Ultimate Busse Chopper

[Cpl Punishment]

Spanks? The man actually used the word Spanks?

Oh Pulease!

Yeah, so do I, and the GF kinda likes it.

First off the Zilla falls into that category of the Chuckette or a MOAB, or some other "one of" Busse. The NMFBM LE and CG were a production release Busse of the highest caliber. Not a one hit wonder, that no one's going to remember in 5 years.

The OP mentioned nothing about the length of production run. Just what the ultimate chopper was. By definition, all Busses are limited editions, and the ones with a short production run can still be ordered from the custom shop, like many other Busse blades.

And beside that I'd like to see the Zilla do something besides chop. Ultimate means many things and the NMFBM LE is many things besides a chopper. I really believe that when somebody is looking for a "chopper" in knife form they want it to do all the other things that a knife does and chop. Otherwise they would just go out and buy an ax..........or a Zilla.

1.) Look at the video in this link: A khukuri int he kitchen?
The guy uses a 17" WWII kukri from Himalayan Imports -- very near in length, and actually thicker at the spine than a Zilla. kukris can be used for finer work, and their very wide front end makes it easier to just grab the blade up there to choke up on. They aren't especially easy for tiny jobs, but they can work in a pinch. Like LVC said, there's a reason traditional kukri come with small knives called karda. One of the Wardens or a BAD would make the equivalent of a Busse karda.

2.) Once again, the question was "What is the ultimate Busse chopper?" Not "What is the ultimate Busse chopper that I can also clean my fingernails with?"

Quite simply, the Battle Mistress line is simply outclassed by the Chuckette, MOAB and Zilla, and since Busse doesn't make a true axe, tomahawk or chainsaw, the answer is really going to be one of those three, and probably in the order I listed them.

 

[d762nato]

Great link CPL. That guys good with that Kukri, from the veggies to the fish. Plus it can double as a self defense weapon in case someone trys to take his food. :thumbup:

 

[OldPhysics]

True but I was going to ask the OP if carrying the chopper any distance was an issue.. if so the SHBM is still KING :thumbup:

.

Well ... I'd say that goes without saying (almost). <bemused smiley here>

The real answer? It's the chopper Jerry hasn't made yet, but will one day.

 

[Solstice]

considering that khukuries have historically had a steeling tool and a smaller knife carried with them, I agree with 230grains basic assessment. realistically: neither blade does well at knife tasks. they just don't. you can use a machete for skinning, you can even use a .25" thick machete for it, but it'll suck to use. Throw a skeleton game warden onto both blades sheath and I'd go with the kz.

Wait a second....you mean on top of carring one of the most awkard /heavy designed blades, I now have to carry a small ...what was it you called it?...oh yeah, a knife and a steeling tool???!!! I'm going to need a freaking pack mule. And speaking of steeling tool...I'm guessing no one uses a standard flat stone to sharpen that recurve from hell on the Zilla.

Saying that the nmfbm is anything more then slightly easier to use for knife tasks then the kz is just silly. They are almost the same size, and your going to have to choke up to the tip to do anything with the tip anyways. The kz's handle has such a better lock-into-your-hand ergonomic that I'd go with it for anything that needed to be done at the ricasso anyways.

Silly? Hey now, my cat is silly and even my dog does some silly things but I've never been referred to as silly. Comical, amusing, maybe even odd at times but never silly!

Yeah, so do I, and the GF kinda likes it.

The OP mentioned nothing about the length of production run. Just what the ultimate chopper was. By definition, all Busses are limited editions, and the ones with a short production run can still be ordered from the custom shop, like many other Busse blades.

Ok...good point.:thumbup:

1.) Look at the video in this link: A khukuri int he kitchen?
The guy uses a 17" WWII kukri from Himalayan Imports -- very near in length, and actually thicker at the spine than a Zilla. kukris can be used for finer work, and their very wide front end makes it easier to just grab the blade up there to choke up on. They aren't especially easy for tiny jobs, but they can work in a pinch. Like LVC said, there's a reason traditional kukri come with small knives called karda. One of the Wardens or a BAD would make the equivalent of a Busse karda.

One guy? Come on now...seriously? Go to the Food Network or any resturant for that matter and you'll see what....large knives, true perhaps not as large as the NMFBM. But what you won't see are Zillas. In fact go to any campground across the USA and what you'll see mostly being used are....knives. Not kukris. Why? Because the traditional shaped knife is considered to have the highest range of function. Including chopping.

And LVC's point of having to carry an extra knife to do the things that the Kukri doesn't do, well that's just..........silly?

2.) Once again, the question was "What is the ultimate Busse chopper?" Not "What is the ultimate Busse chopper that I can also clean my fingernails with?"

Quite simply, the Battle Mistress line is simply outclassed by the Chuckette, MOAB and Zilla, and since Busse doesn't make a true axe, tomahawk or chainsaw, the answer is really going to be one of those three, and probably in the order I listed them.

Outclassed is perhaps a little strongly worded, but I will agree that when Busse does make an ax, it will out chop anything. And, I still stand by the statement that an Ultimate Chopper should include the standard functions of a knife....which the Zilla is not.

Again just my 2 cents. All in good conversation and fun folks.


.

 

[PeterPHWS]

"What is the Ultimate Chopper"? " And Why"?

Gives a lot of scope to make a "case" for any Busse with chopping potential ....

It's a frequently asked question as well ....

For sheer ability to go through wood ... for me it is the Zilla ....

For versatility combining heavy and light wood chopping .... extended time period chopping .... something with a temporary machete role option .... the NMFBM

For carrying it on your belt .... a sort of nuance distinction for some .... as some feel the NMFBM is not an easy knife to carry on your belt both in terms of length or weight ...
many then feel the old SHBM is a top choice .... personally I feel now with the BWM LE there is a bit of competition for the SHBM .... also if weight really is a "premium" the BWM CG is lighter and then there is the DFLE, the Battle Rat and the Basic 9 in descending order of lightness .... place a premium on "weight" and for me the Basic 9 at 14 oz's is a strong contender .... amazing performance for the weight ....

I need to qualify things and say I have never had the chance to use a Chuckette or a MOAB ...

Don't ask me if I could only own "one" of the above which I would go for .... I honestly don't know .... I think it is cool to have the choice of picking according to "intended task" .... as some are better than others in different circumstances .... :thumbup:

 

[Last Visible Canary]

Wait a second....you mean on top of carring one of the most awkard /heavy designed blades, I now have to carry a small ...what was it you called it?...oh yeah, a knife and a steeling tool???!!! I'm going to need a freaking pack mule. And speaking of steeling tool...I'm guessing no one uses a standard flat stone to sharpen that recurve from hell on the Zilla.

What is THE ultimate Busse chopper and why??? I'm sure it will be impossible to get an overwhelming majority to agree, but with several new wood destroyers added to the lineup..., I think the opinions should be interesting.

If your worried about being a pack mule, why would you carry a 30oz blade in the first place? even disregarding small knives I stand by what I said: the nmfbm is not a small task knife. it's way over sized for doing small things, and if your going overboard with the size and weight of your small task knife anyways you might as well fulfill the initial requirement of ultimate "chopper" while your at it. Everything your saying indicates that's your answering the question "what is the most versatile chopper?", which would be something smaller like the nmsfno. The op asked for an "ultimate", not a middle ground, middle of the road, can do everything knife. "ultimate" and "chopper" means single goal: chopping.

and yes I will sharpen my zilla on a flat stone. I've sharpened several khukuries with equivalent curves on my edgepro system, and I have no reason to use another method.

large knives, true perhaps not as large as the NMFBM. But what you won't see are Zillas. In fact go to any campground across the USA and what you'll see mostly being used are....knives. Not kukris. Why? Because the traditional shaped knife is considered to have the highest range of function. Including chopping.

And LVC's point of having to carry an extra knife to do the things that the Kukri doesn't do, well that's just..........silly?
.

how much wood do you chop in your kitchen when preparing food? for that matter, how much thick fibrous anything do you end up chopping? I get that your looking for the most versatile chopper, but that really doesn't seem to be what the op was about.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

also, because I like the handle so much better on the kz than on the nmfbm, I'd go with that for small tasks anyways.

 

[Solstice]

and yes I will sharpen my zilla on a flat stone. I've sharpened several khukuries with equivalent curves on my edgepro system, and I have no reason to use another method.

You're able to sharpen recurves (Khukuries) use the EdgePro system? Having owned and used one extensively, I have to say that's quite impressive.:thumbup:

One of the main reasons I've never been into blades that have recurves is that I have always found it extremely difficult to sharpen them without using a round/semi-round stone.


Yes....I have to admit I'm more discussing an all around chopper than one that does just one thing.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

You're able to sharpen recurves (Khukuries) use the EdgePro system? Having owned and used one extensively, I have to say that's quite impressive.:thumbup:

If you sharpen a recurved portion exclusively, it will start to round out the corners over time. Most of that is evened out by sharpening straight edges with my set though, since I don't actively use many recuves. since the stones are only 1" wide and your coming at the curve from an acute angle, you end up using a good portion of the flats near the corners of the stone.

It works for 15"+ khukuries, but when I've had to do it on much smaller edc sized knives I have to use the actual corner of the stone, which gives rougher results then I'd like.

The biggest problem, one of the major limitations of the edge pro system, is the heigth of some khukuri blades. I've been able to do the 18" ang khola's I've had, but some of the ganga rams and taller models are no go. I'm pretty decent using them as files for the larger pieces.

now that I think of it, I'm not sure I could easily sharpen either the nmfbm or the kz on the table, since both convex ground o_0


I whole heatedly feel that the moab needs a handle update to have the kz's handle.

(this one is someone else's photo: )

 

[Cpl Punishment]

One guy? Come on now...seriously? Go to the Food Network or any resturant for that matter and you'll see what....large knives, true perhaps not as large as the NMFBM. But what you won't see are Zillas.

Yeah, one guy, who happens to be a chef. He wanted to see if it could be done, and did it. Means it can be done with such a blade.

In fact go to any campground across the USA and what you'll see mostly being used are....knives. Not kukris. Why? Because the traditional shaped knife is considered to have the highest range of function. Including chopping.

Campground?
People in campgrounds have enough trouble lighting their propane grills. I won't look to them for knife advice. If you mean outdoorsmen, true, you won't find many using a kukri -- in the west. Go to Nepal. You'll find almost everyone from the age of 7 on up using kukris, none using a Bowie-style knife. Must mean kukris are the ultimate all-purpose blade, eh?

No, it means they know how to use it. Most westerners are completely ignorant of what a kukri is, or how to use one. It's a skill you learn, just like anything else.

Oh, and the average Nepali woman is about 5'1", and average man about 5'4" -- if they can carry and use a kukri and the karda and chakma all day, I'm sure you can get over the weight.

And LVC's point of having to carry an extra knife to do the things that the Kukri doesn't do, well that's just..........silly?

No, not that you can't do it, just that the Nepali are smart enough to know it's easier to do some things with a small blade. Which is why every culture paired their big tool (kukri, knife, machete, axe) with a small blade. No exceptions.

Outclassed is perhaps a little strongly worded,

No, it's not. A lot of guys who thought such, later tried out a kukri and reversed their opinion.

but I will agree that when Busse does make an ax, it will out chop anything.

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the geometry of the bit.

And, I still stand by the statement that an Ultimate Chopper should include the standard functions of a knife....which the Zilla is not.

And it's still not the question that was asked.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

Maybe, maybe not. Depends on the geometry of the bit.

you know.... it was said about the khukuri which did against all odds come into being, but I doubt busse will ever make an axe proper, the kind that has a haft. However, if the axes and hatchets that have been made are any indication of whats to come, chances are it's going to be a "tactical" axe if anything. with LOTS of unecessary frills.

One day when I have lots of extra money I'm gonna get a crash axe and de-spike/de-finger groove it to make a standard 2 hand usable house axe that doesn't weight as much.

something like this:

taken from someone elses post and photoshoped... don't remember where from though

 

[Wicked Sharp]

I really appreciate the comments and insight up to this point. The question was posed to determine everyone's idea of the ULTIMATE CHOPPER without regard to weight, portability, additional utility, etc,.,. The ULTIMATE CHOPPER's only purpose in life is to blast through woods of all types as efficiently and quickly (fewest number of strokes) as possible. Keep the opinions coming!!!

 

[DavidZ]

For all of the ones that I have had, the best chopper is the..................

NMFBM LE​

No other one comes close!

 

[RussMo]

I havn't even seen a Zilla nor MOAB. For me and my wallet at the moment, my vote is the NMFBM. At .280" it can hack through what ever and say, "please sir may I have another".

 

[Last Visible Canary]

I really appreciate the comments and insight up to this point. The question was posed to determine everyone's idea of the ULTIMATE CHOPPER without regard to weight, portability, additional utility, etc,.,. The ULTIMATE CHOPPER's only purpose in life is to blast through woods of all types as efficiently and quickly (fewest number of strokes) as possible. Keep the opinions coming!!!

Besides the chuckette which is a complete one off and not available to the masses (it wind hands down), I'd say that if you sent the MOAB in to have it's edge thinned down it would win over everything else. it's longer and thicker than any other model, and the only thing holding it back from the KZ is it's tank like edge.

 

[theamazingdrew]

regardless of anything but chopping preformance the chuckette wins.
even though
it costs more than my house payment
even if i had the cash for it i couldnt find one
weighs a ton
less than 10 (IIRC) were made
all that aside IT WINS!

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

one is less than ten.

 

[PeterPHWS]

Has there ever been any pic's of the Chuckette being used ?

 

[Horn Dog]

My ultimate Busse Chopper is this big ole thing I got at Blade. I thinned it out some and it is BAD!

 

[1whobuys]

Has there ever been any pic's of the Chuckette being used ?

LOL...I've seen that thing used before..It's a beast, goes through a 3" tree in one swing