A decision to make....

Kampfjaeger

Kampfjaeger

Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
1,668
Hi guys... I'm new to Busse knives so please bear with my ignorance. I've heard about them for quite some time now and have decided to go ahead and grab.

My question os which one is the best one for me. There are so many types and variations that if I'm not careful, I could easily find myself maxing out my cc in search of "The One." :D

Anyway... My intended purpose for the knife is as a survival tool. It could conceivably be one that goes to war with me (depending on what my wife has to say on the topic of my enlistment) but for the most part I want something that will suit me under extreme emergency situations as well as long distance hiking/camping for fun off the beaten path.

My eyes have ben drawn to the Steel Heart HH, the ASH1, and the NMSFNO. I've seen the new SAR blades, but they don't really do anything for me. I'm certain that they are excellent knives, but their aesthetics don't appeal to me. Silly, but there it is.

I'm 6 feet tall and average build. I don't want a sword hanging from my side, but I want something long enough to be useful in a broad a spectrum of scenarios.

Also I've seen that some of the handles seem to be off set... Is there an advantage to this? And what is the handle configuration of the knives I am looking at.

Thanks. I really appreciate your advice and help in this matter.

Dave
 
I would get one of these: SHSH, Ergo-SH, NMSFNO

These are knives that you can carry in comfortable way and that are not too heavy. At the same time they are long and thick enough for any task
 
Why? What makes them better than the ones I was first interested in? Just curious. I'm certainly not married to the idea of getting the ones I first looked at. I just want to know what makes one choice better than the other.

Thanks :)
 
I have the Skinny Ash and love it. It's tough, thinner and lighter. If I were to buy another blade of that size I would get the NMSFNO or the Sar-6.
I just love the handle and blade of the SFNO but I love the blade on the Sar-6 too. Personal preference.
 
In my opinion the Steel Heart HH handle is too big and too heavy. Unuseful weight that you have to carry. I think the the ASH1 blade is too short and too wide.

I think the SHSH, E-SH and NMSFNO have perfect proportions and right weight and thickness.

The SHSH and E-SH have a stronger edge because their edge is ticker compared to the NMSFNO
 
Of the choices you have suggested I would say it is between the HH FSH and the NMSFNO .... the ASH1 is smaller and very thick and is a lot of weight for little choping ability. Of the other two mentioned the Fusion handle is "technically" slightly better than the NMSFNO for chopping in that it has a curved down pommel shape and this enables retention of the knife more easily if it slips or a more rearward grip to give more leverage when chopping.

Personally though I find the NMSFNO balance and handle to be superior for me .... it just feels better in hand .... and would be my choice.

However before selecting it .... if weight was an issue for my belt gear and it always is .... a Basic 9 at 14 oz's chops as well as a NMSFNO for a lot less weight and a Basic 11 at 18 oz's is still lighter than the 21 oz's for your NMSFNO and will chop a lot better.

For the weight and performance I find the Basic 11 to be almost an impossible choice to pass up on.
 
Say you have to pound a basic series knife into something with a rock,brick,ect. Will it withstand/holdup to the abuse to the tang or handle portion of the knife. If this guy may be going into harms way its hard to say what said knife will be treated like or too. Just curious myself having never owned a basic series of any type.
 
I think the Satin Jack Tac would be a great one to take into the service,
and they are not so rare that they are crazy priced....yet:cool::cool:

Picture044.jpg
 
FSH is a great knife for making shelters, traps, rafts, etc where chopping is required but weight is acceptable. the NMSFNO is about the same function as the FSH, but the SFNO is much easier to carry as an all around user knife. If I were in Iraq or Afghanistan, I would prefer the SFNO due to its all around good size. the .22 Ash1 is also a good choice if your wanting something a bit easier to carry.
The NMSFNO is a beast of a chopper, but I still prefer the FSH
SANY0836.jpg

two favorites, the HOFSH for great chopping and the .22 thick ASH1.... a great carrying knife
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As you can tell, there is a difference between the SFNO and the NMSFNO. one is better for chopping, while the other is easier to pack by a bit
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I'd go with the SFNO-a good balance between size and function. From there, other choices for me would go smaller and thinner for deployment. You don't absolutely need a big knife like an NMSFNO or larger unless you are Rambo and you plan on using the knife to kill every enemy that you encounter no matter how far away they are with perfectly timed hand to hand combat. As far as chopping function-I would put more priority on chopping if you were going to the jungles of vietnam- but the desert? The SFNO isn't so big or fat that it's bulky to carry on a long hike for a 6 foot guy(I'm just under 6ft) and it will chop and do most things that a smaller knife will. It can also serve as a self defense backup weapon if it ever came down to that.
 
d762nato said:
Say you have to pound a basic series knife into something with a rock,brick,ect. Will it withstand/holdup to the abuse to the tang or handle portion of the knife. If this guy may be going into harms way its hard to say what said knife will be treated like or too. Just curious myself having never owned a basic series of any type.
Click to expand...

I have used my helmet to bash the pommel of a Basic 9 to push it through an adobe wall for a firing hole and had no problems at all .... can't even see any marks on the handle to show it was done .... check out the Noss destruction test on the Basic 9 to see how tough the handle is .... they are "immensely tough" :thumbup:

I usually prefer "the pick" option on my entrenching shovel for this though ... but that time I was working with just my belt kit and did'nt have my Bergan with me.
 
NMSFNO of those you listed...

BUT!!!

I would recommend the SARSquatch as they are rediculously affordable and just awesome - great blade length, not too heavy (thin like skinny ASH) and great handle


.
 
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If you are willing to carry a large 8" knife the FSH is very hard to beat. It is a great chopper with a great handle. The ASH/Skinny ASH also has a great handle and weighs a little less.
 
Whew... I appreciate all the replies. How does the handle shape affect the knife (ergo versus straight handle)?
 
Seriously... You guys are great. I really appreciate all your help and advice for making this purchase.
 
Handle shape and thickness of grip and whether you prefer a pattern on the grip or a smooth grip are all issues which are personal and really why there is a lot of benefit in trying to make it to a show or link up with a Busse owner near you who may have a few you like to let you hold them and work out what is best for you.

For me I like a smooth set of grips which are large enough to enable heavy use without fingers starting to cramp .... this happens much quicker on a thinner grip than a wide one IMO .... and the shape of the grip at the pommel where it can taper downward on the Fusion handles is designed more for chopping than a straight grip in terms of it enabling you to catch any slip in the hand by use of the downward rear being able to catch on your fingers. For me though the straight grip if wide enough enables me to chop for as long as I want .... doing plenty of chopping enables you to keep your grip ....
so for me the NMSFNO works as well as a FSH in that respect.
 
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