Jerry Busse
Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 11,991
In 1984, my dad, Paul Busse, designed what he considered to be the ultimate pruning hatchet for use around the yard. It was extremely compact and I, at the time, thought that it was just far too small to be useful for anything else. So, I never formally introduced it. As friends would stop by and visit they would see Pauls Hatchet and order one for themselves. By 1986 there was a real demand for these little hatchets. Hunters were using it as a small game ax, some special teams were using it as a back up entry tool, and many customers were using it as a super compact camp ax. My dad encouraged me to make them affordable so that more people could enjoy what had quickly become his favorite little hatchet. Back then I sold them for $425.00. The amount of cutting (pre-laser) and the amount of steel that it demanded was far too costly to make them affordable. I made them out of 0-1 & A-2 and they proved to be very solid performers.
My father passed away suddenly in 1987. I discontinued the design immediately and canceled many outstanding orders. It is interesting to see how differently people react when someone, whom they loved that dearly, passes away. Some people put up photographs of their loved ones after they pass. . . . and some people take them down. I suppose that discontinuing Pauls Hatchet was my way of taking the photo down. Its now 14 years later and I still get choked up when I think about him. . . .He was a World War II veteran who sprang from a time in Americas history where heroes were commonplace and a mans character and word were his bond. It was a generation that was chock-full of John Wayne types that moved through this world with the silent strength of modesty and humility. They were real men, who didnt display limp-wristed characteristics, like so many tender-hearted cry babies do nowadays. There are still men like this today, just rarer, more difficult to find. I find them here.
As a tribute to my father and to all men who move with a silent strength, I am re-introducing Pauls Hatchet. It will be a limited run from the Custom Shop with the goal being to make it affordable. The combat grade will be $197.00 and the Limited Edition will be $297.00 I will try to get more pictures up in the next two days.
Regards,
Jerry Busse
My father passed away suddenly in 1987. I discontinued the design immediately and canceled many outstanding orders. It is interesting to see how differently people react when someone, whom they loved that dearly, passes away. Some people put up photographs of their loved ones after they pass. . . . and some people take them down. I suppose that discontinuing Pauls Hatchet was my way of taking the photo down. Its now 14 years later and I still get choked up when I think about him. . . .He was a World War II veteran who sprang from a time in Americas history where heroes were commonplace and a mans character and word were his bond. It was a generation that was chock-full of John Wayne types that moved through this world with the silent strength of modesty and humility. They were real men, who didnt display limp-wristed characteristics, like so many tender-hearted cry babies do nowadays. There are still men like this today, just rarer, more difficult to find. I find them here.
As a tribute to my father and to all men who move with a silent strength, I am re-introducing Pauls Hatchet. It will be a limited run from the Custom Shop with the goal being to make it affordable. The combat grade will be $197.00 and the Limited Edition will be $297.00 I will try to get more pictures up in the next two days.
Regards,
Jerry Busse
