Busse Knives (INFI Steel): Is It Worth The Price?

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elkins45 said:
They are great knives, but they are way past the optimum point on the price/performance curve. IMO they aren't worth the price, and I say this after having owned and subsequently sold 4-5 of them.

I'm 100% there will be scores of owners who disagree with me.
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Hit it right on the head. Mighty fine stuff, but not what I'd consider a good "bang for your buck" purchase. You get a lot of "bang" but you shell out a lot per decible. :D

And as BePrepared mentioned, the performance is actually well above what most people will find necessary, or even superlative, for the tasks they perform. So the extra theoretical performance is moot for the average fellow. Again, this isn't a criticism of the knives or their performance or quality--they just aren't worth it to me. That doesn't answer if they're worth the money to you, though. Only you can answer that! :p And for a lot of folks, their answer is yes. Mine just isn't.
 
demoteamone said:
It is easy to get too focused on one area and leave sight of a few issues such as :

1) They use A2 and 3V, in general two steels which are far more suitable than some of the crazy steels being used in similar knives. Yes you could argue that their could be more optimal choices, but it is also obvious that compared to D2 and things like T15, etc. Bark River is within as close as optimal as you can get without starting to really split hairs and interject a lot of personal opinion and preferences. For example I would generally go with S series over 3V as the higher wear would not be of much use for me and all it has is a lower grindability. But if you let your knives go really dull before sharpening, or you use power equipment to sharpen, or you pay people to sharpen then 3V is likely a better choice, or at least the decision is not so obvious.

2) Bark River came into a tactical world of low sabre-grinds, heavy edges, etc. and produced very thin ground knives. Now yes there is a massive amount of hype and information on the "convex" influence, but just pick up a Bravo vs Steel Eagle and do some cutting - there is a real difference there and you have to appreciate that. Do they occasionally have issues with over grinding, etc. yes, but if they ran TOP's geometry you would never be able to tell anyway.

3) They over a wide range of handle options out of some very high end woods with extremely nice finishes.

4) They have a very active forum which has full company support and active participation. Again you can argue it is moderated to the point Hitler would feel at home, but again there are lots of forums where you ask questions and all you hear is an echo, and there are some makers/manufacturers who have almost no way to contact them to get any information. Would it be nice if it was ran like Spyderco's form and Mike Stewart took Sal Glesser's approach (who defines gentleman), sure but as again, lots of people would pale if compared to Glesser.

5) As much as Mike is made out to be near to the anti-christ at times, he isn't the worst guy on the block in any respect, he doesn't hold a candle to Kevin McClung for example and compared to him Mike is a straight-shooter. If that sounds dramatic then read this and compare that to anything you have heard Stewart say about steels, grinds, etc. :




6) Bark River, while not as bad as before, it shows without doubt that the companies 3V HT and Grind is a common failure.:thumbup::D







[video=youtube;Zu0LJtbWBTg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu0LJtbWBTg[/video]
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I have exactly the same feeling, after that I bought the bravo1 made of 3V:o
 
Altaraz said:
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What can you guys tell me about this knife here?

The description starts with "Busse B11 Tanker Gray Limited Run Discontinued". (Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't just about EVERY model of Busse considered a limited run?) This one, apparently, was a "very short run special design". I asked the seller about the grind, he said he thought it was flat symmetrical. The handle is Resiprene C, I think. It's new, unused and unsharpened for U.S. 500$ Is that a good price for a Busse like this (at least compared to the general prices of today?)
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I got that exact model at the show price. I honestly can't remember if it was $350 or $300. I believe $350.

Great knife. Well worth the original price. I would hesitate to pay $500 for it, simply because you can get a FBM for that price if you watch the exchange.
 
"I've heard of people doing amazing things with them, like hacking through bolts and other thick metal objects without much edge damage (if any.) That sounds pretty amazing - can someone with Busse experience confirm all the hype as fact?"

In my very limited experience of INFI - I purchased a HOGFSH last August - I have damaged the blade edge - chipped by hitting a hidden screw and there is some rusting (surface oxidation). After all the hyperbole banded about, whatever else it is, INFI (I've No F*cking Idea) is steel and steel rusts. However I bought this knife A) to be used and B) understanding that everything has its limitations and I am prepared to live with wear, tear and maintenance. Factors that are important to me are low maintenance and usability; - i haven't got the time or inclination to be constantly retouching or investing in more than a spyderco pocket stone and an Eze Lap H&S. If I cant get a blade sharp with them I should pack up and go home. But I don't need a scalpel - I need a chopper. Is it (INFI) worth it? Only you can decide that. For me; I won't swap it and I won't shed a tear when a tool gets used, wears a little and the outcome is more than satisfactory.

I've attached some images:
DSC03023.jpg

DSC03013.jpg

DSC03026.jpg

DSC03009.jpg

DSC03020.jpg
 
Thanx for posting those pics and giving your take!

I am curious to know if you've bothered to polish those chips out, fatten the edge any, or if you're carrying on until there's more edge degradation. If you did repair them, did you really use only a stone and such?
For my choppers, I'll repair rolled edges and such between use as needed. For small chips, I simply put a diamond rod into the chip and polish/radius it into a fat-edged "serration" to prevent further wear at that spot and then continue to use the tool until a sufficient amount of degradation has occurred to warrant (for me) full-on repair, which isn't very often on my choppers (except one crappy machete I own and use AS a machete). I agree, I don't need a scalpel or beard-razor in a blade that big.

Oh, and my STAINLESS tools show that level of oxidation when I leave them in a humid/wet environment too long. That looks pretty good to me!
 
Chiral,
I haven't polished the chips out - i did remove the burrs with the pocket stone, but that is all. Your idea to polish / radius the chip into a serration is a smart idea - one I will use - thank you!
With regard to the oxidation - it is minimal and previously I have removed it very easily with no lasting marks - but the blade has only been held in my hands, while actively chopping, not left in a humid/wet environment and certainly not for an extended period.
I posted the pics because I have read threads suggesting that INFI is a 'wonder steel' impervious to damage. In my experience it isn't. I actually wonder if the authors of some posts/comments have ever even handled the steel or used it for anything more than cutting soft fruit/paper. Of course I could have a blade made from an inferior batch of INFI, in which case; Dear Mr.Busse...
 
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I (usually) do the same thing with regard to dings or chips. Sharpen them like a serration and it allows you to keep using the life without shortening the life by grinding it all out.
 
All i know is I was chopping a thick branch and smashed the edge on a railroad spike or nail that was in the wood i was chopping on and only had minimal rolling almost microscopic. I was very surprised. I hit the large nail right on the head it left a deep mark on the nail. The head was about 1/2 inch thick. I knew INFI was tough but I really nailed that sucker. Busse's rock.
 
Another one..Gee, just ask for the Warranty lol.




EastendOverspill said:
"I've heard of people doing amazing things with them, like hacking through bolts and other thick metal objects without much edge damage (if any.) That sounds pretty amazing - can someone with Busse experience confirm all the hype as fact?"

In my very limited experience of INFI - I purchased a HOGFSH last August - I have damaged the blade edge - chipped by hitting a hidden screw and there is some rusting (surface oxidation). After all the hyperbole banded about, whatever else it is, INFI (I've No F*cking Idea) is steel and steel rusts. However I bought this knife A) to be used and B) understanding that everything has its limitations and I am prepared to live with wear, tear and maintenance. Factors that are important to me are low maintenance and usability; - i haven't got the time or inclination to be constantly retouching or investing in more than a spyderco pocket stone and an Eze Lap H&S. If I cant get a blade sharp with them I should pack up and go home. But I don't need a scalpel - I need a chopper. Is it (INFI) worth it? Only you can decide that. For me; I won't swap it and I won't shed a tear when a tool gets used, wears a little and the outcome is more than satisfactory.

I've attached some images:
DSC03023.jpg

DSC03013.jpg

DSC03026.jpg

DSC03009.jpg

DSC03020.jpg
Click to expand...
 
those pics are a good example of hype vs reality. and you were right the first time these kids talk alot but most never cut anything with there blade and just quote hype. many of them hav post about how amazing infi is and how its better than all others while either never using or are still waiting on there order. its laughable. blind fanaticism. and a double chin is what i see and hear from busse fanboys
 
^ What a first post. Resurrect a 7 month old thread just to blast Busse customers:confused:
 
ive hit screws with much less overpriced steel with comparable damage. but they will convince themselves that was a fluke heat treat after all that about the best heat treat and q.c. absolutly hilarious fanaticism
 
its a luxury item. if you can afford it buy it. i've bought several and sold several. thats the cool thing. they tend to hold their value even slightly used. right now i only have a scrapyard wardog that i bought *real cheap*. won't sell it cause i want to have at least 1 infi in my collection. but every so often you can get a good deal on some ganza's if you frequent the forums.
 
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