Busse or Strider or DMK

E

excranium

Joined
Feb 24, 2006
Messages
83
Hey all. This is my first post and I am looking for help with a major decision. I have $400 and my wife's blessing (no small feat). I am torn between a Busse Lean Mean Streets, Strider HT and a DMKnives Shidobu for EDC. I recently had a Emerson CQC7 close on me while using it to open an oyster. Its the second time in 3 years this has happened. Its also a good excuse to buy a new knife. This will be my first fixed blade for EDC. All these knives have their attributes but I think the size of each is compatible for edc. I camp alot and use my EDC for medium to light duty. I also want to carry concealed around the office, maybe IWB or horizontal, depending on what I am wearing. I know there are thousands of opinions and choices but these are the 3 choices I am considering. Any of your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
 
$400 will get you a brand new sng... :) that and a large sebenza are about as close to perfect edc's
 
LMS if you can find one. That won't be an easy feat. As for others in that range, some of the Swamp Rats would do nicely as well and be a lot cheaper. Small EDC in your price range, pretty much Sky is the limmit. You could go custom as well. Also, don't rule out Bark River, they make some awesome stuff for well under that price range.
 
Think about sending your CQC-7 into Emerson. I hear they have great customer service and do great warrenty work. Supposedly, the quality control at Emerson, especially with their knives a year or more older, has a few gaps, but that they make good on these knives with their customer service and that good examples of Emersons have a very low chance of failing on you. In other words, they have sold a few lemons, especially in the past, but if you send it in they will exchange it or turn it into one of their gold nuggets.

Also, do you feel you really need a fixed blade? Don't abandon folders just because one has failed on you. If you feel you do need a fixed blade, that is understandable, but good folders can take a lot more before lock failure than you may realize. I can't image you doing anything that will cause a Sebenza to fail on you. Since concealment is a issue, I suggest you keep some folders in mind.
 
I don't believe the knife was at fault. My hands were wet and slippery and I was twisting and contorting the blade to open the oyster. I accidentally pushed the liner lock and the knife closed. I was lucky to get away with only a minor laceration.
 
I personally like Strider knives alot and carry the heck out of my SNG but given the choices you like I would go with the Busse. It just looks more useful in an EDC application to me. The Strider HT is a great knife but not very sheeple friendly looking and not a full height grind which I strongly prefer.

David of DM knives is one of the best custom makers I have dealt with, he will build you what you want but I believe he currently has a back log. If you don't mind the wait bounce some ideas off of him on your needs and have him build it for you that way it is YOUR knife.
 
None of those knives are as strong as your Busse is. Busses have the best guarantee in the business. I don't about the other handles, but that Busse handle is one of the most ergonomic I've ever handled. It's up to you, but I know what the best choice is. Oh, and did anyone happen to mention corrosion resistance as well? It's a superstrong carbon steel with the corrosion resistance of ATS-34 or maybe better. If I had to sell all of my knives but one, I'd have a Busse. Also, if you don't like it, you can quickly turn it around for a good price, and get something else. I realize that Busse knives don't fit everyone's needs, but they should. Have you ever noticed that knife mags. don't do comparison testing between Busses and others? It's because they don't want to embarass their advertisers. Seriously. Busse tough, you won't believe it until you get one so get one. Okay, I've rambled on enough. For more info, ask over at the Busse forum!
 
I'd give any of the Busses or SR knives the nod. I've used my Bm-E for several years and it has been a brute. Every thing else after you use a Busse seems cheap and flimsy. The claims about INFI deforming as apposed to chipping is very true. While clearing brush recently (in the dark) I had some hard hits on rocks and bricks. I had some sparks fly off the blade! The edge has light flat spots, but the blade did NOT chip or break. Busses are very strong and tough, and I can't recommend then enough. Jerry stands behind his product 150%.
The SnG is a great knife. I carried one for several months. I wasn't satisfied with the lock security on it, so I traded it for a Spyderco Manix and a Busse Active Duty. I don't think the AD will have lock problems...:p The SnG is a beautiful piece of engineering and machining. The edge geometry was ideal for fine and hard use cutting. I'd buy another one w/o lock issues.
 
Busse definitely has the best steel of the bunch. That INFI is some wicked stuff. It's a total biatch to reprofile, but tough as nails.

Definitely get some feedback on Lean Mean Street though. From my experience, a Busse that is advertised as having a thin edge, tends to have an edge far too thick and obtuse, than is generally useful for EDC work. Maybe things have changed in the last couple years though.
 
IMO the only trouble with Busse is that they are hard to get your hands on for anything but top dollar. They are that way for a reason though. I had the HT but found it too clunky for edc carry, not enough edge for its length and bredth, that said I don't think you'd ever break one. Its probably not an optimal camp knife though. I think the recommendation to get a custom is a good one also take a look at Bud Nealy;s new prac/tac line of knives, these might be just what you are looking for, utility, concealment, no lock to fail and one of the finest sheath systems going.
 
Busse responds to postings on the forum... with good answers..
If you are being invaded by imaginary terroristas( code orange 100 billion) go to WalMart.. :jerkit:
Other than that ?
Wait on the knifemaker.
 
You might want to try something small and inexpensive first, just to see if fixed blade carry is for you. Even a small fixed blade can be a challenge to carry comfortably at times. Adding handle scales makes the job just that much harder. Something like the Camillus Arclite would be worth trying.
 
Hey Man,

I love fixed blades for EDC (IWB at 3 o'clock). I'd go w/Busse out of those choices, but here's another option. I use a nice custom for office attire (David winston model 5). Then a Swamp Rat Rat Hunter for outdoor work/hunting/camping. Same concealed carry for both. For 400 you could easily do both.

That's my current carry rotation, but I'm really considering moving from the Rat Hunter to a LMS, it's just a lot more money...

Good Luck!
 
ejskle said:
one of the reasons i won't buy a strider: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3305280&postcount=84
Click to expand...

Other than the lick my sack part, what’s wrong with the post?

I would look at the Strider MFS, its a good little beater, seems like all the Busses I like are older ones that are hard to get. The DM Knives look pretty good; first time I have seen them. If they have a long wait, you could get something now from someone like Justin at Ranger Knives to use in the meantime and order a custom.
 
Quiet Storm said:
Judging from the Busses and Striders I've seen and the Mosier I own, I'd go for the latter.
Click to expand...

Here is a nice mosier:

companion.jpg
 
Yup, that one's pretty nice. This is my Mosier handmade:

MosierTAC-1.jpg


I don't mean to knock Striders or Busses at all, but David Mosier's work is virtually flawless (with a top notch sheath) and the designs of most of his offerings is more practical for EDC than most Striders and Busses IMO.
 
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