Close-up Pics of the Active Duty Handle!!!!! (Cool Pics)

[Jerry Busse]

Here are some close-up pics of the Active Duty handle that show a bit of the hand work that goes into each knife. Notice how the handles are flush ground, hand shaped, and rounded on top and bottom. This makes the handle very comfortable and makes this knife very difficult to put down.

These edges are rounded off by using strips of sandpaper and "shoe-polishing" the square edges until they are comfortably radiused.

Hopefully these will make the short wait, just that much easier!

Jerry

 

[Jerry Busse]

. . . and another. . .

 

[mogmz]

damnit, i need to get a credit card.

 

[idahoskunk]

nice pics, what did you decide to call the 'bird like' micarta?

 

[Jerry Busse]

We thought about "Skunk Waves" but are weighing it against "BirdsWhoBuy". It's gonna be a tough one!

Jerry

 

[contender]

Originally posted by Jerry Busse
....this makes the handle very comfortable and makes this knife very difficult to put down.

Jerry

No kidding Jerry. Skunk could not put the ADs down allright, in fact, I am still can't find them amongst my luggage! Skunk !!

 

[Raden]

Originally posted by Jerry Busse

Hopefully these will make the short wait, just that much easier!

Jerry

Jerry,
This is one you got backwards it makes the wait that much harder!

 

[Eric_Draven]

The radius job on the micarta looks great, it should greatly increase comfort over the Square handle slabs that came on my E-handles. It is nice to see that the custom shop is making Busse knives like they used to be made.

I really liked the rounded and contoured micarta on the old Straight handle models. Andrew Pinchen has an older 5/16" INFI Badger that feels great in the hand, probably the best feel of any Busse I have seen.

 

[gundy]

Jerry, if this is an indication of what is to come, then WOW! How many grinders you got?

 

[Jerry Busse]

Eric,

I liked the feel of the older blades too, but the complaints of being too slippery in the field under a variety of conditions, made us look for a better handle. The textured micarta has proven to be quite an inovation in comparison. This new style on the Active Duty brings the best of both worlds to our line. With texture on the sides only and handshaped along the perimeters, this handle should please nearly everyone.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jerry

 

[Strabs]

Mmmmm, how about a SH-e with the new "Bat Scat" Nukarta!!!

Come on Jerry! Pleeeeeeeaaassssseee!

 

[Bravado]

Wow, destined to become a classic!

 

[Eric_Draven]

Originally posted by Jerry Busse
Eric,

I liked the feel of the older blades too, but the complaints of being too slippery in the field under a variety of conditions, made us look for a better handle. The textured micarta has proven to be quite an inovation in comparison. This new style on the Active Duty brings the best of both worlds to our line. With texture on the sides only and handshaped along the perimeters, this handle should please nearly everyone.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jerry

Jerry,
It is not the texture of the Quilted and Snakeskin Micarta that I like less than the old smooth micarta, it is the shape of the handle scales themselves, as well as the thickness.

These pictures don't illustarate it well, but here goes:

On the Old SH Busse knives the handle scales were thicker, had sculpted contours and nicely rounded tops and bottoms. This provides a very comfortable grip for me. Also the fact that the grip is thicker reduces hand fatigue and shock transmited to the hand during chopping.

On the other hand (excuse the pun), the E-handled knives seemed to have very square slabs of much thinner micarta.

I think Yvsa was the first to point this out when he got his BM-E and had rounded his out with a file. I got my first E-Handle Steelheart later and found the same thing.

Dave Costin observed the same trend, and replaced his flat, square, thin scales with thick, nicely rounded micarta scales.
He has also resorted to cord wrapping his BM-E to increase the grip size and round it out.

I have noticed that the new line of "mid-size" (Satin Jack and BA3) are somewhat better in that they are slighty rounded. I had one of my BA3s redone, including having the handle radiuses and the scale to tang fit cleaned up. The grip is much more comfortable now, and the knife being re-ground drasticly increased performance.

It goes without saying that handle comfort is very subjective, what is good for one might not fit someone else well. But I think Busse has taken a huge step in the right direction (back on track) with the handle on the Active Duty. The tang to scale fit, being hand finished, looks much better fit and finish on the recent knives I have been seeing.

I hope nobody takes this post the wrong way. I own, enjoy and use Busse knives. They are among my favorite knives, and INFI is hands down my favorite steel.

 

[Eric_Draven]

Here is what my modified BA3 handle look like after it was rounded out, simialrly to how the new AD is done.

This really improves handle comfort. The sheath is by Kenny Rowe.

I really look forward to seeing the AD. Will Busse have a booth at the Wolverine KC show in Novi (You usually do) this year, well I guess 2003 as it is Jan.?

 

[Andrew Lynch]

That looks really cumfy

Jerry, this brings to mind that Steel Heart.....talk about rounded

 

[Chip]

Looks real nice Jerry !!!

 

[Jerry Busse]

Eric,

I welcome your observations. . . and dig the pics. . . very cool . Thanks for posting them. We have had a lot of very similar feedback since the intro of the E handles.

It is interesting to note that although the E handles appear and feel to be thinner than the straight handles, they are not. If you put a caliper on them you'll note that they are the same thickness and were, by the way, cut from the same stock. The difference lies in the width of the handle and the "domed" shape that we found to be more effective for the E handle shape. The handles are thinner towards the perimeters but just as thick, if not thicker, in the center. Had we used thicker micarta, or maintained the thickness of the handle towards the outer perimeter, the handle would have been far too large for most people. Dave Costin's blade looks very cool with the thicker handles but it is important to note that Dave is about 7 feet tall and has hands the size of King Kong. Andrew Lynch and Cliff Stamp have made these same mods to their handles because of their hands being the size of frying pans. We have considered offering 2 different size handles. . . Normal and Giant. That still may be an option in the future. Also, the early E handles were "squarer" and adjustments were made to make them rounder or more sloped towards the perimeters.

When I "fly" a handle, like on the Flying Mojos or Flying Tigers, I use a standard pair of ergo handles and shape them down. I narrow the width of the grip and even though the "Flying" handles are technically thinner, they feel "thicker" because the narrowing of the handle width gives the handle a "rounder" feel.. . . . . Any chance that makes sense?

As for flush grinding the handles with the tang, we received too many complaints about there not being coating between the handles when we did this. We always listen to customer feedback and follow the majority rules policy. If I could please everyone. . . I would run for President!

Of course, when you make a Satin finished blade there is no problem with flush grinding as there is no coating to remove. I think nearly everyone will love the handles on the Active Duty. It really does bring the best of both worlds to the table.

Thanks for posting,

Jerry

 

[1whobuys]

from Jerry Busse

"I would run for President!"

Jerry's going to run for President..!!!!!!!!!!

Busse for President!
All hail the "Chief"

Has a nice ring doesn't it?

Can I be your "Secretary of the Treasury"?
baawaahahahahahaha....

 

[DonL]

Jerry, those shots look great, can't wait to get my hands on one...







(The above compliment was also a hint. A strong hint. Send it, Jerry, send it already, dammit! Does the fact that I'm leaving on the 14th to chase Bambi help my cause..?)