The Busse Basic #9 -vs- The Cold Steel Trail Master!

M

Mike Turber

Joined
Oct 2, 1998
Messages
5,461
The test is now complete. I took both knives to failure.
www.bladeforums.com/magazine/trial/csvsbusse-1.html

If you have alreay visited the magazine section make sure you refresh your browser on page 7 to get to pages 8,9 & 10 of the test.

Don't forget to subscribe! Next month's test will be the Mad Dog ATAK -VS- the Mission MPK!

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
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Good job breaking those jumbos. Maybe as a final test of the two knives, you could grab the slabs of remaining handle material and subject them to chemical, UV or heat tests. Other than that, I think your test was very complete.
 
Hi Mike I read the test results and it was interesting to say the least. But I was wondering if the price differance would warent buying the busse over the TM? Is the differance very much? And is the waiting period worth it? I personally like the Trail Master design a little better. The Busse looks like something that I would find in the kitchen next to the bread knife.Just My Opinion.Thanks for the test and your honesty it is appreciated. I like to know the facts no matter how it turns out.
 
Concerning the chemical exposure, DEET resistance is important to a lot of people.

Nice job on the writeup Mike.

-Cliff
 
Great test, Mike. I have a Trail Master, with a BM and Basic 9 on the way, and I'd like to know what they can do.

As for the performance of the Trail Master not being up to that in the video, you failed to recognize the clear "reject" mark they drilled in the middle of the tang.
smile.gif


Eric Takabayashi
Fukuyama, Japan
 
I wonder if it is possible to quantify how much torque (in foot pounds) the knife is being subjected to at the holding point in the vise (use a torque wrench?).

Also, how much of the better breaking performance of the Busse is due to the greater size of the blade at the breaking point or due to a stronger steel? (Mike raised this point)

All academic points, I know, but I'm curious.

Still and all I have to agree the Busse is the better performing knife, if for no other reason than the better handle and edge-holding.


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"If they do these things in a green tree, what will they do in a dry?"
 
Mike,
Great test, thanks for the effort and keep this service coming.
One question; which model Trailmaster (San Mai or stainless) did you use? If it was included in the on-line magazine article I must have missed it. Thanks again.


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Life is a journey, not a guided tour -- GO ARMED!
--&gt;BLADE


 
Sorry I do not have a torque wrench. If the magazine does well and we have enough money I will get one. Right now we do not have enough subscriptions for me to allow buying a torque wrench.

So go subscribe! Or buy a subscription for a friend!

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!

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Hey Mike, I think I like the way the article was written, as much as the content. I differ in opinion with you at times, but that piece was straight from the cuff, calls 'em as I sees 'em writing. If the industry doesn't pay attention, they are missing the boat! If I was Lynn Thompson right now, I'd be trying to design a new handle for the TM.
I've done extensive work with the TM, it is a great knife, I have caluses to prove it!
Test results, IMHO, most times, depend on the user, but I've noticed that when the writer describes the overall feel of a given knife, I tend to agree.
Keep 'em coming!
Ten
I just read the update, I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice the pipe degree situation.

[This message has been edited by Tenbeers (edited 05 December 1999).]
 
Thanks Ten,

In my position I must be very carreful that my tests are fair and in no way biased. I am certain bias will be claimed at some point and, well you know me, I don't give a rats ass. I know the truth.

I would be very interested in members pulling out their videos and going to that section and seeing for themselves what I am talking about with the Trail Master hitting 60 Degrees. I did not use or need to use a pipe. A Torque wrench would of revealed the Busse was harder to pull but I have no clue as to what amount.

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Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
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Not only does the pipe add extra degrees, it covers the handle separating from the tang. Check it out closely. Also note; an allen wrench is used to help keep the handle together when the "weight test" is done. I'm not knocking CS, just making note of some overlooked weaknesses, which backs up my old anti-kraton argument. Bottom line: superblade should equal superhandle. Supersheath should be a factor also.
Ten

[This message has been edited by Tenbeers (edited 05 December 1999).]
 
Hey Tenbeers,

Take another look at your tape. In the scene where Lynn hits the block with the back of the blade you will notice what appears to be a blowup sex doll laying in the background. I wonder what they use that for
smile.gif


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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!

Support BladeForums! Check out the BFC Store!
www.bladeforums.com/store
Subscribe our NEW online magazine!
www.bladeforums.com/magazine
 
Perhaps the "Future knife appearance in horror movie test"?!
I will not speculate further!
Stop frame will also reveal Jerry Busse in the grassy knoll!
Ten

[This message has been edited by Tenbeers (edited 05 December 1999).]
 
I'm a big fan of Cold Steel knives but I remember when I watched the proof video noticing that they measured the angle of the bend at the pipe. I don't think this takes away from the obvious quality of the knife but it's to bad the manufacturer feels the need to inflate the figures. That's exactly why I enjoyed the non-biased approach of Mike's article. My check for a subscription is on its way.

Martin
 
The thinner cross section of the TM should allow it to flex more than the Basic if the steels were identical. It doesn't. From this you could infer that if you made a TM out of M-INFI you would get an even greater bend without fracture.

-Cliff
 
Great test Mike. I have the trailmast and love it other than the handle as so many others have said. I would like to say that I believe that these tests to failure while extremely interesting are probably more academic than useful. If there is anybody out there that has used these knives to failure I would sure like to know. Like I said on another thread I have several great knives but many a man greater than me has depended upon the Kabar which by our terms is not nearly in the same catagory as these knives. In the end if you buy high quality you should then buy what you like. I have to go with the other guy who says that the busse looks like it belongs in the kitchen. Again that is a personal subjective thing but I just don't like the looks of it and I have the luxury of buying something else. Also I am unclear on how difficult it is to sharpen the Busse can you clarify that?
 
Great write up! I too have wondered about the actuall angle of bending tests. I always thought that using a 3 or 4 inch in Diameter pipe 4 feet long for a cheater bar and then using its extreme tip as the point of measure was suspect. RADIUS of curve is never considered. You can obviously bend a thin, long blade to 90 degrees through a 12 inch radius more easily than a thicker, shorter blade of equal quality, or the same blade to 90 degrees through a 8 inch radius. There are just too many variables to make this sort of thing a scientificly equal test. It DOES however give one a very good, subjective, intuitive feel for the quality of a blade. The last one of MY blades i tested went to 45 degrees easily and repeatedly with full return to straight, and to 75 degrees before snapping.
 
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