Busse Knives as Fighters?

R

Ronald Reagan

Joined
Dec 18, 1998
Messages
417
What do you guys think? Is the grind too thick? Are the knives too heavy?

I know there are a lot of people out there that swear by there Busses, but what is their primary intention for these knives...utility/choppers or self defense/fighters?

I own a Mean Street and think it is a good knife - feels great in the hand, it is indestructable, and it is easily concealed. The bigger Busses I checked out at shows seem a bit unwieldy for fighting. Comments?
 
The Mean Street and Badger Attack are EXCELLENT fighters...why? Excellent cutting power (especially slicing) for their size, light weight, and robust grip purchase (you can pilot the blades extremely well and accurately). The lack of an upper falsely ground edge does effect penetration, but you can bet your life on Busse's point construction...it's not budgin', no matter what you drive it into.

You are not alone in your sentiments about the larger knives. They are definitley more utility oriented, however, it is worth noting that Jerry has received many communications from soldiers, marines, and martial artists that LOVE some of his designs for fighting (old and new like the Argon Assault, Jungle Assault, Steel Heart 1st Generation, Silent Knight, and Knight Lite).

His grinds constitute an almost indestructible tool and weapon, but his edges (particulary the new asymmetrical design) are quite thin, despite the heft of the overall piece. That's one of the reasons they cut almost ANYTHING really well.

Andy
 
I like the Mean Street in an ice pick fashion though it in forehand grip it can produce decent snapping cuts aka snap cuts. I think it does well for styles that like heavy knives.

 
well..they cut very well but if you decided to carry a large fixed blade as a defensive weapon i can think of better option.
while a large group of knives will cut and chop pretty deacently if sharpened well enough. if you carry such a big blade i would also put a lot of emphasis on balance.
and that is something the busse do not excel.
i would have chosen a large fighting bowie with a sharpened clip and if balanced right the are quick as a rattler. if not one of the custome knife makers bowies i would go for a "BAGWELL BOWIE" made by ontario.
almost as good as the original.
scorpio
 
The grinds on the Basics and the BM are actually relatively thin. They cut very well. Of course they would cut better if they were of thinner stock with full distal tapers and no edge bevels - but - you would lose a lot of durability that way.

-Cliff
 
Far be it from me to even think about using a knife in a fight, but I think reach, personal strength & speed, and inertia would all be factors in determining the advantage of a large, heavy knife. You could come close to lopping a limb off with a #9.

Think Crocodile Dundee vs. street trash. Or sword vs. stiletto.

jeff
 
By the way, I use my #9 in the yard.
smile.gif
 
As I see it, there's "light and fast fighters" and there's "heavy smash fighters". A Battle Mistress definately falls into the "heavy smash" category, although it's on the light side for the class.

I think that the best thing a heavy smash fighter offers is an effective "straight skull cleave" attack. Just about any Khukuri in the 15"+ overall length range offers this, in spades.

A "speed fighter" offers fast tip control towards the "inside" of the opponent, able to dominate the area between throat and waist, defending and attacking quickly. They *can* "hack and chop" but they won't do the same damage.

The BM is a "smashfighter" that's almost light enough for speedwork. So in the right hands, ya, I'd be willing to bet some might favor it as a fighter. If you had the arm and wrist strength of a Gorilla it's be a VERY good choice!

Not my cuppa tea personally...

Jim
 
Hi Andy,
I have never heard of "the Argon Assault, Jungle Assault, Steel Heart 1st Generation, Silent Knight, and Knight Lite"...can you post some scans please?

Thanks,
RL

PS How do you quote part of someone else's post?
 
Ok This may sound fairly silly but here goes

I have a steel heart varient and a 7.5 inch Ricky Fowler fighter. I have practiced and played with both. I lift wieghts regularly and am in fairly good shape. Trying to get that busse moving quickly is not happening. Once in motion its wieght takes over and it flies but the initial explosion aint there. Maybe for someone stronger. The Fowler flies. Man it is just so fast its scary buuutttt that is what it was designed for. Ok does that mean the busse is not a good weapon. No I just think each of these knives requires different circumstances to shine as weapons. If I slapped someones face with a glove and asked them to meet me at dawn on the great lawn or Im in the subway in NY then I want the Fowler. If it resembles real last resort combat (braveheart stuff) then I want the busse. I wont be dancing about with a thin blade but charging in and swinging....AHhhhh... well heads will roll. I think the busse is first a utility and second a fighter or weapon. It is way sharp durable as hell and a real chopper which would excel in stress under fire as well as utility. I think it is an excellent balance but pure fighter in the truest sense it isnt. Kind of answers the question??
pix of the knives can be seen at http://home.att.net./~a.boriqua
Alex
 
hey RL,

I will be posting ALOT of Busse pics in the near future. I will include as many of the titles I mentioned that I can.

Andy
 
He has a fighter pattern which he plans to include in the Basic line in the future...if I am not mistaken. I saw it almost a year ago...really sexy lines and incredibly functional.

Jerry has always made fighters from his custom shop...I have a Knight Lite...it's a 9.5 inch fighting bowie with spalted maple handles...it's only 12 oz!! The handle is full tang construction too...some say it's filled with helium!! (just kidding)

He ventilated the handle section under the slabs while maintaining the full tang...his venting process was regarded by some engineers to be the strongest method of lightening a handle and maintaining integrity to the steel. The process takes a long time however, so he kept it a "custom only" model and discontinued it some years ago.

Andy
 
Crow and Rudy,

I have one Steel Heart variant left in stock...if you want a pic, drop me an e-mail at andyprisco@worldnet.att.net and I will send it to you. It's serrated toward the base of the cutting edge, 7.5" Blade in 1/4" INFI, micarta handles, bead blast finish, asymmetrical edge, kydex sheath.

As far as Busse's custom shop, he still has one, but the waiting list is almost two-three years depending on the model (Custom Battle Mistresses are easier to get than Swords). I have been ordering customs for resale for many years and at this point, have a reasonably steady inflow of them.

Andy
 
Hi Andy, a few questions.

What is the "Lil Ugly"?
Will there be a Basic #4?
What can we expect in the future?
 
Smoke and Boriqua,

The Lil Ugly is a knife which was the predecessor to the Mean Street and is no longer available. To my knowledge, there are no plans for a Basic #4...you can buy a Badger Attack, which falls in the 4" catagory for $247. I have one in stock in 5/16th A-2 (from a special run, extra thick) with a custom lefty leather sheath ready for XMAStime if you like. I will have more in early January...they will be 1/4" INFI.

I will be sharing some news with all the forumites in an upcoming post, which will be labeled New Busse Fighter...I will announce it soon...wait until you guys and gals read what I am going to write about this thing...it is the messenger for Death himself...and "nuclear" tough to boot (there I go with that term again...sorry...by the way, Jerry inquired with the Dept. of Defense if he could put the knife in the blast area of a bomb at a testing site to see if the edge and coating would withstand a nuclear meltdown...they told him to give the knife to Turber and Stamp instead...HAHAHA)

Hey Boriqua...the next time I see GRNamin, I will bring the Knight Lite with me for him to take a pic of and I will post it...it's a REALLY sweet knife and so fast in the hand...whoooooooeeeeeee. I hope you are well and enjoying your way cool Proto you picked up at the NY show.

Andy
 
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