I decided not to baton. What's the point? They all can do it, and all it would do is further scratch up my M9LE. I also decided not to include the 10" DFLE. It's a 10" blade. I already know that the RD9 chops about as well. The DFLE is my favorite chopping bowie, but my old DF CG would out chop it, as will my FBM. I felt that the three 9" bowies were alike in size and purpose. I threw in the NMSFNO because several have mentioned comparing it to the M9LE. The M9LE is the "fastest" knife in this chop off. It is less blade heavy than the RD9 and BK-9. The balance point is right at the end of the scales, like the NMSFNO, but the M9 is much faster in the hand for some reason. Maybe it's the thinner point, I don't know, but the two knives feel very different.