Now that the ground has been thawed for a month and a bit, and the trees have all grown in, I decided to do a little chopping test.
While I didn't go hard-core chopping all day, this was my first time actually using the two knives at the same time. Starting with some light trimming, to chopping some dead 2-1/2" tree trunk (very dry).
Trimming, the Becker won hands down. the extra reach and thin stock made it more like a machete (probably the proper tool for the job anyway), and the thin edge of the BK-9 bites into flexible twigs much better. One note, When I'm trimming live twigs. I find it best to hold the knife edge-up and give it a snappy upward cut; pulling the twig away from the branch and cutting fairly cleanly (just don't hit yourself in the face), rather than the downward stroke which usually ends in tearing bark halfway down the branch. The BK-9 performed very well with this maneuver, but I just couldn't get the right grip on my SOD to get it to cut cleanly. It's probably a matter of the blade being shorter, angled forward, and the edge is just a little too thick for the job.
Chopping, the Becker outdid the SOD again. On 1" branches the 9" blade was better able to get momentum and cleanly cut through. With the 2-1/2 trunk it was still heavy enough to put some force into it, but the thin edge cut deeper with each chop.
There was one situation where the SOD did a better job. cutting a 3" stump in a crowded area. When you don't have too much room for a swing the SOD does pretty well.
In general, there was one glaring difference between the two knives. The thin edge on the BK-9. It just cuts better. The SOD even had a fresh edge, but it was just plain too thick to compete. Not that I'm going to give up on it, I've spent more hours than I care to count grinding down a stock profile into something delicate and oh so sweet to cut with.
On the plus side, I am dead set in my love of the Res-C handle. Comfy beyond words (I wish Busse would use it on the Mistress).
When the Regulator comes out I'll have to do a comparison of all three. At 1/3" thick that knife will be no slouch of a chopper.
If only we could get a Zero Edge for the LE. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" />
