Brands comparable to busse

It IS common knowledge if you're interested enough to do research.
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Well, I've been here for a while. I've had a bunch of Busse/kin knives. Other than at making guys like you write down slogans they heard somewhere I don't know what it's the best at? I don't know what "common knowledge" means to you either. What does "spanking the tar out of" mean? Is there some science , testing or measured attribute you are referring to or is it just, as I state another slogan? Heck, Busse has stated S7 is tougher so what is it the best at exactly? What does it beat all these other steels at besides convincing you it is better somehow? I'd like to know. To me it is just another decent to good steel for hard use type knives. If that offends you too bad. Look to yourself for the problem.

When you can label these things it's so much better at than any other steel maybe we can discuss things. Maybe not though. :rolleyes: You are more emotion than reason and that gets old for me. I've already wasted more time on this than I should on someone who wants me to concede something but doesn't quite know what other than it's vaguely "the best".
 
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For my dollar, Fehrman has stood head to head with Busse through the years I've used them. I have never had any issues choosing either to do the heavy work. I recently acquired a Randall that I'm having fun putting through its paces. So far it's impressed the heck out of me.
 
Ferhmans are nice too but mine cost more than any of my Busse knives. It's a great knife and it's one I have never thought about selling even when household or family emergencies caused me to want to pare my collection back. Randall knives are definitely beautiful. I like O-1 steel but they run theirs pretty soft. They work good though but I usually like knife steel in the high 50's on up into the 60's depending on which steel. I have a Koster Bushmaster in 3V that performs as well as my Ferhman yet only cost me $225 ( as opposed to near $500 for the Final Judgement) as long as I can get by with the shorter Koster. It's an amazing performer.

They are both in that premium class Busse knives occupy. There are a lot of great custom knife makers who will make different designs to specs I ask for in steels like 10V, Cruwear, 4V, S110V, etc.

I really do believe in different tools for different jobs though so as I get older I am more inclined to only spend big dollars on knives I can specify steels, grip materials etc. Anything above $400 now will probably be from a custom maker.
 
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It's all about HT, at the indestructible end of the spectrum. Anyone can make a big fat blade from a high end steel. Getting the HT right is what counts. Busse, Miller Bros, Knife Research, Fredrik Haakonsen....
 
I agree wholeheartedly, HT is everything... That's why different knives with the same steel and similar geometry perform so differently. I have more than a few Busse and Kin. If the prices/design don't appeal to you, then try Survive (I have three and they're great knives), Fehrman, Randall, or Grayman (if you like chisel ground).

Good luck! :thumbup:
 
Ken44 said:
I myself don't think there is another production fixed blade that compares with Busse, but I've never tried a Fehrman, and some say they stack up well.
Survive! knives is another I've never had, but heard good things about.
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I don't have a Busse, but I do have a Swamp Rat Ratmandu. And although my Survive! GSO is the 3.5 rather than a larger model that I could directly compare with Busse's offerings, I'll offer my $0.02.

My GSO came with a pretty nice sheath, which I can't say for my Ratmandu. So that's definitely a positive. Regarding the micarta, I like both. In fact, the contours of the GSO are a bit more comfortable. Regarding the steel used, it depends on what you're looking for. I'm a big fan of 52100, but since you can choose between 20CV and 3V, I'd say that's pretty good as well.

All in all, Survive! is a very nice alternative to the Busse family IMO.

whitty said:
"Other high end fixed blade companies" that you should check out:

Fiddleback Forge --- Custom Maker
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Another vote for Fiddleback here. I got a chance to try out their production Bushfinger, and I really liked it. I haven't been able to try out one of their full custom offerings, but I'd imagine the quality is even higher, so I'd definitely put them up there with Busse. That being said, from what I understand their strength is smaller bushcrafty knives, whereas Busse seems to excel with the larger choppers. So again, perhaps not directly comparable.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1283158-Production-Bushfinger-Pass-Around-4
 
Esee, Survive, and Bark River would be my choices. If you get the right model for whatever your application, these companies make knives that will do everything a Busse will do. And they all have great customer service, although you likely won't ever need it.

Nothing against Busse, they make nice knives. But there are others out there that will stand neck and neck with them. And certainly, you pay a bit extra for the Busse name.
 
Matt81818 said:
Brands comparable to Busse?...
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None exist. ;):rolleyes::D:thumbup:

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In reality though once you've popped your Busse cherry you realize there are many other knives out there for similar money that you may end up liking even more for cutting tasks than Busse & Kin... (hard to accept, I know)

If you want completely bomb-proof blades they are a great choice, still not indestructible though in the wrong hands. ;):foot::D
 
seedubs1 said:
Esee, Survive, and Bark River would be my choices. If you get the right model for whatever your application, these companies make knives that will do everything a Busse will do. And they all have great customer service, although you likely won't ever need it.

Nothing against Busse, they make nice knives. But there are others out there that will stand neck and neck with them. And certainly, you pay a bit extra for the Busse name.
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Sorry but this is just factually wrong. Esee, survive, or BRKT don't make anything that looks like this:

Czechmate said:
None exist. ;):rolleyes::D:thumbup:

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In reality though once you've popped your Busse cherry you realize there are many other knives out there for similar money that you may end up liking even more for cutting tasks than Busse & Kin... (hard to accept, I know)

If you want completely bomb-proof blades they are a great choice, still not indestructible though in the wrong hands. ;):foot::D
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There really isn't a direct comparison. Busse have a uniqueness to them and quite the cult following.

The closest would be Bark River, Survive!, Ambush knives,
Because of the 3V options to compete with the INFI and SR101 Busse options.

ESEE and Tops are sweet knives too. The 1095 champions.
 
The Mastiff said:
It is a made up name just like SR101 ( 52100) and SR77 (S7). We have had this discussion around here a few times and you can do research to find it if you want. It's no more a secret in the knife industry than "Carbon V" was. Good for you for believing that J. Busse invented a new grade of steel. :) I recall another company owner making similar claims about their steel. At least the Busse folks really do know how to make good knives and not just know marketing.
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Mastiff, I think you are a bit off there. Busse never claimed to invent either SR101 or SR77, both were clearly stated to be AISI 52100 and AISI S7 respectively. Take a look at S7 steel reference data. It has more proprietary names than standard names, are they all claiming to reinvent S7? Of course not.

S7 is just one standard spec and technically it is not even a steel, it is a specification that allows for a certain alloy to be classified as S7 grade. Individual steel mills produce alloy within the specs and you are free to call it a new name (would be nice to state to which standard it confirms of course), or refer to it in standard spec terms, be it AISI, UNS or W-Nr or whatever else. Latrobe sold S7 under Bearcat name, but you wouldn't say Latrobe claimed to reinvent S7?

S7 made by two different steel mills will vary in composition withing the specs allowing it and sometimes a bit outside of it as well. Proprietary name allows to make a difference between those two. AISI W1 has Carbon spec from 0.70.to 1.50 which is a huge difference, again, proprietary names tell you more precisely, how much carbon and other elements in it. Not all W1 or any standard spec steels are the same in short.

It's less common for knife makers to name steels, but there are plenty of examples: Carbon V, SB1, MC66, CMV60 and so on.
 
Looks and applicability are different. Sorry if some of the choppers from other knife companies don't look like they're out of "the walking dead" or some apocalypse movie. But the CPM 3V knives Survive and BRKT make will certainly do everything a Busse can do.

(For those of you not familiar with the lines, Survive makes everything from a necker size all the way up to a 12" chopper.....in 3V. BRKT has a lot of different offerings as well.)

craytab said:
Sorry but this is just factually wrong. Esee, survive, or BRKT don't make anything that looks like this:
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seedubs1 said:
Looks and applicability are different. Sorry if some of the choppers from other knife companies don't look like they're out of "the walking dead" or some apocalypse movie. But the CPM 3V knives Survive and BRKT make will certainly do everything a Busse can do.

(For those of you not familiar with the lines, Survive makes everything from a necker size all the way up to a 12" chopper.....in 3V. BRKT has a lot of different offerings as well.)
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You said they can do anything the Busse can do. That's not correct. They can't look like TGLB. We are all aware of what Sruvive and BRKT produces. And busse has been around long before the walking dead.

I've got knives from all sorts of companies but not one looks like this:

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trevitrace said:
What happened to your sig?

Personally, I'd rather spend ~$400 on a knife from Busse or ~$400 for Busse on the secondary market than, for example, attempt to buy a brazed blade for $500, if I can get there in time, otherwise look to drop perhaps twice that on the exchange for a something that is "who knows" in performance.

But like you said, die hards and all that.
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No pay no sig
 
So.....What exactly is it a Busse can do that a 3v knife from Survive or BRKT can't? I'm talking about actual capability of the knife here, not "it can't look like a Busse" or some junk response like that.

Again, those companies make knives in appropriate sizes and designs for any ACTUAL use, and will do anything a Busse can.....Besides "look like a Busse." :rolleyes:

craytab said:
You said they can do anything the Busse can do. That's not correct. They can't look like TGLB. We are all aware of what Sruvive and BRKT produces. And busse has been around long before the walking dead.

I've got knives from all sorts of companies but not one looks like this:
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Bussse will be tougher, and they do stand behind unconditional warranty. Can't comment on Survive, but if you search there are plenty of reports on BRKT knives failures and arguments surrounding those failures.
 
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