your 2 favorite blade sizes?

R

rsco

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May 9, 2009
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If you could only carry 2 bussekin knives with you when camping/backpacking, how long would each of the blades be? Why those lengths?
Also, you can name your choices and say how they compliment each other.
Thanks in advance!
 
Active Duty and Battle Mistress. 3.5" and 10" respectively. If weight were an issue, I'd take my Skinny ASH at 6" or my NMSFNO at 8" instead of the Battle Mistress. All blade lengths are approximate, off the top of my head.

ETA, the AD and the BM are the 2 greatest Busse's IMO. The best EDC and the best chopper there are period.
 
only carry 2 bussekin knives with you when camping/backpacking
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I like a big-and-little knife pair coupled with a folding pruning saw for "camping", both car camping and backpacking. The big knife is for rough break-down of firewood (often soggy on the outside in the rainy NW USA) including batoning to get at dry interior wood. The small knife is for cutting chores, mostly food prep and cordage. So I expect the big knife to be a beefy bruiser with a 8"-10" blade and the small knife to be a thin-stock slicer and dicer in the 3-1/2"-5" blade range. The difference is, of course, that when backpacking weight is a major consideration that does not exist when car camping.

Car camping: BM (pick your favorite version, mine's a BM-E), and a D2 Bog Dog or Vexillarius
Backpacking: Basic 9 and a D2 Bog Dog or Vexillarius
 
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I prefer something around 8 inches and something around 5 inches. Much shorter than 5, and frankly I'd lean towards a folder. The exception to this is the SR Vex, which, due to its lack of a choil, has much more usable blade edge than many larger Bussekin knives.

Right now it would probably be my NMSFNO or Mr. Mojo and either the Scrapper 5 or Scrap Muk. I would lean towards the mojo if I expected more bushwhacking, and towards the NMSFNO if I expected more chopping / fire building. I'd like to snag a SAR-8 and see how that works in place of the NMSFNO.


In other situations, other combos might work pretty well - something a bit lighter than the NMSFNO if I don't expect to chop as much, for example - the Scrap Yard Regulator and SOD would work very well here.

I wouldn't carry anything much larger than the NMSFNO for backpacking trips, but they regularly show up in car camping type trips where I'm not lugging gear for miles. As much as I like the FSH, Dogfather, M9LE, etc... I just don't see them being carried very far. They are ridiculous toys, and I admit that freely.
 
Yea, if I was to get the smaller one, I'd get the BAD, not sure if I could choose a larger one though, too many great ones out there...
 
I will support many of the opinions stated here already.

My go to setup right now is an NMSFNO with a Cultie piggybacked on top.

Now if they put out a satin and black SAR8 the NMSFNO might get bumped from it's spot.

Or, when the Bushwacker comes out, if it is a little lighter I might go for that.

I also like a 5" blade for multi-purpose stuff. That blade for me is the RMD but the S5LE is vying for that spot as well.
 
I really have to wonder if all the folks saying they would use Battle Mistress variants are strictly car campers. I can't imagine any reason I would want to lug a BM on a backpacking trip. Even the NMSFNO is obscenely heavy for such use, and my other backpacking friends laugh at me for carrying so much excess weight for a knife.
 
MustardMan said:
I really have to wonder if all the folks saying they would use Battle Mistress variants are strictly car campers. I can't imagine any reason I would want to lug a BM on a backpacking trip. Even the NMSFNO is obscenely heavy for such use, and my other backpacking friends laugh at me for carrying so much excess weight for a knife.
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I don't backpack like I did when a young man, but going light was not such a trendy condiseration back then. Man has carried machetes, axes, hatchets and so on for a very long time. I am more of a car camper these days, but my choice isn't based on that.
 
MustardMan said:
I really have to wonder if all the folks saying they would use Battle Mistress variants are strictly car campers. I can't imagine any reason I would want to lug a BM on a backpacking trip. Even the NMSFNO is obscenely heavy for such use, and my other backpacking friends laugh at me for carrying so much excess weight for a knife.
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You're right. I was talking about car camping and canoe-camping. For backpacking, I'd go with my BATAC and a SAK.
 
MustardMan said:
A CGFBM weighs more than most axes :D
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I'd have to compare to be sure of that, but I'm pretty sure any of the Estwings I've packed outweigh a CGFBM. Not to argue the point, it's just so tiring to see people critcize carrying larger knives (not meaning you). If I were still packing in back country I would probably be carrying a Culty/FSH.
 
mymindisamob said:
it's just so tiring to see people critcize carrying larger knives
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Trust me, I know what you mean - I get tons of crap for carrying the NMSFNO, so I can imagine how much worse it would be with some half inch thick mega chopper monstrosity.

What I want to know is - who's backpacking with a MOAB?????
 
Lightweight hiking and camping I would chose these two....

100_0287-1.jpg


The Basic 9 at 16 oz's gives huge chopping power for the weight of the knife and is a great camp knife...saves on an axe and is very comfortable to use...
easy to fit in even the smallest of Alpine climbing rucksacks...

For food prep and belt carry for general use the new S5LE is awesome...incredibly light and very comfortable to use....ideal bushcraft knife

P1000832.jpg
 
MustardMan said:
Trust me, I know what you mean - I get tons of crap for carrying the NMSFNO, so I can imagine how much worse it would be with some half inch thick mega chopper monstrosity.

What I want to know is - who's backpacking with a MOAB?????
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gixxerman had one in his pack @ Blade West. It was like watching clowns get out of a car when he pulled it out.:D:D You'd need to pack a MOAB on your back and wear a fannypack.:barf:.............;):D
 
If only two:(;)

cultie, Leaner meaner or a CP ABA for my little knife. EIther one will keep me happy although I prefer the cult for skinning and quartering deer.


THe chopper would depend on length of trip, surrounding vegetation and how far from the car Id have to carry it:D

The ruck is one of my favorite all around big knives. THe big knife that can accomplish most any task that you would tackle with a large knife. You can use it on small vegetation. It will chop along side any mistress, and has a little extra length for batoning. Its nice and light and easily fits in a pack.
 
Interesting idea on a ruck....never thought of something like that but I can see how it would be very useful....
 
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