Busse noob questions

Y

Yankee802

Joined
Nov 29, 2010
Messages
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I have a few knives so far (Chris Reeve, Bekkers, Ontario RAT3) and am looking at the Busse line, but have some questions...

I looked through the stickies, but they didn't answer my questions, so my first post will be my noob questions.

First, are all Busse knives INFI steel?

The ones I'm looking at so far are the SFNO, ASH1, BATAC and SJTAC. The BA and SJ look identical to me, so what is the difference between these two?

I've also seen different incarnations of the ones I'm interested in, most with acronyms I'm not familiar with, like CG or double cut, could someone explain the various versions of each knive? Most of the ones I've been looking at state blade thickness, and that's great, but how about length? Is each model the same length, just different thickness?

A Busse knife primer would be a great sticky, listing pics and stats of each model, options, etc.. maybe a price range. :)

Edit: Like this, but with pics. :)

I have also seen wide differences in prices for the same model, any thoughs for this? To my untrained eye, knife A looks identical to knife B, just different scales or blade color, but the price can be hundreds between them, even from the same seller.

Another (main) reason I'm interested in Busse, is their reputation at being industructable, as shown @ knifetests.com, and a video on YouTube where someone beat up a BA on rocks, didn't even chip the blade!

However, I found a seller on this board (will not mention names) and I saw a nic in one of the blades, this has me concerned! Even if it's not new, forget it wasn't mentioned in the captions, but a Busse with a nic?!? Brings me to question 1 above.

If I'm paying top dollar for a knife reputed to be the best, that is exactly what I expect. Am I wrong here?

Any and all input is appreciated, TYIA.

Edit: I got a reply about the nic and knife in question, it was something about the picture, the knife does NOT have a nic. :)
 
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busse collector has pics, click on the name of the knife.
Most Busses are made from INFI, there are a few made of D2 or A2 and a couple other steels, but those are hard to find now.
that's all I can help you with, hopefully someone else can fill out the rest
 
The Busse Collector site was what I was looking for, except it doesn't have any info on the ASH1 model. :(
 
Most Busse's are Infi. Older models,may be A2 and the original Basic line were MInfi, or a modified version of infi. Great stuff. The A2 models will typically go for a higher price jujst because they are older and more collectible.

There are several resources to track models and specs.


The varriations on price, even for the same model from the same seller often has to do with the avaliability of that particular color/finish/handle material.

Rarer knives will be more expensive.

You can destroy Infi. It is tougher than other steels, but not indestructible. It will tend to deforme or dent rather than loose a chip out of the edge. You can get edge tear out if chopping something particularly nasty, oh........let's say chopping an old rusty logging chain in half just for kicks. That tore a bit of edge out.

You don't have to baby infi, but don't be surprised if you are chopping rocks and you end up with rolling and denting.

I once chopped a pea sized piece of rock in half by accident. It was on the chopping block. Not much dammage. Just steeled the edge for a minute and it was right back in shape.

It is tough, and typically edge damage will be easier to fix than other steels. Pushing the steel back in line is easier than grinding away a chip.

The Btac (or Badger tac) is shorter in the bAde than the Sjack (satin jack). The badger has more "belly" and the Sjack has more drop to the point and less belly at the tip so it is pointier.
 
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Bigfattyt said:
You can destroy Infi. It is tougher than other steels, but not indestructible. It will tend to deforme or dent rather than loose a chip out of the edge. You can get edge tear out if chopping something particularly nasty, oh........let's say chopping an old rusty logging chain in half just for kicks. That tore a bit of edge out.
Click to expand...

Who would do such a thing? :eek:
 
DowntownDM said:
Who would do such a thing? :eek:
Click to expand...

Ha! Not me for sure! I absolutely hate it when I mess up an edge! Then I have to spend time fixing it!

Mine always happen by accident. Banging a tip in the sink, or smacking an edge on a very heavy glass....or edge to spine contact on two knives!


That chain sure was a classic though............ almost UncleJarvis-esque!

I won't ever do something like that. Not saying I don't get tempted. I just live out that fantasy by reading about them here. I have knives I intentionally damage........just not my busse! When one of my dedicated throwers gets damaged, I will gring the edge back, then knock the edge off by sawing concrete or the back of a splitting wedge.
 
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Bigfattyt said:
Most Busse's are Infi. Older models,may be A2 and the original Basic line were MInfi, or a modified version of infi. Great stuff. The A2 models will typically go for a higher price jujst because they are older and more collectible.

There are several resources to track models and specs.


The varriations on price, even for the same model from the same seller often has to do with the avaliability of that particular color/finish/handle material.

Rarer knives will be more expensive.

You can destroy Infi. It is tougher than other steels, but not indestructible. It will tend to deforme or dent rather than loose a chip out of the edge. You can get edge tear out if chopping something particularly nasty, oh........let's say chopping an old rusty logging chain in half just for kicks. That tore a bit of edge out.

You don't have to baby infi, but don't be surprised if you are chopping rocks and you end up with rolling and denting.

I once chopped a pea sized piece of rock in half by accident. It was on the chopping block. Not much dammage. Just steeled the edge for a minute and it was right back in shape.

It is tough, and typically edge damage will be easier to fix than other steels. Pushing the steel back in line is easier than grinding away a chip.

The Btac (or Badger tac) is shorter in the bAde than the Sjack (satin jack). The badger has more "belly" and the Sjack has more drop to the point and less belly at the tip so it is pointier.
Click to expand...

I can endorse this youngster's answers.:) Like he needs that ... ;)

Busse Noob. Sheesh ... it's been over 4 years now, and I'm really still pretty noobie myself. Do not let it 'fash' you, as they say.:cool:

I've experienced the same joys and challenges as Bigfattyt, of course. INFI is my favorite steel (I'm a solid state physicist), but it's still a real material and not some form of unobtainium. The most amazing thing to me? The Busse Warranty solves all honest problems, every single time.:D:thumbup:

Still, I wouldn't fire a 50 cal at one of my Battle Mistresses, and expect Mr. Busse to subsidize my foolishness.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I won't ever do something like that. Not saying I don't get tempted. I just live out that fantasy by reading about them here. I have knives I intentionally damage........just not my busse! When one of my dedicated throwers gets damaged, I will gring the edge back, then knock the edge off by sawing concrete or the back of a splitting wedge.
Click to expand...

;)

my Culti does many duties in the house and kitchen - from ice pick, to tack hammer, to scraper using the pommel, to cutting holes in sheetrock and anything/everything else, to opening cans when the regular can opener died.

I do anything and everything one might ever reasonably do with a knife of that size without second thought (as though its a solid multi-tool), short of intentionally just trying to destroy it (that's silly to even me).
 
DowntownDM said:
;)

my Culti does many duties in the house and kitchen - from ice pick, to tack hammer, to scraper using the pommel, to cutting holes in sheetrock and anything/everything else, to opening cans when the regular can opener died.

I do anything and everything one might ever reasonably do with a knife of that size without second thought (as though its a solid multi-tool), short of intentionally just trying to destroy it (that's silly to even me).
Click to expand...



I have done some naughty stuff with mine, to be sure!!!

Never thought I would have been batonning and prying with a knife in the thickness range of an SS! Nothing super scary, but enough to flex the steel, and watch it return true.

I have thrown two pieces of infi as well (FBMLE, and Ash1CG). I consider throwing to be abusive to normal knives. I have broken more than one knife that way.


I use them and don't worry a bit!

Heck, if I managed to break that SS, just think..........shop credit!!!!!

The warranty is where its at!


Busse can make any steel a great performer. They spend a lot of time testing and pushing the limits of steel, and don't rest on their laurels.

I don't doubt, that some day, the Boss will find something that pushes the performance boundary even further than Infi, and Jerry will take it and make it even better with an extensive heat treat and cryo and testing!
 
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