A challenge to Busse Sword owner's

[Darkjedi2]

I have recently been seeing a lot of Busse swords out there.

Very few, if any of these swords, look like they have even been used.
I am the type of person that likes to use the toys that I buy(not as bad as Cliff Stamp).

I own several of Mr. Busse's knives, and lovingly abuse them. I know that his knives are nuclear tough. My question is, "Are these swords so expensive that no one uses them, or does A2 and INFI not make good swords, or are people afraid that if they break it they can't get a new one".

I have one of Kris Cutlery's older katanas and it performs really well. But I would like to upgrade to INFI, however I like to hear how the products perform before I buy.

P.S. Some of the statements were made tongue in cheek. Any reviews would helpful, interesting, and fun.

Darkjedi - May the Force be with you.

 

[Darkjedi2]

bttt

 

[Cliff Stamp]

There are not a lot of swords out there, so it is going to be difficult to get a lot of direct feedback. The only thing I can recall was that it was a Busse short sword that won (I think) a chopping competition at a gathering that McClung held some years ago.

As for INFI being functional in a sword, based on the tests that I have read that are used to show the quality of swords, it would not be a problem at all for an INFI blade, and I doubt that after the test the blade would show any signs of use. Considering the amount of hammering than was needed to break the Basic I had, it would be directly superior to many sword steels currently used such as ATS-34, A2 etc. .

-Cliff

 

[Darkjedi2]

THANK YOU!!!!

 

[chiseen]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't a sword require a more ductile steel? INFI is tempered to Rc 58-60 which would make it too hard for a sword of 20+ inches? I'm not an expert at all, and would humbly ask Cliff to please clear the air about it.

 

[Uncle Screwtape]

A 9.5" INFI Battle Mistress will flex to 38 degrees and return to true. It will flex beyond 80 degrees without breaking. This is through hardened INFI, not differentially tempered...i.e. the entire blade is rc 58-60. The longer the blade, the more flex it exibits. It would perform well in a sword 20" or longer and maintain a wicked edge.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

It depends on what you want the sword to do. Is it supposed to be able to take hard blocking contacts off of metallic objects, or is it just meant to cut through flesh and bone? INFI would not have any problems with the latter. In regards to blocking a pipe or piece of chain (or just having someone hit it with the same thing), which is about the worst thing I can imagine, INFI still does well, but no, not as well as something like S7.

The Basic I had that was broken by hammering took many months of repeated hard impacts before it gave out. If I had to get a stress relief done on it periodically this would not have happened. Thus if you do get a INFI sword made and practice (or actually use it) in such a manner that it gets those types of impacts, periodically get it stress relieved, usually done at 25 degrees under the final temper.

There are all manner of types of swords and uses. One of the most extreme I know of is practiced by a friend of mine in Maylasia using very heavy blades and there is a lot of blade on blade contact. One of the tests he used was double handed hits of the flats on an anvil until the blade was destroyed (he was a knifemaker). I don't know how long an INFI sword would last in that test, but INFI isn't brittle so I would bet on it to last awhile, and in any case far beyond ATS-34, A2 etc., which are common sword steels.

I have never known Busse to grossly overstate the abilities of his blades anyway, so your best bet is to phone him up and discuss what you want the sword to be able to do and see if in his opinion INFI would be a practical choice. Like any other blade I am sure he would stand behind what he said.

-Cliff