Best Jungle knife - How much?

Cheap machetes are hard to beat, and most folks will not pay more than 20 bucks for one. But this is the Busse forum, so all of that is out the window. If Busse or Scrap Yard made a machete, I'd get one. I paid over $150 for a modified Ontario that Bark River did. It's a very nice jungle knife. I'm still wishing Jerry would do a thin NMFBM.
I am crazy enough to buy one. :D
 
Horn Dog said:
Cheap machetes are hard to beat, and most folks will not pay more than 20 bucks for one. But this is the Busse forum, so all of that is out the window. If Busse or Scrap Yard made a machete, I'd get one. I paid over $150 for a modified Ontario that Bark River did. It's a very nice jungle knife. I'm still wishing Jerry would do a thin NMFBM.
I am crazy enough to buy one. :D
Click to expand...

As am I.

Also, just waiting for an opening in Ban's busy schedule to get my very own FABM (Fusion Anorexic Battle Mistress). I've already got the parent CG FBM sitting here, waiting for its trip to the Phat Pharm.:D
 
HD,

On the exchange right now are two interesting prospects....an artic white "Bolo" from the custom shop at the last KC with an "ergo" handle....I actually handled this a fair bit when it was on the table at the Creek....that is a very light Infi "machete" candidate...and there is a SHBM JA....like Jeremy's but would need thinning down....my guess is the Bolo is the lighter of the two in standard form. Both are pretty expensive....

Don't you have a CGBM stripped and ready to be thinned down? All that might be needed is to drill out the grips and re-attach with stainless tube fasteners....to enable a full length job to be done.....:thumbup:
 
Yes all my Busses are naked except my new NMSFNO. Believe it or not, even with all the mods I've done, I have never removed and re-attached a Busse handle. I don't even have a drill press, but I have a friend at a local propeller shop who can do it for me, I guess. You are right, the tang needs to be thinned, too. But would the finished product work better than the DFLE?
 
Well....because of the benefits of the Res C in a wet climate for grip....I think the DFLE might "feel" better....but I think the "thinned" CGBM will chop better...although there won't be a lot in it...in fairness though....there never is a lot to choose between in terms of "better" performance once you get into choosing between "top knives"....there is a time when "they are all good".....and the handy thing is that the DFLE needs nothing doing to it....but that CGBM thinned down and fully convexed....it is a "temptation"....
 
man i really need a ZTBM. i'm waiting patiently for jerry to come out with something long and thin.
 
I kinda like my ergo mistress (BM-E) ,,,,,,,, light,,,,long,,,,,fatigue free chopping,,,,,and no Busse pinkie with the ergo handle,,,,,,,, pretty much almost the same blade as the ZTBM ,,,,,,,, cept no swedge .

Pardon the non-Busse content,,,,,,but could'nt resist posting my newest folder,,,a Terzoula Eagle Rock Fighter......... so much cash spent elsewhere , cuz of no folder by Busse.
 

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I just want to add that the SHBMs are much lighter than the FBM counterpart.

One of the reasons I love them so much...

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A cheaper solution to reduce weight would be to find someone with a belt grinder to grind the spine straight or even recessed a little, and then (if still necessary) grind the blade stock a bit thinner, reducing the height of the channels/bevels but not going anywhere past the last bevel towards the edge. After that any desired stripping can be done with a stripping fluid and elbow grease. The point is to keep the blade edge cool, so no grinding near the edge.

As to removing the handles & grinding the tang thinner then replacing the handles, that's a big job that will reduce the current hand-filling level, if that is comfortable for you then thinner may lead to blistering.
 
I would recommend 3 knives for jungle use:

A Leatherman Charge - multi-tool functionality with an S30V small blade for delicate work.

A Batac or a SJ (preferably an original straight handled one which is narrower) for heavy knife use. They're both great mid-sized heavy use knives.

For the machete, I'd have to say a $20 Tramontina. Few things, if any, can outchop a mistress. However that'd be like carrying a Dakota Arms in .416 Rigby to hunt mountain goats. Will it do the job? Sure, and with a ton of overkill. Along the way you had better be built like Arnold in his prime to be able to do it. The people who live and work in jungles use a sturdy and dependable yet light and thin machete, the ones I've seen recommended the most are the Tramontina.
 
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Does anybody have any idea how much it would cost to thin out a blade and tang? Ban it or grinducci it or get it done by Mr. Siegle. It has to be done by a real pro.
 
Personally I think a Jungle environment gives a greater challenge to a knife and the "user" than any other.....so in that environment I think using the best you can get makes a lot more sense than settling for less.....on a seperate point....the only way to find the cost for the "mod work" is to go direct to the guys doing the job....and remember when it's done....post pic's!!:thumbup:
 
Lil' Foo said:
Interesting thread!

I've been thinking about making this one a little lighter... thin it down to .220" saber ground.
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Although she mic's in at .308" thick, she feels about the same as my CG FBM.
I don't have a scale to get actual weights, but from holding it, they feel about the same to me.
She is 15 7/8" OAL and has a 9 5/8" blade from handle to tip.

I may keep this one as is, and send in a CGFBM for a similar treatment.
I'll use this one thru the summer, and make some decisions after I get a better feel of her. :thumbup:


I wouldn't thin that down, that is a great knife just the way it is.
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We all know Jerry's got his ears on and eyes open around here. So maybe he'll surprise everyone with a longer BM-e, 'Tramontina styled' Busse! 3/16th's, 14-16" of Busse goodness, with std or mags! Sure would make the Dundee rig lighter and the travels less grueling....

On another note, why would one not taper the cgfbm from the tip back, leave the tip full on thickness and reduce to 3/16ths to end of the tang? This would effectively reduce the overall weight, keep strength and weight in the tip where it's needed for jungle work, and give forward balance to the knife.
 
suttond said:
I wouldn't thin that down, that is a great knife just the way it is.
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1Tracker said:
Never change a Proto type they are the History of the Busse family Tree!
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I know, I know... every time I grab it, I ask myself
why would you want to change her??? :confused:
She's beautiful just the way she is! :thumbup:

So... most likely, I will have a CG modified if I really want a thinned down version of her. :thumbup:

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:eek: ... :eek: ... :eek:

T is just going to confuse the hell outta me later with all this stuff. :p

Does look pretty damn nice though! :cool: :thumbup:

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