1095 vs INFI ??? Real deal?

t1mpani said:
Ah, inevitability...

None doubt the value of common sense, nor the foolishness of getting too wrapped up in hypotheticals....

And I'm sure, amidst all of that, there is an old grump who'll jump up now and again and say something along the lines of...

And I'm sure that this fellow then imagines that the other participants feel cowed and ashamed of themselves, and then will go forth filled no more with hype-driven views about...

There's no doubt that nobody "needs" one kind of knife or another. However, gather a group of people all interested in one subject, be it knives, guns, food or music, and you will invariably get comparisons going, and die-hards for just about every side.

We can kid ourselves all we like about how truly "practical" we are on the subject of knives and that "they're only tools" but...a screwdriver is just a tool, and even if there was a website somewhere called Screwdriverforums I know for a fact that I couldn't come up with thousands of posts discussing them. Hard as it is to explain, knives are something more to me, and comparing, contrasting, cogitating and contemplating them is something I've been doing for a LOT of years now...as have some others with many thousands of posts.
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As the "old grump" with "many thousands of posts," please allow me to retort. ( :D )

Here are some basic points.

If someone wishes to have pride of ownership issues over purchasing and possessing a knife that has anywhere from 3-7 or perhaps 7-12% better edge retention, ease of sharpening and durability but costs 250 - 350% more, depending on the precise models from Company X and Company Y, hey, that IS what a knife forum is about, you are correct. Now, you can figure out the difference in cost but you cannot, with a straight face, actually quantify the % of edge retention, ease of sharpening or durability. People end up just saying, "they just are."

I will reserve my opinion on that degree of expenditure versus the return for the dollar as it is only my opinion. In other words, people can buy whatever they want, from Frost Cutlery to Busse, doesn't matter to me, nor should it.

Another thing I would like to say is, I have not said one disparaging thing about Busse in this thread, nor will I. The statement above this one explains my feelings on certain things without insulting or disparaging the company.

The thing about the knife, skeleton and the casket, well, it's cutlery advertising history and I shouldn't be the bad guy for bringing it up. It's not my opinion, the ad is a fact. Is that "disparaging" to bring it up? I don't think so. It would be disparaging and a lie to say that it existed when it did not exist, but that's not the case.

Still, it's a great company! I pointed out the ad simply because it was a criticism against other people in the knife industry, lurid ads, etc.

I think my carpet knife analogy was lost on you. I understand your response but you cannot examine my statements and thoughts on that matter unless you have read what I have written about parallel matters in "survival." In this forum and the Wilderness and Survival Forum, primarily when speaking about folding knives versus fixed blades, I have said the same thing.

It wasn't meant to make up for or "explain away" or divert attention away from any real or perceived weakness of ESEE Knives versus Busse Knives, quite the contrary. It's not meant to weasel out of anything at all. It's a line of thought that has more to do with tool usage in survivalism than anything having to do with ESEE, Busse or anyone else for that matter.

That, too, is a part of the discussion of knives, which was apparently lost on you because you examined my thoughts on the matter in a vacuum - only this thread.

And, I'm not quite so "grumpy" and I'm certainly not "angry" about any of it.
 
I own both brands ..... I like 'em both but ESEE fits my pocket book just fine......

I hate the term Fanboy .............. Folks on BF are Calling ESEE The same thing as well... just b/c I buy/support one brand more does not mean I am exclusive to that brand only.....
I have alot of different brand blades; some models fit better roles than others.
my favorite Busse blade is the SAR5 Jerry Busse least favorite... from last I heard...
yes the SAR5 needs a slight modification for it to be a solid user for me but so does the ESEE5, I am not a big fan of Saber grinds.... does not mean any disrespect to either maker but I want the knife to fit my needs .
 
Well, "fanboy" is taking on the same flavor as "poser/poseur" and "keyboard commando" and "mall ninja" and "wannabe." It's all just bullshit, anyway.
 
I once proudly answered to the call of "fanboy" but then I lost my spot on the island paradise and had to give up my giant leaf and toga. :(

And no, old grump, I didn't think you were being overly nasty or even insulting, I just wanted to throw some perspective back at the perspective thrower. ;)

I have NEVER tried to justify the expense of pricey knives (nor do I consider Busses to be pricey, so you can see just how far gone I am!) in terms of performance. Do they (at least the ones I like) work better? Yes, but not enough better to make sense if emotion is removed from the equation. My Ed Fowler camp knife doesn't do a damn thing more than a Kabar Adventure Potbelly could do, and costs somewhere in the vicinity of 40 times as much. Still, like a fine rifle versus a serviceable one at Walmart or a Colt Python versus a Taurus revolver, I just enjoy the hell out of it. Is there a bit of "I have it and you don't!" involved in that enjoyment? Oh probably---just like it's fun as hell to show up at the high school reunion with the hottest girl in the room. Pure utility is all well and good, and I say again, without ANY irony, that a man equipped with a boxcutter, a saw, an SKS with a couple hundred rounds of ammo and the knowledge to stay warm, stay hydrated, stay fed and keep a never-say-die attitude going genuinely has all he could really need.

That said, though, again---I have to point out that there isn't a whole lot of excitement to be generated (in most folks) for living that way. Necessity may require it but this is a chat forum. From watches to wiggits, tools in massive chests to girls with massive chests, boys like their toys; and it's more fun to talk about what we'd do with 'em than what we'd do without 'em.

And, for the record, I get just as excited when a new RAT comes out as I do a new Busse, and almost as much as I do for a new Swamp Rat. :D
 
I like the term cult. That's much better for us than fanboys.
 
t1mpani said:
And no, old grump, I didn't think you were being overly nasty or even insulting, I just wanted to throw some perspective back at the perspective thrower. ;)
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That's good!

I was serious about what I said, I have always considered knives the same way. Some people say folders are shit for "survival." Others say for defensive purposes as well. But, if that is what you have, can you do something with it? That's all.

That said, though, again---I have to point out that there isn't a whole lot of excitement to be generated (in most folks) for living that way. Necessity may require it but this is a chat forum. From watches to wiggits, tools in massive chests to girls with massive chests, boys like their toys; and it's more fun to talk about what we'd do with 'em than what we'd do without 'em.
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I dunno... :::stroking goatee::: I think I am more of a massive tool at times. :D

And, for the record, I get just as excited when a new RAT comes out as I do a new Busse, and almost as much as I do for a new Swamp Rat. :D
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I said earlier in this thread that I always wanted a Game Warden. :D

The skeletonized version. Before the Izula came along, I had two Becker Neckers and always wanted that Game Warden because that size blade is a most useful thing to have in pack, bag or "survival kit."


R.A.T. said:
I like the term cult. That's much better for us than fanboys.
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Well, you know, you guys are used to going to Peru and Colombia. I mean, Jim Jones had his shit going on way north of there. You think Jonestown is for sale? :D
 
I use the term fanboy interchangeably with ass kisser or !@#$ sucker. It really amazes me how people will jump to defense of people they have never met and knives they have never owned.

If a company has great customer service, awesome. But in really ranking a knife, just rank the knife. If I went to Iraq, I'd take a Busse. Until I do, I will stick with Becker or ESEE. As for folders....I've owned them all and Emerson gets my vote at any price...more or less.

ESEE has the same warranty as Busse. I like the knives, I like the forum, the owners seem like stand-up guys. Again, I won't/ don't own an INFI and I plan on owning more ESEE stuff. But, I hear more complaining about abuse from ESEE than I do Busse.
 
imaginefj said:
1)If I went to Iraq, I'd take a Busse.

2)But, I hear more complaining about abuse from ESEE than I do Busse.
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1) Why? Would you be chopping up tanks?:eek:
(I had a Busse Game Warden, and I don't buy into the "miracle steel" argument...it just didn't pan out for me.)

2) Perhaps because more people use their ESEE knives because they're cheaper? I've seen ALOT of pretty pretty Busse knives which get less use than any of my folders.:D
 
stabman said:
1) Why? Would you be chopping up tanks?:eek:
(I had a Busse Game Warden, and I don't buy into the "miracle steel" argument...it just didn't pan out for me.)

2) Perhaps because more people use their ESEE knives because they're cheaper? I've seen ALOT of pretty pretty Busse knives which get less use than any of my folders.:D
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That is forbidden. Great knives must all be used. No safe queens. :D
 
Tyrkon Lawson said:
That is forbidden. Great knives must all be used. No safe queens. :D
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Agreed.:thumbup:
Maybe the INFI shines more in a chopping blade...one of these days I'll find out.:) (once all this university stuff is done and I find that big money job...)
 
stabman said:
1) Why? Would you be chopping up tanks?:eek:
(I had a Busse Game Warden, and I don't buy into the "miracle steel" argument...it just didn't pan out for me.)
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I've used alot of INFI and it works. So does 1095! Lol, I wouldn't bring a chopper. Its just if push came to shove INFI might be a little better. Maybe.
 
Do not have an Esee, or Rat, but I do have few Busses. Few years ago I have found
Straight Handle Battle Mistress that has been lost in my back yard in Fl. for over a year. It had few spots of red rust on the spine and on the edge, but it came off with a rag and gun oil. No pits, patina or stain left behind, so I think INFI is scary close to "stainless".
Is 1095 good steel? Depends who "work" it, I quess. To me 1095 forged by Lamey's hand
is something that can not be compared in performance to any production blade, "supersteel" or not. Price for a custom knife too high? Actually I got one of his choppers same size, and configuration as Battle Mistress for less than what I paid for a Mistress.
Still love "her", just do not beat on her as often anymore. To me 1095 and INFI are just a raw material that will, or will not be sculpted in a piece of functional art. It all depends on the artist/knifemaker/blacksmith. If I would ever try to make a knife, blade made from 1095 will be just as useless as blade that I would made out of INFI :)
 
Infi will kick 1095's butt if you are batoning your knife through a sidewalk stone. But is realistic use 1095 will do everything you need if your aren't doing anything really dumb
 
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