Jerry Busse
Moderator
- Joined
- Aug 20, 1999
- Messages
- 11,991
There has been a lot of bantering about this subject recently. In my opinion, any subject that can arouse such emotion can only speak volumes about the passion that our customers and forumites have about their Busse Knives. . . .Thank God! Wouldn't it be sad if the response to us changing our design was nothing more than a resounding yawn.
I would love to disagree with those of you who long for the return of the straight handled models but it would be very difficult to do so without seeming a bit hypocritical. Do I love the old straight handled designs? Well, yeah, I designed them.
The Steel Heart, for example, evolved for years into its final version. The bird's beak Steel Heart came first and I thought it was the sexiest design to ever fall from a bar of steel. Customers suggested that there wasnt sufficient chopping power with a 6 ½ blade. We lengthened it to 7 ½ and called it the Steel Heart II Problem Solved.- some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales greatly increased along with the value of the previous model. Input from the field that the handles were too small and that it was difficult to pound stakes with the butt or to use it as a hammer led to the introduction of the rounded butt and larger handles - Problem Solved - some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales greatly increased along with the value of the previous models. Feedback that the smooth micarta handles were slippery when wet led to the intro. of the grooved micarta handles which in turn led to the diamond quilted texture Problem Solved - some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales greatly increased along with the value of the previous models. Continued reports of pinky pinching and wrist fatigue under heavy usage led to the slanting of the rear talon and a much more ergonomic design with better handle vs. edge position. This was accomplished with the assistance of my Physical Therapists and Orthopedic Surgeons input Problem Solved - some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales have greatly increased along with the value of the previous models.
Are the straight handled models better looking? Who knows? More importantly, who cares? Remember the Busse Combat motto: The beauty is in the performance. The performance of the new Ergo models is better than the previous models and this has been proven in extensive field test evaluations.. . . . That is all we should care about isnt it? I suppose ideally, Yes. . . . Realistically? Thats probably not possible. We hang out on these forums because we are inexplicably drawn to fine bladeware. . . Is it some ancient instinct passed on through our DNA or is it a passion that we have been blessed with? I have no idea. Im just glad to have it and to have been given the opportunity to pursue it on a daily basis. I am, likewise, lucky to have so many fellow Nuclear Nuts with whom to share this love of knives.
So, please continue to give us feedback. Simply look at the large number of style changes in the Steel Heart alone.. . . feedback is what has been responsible for all of our previous modifications. Thank you for your input, but mostly for sharing your deep love of knives.
Yours in a Knuclear passion for Knives.
Jerry Busse
[This message has been edited by Jerry Busse (edited 03-09-2001).]
I would love to disagree with those of you who long for the return of the straight handled models but it would be very difficult to do so without seeming a bit hypocritical. Do I love the old straight handled designs? Well, yeah, I designed them.
The Steel Heart, for example, evolved for years into its final version. The bird's beak Steel Heart came first and I thought it was the sexiest design to ever fall from a bar of steel. Customers suggested that there wasnt sufficient chopping power with a 6 ½ blade. We lengthened it to 7 ½ and called it the Steel Heart II Problem Solved.- some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales greatly increased along with the value of the previous model. Input from the field that the handles were too small and that it was difficult to pound stakes with the butt or to use it as a hammer led to the introduction of the rounded butt and larger handles - Problem Solved - some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales greatly increased along with the value of the previous models. Feedback that the smooth micarta handles were slippery when wet led to the intro. of the grooved micarta handles which in turn led to the diamond quilted texture Problem Solved - some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales greatly increased along with the value of the previous models. Continued reports of pinky pinching and wrist fatigue under heavy usage led to the slanting of the rear talon and a much more ergonomic design with better handle vs. edge position. This was accomplished with the assistance of my Physical Therapists and Orthopedic Surgeons input Problem Solved - some loyal customers canceled orders, some asked for the return of the old model, but overall, sales have greatly increased along with the value of the previous models.
Are the straight handled models better looking? Who knows? More importantly, who cares? Remember the Busse Combat motto: The beauty is in the performance. The performance of the new Ergo models is better than the previous models and this has been proven in extensive field test evaluations.. . . . That is all we should care about isnt it? I suppose ideally, Yes. . . . Realistically? Thats probably not possible. We hang out on these forums because we are inexplicably drawn to fine bladeware. . . Is it some ancient instinct passed on through our DNA or is it a passion that we have been blessed with? I have no idea. Im just glad to have it and to have been given the opportunity to pursue it on a daily basis. I am, likewise, lucky to have so many fellow Nuclear Nuts with whom to share this love of knives.
So, please continue to give us feedback. Simply look at the large number of style changes in the Steel Heart alone.. . . feedback is what has been responsible for all of our previous modifications. Thank you for your input, but mostly for sharing your deep love of knives.
Yours in a Knuclear passion for Knives.
Jerry Busse
[This message has been edited by Jerry Busse (edited 03-09-2001).]
