Basic 9 vs CS Trailmaster: Mike Turber test - Thank God for the Wayback Machine

[RokJok]

I've had Mike Turber's testing of the Basic 9 vis-a-vis a Cold Steel Trailmaster Bowie in the 1999-2000 timeframe archived on my system for years. This morning I found it archived online at the Internet Archive Wayback Machine:
http://web.archive.org/web/200501290...vsbusse-1.html

Click on the "FORWARD" and "BACK" bar at the bottom of each page to navigate the test/review. Click on photos to see larger version of the pics, then hit the browser "back" button to return to the review.

Note that some of the photos seem to have disappeared from that site, but the gist of the tests is still there.

Enjoy amigos!

p.s. That site is an amusing way to see some rather interesting bits of Busse history.

[BePrepared]

no real surprises, but i'm happy to see that the busse (as usual) edges out the competition

I'd like to see that test done with a BME or similar INFI blade rather than the Basic with M-INFI

[legaleagle]

Thanks for the link. Good read

[philwar]

I own a TM (SM3) and love it. Had no idea it would even do so well. For the REALLY awesome stuff, I will use my FBMLE.
Would still like to get a TM in Carbon V though.

[joshiecole]

CS get a lot of stick, some of it deserved, but I think products like the TM and the Recon Scout deserve genuine respect. I don't own either (although the TM in Carbon V is on my list) but the reputation they have earned from guys like these ( http://www.usrsog.org/blades.htm ) warrants respect. I'd love I B9!!

[joshiecole]

PS thanks for this Rok

[AngryDaddyBird]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing the link. I have both those and feel the trail master is quicker in hand but the Busse feels like a chopper for sure.

[AngryDaddyBird]

Mine is a Carbon V and came from factory with a Convex edge. Its also uncoated from the 90's. Its my third one! I sold the other two which were seconds but this one I have I had from new. I used the two I sold alot and never failed. I love it. Now my new venture is Busse. I just got the Basic 9 but will be using it instead of my TM. Maybe I will post a review?

[AngryDaddyBird]

Double post! Sorry!

[RobStanley]

Cool read!! Thanks for that!

[PeterPHWS]

Those who have read the threads by Eric showing the adds of Busse back during these times see a lot of references to "the competition" ... this was down to Lynn Thompson getting a bit "personal" and challenges being issued to replicate tests at knife shows ... when Jerry needed to call upon his knives for these tests the Basic 9 was often chosen ... check out the free hanging rope cutting done by Jennifer Busse ... and the rope cutting tests where they ran out of rope ...

In a "nutshell" ... the ASM Basic 9 has probably done more than any "Busse" to give the company the reputation it has ...

Noss's FFBM destruction test is probably the second most influential blade ... but bear in mind when Will York kindly donated a Basic 9 to be tested it also survived ...

If you compare the weight and "usability" of these two ... the Basic 9 is in another league ...

If I could only own "one" Busse ... it would be a hell of a decision between my NTTKZ at circa $2000 (once over here) and my Basic 9 at $400 on the secondary market ...

[Bigfattyt]

I had a TM in SMIII for about a decade.

I would still have it if it had a different handle material. Once I got a FBMLE, though, I ended up selling it and buying another small piece of infi.

The B11 takes the place of the TM in my collection. Light, comfy handle to reduce shock, and chops great with the forward weight.


The Trailmaster handle in Krayon was too soft, and felt as though the tang was trying to twist in the handle when chopping hard. When hot, the material was too soft, and uncomfortably tacky. It got too much grip when dry, but felt slippery when wet.


I wonder why more makers don't use Res-C? It is Sweet!

[philwar]

Those who have read the threads by Eric showing the adds of Busse back during these times see a lot of references to "the competition" ... this was down to Lynn Thompson getting a bit "personal" and challenges being issued to replicate tests at knife shows ... when Jerry needed to call upon his knives for these tests the Basic 9 was often chosen ... check out the free hanging rope cutting done by Jennifer Busse ... and the rope cutting tests where they ran out of rope ...

In a "nutshell" ... the ASM Basic 9 has probably done more than any "Busse" to give the company the reputation it has ...

So. What you're saying is, Lynn Thompson made himself famous, and Busse to boot?

[PeterPHWS]

Lynn "talked the talk" ... Jerry "walked the walk" ...

[Allcaps321]

Lynn has failed to fix long existing flaws in his knives, nor has his QC improved at all. His warranty is shameful.

[JohnnyMayhem]

I remember the old bladeforums.com magazine and the tests that turned into flamewars here and there and what happened with Mad Dog knives as well. Nutty.

[yoda4561]

I have all the pictures, saved the article when someone else I think put it on a mirror when it disappeared from bladeforums.