The contenders...

[Jeepnut22]

Ok, here is a preview of what will be posted later this evening (after I get the kids to bed )...

The Contenders:

The Wood:

The Aftermath:

Stay Tuned!! :thumbup:

Figured I should list out the contenders here...

Big-Uns:
FBM LE
WFBM (FFBM modified by Ban)

Medium-Uns:
CG SFNO
Custom Shop SFNO w/ Convex Edge
Swamp Rat Camp Tramp
Swamp Rat Old School RatWeiler

Smaller Medium-Uns:
CG SJTAC
BATACLE
Custom M6
CG ASH-1

 

[Swizzle]

get them kids to bed and get to choppin!!!

 

[texastonydobbs]

Great set of blades .....

 

[Jeepnut22]

Ok, I will start off with the big-uns since that is what you guys are clammerin' about... :thumbup:

This all came about for two reasons. 1) It's my turn on Paddling_Man's passaround of the CG SFNO (CG SJTAC included). 2) There was a post on the Swamp Rat forum here on the BF asking about the comparisons between the CG SFNO, Camp Tramp and New ChopWeiler. While I didn't have a ChopWeiler I could test with, I substituted an Old School RatWeiler.

So, as mentioned above, on with the Big-Uns...

The FBM LE:

After about 25 chops on the 2x4:

On to the WFBM (FFBM modified by Ban):

After about 25 chops on the 2x4:

Comparison:

My Thoughts:
These are both BEASTS!! Holy Crap!! The FBM LE had such grunt it just flew through the 2x4. The WFBM was equally powerful. While not having the same heft and grunt, the WFBM was easily swung and the Ban profiled geometry just sent the wood chips flying. It was wicked close, but I have to say that by the width of a fleas pubic hair, the WFBM wins out. Mainly because the WFBM is faster and will last longer as a chopper. This also helped with control. Notice that the FBM LE chop width is wider than the WFBM. Not 100% sure why, but my guess would be that the lighter, leaner WFBM provided more control. Thoughts?

Oh, and missing in action from this group is my HOGFSH. It's with Garth getting some Luvin'... :thumbup:

 

[Jeepnut22]

What everyone was waiting for...

On to the Medium-Uns...

CG SFNO:

CG SFNO Results:

Camp Tramp:

Camp Tramp Results:

Custom SFNO:

Custom SFNO Results:

Old School RatWeiler:

Old School RatWeiler Results:

 

[Jeepnut22]

The Medium-Uns comparison:

Camp Tramp (back) vs. Old School RatWeiler (front):

Custom SFNO (back) vs. Old School RatWeiler (front):

Custom SFNO (back) vs. CG SFNO (front):

Camp Tramp (back) vs. CG SFNO (front):

My take (all averaged about 38 - 40 chops)...

The Camp Tramp was the least effective at chopping of this bunch with the Old School RatWeiler being the best. But with the Old School RatWeiler I seemed to have less control. I was all over the place chopping with it. Whether it was me, or the way the knife handled could be debateable. The Custom SFNO also seemed to provide a little more control than the CG SFNO, which I certainly attribute to the D-Gauard and Wrist Secure paracord I put on it. Both SFNOs were about equal with the Custom showing a little more control as mentioned above. The RatWeiler was superior to all, but control seemed to be a factor to me. The Camp Tramp, while an amazing blade, was at the bottom of this group for chopping. For other camp duties, it would probably fair at the top due to it's size, weight and blade design. Thoughts?

 

[Jeepnut22]

Finally, the smaller Medium-Uns...

Custom M6:

Custom M6 Results:

Custom M6 Blade Damage :

CG SJTAC:

CG SJTAC Results:

BATACLE:

BATACLE Results:

CG ASH-1:

CG ASH-1 Results:

 

[Swizzle]

nicely done, jeeps. i can't speak on the sfno's, but it doesn't surprise me that the ratweiler is a better chopper than the camp tramp. the ratweiler is a fair bit heftier.

 

[Jeepnut22]

Comparison:

My thoughts...

With about 35 to 40 chops in on each blade, this was the least effective group, without surprise.

Bottom line, CG ASH-1, WTF!!!

I didn't expect much from the CG SJTAC nor the M6, but I was shocked to see the M6 edge damage like that. Neither blade is thick but the CG SJTAC at least allowed for choking back on the handle. The Custom M6 handle wasn't shaped for easily choking back on the grip of the knife which definitely hindered what it could have done. The TAC handle IMHO is very comfy for choking back for more leverage while swinging whereas the CG ASH-1 doesn't really allow for that.

The BATACLE is a surpising chopper. It's heft and the ability to choke back on the TAC handle definitely help out. But in this bunch, the CG ASH-1 wins easily. The control I felt with this knife was insane. The handle felt like it wrapped around my hand and the blade didn't move at all during the chopping. The Magnum handles are perfectly contoured. The .320" thickness definitely helped out with the chopping duties. It flew through by comparison to all but the FBM LE and WFBM. Of the Medium-Uns and Smaller Medium-Uns, I would put this one at the top with a close, close second being tied between the Old School RatWeiler (better chopper, less control) and the Custom Shop SFNO (not as good a chopper, but great control w/ the D-Guard and Wrist Secure paracord wrap). Thoughts?

 

[Jeepnut22]

Overall Scorecard!!

 

[tenman]

Pretty cool stuff. Wonder where a Battle Rat would fare in this line up? Think I might grab a 2x4 tomorrow and do a bit of chopping and compare, just for the heck of it

 

[DWRW]

It would "appear" to me from pictures that the M6 was heavily reprofiled/satin finished by belt sander.

I have to wonder if the M6 edge had the temper somehow damaged with over-heating when regrinding/refinishing (??????).

If that is the case, I have to wonder how sensitive the blade edges are to heat build up from belt sanders or was there just way too much heat build up from the belt?

..... Or is this just a defective blade? SR-101 has not typically been damaged nearly so easily. I have seen SR-101 take much more abuse and show WAY less damage..

Very curious as to what went wrong........

I would be curious to follow the progress of this to see if it is covered by warranty.

Keep us posted.

.

 

[Tyrkon Lawson]

Great test results. I am curious as to how the Chopweiler would stack up against the old school RW.

 

[DWRW]

Great test results. I am curious as to how the Chopweiler would stack up against the old school RW.

Yeah!!! :thumbup: That is a test I want to see. :thumbup:

I can't believe I haven't seen it done yet. I don't have the old school Ratweiler anymore. But, I do have the Chopweiler and personally, I am pretty convinced there are more things about the newer Chopweiler I personally like. :thumbup: ...... Now if only it came with the nicer micarta scales of the "earlier" version of the Ratweiler before the scales went ugly. :barf: :barf: :grumpy: :grumpy:

.

 

[Jeepnut22]

I do have a new ChopWeiler but it's on hold for someone who is buying it from me and I can't take liberties with it (I asked though!!)...

 

[tenman]

It would "appear" to me from pictures that the M6 was heavily reprofiled/satin finished by belt sander.

I have to wonder if the M6 edge had the temper somehow damaged with over-heating when regrinding/refinishing (??????).

This seems plausible. There is no way 25 strikes on a 2x4 should be able to deform SR-101 like that. Its hard to tell from the picture- is it more of a roll, or is it chipped?

 

[Troy H]

Great comparison! :thumbup:

A little more control with that Ratweiler would really open some eyes to how phenomenal that blade is for the weight. I look forward to seeing the difference once Ban mods the handle a bit.



I see from the other thread that Eric's got your back with that M6. Very cool. It will be interesting to hear what the shop finds with that blade.

 

[XMP]

Thanks very much for the comparison. I'm curious if an old school sabre grind SFNO with a little more forward weight would outperform the flat grinds. What was your subjective comparison between the ASH1 and the SFNOs?

 

[Jeepnut22]

Thanks very much for the comparison. I'm curious if an old school sabre grind SFNO with a little more forward weight would outperform the flat grinds. What was your subjective comparison between the ASH1 and the SFNOs?

There was a little more action on this same thread on the Busse forum. More reading there, title named the same too. I got into the ASH-1 handle a little more. Basically, the only NON-FBM blade that gave the Old School RatWeiler any competition was the CG ASH-1.
The Contenders...

Oh, and good news... I traded for a ChopWeiler, so I will be able to subject it to the same test in about a week and a half or so. :thumbup:

 

[Cutshaw]

Very cool, Jeepnut! I'm glad you enjoyed them! That was a fun review.