a 'one knife' survival or emergency knife and you're asking if it will do those jobs in the one in a million chance you find yourself marooned on a desert island, then yes, definitely.

Also it is absolutely an exceptional knife, so even if you don't do those things you will still love it. :thumbsup:
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Thanks, I have a few esses and a winkler for more specific stuff to be paired with an axe etc, just thinking about a busse for the times when I only have the space for one bigger tool
 
Put it this way, if I was going out specifically shooting rabbits and expected to be processing a few of them, and I only had room for one knife, I would never take a TGLB. It would be too frustrating to use on multiple rabbits if I could have a small thin knife instead. But if I was going camping and expected to be doing a wide range of things, with a 5% chance I might also get a rabbit and have to skin it and gut it and then cook it (and make a fire to cook it with) then 100% a TGLB would be fine.
 
I think the best one- knife solution is probably something like the Basic 8 if you prefer Resiprene C or an ASH1 if you prefer traditional handles.

It is always best to have a large knife and a small knife and I either go with my Skelly Warden and Battle Saw or my Basic 11 depending on what I'm expecting.
 
The TG series is popular for a good reason. It's just a damn good knife. I don't have the TGLB, but have a few TGULBs, and they all came nice and sharp from factory. Depending on your personal preference, it's a great length for general utility, and I'm not having issues with finer work. It's still an 8" blade, so for tiny things, it won't feel like a 3-4" knife, but choking up to the choil makes it feel more like a 6" knife. As others have said above, it's not going to out perform tasks specifically for a small knife, but it's a well designed knife and it'll perform well enough in a broad variety of settings/needs. You can press a big knife into doing a smaller knife's task; can't make a small knife do a big knife's work as easily.

Feather sticks? No problems for me, especially with the hollow grind. Very comfortable in hand too when choked up. But yes. The top guard does get in the way of you need to position for maximum force, which I haven't had the need to.

Can't speak to skinning tho, as that's not something I have experience with.
 
Dylan Kermon said:
Looking at ordering a TGULB while they’re still on the site, I know it’s thinner than the tglb and etc, and I know it’ll still handle batoning and such with ease, but, for those of you who have a team Gemini/tglb etc, how does it do with finer work such as small game skinning and feather sticks etc? Only info I can really find is on bigger chopping type tasks, and am wondering how it fares with smaller work, comfort and effectiveness wise
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It is NOT comfortable for smaller work, but because it has an edge, it will get the job done. Of course, a sword will work and so will a piece of obsidian or a rock if it has a sharp edge, but they will not be comfortable to use for those tasks.

If you have never hunted or field dressed small game like a rabbit or a small bird, I guarantee you that you will find a smaller knife to be more comfortable and efficient (you'll get things done much more quickly). Even on very large game, a small knife with a good @ 4" blade will be much faster than a much larger TGULB.
 
+1 for ASH1 - it'll do all those "things" better than TG of any kind.
That said esthetics of TG is stellar - I have it and would never let it go. It's a keeper, but it's not a multi purpose knife. Sure it'll do everything what you've mentioned, but it'll be a compromise, not giving you that "wild pleasure"
 
I've had a bunch of knives and have come to some conclusions.

1. Batoning is rough on knives. Thicker (to a point) is better for a few different reasons.

2. Bushcrafty things are easier with a thinner blade, shorter is also better.

3. The tgulb is a fantastic knife. I've got a bgtg, a2tg and tgulb. I'd take the tgulb on anything where I'm going to have to hike/backpack (over the other 2 tg variants). It's stupid light compared to the a2, and considerably lighter than the bgtg. I abuse my bgtg because it's the cheapest and the most used (had it the longest).

4. The TG series isn't really designed for apex performance in woodland survival techniques/wood processing. It's more of a generalist knife. It will do them all, but none great. If you want a woodland survival knife, define the techniques you want to employ and pick a knife designed to do that.
 
HR2 vs. TGULB

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It almost looks in the photos like they’re the exact same size. But the HR2 is about 3/8” to 1/2” longer, with about 1/3 of that difference in the length of the handle of the HR2. If that makes sense. And the TGULB is much livelier in the hand.
 
Thanks
dogboye said:
HR2 vs. TGULB

View attachment 1355335 View attachment 1355334 View attachment 1355333

It almost looks in the photos like they’re the exact same size. But the HR2 is about 3/8” to 1/2” longer, with about 1/3 of that difference in the length of the handle of the HR2. If that makes sense. And the TGULB is much livelier in the hand.[/QUOTE
Thanks! I think the only hold up I’m really having is the top talon on the tg. Is it easy to get around for work work and when using the Choil or does it get in the way? The HR2 honestly is probably more like I’m looking for but the tglb was the first busse I saw so sentimental I guess lol
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dogboye said:
HR2 vs. TGULB

View attachment 1355335 View attachment 1355334 View attachment 1355333
I think the only hold up I’m having on the tg is the top talon. How easy is to get around and be comfortable when doing finer tasks using the choil and such? Or does it just get in the way? Honestly the hr2 is probably more like I’m looking for but the tglb was the first busse I ever heard of so I guess I’m sentimental


It almost looks in the photos like they’re the exact same size. But the HR2 is about 3/8” to 1/2” longer, with about 1/3 of that difference in the length of the handle of the HR2. If that makes sense. And the TGULB is much livelier in the hand.
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The top guard doesn’t bother me. I kinda feel it locks the knife in my hand better. But, YMMV. It also depends on your “mission.” Neither of them is going to be stellar in skinning a squirrel or rabbit. Feathersticks. Hard call. Either of them will be great for chopping. The TGULB seems to make up for its lightweight by being pure speed, and having a thinner edge. If it was a choice ONLY between a Hellrazor or a TG, that would be a hard call, and depend on the TG. Hellrazor vs BGTG or A2TG... I’d take the Hellrazor.

Hellrazor vs. TGULB... I’d probably take the TGULB. I always liked the Team Gemini, and the Hellrazor. But these friggin’ TGULB....

When I’m about to head out somewhere and I am going to grab a knife... I can pretty much grab either a TGULB or a Hellrazor and have no qualms about the knife being the best. And one of those two is what I’ll grab. If I expect a lot of moving on foot though: TGULB.
 
dogboye said:
The top guard doesn’t bother me. I kinda feel it locks the knife in my hand better. But, YMMV. It also depends on your “mission.” Neither of them is going to be stellar in skinning a squirrel or rabbit. Feathersticks. Hard call. Either of them will be great for chopping. The TGULB seems to make up for its lightweight by being pure speed, and having a thinner edge. If it was a choice ONLY between a Hellrazor or a TG, that would be a hard call, and depend on the TG. Hellrazor vs BGTG or A2TG... I’d take the Hellrazor.

Hellrazor vs. TGULB... I’d probably take the TGULB. I always liked the Team Gemini, and the Hellrazor. But these friggin’ TGULB....

When I’m about to head out somewhere and I am going to grab a knife... I can pretty much grab either a TGULB or a Hellrazor and have no qualms about the knife being the best. And one of those two is what I’ll grab. If I expect a lot of moving on foot though: TGULB.
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How is the CBT on the HR? Never messed with a cbt blade, I imagine it works well in harder wood batoning, but how does it do in softer wood and meats when slicing? Does it decrease or increase the drag?
 
I haven't noticed anything about the CBT. Other than looks, I can't say that I know it is even there. I haven't done a side-by-side on meats. I can't say that I've noticed anything about the CBT at all. Other than looks.
 
Dylan Kermon said:
And the proud tang isn’t noticeable on the tgulb?
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It's not that it isn't noticeable. It is comfortable. The handle wedges has a more refined, slightly rounded feel to it.

So I guess it's "not noticeable" in the sense that it's not something that sticks out that you'll notice, or that feels out of place. It's well blended and well designed.
 
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