BATAC CG Uses and Opinions

CPC

CPC

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Jun 12, 2010
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489
I recently purchased a tan/snakeskin BATAC. Beautiful looking knife. Here it is:

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And another in its Mashed Cat sheath:

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The knife has felt great in the hand while playing around with it. It feels secure and I can get a good grip. I got a chance to try it out for the first time today, just in the yard chopping up branches etc. I must say, the TAC handle did not feel as nice while using it. The handle is quite flat and thin, with a fair sized swell in the middle. It felt a bit like a paddle while I was using it. I was chopping soft branches ranging from pinky finger size up to about 2 inches thick.

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I was using a standard grip on the knife for the smaller stuff and I was holding it towards the butt of the handle for the thicker ones.

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While chopping, the knife became uncomfortable fairly quickly. It just felt too thin to get a good grip in either position. I never felt like I was going to loose it though. When cutting, the story was pretty much the same. Whenever I put a lot of load on the knife it just didn't sit well in my hand. I don't have Jerry Busse sized hands. Maybe that's my problem.

What was this knife originally designed for? Why does it have such a high, thin handle? Does anyone else have the same issues with this knife as me?

I was trying to think of way to fix this issue. I love the thickness and general shape of my BWM handle (with one or two exceptions). The BATAC handle measures in at 17mm (0.67") at the thickets point and 15mm (0.6") at the thinnest. The BWM is 25mm (1") and 19mm (0.73") respectively. That's a significant difference.

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I was considering sending my BATAC into the Custom Shop for some work. Some liners and slight re-shaping of the handle. What are your thoughts? I'm also thinking about getting it stripped. I can't think of a reason to have a coated blade in a utility knife this size. Some small serrations in the first 0.5" from the choil might help with it's utility feature too. What are peoples opinions?

Chris.
 
I love the knife and that model is one of my most heavily used...but I wouldn't exactly call it a chopper. lthough you can surely use it to chop, it wasn't designed with that in mind as far as I know. Perhaps an adjustable wrist lanyard might help. It's your BATAC, but before you decide to mod it, both the coating and the snakeskin are still highly desirable and no longer offered. But again, it's your knife. :) If you plan to keep it, then by all means get it modded to what feels rght for ya. Search BATAC variant in both this forum and the Busse Exchange to find pix of variants as these may help you visualize what you want done to yours. I have a fat BATAC variant with finger grooves in the handle from a long ago Ganza and it is really comfortable.

CupidGanza_32.jpg
 
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You must have one hell of a collection Jaxx. You're always posting up something I've never seen before. I know the combo I have is quite desirable, but I can't bring myself to buy a knife and not use it. The BATAC certainly isn't a chopper, but I thought it might be OK on small stuff. It still didn't feel right when I was cutting and slicing with it either, especially when I was using lots of pressure.

The knife you've posted certainly gives me some ideas. Fattening the slabs out with some black spacers and trimming that high palm swell might be a good thing. I wonder if I can get black canvas micarta spacers? They would suit the snakeskin perfectly. Maybe a comp or satin finish on the sabre ground face of the blade. I wonder if the Custom Shop would do this for me. I'll search through the forum for some BATAC variants to get some more ideas. Thanks mate.

Chris.
 
I had a couple of snakeskin BATACs, one in exactly the same colour combo as yours to match my CGFBM.

I also had similar issues with the handle. It never felt quite right and I always wished it was a little fatter. A bit similar to my Hell Razor. Just a little more fatness and swell on the grip would make it perfect. In both cases that's unusual for me as the reason I started buying Busse knives in the first place was that they fit my hand so well. I don't have large hands at all; I would say medium even for my height (5'8).

Eventually, after much deliberation and as much as I like snakeskin, I let them both go. I did think of modifying them similarly to what you describe, but decided that my skills aren't quite up to making a good enough job of it. Better to try to find a different knife that fits, for me at least.

If you do modify it, we would love to see the pictures.
 
snakeskin always runs a little thin IMHO... so i've sent some of my thinner ss busse to the custom shop for thick black canvass liners, & have found that this makes them feel perfect in hand. just my $.02... hope this helps! good luck!!!
 
Of all the Busses I've owned (<25), the Batac was probably my least favorite. It's a small knife that occupies the space/weight of a much larger knife--the blade to handle ratio leaves a lot to be desired. If I didn't have other options, sure I'd use it; but there are many other Busse/kin with just as long (or longer) of a blade, and a shorter overall length. I think this is my first :thumbdn: ever posted in the Bussekin forums, for the only piece of INFI I don't care to own.
 
That's a sweet BATAC. I think the BATAC is one of the most under rated Busses along with the ASH-1. I have a fat BATAC .27" with mags and it fits perfect. Personally I wouldn't mod the snakeskin handles by reshaping at all. Send it in and get liners to fatten it up, that is the only problem with snakeskin, it's too skinny. I put inner tube on all my handles for comfort and grip and it makes a huge difference in use.
 
The BATAC is my very favorite. Mine is in Afghanistan with my oldest son right now, but I am trying to get Jerry and Garth to answer an email about getting some made for his team. Anyhow, I don't have issues with the handle, but I have pretty meaty hands and I prefer thin handles. I know that the Busse shop can hook you up with whatever you want. Maybe magnum handshaped is a good option.
 
mymindisamob said:
Maybe magnum handshaped is a good option.
Click to expand...

That would probably have made the difference between sell and keep for me. As I mentioned, I find the HR standard grip a little too thin as well, although it's better for me than the BATAC was. If it had scales like Lil' Foo's Mud Razors though, it would be perfect:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...il-Foo-s-twin-Razors!!!?p=6865075#post6865075

I can imagine a BATAC like that too. Still would be a shame to lose the snakeskin though.

There is a benefit to my HR being so thin - it slips into the side of a pack really easily!
 
I would sell it and get one with magnum scales before I would put new handles on it. I think your idea of getting thick liners put on it is a much better idea.
The Snake an the BATAC's was some of the best I've ever seen, and it would be a shame to loss it.
 
Thanks guys. It seems I'm not the only one having issues with the thin TAC handles. I've done a bit of searching and most of the Custom Shop BATAC's have quite thick slabs, which says something. I'll try and send this one back in for some black canvas micarta liners, and maybe a couple of other tweaks.

Chris.
 
I really like the "thin" TAC handle, personally. I'm with mymindisamob; the BATAC is my all time favorite for a "bring it on" knife. Here's mine, which shows plenty of love:

UserBATAC3.jpg
 
I had a similar BATAC with Snakeskin handle and tan blade. Much as I liked the look of the knife, it didn't feel right -- too thin in hand. Sent it to Busse and Garth put a Magnum Canvas Micarta handle on there, which felt much better. If you want to preserve the good looks of the Snakeskin, have a couple of spacers added and you should be good to go.

Also had a BATAC-LE for a while -- too thick for my purposes but was probably the best, most solid feeling Busse I've ever owned.

John
 
I have a CG with standard handles under the seat of my car. I really like the standard handles for a slim low profile ride when I carry it out in yhe woods. That being said I may add a set of spacers at some point just to give it a bit more thickness in the handle. Either way still one of my more used knives.

Garth
 
Garth Reckner said:
I have a CG with standard handles under the seat of my car. I really like the standard handles for a slim low profile ride when I carry it out in yhe woods. That being said I may add a set of spacers at some point just to give it a bit more thickness in the handle. Either way still one of my more used knives.

Garth
Click to expand...
Hey mate. I've been liaising with Lexi about getting some spacers put on the handle, and some very minor reshaping of the micarta edges thereafter. You might know about this! The knife is a good one - nice and solid and looks amazing, I just need to make it a little more comfortable for my hand.

Chris.
 
Well if you decide to get some liners added I will take extra special care of it for you.

Garth
 
Jaxx said:
I love the knife and that model is one of my most heavily used...but I wouldn't exactly call it a chopper. lthough you can surely use it to chop, it wasn't designed with that in mind as far as I know. Perhaps an adjustable wrist lanyard might help. It's your BATAC, but before you decide to mod it, both the coating and the snakeskin are still highly desirable and no longer offered. But again, it's your knife. :) If you plan to keep it, then by all means get it modded to what feels rght for ya. Search BATAC variant in both this forum and the Busse Exchange to find pix of variants as these may help you visualize what you want done to yours. I have a fat BATAC variant with finger grooves in the handle from a long ago Ganza and it is really comfortable.

CupidGanza_32.jpg
Click to expand...

This is one of the most beautiful and at the same time brutal looking knives I've ever seen

congrats bro

Regards
Denis
 
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