Busse-Swamp Rat: Worth Buying? & Where to buy?

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KnifeFury

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Sep 21, 2006
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I own many knives: Chris Reeves, SOG, Ontario, Fallkniven, TOPS, Kabar, BK&T, etc.. but have never even really seen a Busse. After reading the below, I am interested in trying out the SR101 steel; http://www.ratknives.com/about.html

I was curious where some good places to look to buy a Busse or a Swamp Rat are. Especially since when you go to the Busse website there is only one model listed (Fusion Battle Mistress), but of course there are others for sale on ebay. Also, it looks like Busse and Swamp Rat are somehow linked. Are they two divisions of the same company? When I look at the Swamp Rate Knives Store there is also just one model listed, the "Mischief 6" and it is out of stock!

Any comments on the steel, Busse relationship to Swamp Rat, and where some good places to price out some knives are? These knives seem to have a very strong following on Blade Forum and so I was curious to look into them.
 
Jerry and Co. put out one (or two) models at a time. Similar operating procedures regarding the Swamp Rat knives and the Scrap Yard knives. If you're not keen on the current offerings, you might occasionally find something different in the Busse line at the Busse Company Store. www.bussecompanystore.com

Otherwise, it's the secondary market...
 
Guyon said:
Otherwise, it's the secondary market...
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Is there a site or any place where all the models available on the 2nd market? Besides Ebay, I have not found to many (if any) knife seller websites selling Busse / Swamp Rats.

I was also curious, in the below article the SR101 is compared to 0170-C (Swamp Rat Camp Tramp).
http://www.cutleryscience.com/reviews/blade_materials.html

Although, I also found the below in a misc review which is a little more positive on the type of steel used:
SR-101 steel as stated on SRKW site is very well knows 52100 ball bearing steel with added Kryptonite. In plain English that means 52100 is treated using proprietary Busse heat treatment process plus deep cryo quenching. On top of all that, CT (as well as other large SRKW blades) is differentially tampered.
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What has the experience been with SR101 compared to other steels?
 
Welcome to this side of the forums. :)

Places to find them? That's like finding the "meaning of life." You've got to root around and dig. Be relentless. Be decisive! You've already found one place: the Busse company website. www.bussecombat.com

Busse Company Store - http://www.bussecompanystore.com This stinky guy has an exclusive deal as a semi-dealer of INFI. The only one stateside to my knowledge. Whenever a blade is sold through the company site you've already visited, this guy ends up with a large number and sells them over time for the retail price. Some are knives made by Busse exclusively for the Idahostinkster at the Company Store. Some knives disappear in seconds: Heavy Heart, Game Wardens. Others may be on the site for weeks: AK-47, War Boar, Skinner. Th

Jerry (The HOGFather) also does these exclusive overrun sales known as Extravaganzas. Click the link in my sig.

After that you are going secondary market. Watch the For Sale threads on this forum as well as other knife forums. Consider posting a Want To Buy for a specific model in the appropriate forum.

Best of luck.
 
Best thing I could recommend would be to check out badmojo.tv or the "Nothing But Pics" thread and find a model you like. Then I would look in the Exchange here on BF and/or put in a request in the WTB forum. You could also start a thread here asking for model suggestions based on specific specs you are looking for.
 
Also, check out one of the Busse sister companies... (yes, there is a pun in there. Anyone?) www.scrapyardknives.com

Regarding your questions of steel and performance, I'll say you'll be impressed and then leave it to you to do some searches.

I don't mean to dodge your question nor sound facetious but there is a WEALTH of information on this forum that can fill reading for hours and hours.

Have a look and stick around!
 
Paddling_man said:
Welcome to this side of the forums. :)
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Thank you! As I said, I know Busse has a strong following here and am definately interested in seeing why! So I am just doing some research to try decide if I need to take the plunge - the BF research is about to start :) !
 
Are there "dealer" websites who carry the whole line? No.

You my friend are relegated to the secondary market. If you want to see all the models that have been available got to www.badmojo.tv. That is a wealth of info. If you find something you like, put a thread in the Wanted To Buy section of the exchange here. Best of luck. Once you get some INFI or SR101, you will wonder where the best place would be to sell all those others knives, I did.

As for performance of SR101, I used a Camp Tramp and Battle Rat quite a bit for brush clearing when I got them and I was doing it around hurricane fencing. Let's just say the fence and posts took a beating. I got some slight rolling, no chips what so ever. The fence posts had nice deep cuts in them. I am sure that the posts are not hardened like a blade, so I wasn't surprised which metal won out, but still. A fairly quick stropping with a loaded strop and the occasional mouse pad with sand paper. I would say my least favorite thing about SR 101 is that I am spoiled by INFI, especially it's corrosion resistance. SR101 being a hig carbon steel just rusts too fast for me, basically because I am a knife abuser. I'm absent minded when it comes to cleaning and oiling them.

Looks like I took too long to type it, some of the guys hit my main points already.
 
Progunner said:
Once you get some INFI or SR101, you will wonder where the best place would be to sell all those others knives, I did.
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I'm in the process of doing that myself.

But I got this MONSTER Busse on the way!:D :D

If the guy I did the deal with can just find a big enough bix to ship it:eek: :eek: :thumbup:
 
Depending on where you are in Michigan, you might want to come to either one of the shows I set up at in Columbus Ohio, or the Indy 1500 show in Indianapolis.

If you want more info, please contact em via IM or e-mail.

I may not have all of the models, but I normally have a pretty decent variety....:cool: :thumbup:
 
thatmguy said:
Depending on where you are in Michigan, you might want to come to either one of the shows I set up at in Columbus Ohio...
If you want more info, please contact em via IM or e-mail.
Click to expand...

Email sent. Although really just curious as to whether these are public knife shows (ie other dealers / manufacturers - may help some buddies of mine come with if there is more of a "show") and when/how often these are (is there a 2007 schedule)?

thatmguy: Do you make it up to Novi, Michigan for the Wolverine Knife Collectors Club Knife Show? I will definately be there Saturday (Spring Show)!
http://www.wolverineknifecollectorsclub.com/
 
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