Advice

G

GRW

Joined
Nov 15, 2003
Messages
5
This is my first post on the board and this seemed like the right place for it. I need help from the hogs.

I am a K-9 search and recue handler. I carry a folding blade but needed a survival knife that could be used for heavier work in the event I need to spend extended time in the field, planned or not. I got my hands on a Natural Outlaw cambat grade, great knife. I am conserned that it may be a bit on the heavy side for the long trails. What could you recommend. I would like to stay with the Busse family of blades because they are tank tough. I live in the tropics so a blade that is coated would probubly work best.

Aloha,

Gary
 
You might consider a Satin Jack, slightly lighter I believe, but still solid enough to handle most chores you would put it to. The other possibility would be an 8" Purebred fighter if you can find one.

Other than those I would say it is worth the weight given the uses I can imagine you putting your current blade to! If this is a tool to help save other people's lives or perhaps your own, never settle because you want to lighten the load by a few ounces.
 
I think an Active Duty will beat a folder by a country mile. :D
Mine has a BuyBrown sheath minus the teclock, I just keep it in my front pocket of my jeans. That is when I don’t have my AS in there.

Edited to add:
Sorry I never read your post properly, I thought you were replacing your folder. My first choice would still be the NO.

Ian.
 
for the tropics a coated blade is a must. I use mine around the salt water - and never had a problem.

As for which Busse, I recommend the steelheart for most field chores.
 
Hi Gary!
what about a Badger Attack or a Public Defender? Actualy I'm considering to buy a Public Defender to this kind of use too! It's light, have a good size and will not "chock" when on your duty belt!
 
Gary,

Among other places, check out this recent discussion.

Cheers,
BJB :D

p.s. Are you sure you want to start. Your wallet will be eternally lighter...
 
Howdy GRW & welcome to the Busse forum!!!

Pardon my being a PITA, but let me pose some questions first to get a handle on what your knife needs & priorities are. Your wish to reduce knife weight is duly noted. What are the other needs you have for your fixed-blade work knife?
- Delicate point work?
- Sustained straight-ahead edge slicing?
- Chopping?
- Prying?
- No sharpening or cleaning attention for a few days in a pinch?
- Handle security when wet, bloody, muddy, greasy, covered with plant juice, etc?
- Any absolute size or weight limits to fit it among your other SAR gear?
- Bombproof sheath? And what level of sheath carry (on your thigh, lo-belt level, hi-ride, cross-draw, etc)? Does the sheath have to move to different locations on your gear? Inverted carry ever needed?

Without knowing what your job requires of your fixed-blade knife and given that you seem to like the length of the NO that you've got, my $0.02 of opinion would be to look into the 3/16" thick SJ (as Mtnclimber69 said) or the Purebred Fighter 6" knife. IMHO the preference would go to the Satin Jack as a more utilitarian all-around blade style. The PBF-6 could get a leg up in this race with a handle job (after market expense) customized to your hand to get rid of the gunk-catching recesses of its Japanese tsuka-ito style handle wrapping (if it's a factory-wrapped knife) or simply to give it SOME KIND of handle (if it's a naked one). Getting a Hawaiian koa wood handle on the PBF-6 could make a real beautiful knife.

However, the SJ and PBF-6 are cutters, not choppers. The PBF-6 is a POINTY little bugger, so keep that in mind as well. Be aware that not all of the SJ's were 3/16" thick. The earlier ones were 1/4" thick, which makes them slightly worse in your stated intent to minimize weight.

(edited to add) By going slightly over the 6" length of the NO you get to my favorite Busse, the Busse Basic 7 which has a radically different handle than the combat grade Busses. That handle usually gets very high marks for comfort and retaining its grip when wet. It can occasionally be found on the secondary market, often in new condition. Here's a picture of the BB7 to see if its something you'd like to consider:

BB7.jpg
 
Hello GRW,
Welcome to the Busse forum, glad you stopped by.

As RokJok said, give us a little idea what the primary uses will be and I'm sure we can recommend a blade for you :D:D
 
Thanks for all of the great input.

What the knife will be used for is a tough question. If I get caught in the woods and have to fashion a shelter, I will need to do some light chopping and maybe some digging. It would also be used to cut wood for a fire. I carry a pocket chainsaw for large limb cutting. Most of my small & fine cutting needs can be handled by my folding knife.

I can't carry too large a knife, I'm five five and anything much longer than the NO and it's down to my knee. I like the blade length of the NO. If I could find one, a ZT NO combat grade with the metal at the back of the handle removed. Did they make any of those.

A tactical sheath would be best. I have a padded belt on my pack and I don't want the knife to hang up on it.

I hope this helps.

Aloha,

Gary
 
Originally posted by GRW
If I could find one, a ZT NO combat grade with the metal at the back of the handle removed. Did they make any of those.
Click to expand...

As far as I know none of these were made. You may want to consider the Desert Outlaws. I'll see if I can find a pic in one of the old threads :D:D
 
Ok, here are the threads where they were announced. They were all rare, hence more expensive, however well worth it if they are what you are looking for.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=245468&highlight=outlaws
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=245446&highlight=outlaws
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=245448&highlight=outlaws

I'm not sure where you will find one as I'm sure these are all in private collections now but maybe try the for sale forums.

Good Luck

:D:D
 
I'm going to have to second the Satin Jack. I just made the decision to go from a Steel Heart to a Natural Outlaw for being in the woods. If your looking for something you will have to do chopping with stick with the NO. If you just want a heavy duty knife the SJ is fine or you may even be able to snag a Tanker A. 5 inch blade, 1/4 inch thick. Tough little sucker.
But like someone said before if your comfortable with the NO then stick with it. Unless like the rest of us your just looking for a reason to buy another knife. ;)
 
of course one of the swamp rat knives would be a good starting point as well and then you can move up to the INFI, either way you cannot go wrong. Chances are, you will end up owning more than one anyway, so just buy what seems right and then you become an addict and end up having loans to cover your knife purchases.
 
I vote for the Satin Jack in 3/16. Lightweight but long
enough and heavy enough for light chopping duties!
 
My method has been to buy a knife, then decide if I want to keep it. This has resulted in my aquiring way too much Busse to use every day, and too much atachment to let the excess go. Maybe not the best method as far as the money is concerned, so I'd recommend waiting for the new line to come out. From what I've seen, many of the knives will be superior to what's available now. Waiting will allow you to become familiar with your NO-CG in the woods; and by using the NO you'll get to learn what features are most important to you, helping you make the best decision when the Fusion line is introduced. Good Luck!
edited: I'll add another vote for the Satin Jack in the meantime, but I think the SJ-Fusion might be a choice worth waiting for. JB
 
I'm gonna have to concur with the NO supporters.

It will give sufficinet blade mass for chopping momentum, as well as being right-sized for more nimble (within reason) work. Delicate work would be better accomplished with your current folder, or, um, any 'upcoming' models...

Let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Mike
thathamguy
 
welcome to the busse forum:cool: :cool:
i would vote for a ztno (3/16th) or a 1/4" satin jack. so how confused are you now?
 
Thanks again for all of the imput.

Idahoskunk, I'm not confused at all. I've been reeding the forum for quite some time. I agree that the Satin Jack and the ZTNO are on the money. The blade length is right and the weight is about 1/3 less. I do need the coating. A non coated blade is going to be a pain to deal with in my climate and from what I understand the ZTNO were non coated, is that correct.

Ive been wearing the NO for about two and a half hours to help make my decision. If I decided to keep the NO is there a place I could send it to have the metal at the but of the handle removed? MY NO also has a polished spine, I'd like to get it coated if possible or trade for one that is.

Aloha,

Gary
 
if this was the for sale forum i would tell you that i had a desert no for sale because i had one extra. they are about 1" shorter and very nicely coated.
the spine is bare but so what? it adds a nice touch to the fast handleing blade. the gritty desert coating is set off by the wonderful desert scales which are fit to a T!
this wonderful package comes complete without a scabbard bcause they suck and you would probably get your own anyhow.
but since this isn't the place to sell then you may or may not find it over on the forum where 1whoisatrator has hogged the whole site.
porkerson, can i get some more valium from you??????:confused:

when is the trial set for?????
 
Originally posted by GRW
If I decided to keep the NO is there a place I could send it to have the metal at the but of the handle removed? MY NO also has a polished spine, I'd like to get it coated if possible or trade for one that is.

Aloha,

Gary
Click to expand...

Gary,

I'm pretty sure that the Busse shop would grind the butt off your NO if you requested it. I'm sure they would recoat it for you as well. I'm not sure what the cost would be nor what the turn around time would look like. Probably best to call them directly and see what they have to say.
 
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