Busse versus Tops?

Fan of Steel, I'm pretty sure SR-101 is 52100 with the propriety heat treat. I have never heard anyone say thats its O1.
 
I've only handled one Busse, and a few TOPS at a gun show. The TOPS handles were big and bulky, too big for my hamhocks. The Busse felt just right in my hand. My vote goes to the Busse just for the feel in the hands.
 
I have both manufactures knives. It is strange now that I think about it. In the smaller blades (4”) I prefer the TOPS, but in the large blades the Busses get most of the action or my Raven which my favorite large blade. Both TOPS and Busse handles work well for me, you need to find the knife with the handle and grip that suits you for your usage.
The TOPS blades are 1095, I’ve not had a complaint with the steel, and it is easy to sharpen. I don’t do much chopping with knives, where I live, if I’m 3 feet off the road I have a machete in my hand, why chop with a knife when you have a machete :p ?



Steve
 
Cliff Stamp said:
They might want to add this to the webpages, calling it "surgical stainless" is going to give the wrong impression, this usually refers to really low end stainless grades.

-Cliff
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I agree, Cliff.

I think you can't go wrong with either Busse or TOPS.
 
I would choose (in fact, have chosen) Busse in preference to Tops. I prefer Busse's steel, and prefer Busse's warranty. I also own some Swamp Rats... The handles are more shock-absorbent than the Busses, but the steel isn't quite as tough. Darn good knives, at a fair price, in any case.

-----------------------------------------

Dr. Thor,

"Fan of Steel, I'm pretty sure SR-101 is 52100 with the propriety heat treat. I have never heard anyone say thats its O1."

I can't find the reference from several years ago, but I'm pretty sure I remember Swamp Rat originally described SR-101 as "modified 52100" with a proprietary heat treat. Nobody outside of the Busse/Swamp Rat circle knows for certain exactly what "modified" refers to, but to simply say that SR-101 is "52100 with a prorietary heat treat" may not be accurate.

--Mike
 
Evolute,

True, true. But the closest thing to SR-101 seems to be 52100, even SRKW says so. If it was closer to O1, I'm sure they would say that.
 
I've had both Busse and TOPS blades and I like INFI and 1095 both as blade steels. You'll probably have to wait awhile if you want a Busse though. I have ordered direct frrom TOPS on several occasions and each time I have had the blade in hand w/in two weeks. They are both relatively pricey in my opinion. I've never been at all disappointed with the blades I have ordered from either outfit. Yet instead most of the time a Chris Reeve blade is within close proximity...
 
Dr. Thor,

"If it was closer to O1, I'm sure they would say that."

I agree. I did not mean to sound like I was trying to refute that; I apologize if it sounded like I was. I was just intending to make clear that there may be more to SR-101 than "52100 with a proprietary heat treat".

--Mike
 
There is just one small problem of picking Busses over Tops. Getting a Busse with a false edge is tough. If you're going to war and want a true fighter with a sharp point, you might have a hard time finding a Busse with these qualities. Although, if you're not a member of special forces, or are in a lower risk group of the military, a Busse will do a great job.
 
Walking Man said:
TOPS, however, has the advantage of having many more models ...
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There is this, some of their blades look a bit funky, but they have a lot of clean designs now, I like the looks of this :

http://www.topsknives.com/products/knives/scalpel.html

and many of TOP's models are not directly comparable to any Busse as there is nothing in that configuration.

.45acp said:
... why chop with a knife when you have a machete
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A knife can work better on stiffer woods and doesn't stick/bind as much on thicker ones. This is more of a one tool arguement and a large knife is more versatile. I have lots of machetes though and axes, they all have their places.

Evolute said:
Nobody outside of the Busse/Swamp Rat circle knows for certain exactly what "modified" refers to ...
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You just have to drink a case of that awful beer Busse favors to gain the info and then you are threatened with having to drink another case if you ever tell anyone and once is enough, bring on the bamboo shoots for some fingernail splinting. You end up pretty much blotting out the whole evening to try and forget the taste of the beer anyway.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
A knife can work better on stiffer woods and doesn't stick/bind as much on thicker ones. This is more of a one tool arguement and a large knife is more versatile. I have lots of machetes though and axes, they all have their places.
-Cliff
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Can is the operative word, I also don't find myself chopping down trees much.


Steve
 
Well if you don't find yourself doing what it does better than a machete, you probably would not want to carry a machete. It isn't just limited to trees, parangs, goloks, bolos, etc., are all ground like knives not like machetes which are optomized for non-woody vegetation, though decent ones can work fairly well there as long as the wood is not too thick or hard. Some things called machetes are actually ground like knives, or start to approach it with distal tapers and/or primary grinds.

-Cliff
 
I still like 1095 :) Mainly bc I have only had bad experience freehand sharpening stainless steels but have no problem with Case CV or 1095 (old timers and Ka-Bars) and whatever Becker uses so I am biased towards Carbon steels since I don't have a kit big enough for large fixed blades and would want to make sure I bought a knife I can actually sharpen. If what you guys say is true about Busse's hardness they may not be bad to sharpen, like I said I'd just buy the TOPS bc I KNOW I could sharpen it :D Busse does have a better warranty and I've seen some incredible torture tests done to their knives though.
 
I remember reading some speculation that SR101 might be 52100B (52100 with some vanadium added). Either way it’s great stuff, and is only outclassed by INFI for heavy use blades.
 
Spydiefan04 said:
I still like 1095 :) Mainly bc I have only had bad experience freehand sharpening stainless steels but have no problem with Case CV or 1095 (old timers and Ka-Bars) and whatever Becker uses so I am biased towards Carbon steels since I don't have a kit big enough for large fixed blades and would want to make sure I bought a knife I can actually sharpen. If what you guys say is true about Busse's hardness they may not be bad to sharpen, like I said I'd just buy the TOPS bc I KNOW I could sharpen it :D Busse does have a better warranty and I've seen some incredible torture tests done to their knives though.
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Busse and Swamp Rat knives aren't made with stainless steels. INFI and SR101 are both carbon steels.
 
Gentlemen

My TOPS B.E.S.T. with a hunters point in CM154 - CRYO Heat Treated 2X Rc 58-60 Black Canvas Micarta.


Cheers,

André

BESTogSPAS.jpg


BESTogSPAS4.jpg


BESTogSPAS3.jpg
 
Walking Man said:
There is just one small problem of picking Busses over Tops. Getting a Busse with a false edge is tough. If you're going to war and want a true fighter with a sharp point, you might have a hard time finding a Busse with these qualities. Although, if you're not a member of special forces, or are in a lower risk group of the military, a Busse will do a great job.
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I don't understand what your saying, ofcourse I really don't know what a false edge is. Why would a Busse maybe not do a great job for member of the Special Forces?

Is a false edge where from the tip back 4-5" the top of the blade looks sharp?
 
Walking Man said:
There is just one small problem of picking Busses over Tops. Getting a Busse with a false edge is tough. If you're going to war and want a true fighter with a sharp point, you might have a hard time finding a Busse with these qualities. Although, if you're not a member of special forces, or are in a lower risk group of the military, a Busse will do a great job.
Click to expand...
Ummmm.....OK.

Yeah, if you are a Green Beret you definatley want a TOPS.

Those Busse's are for the ditch diggers.:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
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