I do not have a big chopper. Do I need one or will something like the Scrapper 6 or a ASH1 fit the bill for most duties? I have the opportunity to buy the M9LE from the Swamp but I am not sure I require a 10" blade. I have 2 Scrapper 5 coming but that size (5-6") is where most of my knives are. I said MOST. anyhow what do you guys think? I do plan on using whatever I get for the basic camping chores but am thinking forward to our 72hr kits and SHTF scenarios. Is a larger blade needed? BTW I don't live in the jungle, well just the heart of the Mormon Jungle in SLC. Hope that helps you to help me. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful expertise.

while i have many more knives that i will ever probably "need" atleast one big chopper is nice to have. makes for a more well rounded collection.

While the big chopper are the very backbone of the Busse family lines I wold not say that they are "needed" one for general use.
As a smaller axe would do the same job, but choppers are wounderful if you have limited tool options, a big knife can do more chores than an axe, and many that a smaller knife would normaly do.
Also there is the sence of pride and confidence in owning a large chopper type blade(particulary the Dogfather), I don't ever see my self parting with my Dogfather even though to be honest I haven't used it as much as my other knives. My scrapper 6 has done all the things I have ever needed of it.

thanks so far guys, I am extremely new to this strange obsession/addiction, a couple months ago I figured I needed some good knives to go with the other ahh um "tools", esp. for our 72hr kits, My first larger, atleast to me, knife was a Ontario Rat TAK, 11" oal, etc etc, then I picked up a nice orange handled RC3 for my wife and she also dug the Izula with fire kit so I got that in pink for her which she edc in her purse. But for some reason I kept coming back to ogle these busse/bussekin knives, I was irretrievably drawn to them, I watched the knife tests, no more Ontario's, the chopper I was looking at just shattered while he did basic baton work,(ontario TAK II) but these busse name knives outperformed everything and were just freaking beautiful, especially the scrapyards I love the basic black res-C black blade tactical, functional and tough as hell. I love the simplicity, the Form married to function and backed up by the word, THE WORD OF A MAN. This is what I was taught growing up, that your word is your bond, that all one truly has of value in this life is his good name. Here for life gentlemen!

Everyone should have at least one Bussekin chopper.

If you already have a Scrapper 6 or ASH-1, both of those can chop with some efficiency, although it can be done with a Dumpster Mutt if you have to. They are at the bottom end of knives that can chop. The SOD, Chopweiler, Ratweiler, or Camp Tramp can chop better but are not huge knives. I prefer the 10" DFLE because it is as light to carry as some 7" blade knives and chops better. Also, there is a lot of heavy undergrowth here and the DFLE works well as a short machete. You may not need a 10" chopper where you are.

I would recommend looking to pick up a chopweiler. love that knife. or an upgrade to a dogfather. Third choice would be a SOD.

Well, you never know. Jeeps uses machetes out in the Arizona desert, so I guess a big blade could be useful anywhere. Then again, even Salt Lake City is not immune to a zombie uprising.

I would say that someone who likes knives would enjoy, at a minimum, having one of each of these four basic items:
- folder, swiss army knife or multitool
- small knife
- medium knife
- big knife

Then if you want to be well rounded and branch out a bit add:
- small axe
- large axe
- machete
- small/medium knife
- med/large knife
- pocket saw
- bow saw

Buy quality on those 11 items and you should be set for pretty much any camping/hiking/bushcraft you would want to do.

I, too, wondered about the need for a big chopper. I went ahead and bought the M9 LE. It blew me away. If you buy one, you will not regret it. If for some reason you buy one and then don't like it, you could probably sell it for at least as much as you paid. I suggest picking one up while you've got the chance! It's awesome.