Busse or RAT? WHich one and why?

[Boats]

It's funny, the OP asked "Busse or RAT? WHich one and why?"and folks answered the question as they saw fit. I saw no one saying things degrading Rat but several have had issues with Busse. The reason always seem to be the same. Co$t! I don't hate people with Corvettes or BMW's. I still appreciate the cars and the engineering and quality that went into them though I don't own one and at present can't justify the purchase of one. But it always seems that someone wants to talk down Busse products regarding their price range. What these people should actually be saying is they have no comment regarding the Busse line because at present they can't justify the cost of one. And by the way, I find the RAT mentality to be the same is the Busse (Hoggs). They love what they have and are passionate about it. I don't understan the arguing...

This problem is not unique to Busse. Every "mid-tech" knife maker with a large fraction of their product line priced to rival low end and used mid-range handguns, or low end hunting rifles, is gonna get static on the bottom line.

 

[Greg45]

It's funny, the OP asked "Busse or RAT? WHich one and why?"and folks answered the question as they saw fit. I saw no one saying things degrading Rat but several have had issues with Busse. The reason always seem to be the same. Co$t! I don't hate people with Corvettes or BMW's. I still appreciate the cars and the engineering and quality that went into them though I don't own one and at present can't justify the purchase of one. But it always seems that someone wants to talk down Busse products regarding their price range. What these people should actually be saying is they have no comment regarding the Busse line because at present they can't justify the cost of one. And by the way, I find the RAT mentality to be the same is the Busse (Hoggs). They love what they have and are passionate about it. I don't understan the arguing...

Perhaps the most sensible post yet.

I'm certainly not rich, and can't buy everything I want to. But I am an adult, and, to go totally against what NaturalMystic seems to be implying, what I spend my money on is up to me.

To address the OP, I can also assure you that if you do get a Busse and don't like or want it, you should be able to sell it for your money back, probably used or not. I've been meaning to get a RC blade for some time now and just haven't. I would like to try them out.

 

[Ankerson]

Oh ok, thanks for that info. I guess it may just be the few odd times I've checked their site that the models I checked for were out of stock. I'm also going on comments I've read by others stating that they can be hard to get if you wait too long. Again, I haven't done any extensive searching on Busses because for the most part, they cost more than I've been willing to spend at this point on a knife. I do hope to acquire one or two sometime in the future though. I've heard nothing but great things about the knives themselves.

I am just trying to help and save you some cash at the same time.

Also the Busse Company Store currently has some knives available also, but they are a special model so they are some what expensive.

It's best to get the Current Model that is offered at the Main Busse Combat Site, they don't charge your CC until it's time for them to ship.

 

[bonfire]

It's funny, the OP asked "Busse or RAT? WHich one and why?"and folks answered the question as they saw fit. I saw no one saying things degrading Rat but several have had issues with Busse. The reason always seem to be the same. Co$t! I don't hate people with Corvettes or BMW's. I still appreciate the cars and the engineering and quality that went into them though I don't own one and at present can't justify the purchase of one. But it always seems that someone wants to talk down Busse products regarding their price range. What these people should actually be saying is they have no comment regarding the Busse line because at present they can't justify the cost of one. And by the way, I find the RAT mentality to be the same is the Busse (Hoggs). They love what they have and are passionate about it. I don't understan the arguing...

I agree totally! It`s some kind of jealousy maybe?

I`m a newbie, caught up in the busse "hype", and are a weeks wait away from my first Busse. The exclusiveness, limited run, design, and the proven hardcore steel quality is a "package". It makes it the Busse experience for me. I love it! For you "dissers" out there: Read some eqonomics, and learn about the principles of demand and offer. BusseCombat may earn a bunch of money, I don`t know. But they have hit a market, and did it well:thumbup:

I have looked into RAT aswell, and The RC 6 was very tempting, almost bought one, but then the Busse Bushwacker Mistress showed up, and I fell in love...

 

[d.weglarz13]

Man, you guys are the best! I never would have thought that my question could have so many answers! and, exactly what i wanted to hear.
I really love the flat grind on the RC-6, but i LOVE the look of that satin jack with straight handles! I just don't know. I do have the money, but i hope i don't have to wait too long to find the one i want. I guess i will try the exchange forum. Thanks SOOOOOOO much guys, keep those opinions coming!
Dave

 

[Guyon]

Man, you guys are the best! I never would have thought that my question could have so many answers! and, exactly what i wanted to hear.
I really love the flat grind on the RC-6, but i LOVE the look of that satin jack with straight handles! I just don't know. I do have the money, but i hope i don't have to wait too long to find the one i want. I guess i will try the exchange forum. Thanks SOOOOOOO much guys, keep those opinions coming!
Dave

Please ignore my previous comments about a Satin Jack TAC. I see now you're looking for an old-school Satin Jack.

And thanks for the thoughtful post, babakanoosh45.

 

[NaturalMystic]

Perhaps the most sensible post yet.

I'm certainly not rich, and can't buy everything I want to. But I am an adult, and, to go totally against what NaturalMystic seems to be implying, what I spend my money on is up to me.

To address the OP, I can also assure you that if you do get a Busse and don't like or want it, you should be able to sell it for your money back, probably used or not. I've been meaning to get a RC blade for some time now and just haven't. I would like to try them out.

Hey Greg, fair enough. Like I said, my post wasn't to flame Busse knives or anyone who collects them. I'll reiterate that I have no doubt they're awesome blades. I've never handled one but based on design alone think they do look great and can probably get the job done.
I guess I was just surprised when I learned the price of their knives, saw the incredible amount and sizes of collections that quite a few people have, and then read some of the posts I read. I put 1 + 1 + 1 together and formed an opinion, nothing more. I'd be glad to know that I'm proven wrong because again, I'm not too familiar with Busse other than what I stated before.

Ankerson: thanks for the info sir, it's greatly appreciated. I'll have to keep an eye out because I really would like to have at least one in my small and humble collection.
I to am here to learn, share my experiences and make friends with what is by and large a great group of people. If anyone took offence to my opinions above I sincerely apologize. Again, I was merely stating an opinion on the limited info I had and it was more out of concern for fellow forum members, not to disrespect any of you/them. I guess if you love something enough and you see the value in something, the price isn't an option right?
Until recently I just had a hard time justifying the purchase of knives over $100 but I guess as I'm learning more and more about them the prices are becoming more reasonable to me.

Cheers gents!

 

[Ramm9]

Most of the Busse designs don't do it for me but after all it is Busse "Combat" not Busse "woodscraft" or "hunting".

The Rat designs don't do it for me either...to me they look like Busse wannbe's and I think that's why threads comparing the two appear. Still, since Rat's are honest knives with simple honest steel and a good reputation there is nothing wrong with being a poor man's Busse.

Responding to those that don't like Busse marketing, if it was my company I sure would like being able to constantly create new designs and see how they do rather than settle on 5-10 (Randall) and just keep producing the same thing. Since Busse is able to sell what they make and have fun doing it more power to them.

Cost? Well Infi is no doubt a quality steel, it gets 80+ hours of cryo and heat treatment, good quality fitted handle scales, and multiple variations of blade finish and handle material and color. That adds up. Rat's 1095 is as basic as it gets, is said to have exceptional heat treat (same company as Top’s?), and the coating minimizes rust problems. That adds up too, just not as much. After years of these threads it becomes pretty obvious that those bashing Busse the hardest because of cost do so simply because they can't afford them.

Part of the confusion for me also is the names of all these damn Busse knives! LOL How many models have been made and where can one find a catalog of them all for reference purposes?

Sure, here is one to check out. Note Busse’s original price on the knives, and check to see what they are selling for on the forum. Buyers with big collections will probably do alright if they decide to sell.

http://www.bussecollector.com/catalog/

Until recently I just had a hard time justifying the purchase of knives over $100 but I guess as I'm learning more and more about them the prices are becoming more reasonable to me.

I always like to post a couple of pics when members complain about cost since it is all relevant....a buyer happily paid $33,000 for this Ron Lake knife. Most of us would say the buyer paid too much and no knife is worth that. The buyer would probably disagree.

 

[dawsonbob]

You're all suckers: Mora's rule!

 

[Dagon]

I always like to post a couple of pics when members complain about cost since it is all relevant....a buyer happily paid $33,000 for this Ron Lake knife. Most of us would say the buyer paid too much and no knife is worth that. The buyer would probably disagree.

A lovely knife! I hope CRKT will make a $50 production version of it

 

[Todd A]

You're all suckers: Mora's rule!

Thats funny....but sadly,in a way very true

 

[NaturalMystic]

You guys are all too funny! Ramm9, that is a sweet knife, but you're right, $33k is way too much for the average person. If I was blowing my nose with $100 bills then maybe yeah.
Again, it's all about perspective.

I've seen those long swordlike Busses that look like samurai swords on steroids, I think knifehunter is the one with the collection. I don't know what they're called but I'd love to have one or two of those!

 

[dawsonbob]

Thats funny....but sadly,in a way very true

Thanks, Todd. It was supposed to be funny but, you're right, it is sadly true in some ways. I tend to think very highly of Becker's. because they do everything I need at a reasonable price. If they only made them out of Infi, I'd be in heaven.

 

[Ramm9]

I've seen those long swordlike Busses that look like samurai swords on steroids, I think knifehunter is the one with the collection. I don't know what they're called but I'd love to have one or two of those!

Look at the collector link above, bottom of the list as "AK-47" I think.

 

[NaturalMystic]

Ah! OK, I've heard about the Busse AK-47s in several threads but had no idea what model it was. Thanks yet again! I'd feel like "Blade" the vampire killer if I had a pair of those bad boys!
I think I really need to do some personal goal setting so I can reward myself with a Busse.

 

[Guyon]

AK-47. That's actually a dedicated zombie blade.

 

[NaturalMystic]

That looks like the one Guyon! Actually there are several similar sword models that I liked and this was one of them. Knife Hunter has/had a pic posted with them all lined up on his deck and he had one longer one with brown micarta(?) scales on them, then some other shorter ones with blue, orange and black scales. One of the pics he posted had about 14 of them.

 

[Todd A]

Thanks, Todd. It was supposed to be funny but, you're right, it is sadly true in some ways. I tend to think very highly of Becker's. because they do everything I need at a reasonable price. If they only made them out of Infi, I'd be in heaven.

It is very true in most ways. If you really think about it a Mora and a hatchet will do everything you could ever need a sharp piece of steel for. And you can get both for less than a new R.A.T, Busse, or even a Becker.

Those who base their needs on price alone are missing out on great choices in steel. Isn't that what BF is all about,choices??

I don't own a Busse, or a R.A.T they aren't my style.But I will never run down either Companies' product.I will ,however, run down fanboy's who don't see value in knives, any knife. Especially those who don't even use their "fanboy brand" for anything other than opening letters or cutting string.

 

[Iboschi]

Get both. You can always flip one if needed and both hold their value. You'll lust after the other even after you buy the first. Satisfy the addiction and obsession before it consumes any more of your time and you think about it all day and in your dreams. Get back to thinking about women and buy the knives you lust after. Both companies stand behind the products, but if you cut the RC in half with a laser, they'll replace it where Busse doesn't officially cover that, but might.

 

[1066vik]

I tend to think very highly of Becker's. because they do everything I need at a reasonable price. If they only made them out of Infi, I'd be in heaven.

but wouldn't a BK9 made of INFI be a lot like having a Bushwhacker with a bad grip?
(yes, I highly respect BK&T's - I just hate the way the scales don't fit my hands - and I would also love to have a combat grade BWBM, if I had the spare scratch at the moment - but I have to sell off several of my current collection first)