So far for me in the large Bussekin choppers the Flat Grinds make for a better balanced knife. My flat grind FBM Satin Combat feels better than my sabre grind FFBM...my DFLE feels better than the DFCG...the DFLE feels better than the FBM Satin Combat which on comparison feels just a bit too heavy...whereas the DFLE feels about perfect. It shares that "zone" of balance and feel with a SHBM which as you will see on the Exchange go for $1500 and more...so the DFLE is one "hell of a knife" for the money. The NMFBM has for me a better feel than the FFBM as it is seemingly balanced better...albeit the true weight is very close. For a top end performance chopper the NMFBM is probably the best there is on chopping but the DFLE is a much more readily carried knife.

A Busse Basic 9 is lighter than the DFLE but I actually prefer the extra weight in the DFLE...although the Basic 9 has an OAL more in the range of a FSH...and for me is more comparable as a mid range knife...preferred by me because I can carry them on the back of my webbing in a slanted draw and they are not in the way.

So all told...for me at least...unless you can afford a SHBM...the DFLE or the Tan on Tan combat version is the best out there....and that is on balance and feel...factor in the cost of the knife and it is an amazing knife...

The only one I have not tried is the Swamp Rat version of the DFLE...forgotten it's name...but with 52100 steel it should be worth a go...

The main difference seems to be the "forward heavy" aspect between sabre grind and flat grind blades...the lighter flat grinds are less tiring in the hand.

Right now though I am thinking of selling a number of knives and waiting for the Khukri to come out from Busse...if it has the right weight and balance to it...that could be THE ONE....