Busse or not a Busse

[gunfiter]

Howdy - I have a knife I picked up a few years ago that has no markings on it of any sort. Looking at it, it reminds me of some of the early pre-infi Busse designs. As I am no expert, I've attached a few pics and am looking for assistance. Thanks for your help.

 

[Liu Kang]

I'd have to say not a Busse.

 

[Evolute]

My guess is NOT a Busse.

The low hollow grind, the squared shape of the guard, the kind of pins attaching the handle, the type of "jimping" – many things about this knife look not-Busse–ish to me.

 

[Strabs]

I have yet to see a Busse with a guard and choil as individual features of their own.
They are always combined together as one, no matter the size of the two.

 

[Eric Isaacson]

I'm also saying "no".

 

[Bigfattyt]

Hopefully the Boss Man will chime in. With good news. I always want to find an old creation in a pawn shop some where.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

not a busse.

the plunge line, where it meets the choil, is like nothing ive seen.

the scale pins are like nothing ive seen, and i cant think of a model with only two.

it is possible this started as an apprentice model, then was further modded and scaled, but this seems unlikely.

 

[jeepin]

Yes that is definately not a Busse.

 

[Lycosa]

What all the HOGS said. :thumbup:

 

[squishware]

I'll take it (NOT)

 

[gormandu]

Hold on there.
It might be a Busse. I'm not saying it is, but:
Let's look at a few things:
For one thing, someone thought it was a good enough knife to have it rehandled.
And it's not just rehandled, it's rehandled well. You can tell because it's been shaped.
Second.
Everything on the knife seems right....
The shape, the size and shape of the blade, choil, and thumb rest all say Busse to me.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

Hold on there.
It might be a Busse. I'm not saying it is, but:
Let's look at a few things:
For one thing, someone thought it was a good enough knife to have it rehandled.
And it's not just rehandled, it's rehandled well. You can tell because it's been shaped.
Second.
Everything on the knife seems right....
The shape, the size and shape of the blade, choil, and thumb rest all say Busse to me.

that's funny, because all those things tell me it is not a busse.

no way to know if it has been rehandled or not.

 

[gormandu]

no way to know if it has been rehandled or not.

Maybe it was rehandled, because the hole was partially covered up?
Again... I'm just guessing.
Also, if it is a Busse, I'm pretty sure it's a INFI model.
Plus there is a custom kydex sheath, probably. If nothing else, it tells me someone thought this knife was good enough to get a good sheath for it.
I am very curious to find out whether this really is a Busse.

 

[mhawg]

From what I see I could believe that Jerry ground that one for fun after a bout with the Blue Bottle. I kinda like it!

 

[Jaxx]

First impressions say no. Second impressions say that if it really is a Busse, then some very serious heavy modifications were done to a larger Busse to get this style of knife. Mods that were most likely not done in-house. Of course only Jerry would know for sure, but my guess is not a Busse.

 

[gormandu]

First impressions say no. Second impressions say that if it really is a Busse, then some very serious heavy modifications were done to a larger Busse to get this style of knife. Mods that were most likely not done in-house. Of course only Jerry would know for sure, but my guess is not a Busse.

Do you think this is a larger Busse? (or knife?)
It's sort of hard to tell how big it is.
Usually the smaller choils are were saved for the smaller Busses.
One point against it being a Busse is that it looks hallow ground.

 

[scotchleaf]

I think it is Ted Frizzell's work. A great knife.

 

[Jaxx]

Do you think this is a larger Busse? (or knife?)
It's sort of hard to tell how big it is.
Usually the smaller choils are were saved for the smaller Busses.
One point against it being a Busse is that it looks hallow ground.

Well, if it is, and it was modded by another maker, then that wouldn't matter. Also, hollow ground knives from Busse aren't common, but do exist... Off Duty's, my regular AD the Hammered Duty, One of my newer Satin Jack's, and some much older "G.P. Busse" custom knives pre-dating INFI have hollow grinds, to name a few off the top of my head. The choil size is what makes me think that it may not be. Like you said, larger Busse's have more of a choil, and also a guard that would stick out even further if the blade was re-ground. Personally, I think that another knifemaker got inspired by Busse knives and created his/her interpretation of one. Maybe even from an apprentice blank they got from Busse. All of this is pure speculation and I may be completely wrong (wouldn't be the first time! )

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

I would say no, not a Busse. The only thing that makes it look Busse-ish is the talon hole, and that and the choil are wrong.

 

[Strabs]

Regardless of any handle mods or rehandling, I think the main focus would have to be in the choil/guard area. It's a dead giveaway.
Even the earliest models Jerry made that I can envision exhibit a guard to choil (& ricasso) marriage that is clean and unbroken. They are one, even sans choil:thumbup: