On the Chopping Block

I've never been much for chopping with knives until I started hanging around here so my set up and technique leave a bit to be desired. I tried to make everything about as equal as possible but it is still far from a scientific test.

I took an old hard 4x4 I had laying around and screwed it down to a pair of sawhorses. After I started chopping I realized that shorter sawhorses would have been much better as I wasn't able to get full power chops.

Here's the set up.



Here are the contenders, Regulator, Nepal Khukri, Dogfather, Asym. B11, BWM



After 15 chops



After 25 chops



after 40 chops



after 55 chops



My chopping technique changed from a full grip on the handle to more further back and kind of around the end of the handle to give more of a wrist snap and that seemed to give better results for the final 15 whacks.

The regulator although not really a chopper would do in a pinch and is one of my favorite knives and is probably the one I would want if I could only take one knife into the bush.

The khukri didn't do as well as I thought it would and was not real comfortable chopping into the hard wood.

For the 3 real choppers I could not choose a clear winner. I definitely liked the feel of the res-c blades over the BWM. The Dogfather definitely held its own and I think that the section of wood where I was cutting with the DF may have even been a bit harder as you can see the large knot just to the left of the DF cut. That B11 is Very Very nice also and it looks like it's cut is slightly deeper. The BWM is right there on cutting ability and is the best looking of the 3. The micarta scales are just slightly less comfortable than the other 2 when chopping.

For $ value the clear winner is the DF. The B11 is not a bad deal either. I guess if I could only have one of them and could afford it it would be the B11.

Great chop-off Skorpyd!!!
The khukuri didn't do nearly as well as I thought it would have.
The Reg kicked butt for a 7" blade!!!
Go Dog Father!!!! That's my choice. It's almost here too!!

Thank you for the time you put into this......twice. You did a great job!!!!

Glad you got it posted! Good job!

Cool to see the the B11 out...looks even bigger next to the DF than I thought it would.

Thank you for the review <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
Nice knives <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks, Next time I want to try it on a real log.

Well done Brother! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I love users!

Hope you don't mind, but I switched the images to inline ones so everyone can see them in your post. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Chris - how did you do that? I tried that on my Flikr account but nothing happened! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

No problem, I like it better that way, I saw some people used the links so I thought it may be some sort of issue with loading faster or something.

Thanks for the review. Gotta agree if I am taking one knife it will be the Regulator!

Cant wait to get my B11 out!

Tom, if you quote the message you will see the IMG codes I used with the direct link to the images. It can be finicky at times.

Nice chop off!!!

Looks like the top 3 were about even. I wonder how the FFBM would have done?

That's all I have to use. Your "log" is at least of consistent size and shape all the way across. Great chop off, skopyd. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Woo Hoo use them babies.Good to see the vaunted B11 in use.
Thanks for the pics & effort. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Wow, it amazes me how the Reg seems so huge to me but it looks absolutely tiny in these pics!

Very nice comparison there
Can you post a pic of the Asym grind? I was thinking that they were tan and not black blades but I can be confused too.

Mine is grey! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ah, see. I knew it was a different color LOL.

Awesome chop off! Makes my decision to try and track down a DF soon that much easier

That's a great chop off! Good job!

Great review buddy ! The DF appeared to be the most controlled judging by the neatness of the v's !

i wonder where a DF Le would come out in the results.

Beautiful !!! Nice Work!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Nice Chop off! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I still haven't gotten a chance to try out my B11... I'm dyin too... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />, just been too busy... I will soon though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Was thinking the same thing.

May have to break mine out for a test.

awesome! thanks for sharing!

Nice post mate! I have a DF and a B11 on their way to me, I'm glad I decided to buy them! Bloody awesome!

Was thinking about the B11 vs the DFLE. That is going to be an interesting chop off.

Very nice write-up, and good pics to illustrate the differences. Thank you for taking the time!

Jeff, It is definitely asym. I won't be able to post pics till the weekend though.

Yep that's one of the variables that is hard to quantify. As in how does the width of the notch effect the cut. I'm not really sure if I just started the notch for the B11 a bit wider or if it was the DF had more control. I do not have a lot of experience chopping. It was fun though. I do know that the DF felt really good and comfortable. If anyone gets the chance to get a DF at show or Ganza pricing I would not pass it up.

Skorpyd...thank you for taking the time / effort to put this together for your fellow Dogs. Great review! Good to see the DF keeping up!