Jerry Busse
Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 11,991
LETS TALK ABOUT CLIFF STAMP:
There has been much discussion lately about knife testing. With these discussions come unsupported shots at some of those who do extreme testing. Of course, you cant bring up the subject of Extreme Testing on these forums without bringing up the name of Cliff Stamp. Along with the mention of Cliffs testing come the detractors to his methodology. The detractors often, for whatever reason, resort to taking personal shots at Mr. Stamp. I must admit that I find myself confused by the animosity that many have shown towards this individual. Perhaps I have missed something, but I have yet to see Cliff return fire on anyone at a personal level.
Before this discussion goes any further let me set the record straight on some accusations that have been leveled recently on the forums and in private emails. First of all, Cliff Stamp does not work for Busse Combat. . . he is in no way affiliated with Busse Combat. . . . and more importantly he really does exist and lives in Newfoundland thus proving that I am not him. . . He does not get paid or receive a kickback when he puts us at the top of the heap of blades that he has tested. . . . If you think that this clarification sounds unnecessary then you are only beginning to see the level of stupidity that some of these discussions can reach.
Cliff Stamp tests many knives to the point of total destruction. He has broken one of our knives (a Basic #7) during his testing. Cliff, breaks knives, its what he does. I dont understand why, when he breaks someones favorite brand or make of knife, there is such anger. He broke ours while pounding the sand out of it with the hammer end of a hatchet. It had endured this level of abuse for more than 2 years. Was I excited about it? No. Did I think it was unfair? Who cares? Remember, that Cliff, breaks knives, its what he does. When a lion trainer is attacked by a lion, why are people shocked? Its what lions do. Cliff, breaks knives, its what he does. It is also important to note that not ONE forum member on the Busse Combat Forum attacked Cliff for his methodology when he broke the Basic # 7. I admire that. It says a lot about our customers.
Cliff presents information. How those who choose to read it assimilate that information, is up to the individuals who are doing the reading. I do not see where there is room for personal attacks. You can argue methodology but personal attacks simply show fear.
LETS TALK ABOUT WARRANTIES:
Frankly, makers and manufacturers who maintain the power of final judgment when it comes to warranty decisions and yet continue to claim that they offer a Lifetime Warranty confuse me. Where is the anger that should be directed towards these manufacturers and individuals? How can you rely upon a warranty that relies upon the judgment of the person who stands to be put at a financial loss if it is honored? This quite obviously sets the stage for bias from the maker or manufacturer. They reserve the right to say, Well, you shouldnt have done that with your knife and therefore you have voided your lifetime warranty. Why should anyone believe that their knife will stand up to hard use when their warranty will not?
Its all about TRUST. How can I, as a knifemaker, on one hand say that my knives are designed for the most extreme situations that may present themselves to our customers and then on the other hand cry foul when someone destroys one during use? I try not to judge whether or not a customers use of one of our blades is too abusive. Who am I to judge? That is why our guarantee has the word intentional in it. We allow the customer to make the decision as to whether or not he meant to damage his Busse knife. Thats called TRUST, and thats what our customers put in us when they buy a Busse knife. Were not about to betray that trust by allowing our judgment to decide whether or not their knife should be covered by our warranty. . . Lifetime warranties with Abuse Clauses are limp-wristed and do nothing more than demonstrate the amount of faith, or lack of faith, that a maker or manufacturer has in their product.
LETS TALK ABOUT INFI:
How does INFI compare to other commonly used cutlery steels? It quite simply SPANKS them. If it didnt, and there was a steel that could outperform it on all levels then we would be using it instead. We have been making knives for twenty years. We have used every steel imaginable. None of them compare with INFI. . . None of them. I am commonly dismayed by those who try to make claims of equivalence or comparability to INFI with steel like ATS-34, A-2, and 1095. INFI has set a publicly demonstrated standard that NO ONE has been able to near. We expect there to be unsupported claims of comparability with INFI from customers and fans of other manufacturers. They have no stake in the game and are no different than those who stand on the side-lines and push other people into fights. However, until another manufacturer comes along and publicly duplicates our series of tests with one of their knives, we will continue to be the performance standard by which all production knives will be measured.
Understand that we are not claiming to have a design that will satisfy everyones needs or tastes. We never have and never will. However, when it comes down to the pure, unadulterated performance of the steel involved . . . Busse Combat and INFI continue to stand alone.
Jerry Busse
There has been much discussion lately about knife testing. With these discussions come unsupported shots at some of those who do extreme testing. Of course, you cant bring up the subject of Extreme Testing on these forums without bringing up the name of Cliff Stamp. Along with the mention of Cliffs testing come the detractors to his methodology. The detractors often, for whatever reason, resort to taking personal shots at Mr. Stamp. I must admit that I find myself confused by the animosity that many have shown towards this individual. Perhaps I have missed something, but I have yet to see Cliff return fire on anyone at a personal level.
Before this discussion goes any further let me set the record straight on some accusations that have been leveled recently on the forums and in private emails. First of all, Cliff Stamp does not work for Busse Combat. . . he is in no way affiliated with Busse Combat. . . . and more importantly he really does exist and lives in Newfoundland thus proving that I am not him. . . He does not get paid or receive a kickback when he puts us at the top of the heap of blades that he has tested. . . . If you think that this clarification sounds unnecessary then you are only beginning to see the level of stupidity that some of these discussions can reach.
Cliff Stamp tests many knives to the point of total destruction. He has broken one of our knives (a Basic #7) during his testing. Cliff, breaks knives, its what he does. I dont understand why, when he breaks someones favorite brand or make of knife, there is such anger. He broke ours while pounding the sand out of it with the hammer end of a hatchet. It had endured this level of abuse for more than 2 years. Was I excited about it? No. Did I think it was unfair? Who cares? Remember, that Cliff, breaks knives, its what he does. When a lion trainer is attacked by a lion, why are people shocked? Its what lions do. Cliff, breaks knives, its what he does. It is also important to note that not ONE forum member on the Busse Combat Forum attacked Cliff for his methodology when he broke the Basic # 7. I admire that. It says a lot about our customers.
Cliff presents information. How those who choose to read it assimilate that information, is up to the individuals who are doing the reading. I do not see where there is room for personal attacks. You can argue methodology but personal attacks simply show fear.
LETS TALK ABOUT WARRANTIES:
Frankly, makers and manufacturers who maintain the power of final judgment when it comes to warranty decisions and yet continue to claim that they offer a Lifetime Warranty confuse me. Where is the anger that should be directed towards these manufacturers and individuals? How can you rely upon a warranty that relies upon the judgment of the person who stands to be put at a financial loss if it is honored? This quite obviously sets the stage for bias from the maker or manufacturer. They reserve the right to say, Well, you shouldnt have done that with your knife and therefore you have voided your lifetime warranty. Why should anyone believe that their knife will stand up to hard use when their warranty will not?
Its all about TRUST. How can I, as a knifemaker, on one hand say that my knives are designed for the most extreme situations that may present themselves to our customers and then on the other hand cry foul when someone destroys one during use? I try not to judge whether or not a customers use of one of our blades is too abusive. Who am I to judge? That is why our guarantee has the word intentional in it. We allow the customer to make the decision as to whether or not he meant to damage his Busse knife. Thats called TRUST, and thats what our customers put in us when they buy a Busse knife. Were not about to betray that trust by allowing our judgment to decide whether or not their knife should be covered by our warranty. . . Lifetime warranties with Abuse Clauses are limp-wristed and do nothing more than demonstrate the amount of faith, or lack of faith, that a maker or manufacturer has in their product.
LETS TALK ABOUT INFI:
How does INFI compare to other commonly used cutlery steels? It quite simply SPANKS them. If it didnt, and there was a steel that could outperform it on all levels then we would be using it instead. We have been making knives for twenty years. We have used every steel imaginable. None of them compare with INFI. . . None of them. I am commonly dismayed by those who try to make claims of equivalence or comparability to INFI with steel like ATS-34, A-2, and 1095. INFI has set a publicly demonstrated standard that NO ONE has been able to near. We expect there to be unsupported claims of comparability with INFI from customers and fans of other manufacturers. They have no stake in the game and are no different than those who stand on the side-lines and push other people into fights. However, until another manufacturer comes along and publicly duplicates our series of tests with one of their knives, we will continue to be the performance standard by which all production knives will be measured.
Understand that we are not claiming to have a design that will satisfy everyones needs or tastes. We never have and never will. However, when it comes down to the pure, unadulterated performance of the steel involved . . . Busse Combat and INFI continue to stand alone.
Jerry Busse
" are so upset that Cliff did in their knives so much easier than a Busse that they have to spread these kind of falsehoods to try and discredit you, in my eyes that says alot about the superiority of your knives compared to all others Cliff has "reviewed". As soon as I save up, my check for a Busse knife is in the mail! Jerry I think that with all you've done to bring knife performance to a whole new level, these kinds of alligations do more good than harm. 
