Busse Steel heart/ Fehrman First Strike

Oh man has it been a while for me . I have some apologies that will be sent out when I get just a little more free time .

Rant on :

Now , on to the topic at hand . I have one problem with Ferhman Knives . On their website there is a page titled "We Recommend" and the one company that should be there , isn't . That company is Busse Combat . It is painfully obvious that Ferhman used Busse as his blueprint for his knife company . The company logo , the front d-guard hole (which is no longer being put on Ferhman knives , but was on the first run) , the line-up of knives (3 knives same style with different blade lengths (think ergos) and the Satin Jack/Assault Shaker dopplegangers) . Never mind the fact that the Bachan Behemoth is now the Extreme Judgment (I wonder who got in touch with who on that one.)

I have read and agree that it is almost impossible to create a completely new knife , so of coarse there are going to be similarities with some knives . My problem starts with something my papa always told me ; to give credit where credit is due . Like Bob Dozier does when he sites the likes of Loveless as one of his inspirators .

Ahh that feels better , rant off .
 
Go with the Busse Fusion Steel Heart, you won't be disappointed.

You can order one today here www.bussecompanystore.com and you'll probably have it by this weekend.

Also, welcome to the forums, glad that you stopped by. I hope you stick around and join in our discussions.

:D:D
 
cdg160, I respect Fehrman for even putting up a "We Recommend" page. Even if Busse isnt on it. How many knife companies promote thier competeters on thier site? None that I know of, besides Fehrman.

That being said, get the Busse. :D
 
Dr. Thor , I disagree with you on that one . The companies listed are not his competition , but I do see your point that it is cool he even does something like that .
 
The FSH will take more abuse then you can give it, and you will be able to sharpen it yourself relatively easily when needed, not so with 3V. And for the record, I'm not going to stay something whitty like "why buy a copy when you can have the original instead." :D
 
I've got an older First Strike and the TOPS analogy is correct, it feels more like a TOPS knife than a Busse, heck it even looks more like a TOPS knife. Issues like the talon hole are old news and taken care of without much hoopla, the rest is cosmetic. There are a ton of look alikes out there, I can visit epray and drag out a dozen pics of similar looking knives. Its a category, camp/combat knives all need certain things to make them fit into that niche. Harley Davidson has the same problems, theres so many inferior copys out there, and some are really close. You have to get right on top of the bike to tell its not the real thing.

When your on the top everyone is gunning for you, and everyone is looking for a piece of the action, so they make a similar knife to prey on the "gotta getta cheap lookalike" crowd. One thing original that Fehrman has done is that rubber gasket between the handle scales, it does work, not sure how but it does.
 
Here is a similarity that is not cosmetic:

Did you know: Fehrman (apparently) gets his knives from Name that Knife contests?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2581110&postcount=437 (final judgement)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1073725&postcount=125 (shadow scout)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1082216&postcount=99 (First strike)

These are prime examples but the rest of his knives are named after partial names of Busse knives. For example, Hitch Hiker/Thru Hiker. Do a search, they are all their.
 
Aight folks, let's remember that the question, and therefore the ANSWERS should be related to the performance of the Busse, and, if you can speak to it, the performance of the Fehrman knives.

There is NO NEED OR DESIRE to rehash what has happened in the past related to design, appearances, marketing methods, or anything other than PERFORMANCE.

:cool:
 
On sharpening:I am able to sharpen my EU-17 Magnum very easily using normal Arkansas stones. However, even after hard impacts with rocks, the edge is in no way deformed (no chips or rolls, not even "dulled). It only takes a few passes on a coarse stone to remove "the thing on the edge" (I am not sure what it is). For the novice sharpener like myself, ease of sharpening is really important.

I have heard that 3v is not the easiest steel to sharpen and can chip out as it is not that ductile ( I may be wrong on this). For this reason I would go with the FSH or any Busse for that matter.

This is just a visual observation. The Fehrman's micarta look "slick" as it does not look contoured. The FSH micarta slabs are really "grippy", I doubt that this thing could become dislodged from the hand. The two handle positions (forward for detailed work and rear for chopping) appear to be really effective for this purpose.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364710&highlight=HOG+FSH

Mine is not a user so I am basing this on just swinging the knife in the air like a manic. :rolleyes: :D
 
Which is better is very subjective, to a point. My friend has a heavy $3000 hand built Sniper rifle that sits in a case while he hunts with a lightly tuned $800 remington. Which rifle is better? At which moment? The $3K rifle is always better when pulling the trigger, but the lightweight $800 rifle is better for all except that single split second. And it has killed. The expensive gun hasn't, even though it is undoubtedly a better rifle. Would my friend take his hunting rifle to Iraq? No. Could he be effective with it there? Yes, but why risk taking an inferior tool.
If you know what you're up against the Ferhman is fine, especially if it is comfortable or fits your budget better. If you don't know what you're up against, there's INFI. That's why there's INFI.

I prefer a FirstStrike sized knife over the FSH. So If I had cash set aside for such a project I'd get on over to the Exchange or perhaps Ebay, and snap up a SteelHeart-Ergo right away.
FWIW, I preferred to carry a ZT-NO fighter in the bad places. My BM-DE stayed in an aid bag, although it did see use.

As for sharpening, steel type is of little consequence to diamonds, even 3V. I carry a diamond/ceramic Falkniven stone when it matters, and it eats everything.
 
I guess we'd have to say"often imitaded, but NEVER duplicated" :D
Ranger knives have a similar style as well.





jimmyjones said:
I agree Peter, those are some Busse looking pieces :confused:
Click to expand...
 
stabber said:
I guess we'd have to say"often imitaded, but NEVER duplicated" :D
Click to expand...
True, and the reality is, that sometimes certain models of Busse knives just aren't commonly available, so others capitalize on this. Same thing with Randalls.
 
I just wanted to point out that Ranger Knives has an agreement with Jerry.
Just the facts as I know them...
jb
 
JWBirch said:
I just wanted to point out that Ranger Knives has an agreement with Jerry.
Just the facts as I know them...
jb
Click to expand...
Spot on JB, Justin bought a bunch of Busse Apprentice blanks a while back, that is why they have that look.
 
Buy Busse! Why because it says Busse on it, that's why.

Ok then, on a more serious note ( as if that wasn't serious enough ), I own a couple of folders that are made of CPM S30V and I personally think it's a wonderful steel to use and have had no problems putting an edge on them or maintaining that edge. A few swipes on my smooth steel and they are razor sharp. But, I don't think it's a steel that I would want a larger or fixed blade knife made out of it. Especially a larger fixed blade. I want something that is going to hold up to the abuse I plan on putting it through when I'm out camping, hunting or stalking someone ( lol )! I think that this requires a steel such as INFI ( read about it on Jerry's main website). There has been a lot said about CPM S30V in the past few years, some if not a lot of it by the company and the custom knife maker who helped them design it but as soon as something new comes out it'll be forgotten just like all the other new, now older, steels. INFI has maintain it's reputation through test after test and will remain to do so for a lifetime to come. I think the issue on the handles has already been stated so I won't keep it going, it was well put by Peter La. If that's not enough then buy a Busse simply because they look flippin BAD A$$ !

IMHO. :)

Stay Strong & NO Regrets
 
Just for clarification, S30V and 3V are two vastly different steels. S30V is a stainless and 3V is not. 3V has proven to be a very ductile steel as well, seeming to prefer to roll rather than chip. S30V isnt very fond of impact at all, but it holds an edge like nobodys business. :D

The steel that Fehrman uses is 3V
 
I don't have a FSH, but do have a Steelheart E, as well as a couple of Fehrmans.

Once you hold them, they are quite different. I wouldn't think of the Fehrman as a knock off or copy at all. It has a much thinner point, and a thinner primary grind. I have found the 3V to have better edge holding than INFI. Not that INFI is bad... So far, they both take impact resistance well enough so that I'm probably not going to find out which one is better. I don't care much for the finger grooves in the First Strike, they tend to get in the way of different grips. That's a highly subjective thing. Both knives are built to take a ton of abuse, which I like. It doesn't get much better than high flat grinds , 1/4 inch stock, and micarta, IMHO.

I would take the FSH for the ergonomics. The steels are both excellent, I think they would both fill the bill steel-wise.
 
Peter La said:
Here is a similarity that is not cosmetic:

Did you know: Fehrman (apparently) gets his knives from Name that Knife contests?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2581110&postcount=437 (final judgement)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1073725&postcount=125 (shadow scout)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1082216&postcount=99 (First strike)

These are prime examples but the rest of his knives are named after partial names of Busse knives. For example, Hitch Hiker/Thru Hiker. Do a search, they are all their.
Click to expand...

Whoa there young buck. I don't think any of us could say with any degree of certainty that this is a fact. Insinuating such is inflammatory and not on topic with this thread. I am as zealous as the next hog in defending my favorite brand, but there is no need for starting a fire. Peter, I am not scolding you, just tapping you on the shoulder and asking you to think a bit. I enjoy your youthful exuberance but sometimes it need taming. :D

Oh yeah, you can't go wrong with a Steel Heart of any variety. I agree that on a economic basis, you have a better chance if you buy Busse first, try it and if you decide you still want a Fehrman, you can easily sell the Busse off for darn near what you paid for it if it has had the snot beat out of it. :D Kind of like the best of both worlds.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top