Before there was a 1 of 300 (pic heavy)

[Lil' Foo]

There was the Battle Mistress featured in the March 1998 American Survival Guide article by Ron Hood.

Yes… it was me that dove into the trough that night and grabbed this beauty. So… I finally scored a SHBM… or two… but more on that one in a bit. After I scored these, I started to do a little digging… I’ve had some theories about the article mistress for a long time… so I had to know more.

Here’s some of what I found out… she weighs in at 24.6 ounces, is a hefty .290” thick at the ricasso, and Rockwell tests at 60Rc. This Battle Mistress was delivered to Ron for the article in April or May of 1997. And in a story Jerry shared with me (just love a story from boss hog), this one was released before any of the production BMs started rolling out. It also has a substantial convex asymmetrical edge. Ron said “it is a hand grind by Jerry so we could test the function of the offset grind… which was later dubbed the asymmetric grind…He also said… You can see the grind lines as it isn't finished off as most of his satin blades were”. He does call it out as a prototype in the article but… I’m still not sure if it’s a proto for the BM or a proto for the asymmetric edge???

If there is anybody that can share any more about this one… please do! Maybe Boss Hog will stop by and fill us in on some more too.

Here’s some pics of the article Mistress… I’ll post the second one in another post, as well as the article.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Lil' Foo]

OK… here’s the second one…

The second BM (smooth bolt) appears to be a sterile presentation grade 1 of 300. Ron said he sent the 2nd blade without handles he received for the article back to Busse to have handles put on and be lightened up for is wife Karen… hence the different handle fasteners. (If you read the article, he received 3 and finally snapped one of them in the vice test). This one weighs 22.7 ounces, mics out at .278” thick at the ricasso, has a convex symmetrical edge, and the Rockwell is at 65Rc. So… this one may have been delivered at the same time as the article BM. I say maybe because who know whether or not Boss Hog did the mods to the blade or sent a new one??? Maybe he’ll let us know a little on this one too.

 

[Lil' Foo]

And here’s the article courtesy of John The Texican… Thanks JTT!!!

And another pic of the pair…

 

[CQCBlades]

Wonderful history lesson and some fantastic photos, save them for me. Once I redo the site I'd like to have a section on this material.

Greg

 

[diceman]

Great pics and a beautiful mistress! Excellent article too. Nice score!

 

[wayne37]

Thanks for sharing this....A while ago I was wondering If I would ever read this review.

 

[JohnTheTexican]

That, along with another ASG article that featured the Steel Heart II, was the article that first got me rooting around the trough too, although I didn't know there was a trough at the time and once I placed my first order, it was a few years before I found my way back.

For those who missed it the first time around, click the > in the blue box to see the other article.

 

[OldPhysics]

Wow.

I feel like a physical anthropologist ... for knives!

 

[on_the_edge]

Foo, you dog (HOG!!!). Great friggin' score. i think this should qualify you for Stealth HOG status.

Getting a piece of genuine Busse history (or in your case -- two pieces) is awesome. I know -- I haz gots my own lil' piece too!

Very cool. Congrats!

 

[knifecoop]

Thanks for sharing and great find.

 

[Progunner]

Holy cow Foo! If that little bit of historical trough stomping doesn't qualify you for HOG status, I will renounce my place at the trough!!!!

 

[Lil' Foo]

Thanks eveybody... I don't think I could be any happier with a score!

It's not my 1st piece of old school... but definitely the piece in my collection with the most significance in Busse history.

That, along with another ASG article that featured the Steel Heart I, was the article that first got me rooting around the trough too, although I didn't know there was a trough at the time and once I placed my first order, it was a few years before I found my way back.

I only wish I had known about Busse in '98 (or earlier for that matter), it's only a little over a year for me. Hey... I missed my one year anniversary!!! Maybe I need to post a family pic. Anyway... back on track. I first reached out to Ron on the article BM just about a year ago... and he fiinally decide to bring them out of the safe. I gather from some of my emails with him that others had recently joined in on the "hey I'd love to have that BM" ... I'm just glad I dove in with all four hooves first. :thumbup:

 

[RedWolfHowlin]

Which one is mine??

Sweet score!! Thanks for the pictures and story. :thumbup:

 

[JohnTheTexican]

And here’s the article courtesy of John The Texan… Thanks JTT!!!

How 'bout if I trade you my March '98 copy of ASG for one of those beat up old Battle Mistresses? I'll even settle for the one with the girlie modifications.

 

[Lil' Foo]

The article BM has seen more places and done more things than most INFI will every dream of seeing... Ron took this one to Peru when he lived with the Candoshi Indians...

Some Caimans (a variety of croc)

And preparing some turtle soup...

He said every one of the locals wanted some time to play with it.

 

[Lil' Foo]

Which one is mine??

Sweet score!! Thanks for the pictures and story. :thumbup:

I believe yours is still sitting in his safe... he said he'll never let his 3rd one (and favorite) go.
Sorry bro... no SHBM lovin' for you.

How 'bout if I trade you my March '98 copy of ASG for one of those beat up old Battle Mistresses? I'll even settle for the one with the girlie modifications.

Not on your life! Girlie mods?
But I'll take your March 98 ASG...
He said he'd sign it to go with the knives if I could ever find one.

 

[papathud]

Like I said on the Phone;

"Ya Done Good Lil' Foo"

Very nice Score, two very nice, each a one of a kind Straight Battle Mistresses.

First the Article knife way thick and proto for Asym grind also special clip grind, then the Smooth Bolt 65rc knife?

Very Cool no doubt.

 

[Guyon]

Wonderful history lesson and some fantastic photos, save them for me. Once I redo the site I'd like to have a section on this material.

Greg

Excellent report Foo. Congrats on the score. As I read, I was actually thinking, "Someone should document this material," and I was wondering about Greg and bussecollector.com.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Cobalt]

LIL FOO, you got a huge piece of INFI history. The beginnings of INFI is right there.

The amazing part is the Rc of 65. I would love to see how long that knife would last in a cutting competition. I bet it would run everything else made today into the ground in slicing power.

You done good Hog.:thumbup:

Hey can you measure the lengths of both knives?

also they both assymetrical edge?

 

[JohnTheTexican]

I believe yours is still sitting in his safe... he said he'll never let his 3rd one (and favorite) go.
Sorry bro... no SHBM lovin' for you.



Not on your life! Girlie mods?
But I'll take your March 98 ASG...
He said he'd sign it to go with the knoves if I could ever find one.

Send me your address and I'll send you the magazine. It belongs with those knives.