Combat Grade Team Gemini

N

newyork

Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
931
I am really struggling to keep money in my wallet but then I rediscover Busse and the Gemini. I see an all black one is on their site for $257 but its not in INFI, its in SR101.

Skip it in that steel, or is it something I should jump right on?

Big downgrade from INFI?
 
Not really a big downgrade. They are about to pull them from the site so if you want one get it while you can. Its a busse so you can always resell and get your money back an/or possibly more
 
There's a few slight differences on this version. It has a saber grind on it vs the infi versions hollow grind so it "should"chop better. It also has a round choil on it vs the half squared infi version and wider more rounded hand guards instead of tall and skinny.
 
Interesting. Better chopper sounds good. Thats been what I'm after lately too. I have really small hands. I wonder if the fatter grips will be a bad thing for me.
 
StealthCaliber said:
It has a saber grind on it vs the infi versions hollow grind so it "should"chop better.
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Actually, from what I gather the hollow grind should bite a little deeper given equal edge geometry/thickness and equal design.

That being said there are other differences, being the BG TG is actually .22" vs .25" thick, also the TGLB featured a lightened handle tang which should also boost performance. I much prefer the design of the TGLB over the BG TG personally, that being said the BG TG is a much better value overall when dollars are factored in. You will not likely notice a whole lot of difference between the steels, nowhere near as much as the differences in geometry and design IMO.
 
Youd have to ask lexi if you can get slimmer grips "non magnum" or even hand smoothed which i think will come out about 3/16th thinner
 
Maggot Brain said:
Actually, from what I gather the hollow grind should bite a little deeper given equal edge geometry/thickness and equal design.

That being said there are other differences, being the BG TG is actually .22" vs .25" thick, also the TGLB featured a lightened handle tang which should also boost performance. I much prefer the design of the TGLB over the BG TG personally, that being said the BG TG is a much better value overall when dollars are factored in. You will not likely notice a whole lot of difference between the steels, nowhere near as much as the differences in geometry and design IMO.
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You think the overall design will show itself a lot? Having said that, I've never tried the TGLB so I wouldn't have anything to compare.
The BGTG being a good performer with a good edge, tough and somewhat ergo friendly would be my concerns.
 
newyork said:
You think the overall design will show itself a lot? Having said that, I've never tried the TGLB so I wouldn't have anything to compare.
The BGTG being a good performer with a good edge, tough and somewhat ergo friendly would be my concerns.
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INFI and SR-101 behave very similar to one another. I can't comment on how the BG TG will behave vs TGLB, as I have not seen one in person. That being said, I generally do not care for large knives that have full thickness steel between the handle slabs. The Light Brigade machining under the TGLB handle makes a big difference for me, I'd just be concerned that I wouldn't like the mass distribution on the BG TG because it doesn't have this.

Do not underestimate the difference lightening a handle can make to a knife's overall handling and performance characteristics. Grind is also extremely important, but perhaps there won't be much difference here in this regard as the hollow is very slight. That being said, all you can really do is order one and see if you like it…. if not you'll have no problem getting your money back out of it here on the forum.
 
Thank you for all your help. I hear you on the lightening under the handle. I may hold off and see what comes up on the site in the future as I joined and will get newsletters.
 
I can't comment on INFI, but I've had a Ratmandu and Warden in SR101 (still have the former), and I really like the steel. I can't imagine too many steels SR101 would be a downgrade from if it's used in a fixed blade.

So I guess that's a bit of a non-answer, but my point is that SR101 shouldn't prevent you from buying a knife. I think it's well worth the savings compared to the INFI version, actually. If I didn't have a Ratmandu I'd have ordered one already.
 
I had one of the original team gemini's not the light brigade and liked it. It was blade heavy though and the tglb with the slight hollow grind was a much livelier blade in hand. The Tg battle grade I think will be right between them and Sr101 is a tough great steel too so really not much of a downgrade and at a terrific price. They are almost gone too so keep that in mind.
 
I have been beating the hell out of my battle grade ash1.. that SR101 is AWESOME!! after a whole camping trip of chopping desert juniper wood.. the thing still slices paper with ease.. Im blown away! hard to compare it with INFI cause the only INFI blade I had (TGLB) was not that sharp from the factory.. I plan to test them side by side when I get a good edge on her! I would jump on it no question!!
 
If you don't have either at the moment I would get battle grade and try it out. you can always trade or sell later if you gotta have the infi version.
 
I was tempted to get one even though I have a tglb. then my wallet kicked me in the junk.
 
boring said:
If you don't have either at the moment I would get battle grade and try it out. you can always trade or sell later if you gotta have the infi version.
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+1 on this ^^^

While TGLBs will come up on the Exchange from time to time, they may not be in the colour configuration you want. Grab a TGBG now exactly the way you want it. And the price is very hard to argue with as well.
 
Thread title confuses me. What exactly is 'combat grade' and who establishes it as I do understand MilSpec and do not think that is what is meant here.
 
MSgt said:
Thread title confuses me. What exactly is 'combat grade' and who establishes it as I do understand MilSpec and do not think that is what is meant here.
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Has nothing to do with Milspec, only refers to the fact that nothing has been done to increase the aesthetics of the knife via labor intensive finishing other than a basic coating. This keeps cost down and also might add a bit of theoretical wear and corrosion resistance.
 
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