busse vs custom

giant1 said:
A good knife maker who knows his craft and is well versed in correct heat treating will make a good knife that will last for a long time.

Discussions about which maker or brand is "superior" are silly since the difference between good makers should be minimal to the point where most end users would never know the difference.

The final decision always comes down to personal preference (the qualities that appeal to you most).

I say do your home work and buy what you like or fits your needs.
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AND THE WINNER IS.....;):thumbup:
 
Jerry Busse never has a bad word to say about other makers, custom or production. I would expect the same level of class from other makers.

There is room in the knife world for all types of knives from all types of makers. What is best is very subjective, as everyone has their own uses and preferences. All good, just different.
 
Gossman Knives said:
Thanks for the reply Troy but I beg to differ as I believe most makers would stand behind their product no matter what the situation. I know I do. I don't question any of my customers requests for repairs. Thankfully I don't get many. Usually it's a handle scale or sheath issue. I had one customer, who is a police offier use one of my 1/8" thick knives to pry open a window and was happy to report it to me. I've heard some real use situations with my knives that have made me chringe to think the knife was used as such.
Big thick blades no matter what the steel type should be able to handle prying.
Not saying anything against Busse knives as I feel they are top performers but I don't think they are in a class by themselves. There are some damn good custom makers out there that make hardcore knives.
Scott
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This seems sound to me.

I've had more than my share of Busse knives and a few hands-ful of customs. I'm happy with both ... so long as I do my research BEFORE I buy.

Must say I do enjoy working with a custom maker. The collaborative process can be fun, so long as both parties understand the ground rules before they begin.;)
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Jerry Busse never has a bad word to say about other makers, custom or production. I would expect the same level of class from other makers.

There is room in the knife world for all types of knives from all types of makers. What is best is very subjective, as everyone has their own uses and preferences. All good, just different.
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Well, since most couldn't come up with a straight answer and prefered to beat around the bushes, its clear to me that so far the best knife steel is made by Jerry Busse. (yes, no need to say that +1001 time, properly heat treated 5160, D2, A2, etc will do just fine, we all get that)
Love my customs, will continue to enjoy them, use them and collect them, but it is what it is.
Latest custom I bought: Black Widow by Mariano Gugliotta in 01 steel, Scrim by C. Silva
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It is work of art, excellent knife and heat treatment, yet its not INFI. Still a work of art and excellent knife, but again, it is what it is.
FerFAL
 
That INFI is a great performer given the proper heat treat. Busse does just that. Geometry has alot to do with how Busses perform on those destruction tests. There are soooo many variables in what makes a "great" knife.... destruction tests are just one of them and not necessarily important to everybody. Bravo to Jerry for making such a legendary name for his knives in that respect.


OldPhysics said:
I thought the winner was that Rick Marchand guy.:confused:

[Love those designs.:)]
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Flattery will get you everywhere, my good man.

Rick
 
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FerFAL said:
Hi, thanks for your reply. What steel would you be using? anything in particular in mind. Differential tempering, laminated, SanMai? A bit of info (not asking for any trade secret) would be appreciared.

Wasn't asking about marketing but I can assure you, put a couple videos showing that your knife is actually better and you'll sell more knives than you can make for the rest of your life.
Here's what they do to Busse's http://knifetests.com/
Do the same thing and show it to people. Heck, invest 500 bucks and get the best marketing in the world: proof. If you test a 500 buck BWM from Busee with a similar shaped knife made with your own method and it does better, not only will I gladly buy one such knife, but I'll help you spread the word, send several good customers your way at no cost.
In fact, a good friend of mine just took me up on just this. He's a metalurigc ingeneer of some sort and has industrial equipment to make pretty much anything he wants. I already bought one of the knives he claimed will outperform the Busse in tihs type of extreme test.
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I'm using sintered steel impregnated with diamonds! For the test I'm going to cut a cinderblock in half.

Beat that! :D:D:D
 
I really could make one...

It would work too!

Can your knife cut bricks? If not, then mine is better!




(I'm just kidding but it proves my marketing point)
 
The problem I have with the OP's base question (and the necroposter's repeat) is simply that it starts with a foregone conclusion, and it's no surprise that it ends in the same place. What a surprise.

Can anyone make a better blueberry crisp than my wife? Of course not. No custom maker could do better because she uses infinite blueberries.

It's just a ridiculous post. I'm not saying anything bad about anyone's knives. I'm sure Bussees are excellent. And so are many others. You love your Bussee... wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Why on earth pose that statement as a question you would never accept any answer to? You think INFI is the ultimate steel? Fabulous. Glad you're a happy man. Others are just as happy with other steels selected for specific tasks.

If you weren't really looking for an answer, you shouldn't pretend to ask a question.
 
But it is too fun!



How about Custom Knives vs the Chicago Bears...

Bears


Ditka vs Custom Knives

Ditka
 
I've heard that properly HT'd INFI can withstand a full force roundhouse kick from Chuck Norris and that the energy released can heat treat a hundred more blades... That's a good return on investment.
 
Chuck Norris doesn't wear a watch... he decides what time it is!
 
Rick Marchand said:
I've heard that properly HT'd INFI can withstand a full force roundhouse kick from Chuck Norris and that the energy released can heat treat a hundred more blades... That's a good return on investment.
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"Aaah yes, but could it survive a blow from a high priest Vatican assassin warlock? Winning.......:p "
 
Sorry for taking your thread off topic even more FerFAL that wasn't very cool of me.
 
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Oh my God. What the hell happened here.

If it matters so much to the Busse fans, why don't any of you with the funds to own several Busses buy up some custom "hard use" knives and test them against each other? Hell, I'll make a knife for the test. But like a wise man said back on page three, us custom makers find it hard to make a living insuring knives against people's lack of common sense. I have a lifetime warranty on my knives against defects in materials or workmanship. I make forged hunters out of 52100 with thorough thermal cycling, but I KNOW they would break if used to chop a cinderblock. I can't make a hunting knife worth a damn as a hunting knife that would do such a thing. I don't think Busse can either.

Seriously, if someone wanted to pay me to specifically make a knife to go up against a Busse on the Busse's terms, I'd do it. I wouldn't be crushed if my knife "lost." I know the worth of what I make.

Send me a Busse to evaluate while making my blade. I don't own one (don't worry, I won't steal it) and want to see the edge geometry and do cutting/chopping/bending tests myself to see what it can take. If I break it, hell it's covered, right?

When my blade is done, I'll send it back with the Busse so you can test them against each other. My knife won't be fancy, horse stall mat handle etc., but if it breaks you get your money back. If the Busse "beats" it, send me the knife back for a full refund.

Those are terms on which I'd try to compete. If no one is interested, no sweat off my back. If anyone is, call me or PM me or something. We can work out reasonable testing criteria, I'd hate for someone's spendy Busse to break.
 
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Theirs a reason you don't see any infi in the cutting championships.. it cant hold its edge... even there own SR101 out cuts it, i have a few Busse and like them, they look good, i like the feel, but they are not at all comparable to a custom hunter knife, which is what i do, an average of 70 days afield, lets me know which is good for me, I buy infi because i like Busee, its that simple, but it most defiantly is not the best there is for what I do... I was able to get a lot better performance from my INFI blades, by thinning the edge out, but when i did that, the edge just crushed and rolled like the other steels, i can say the Busse i can push hard, but i can out cut the Busse all day, with another blade that wont "bend as far".. at any rate, Jerry states his blades are tough and they are.. however no matter how good the warranty is it still says UNINTENTIONAL damage.. big word there... or if that wasn't the case, id buy one.. and set a world record for cutting a car in half with knives... of course i don't know how much infi id break doing it, and Jerry wouldn't be too fond of replacing that many blades.... so ill just use that word UNINTENTIONAL and stick to that, i can tell ya when i spend time in the woods, i have a Busse that i have fun with, bash logs, split wood, etc. etc. and then i have a knife. that does everything else and quite well....the closest test i have able to ever perform was the INFI S5 vs the SR101 S5 both sharpened the same, actually 4 models, of each and the 101 repeatedly beat the INFI in cutting over and over and over.
so to answer that question.. for me.. yes there are better.. by far... but ill still buy Busse
 
Thanks to Salem Straub and Bowxpress for actually addressing the question.
 
Rick Marchand said:
Geometry has alot to do with how Busses perform on those destruction tests.
Rick
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This.

Having handled alot of busse knives I can tell you damn near every one had such a steep grind I'd not be afraid to use it for a cold chisel! INdestructable? ever try to destroy a crowbar?

KUDOS to Salem~!!! but I doubt anyone would do it for fear of they're precious busse losing!
 
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