Busse Assault Shaker - comfortable & secure?

Boink

Boink

Joined
Jun 6, 2002
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Does anyone have the Busse Assault Shaker neck knife? I was wondering how secure the grip is on such a small knife and if it is comfortable.

The shape looks like it has a palm swell area that could act to create a good purchase.
 
The Assault Shaker is a great design, and really feels good in the hand. Especially for such a short knife. No complaints as far as design and size. My problem(and it's not really a problem, but really a preference) is with the thickness of the steel. A neck knife does not need to be ground from 1/4" stock. The INFI steel used is super tough, and 3/16" stock would still be overkill. It's a great little knife, but I think it would be even better in thinner stock.
 
I too was always amazed that they used 1/4" stock on something that short. I don't really care what you are using the knife for, you cannot exert enough leverage with such a short handle to distort or damage any properly treated 3/16" steel blade (or probably even 1/8" for that matter). Stock thickness also equates to weight, less is more IMO.
 
Agree with Danbo's assessment, thinner would be even better...but...the one thing that I like about the design is that it truly is a sharpened prybar. If our Inspectors discover a crate of ordnance or what have you, I have no doubt that I can subsequently use the knife to lever open the crate and cut packaging material etc. during the course of the investigation.

So, it really boils down to how you plan to use it.

If you are looking for an out and out slicing machine, there are better options. But if you are looking for a tough, virtually indestructible knife that can take serious abuse, look no further.
 
Originally posted by Blues
Agree with Danbo's assessment, thinner would be even better...but...the one thing that I like about the design is that it truly is a sharpened prybar. If our Inspectors discover a crate of ordnance or what have you, I have no doubt that I can subsequently use the knife to lever open the crate and cut packaging material etc. during the course of the investigation.

So, it really boils down to how you plan to use it.

If you are looking for an out and out slicing machine, there are better options. But if you are looking for a tough, virtually indestructible knife that can take serious abuse, look no further.
Click to expand...

I agree 100% - Great answer!
 
I picked up a Strider WP, from Brian T. 3" wharncliffe fixed blade at that same 1/4" stock. It is not for dissecting flatworms, but it feels good around cartons, and it's not really bad in the kitchen, as long as i don't try to slice onion paper-thin.

I don't know why they use such great steel and heat-treat, though, if they're just going to overbuild anyway. 1/8" would still crack open crates. I'm sure my La Griffe can.
 
Originally posted by Danbo My problem(and it's not really a problem, but really a preference) is with the thickness of the steel. A neck knife does not need to be ground from 1/4" stock. The INFI steel used is super tough, and 3/16" stock would still be overkill. It's a great little knife, but I think it would be even better in thinner stock. [/B]
Click to expand...

I recently handled a Ryan Wilson skeletonized knife that was around 1/8" in thickness and found it to dig in to the hand uncomfortably when gripped hard. For what it's worth, some other knives I own that are around 1/4" thick or more, due to 1/8" thick stock plus handle slabs, are much more comfortable.
 
Originally posted by Blues


If you are looking for an out and out slicing machine, there are better options. But if you are looking for a tough, virtually indestructible knife that can take serious abuse, look no further.
Click to expand...

What I like about the Shaker is that is had what looks like a painted finish - not all bright silver, winding up as a package that is small and also hides easily against a color tee shirt. Are any other options you know about contain the features that I find attractive in the Assault Shaker?

(The features you point out about the Shaker's hardiness for prying also add to the "it's really for utility" explanation to others)
 
Boink,
I find the Assault Shaker very comfortable and secure.
I have smaller hands though!!;) Stout little knife.
 
For me the grip was kind of thin so I paracord wrapped
the handle and now it feels much better for my size
hands. Mine is an every day user and because of the
thickness of the blade I have no problem with using
it as a mini crowbar.
 
I really like it. As said before a mini prybar. I also really like the coating. As worn on the neck in the field in high summer, I will sweat a lot. It's good to know the coating will protect it.

I have a Mike Snody Ronin that is gorgeous, but also has exposed metal allowing the sweat to start rusting the tang. When going to the field I'll switch it to the AS and not worry.

Great little knife!!

Ed
 
I have one and it's definitely a thick neck knifeNormally, skeletonized handle neck knives don't appeal to me, but the Assault Shaker is so thick, tht it gives you more to grab on to. It doesn't feel to me that I'm gripping a slab of steel (well, which it is anyway :D ) It'll definitely withstand heavy use.
 
Is Busse website the best place to get one of these? How long do you have to typically wait?
 
Boink,
Call the Busse shop at 419-923-6471. They can tell you
how long the wait is. They come up every once in awhile
in the For Sale forums.
 
Hi Boink-

Busse puts out some nice stuff, just don't plan on having your new blade in time for your camping trip this weekend. ;) The Assault Shaker does look to be the "primo" choice for toughness in a small blade.

I've got an order in place for a Pepper Shaker that was placed in late-March. The factory originally anticipated a delivery time of three to six weeks...

Well, the Pepper Shaker hasn't yet arrived, but my Busse Steel Heart E is an absolute winner. Maybe you'll learn about some "Assault Shaker news updates" if you place a call to Ohio. Let us know here on BladeForums if you get some scoop.

Thanks,

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Cutting ability is only weakly correlated to spine thickness for the majority of normal cutting. David Boye used to make some of the best cutting hunters, and his stock thickness on these small knives was often 1/4"+, he simple had really thin and acute edge bevels on his knives . If the Assault Shaker doesn't cut as well as you would like you could simply send it back and ask for a more acute edge bevel.

It is made for fairly rough and heavy use, but you can get it modified if you want. Though there are better neck knives out there if you want an optomized slicer. In regards to strength, since it goes as the square of the thickness, 1/8" blades are easily broken even with such short lengths. 3/16" stock would be very durable for that length though, assuming you are restricted to one hand leverage, which probably isn't the case for everyone so they are left fairly hefty.

-Cliff
 
My only complaint about the AS was the poor cutting performance..I should have either sent mine in and asked for a more acute bevel, or tried to do it myself.

It is a really tough little knife though.
 
Well, if I need "slicing and dicing", I'll just bring along another knife and not expect this Busse to do the thin stuff. Just nice to have a quality small and strong knife.

So, just now I ordered Assault Shaker!

And I don't mean something to season my scrambled eggs with! ;)
 
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