Hi everyone. This is my first Busse but I’m certainly not knew to knives.
I bought it from EBRfan (excellent person to deal with) and received my knife yesterday.
The knife is a Black Bushwacker Mistress with black canvas micarta handle.
The blade is pretty much ideal for what I have in mind; a large general purpose/survival blade. The type of knife that, in my opinion, answers the “If you could only have one..” question.
The knife certainly isn’t thin and even though I understand that other Mistresses are thicker. This knife is thick enough, and a thicker one would be too heavy to chop for long periods of time as well as slower when doing so, affecting both its capability as a tool and weapon if it ends up being used in that role. Blade’s weight, shape and thickness are just perfect.
The canvas micarta grip is comfortable. At times it may feel like a bit too think but I’d rather have one that is just a hair thinner than one that is a bit too thick, since this tires you faster after using it some time. Compared to the pictured Cold Steel short Bowie machete, the CS Bowie feels a bit better in the hand. The cotton canvas material is soft to the touch but the holes may end up causing blisters if used for long periods of time. In my experience a handle with no holes and no groves or bumps is preferred when you want to avoid blisters in those summer days when the skin is sweaty. The tip of the BWM could be a bit narrower but I understand how this could make it more fragile.
Of course the prima donna of the Busse is its INFI steel. I understand that, all things considered, its probably the best steel out there but I haven’t tested it enough. It did sharpen nicely, though at 59-60 Rc it may be just a bit too hard for an everyday use tool.
Due to the knives sober yet functional shape and sectional geometry, if the INFI steel lives up to its reputation, this may as well be one of the best knives money can buy.
Now for the things I didn’t like about it.
Notice the picture below. Knives come with sheaths as its an integral part of any sharp tool.
Left to right: Silver Facon, custom made with a Collins machete, Busse BWM, Cold Steel Bowie Machete, Machete Artilleria Eyersberg. Schebaum & C Solingen 1898, Buckmaster 184
The BWM sheath is the white piece of carton pictured below. Compare it to other sheaths. The Cold steel’s sheath isn’t pretty, but you know what? At least there IS one. And for a sub 20 dollar knife it does work darn well. Of course I could have one made, Kydex, leather, titanium or gold, but at least it comes with one and I don’t have to worry about my new knife not having a sheath.
Busse is a product of excellence, and no matter if you end up having a custom sheath made for it afterwards, it should come with one. Maybe a choice between kydex or leather, maybe just one depending on the intended use of the specific model being sold, but SOME sort of sheath is light years away from a piece of cardboard around the blade. Busse customers aren’t exactly indigent, for the price of the knife some sort of sheath should be included.
Second criticism, the edge it came with. Mine was inspected by “11”, and I tell you I was disappointed with how sharp the knife was. I read that this was an issue but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Mine even had some wire edge close to the tip that I had to get rid of. This is the type of edge Bellota or Tramontina machetes come with, mostly because they are thrown in a shelf at Home Depot and they don’t want people to get cut.
A knife is a cutting tool by definition and any knife that takes pride in itself should come as sharp as the quality of materials and craftsmanship allows. My Tramontina table knives (typical serrated ones) they come with a certain edge, the pictured Buck 184 “Buckmaster” is sharp enough to shave, with ease, out of the box.
I’m not sure what’s the point of having best steel in the planet if the edge doesn’t reflect its capability when brand new. Yes, after sharpening you see what its capable of. But you don’t buy a Ferrari, only to have the dealer tell you “Yes… you might want to take it to the mechanic, we sell you the thing but we done tune it for you so leave it in the mechanic for a few days. You can’t really hit the road as is”, as he hands you the keys to your brand new premium car.
Nice paper curl after sharpening my new BWM
These are intended as constructive criticism, the things I’ve observed and what I’d do to make one of the best knives in the world king of the hill beyond doubt.
I’m very pleased with my Busse and would buy another Busse knife again.
FerFAL
I bought it from EBRfan (excellent person to deal with) and received my knife yesterday.
The knife is a Black Bushwacker Mistress with black canvas micarta handle.
The blade is pretty much ideal for what I have in mind; a large general purpose/survival blade. The type of knife that, in my opinion, answers the “If you could only have one..” question.
The knife certainly isn’t thin and even though I understand that other Mistresses are thicker. This knife is thick enough, and a thicker one would be too heavy to chop for long periods of time as well as slower when doing so, affecting both its capability as a tool and weapon if it ends up being used in that role. Blade’s weight, shape and thickness are just perfect.
The canvas micarta grip is comfortable. At times it may feel like a bit too think but I’d rather have one that is just a hair thinner than one that is a bit too thick, since this tires you faster after using it some time. Compared to the pictured Cold Steel short Bowie machete, the CS Bowie feels a bit better in the hand. The cotton canvas material is soft to the touch but the holes may end up causing blisters if used for long periods of time. In my experience a handle with no holes and no groves or bumps is preferred when you want to avoid blisters in those summer days when the skin is sweaty. The tip of the BWM could be a bit narrower but I understand how this could make it more fragile.
Of course the prima donna of the Busse is its INFI steel. I understand that, all things considered, its probably the best steel out there but I haven’t tested it enough. It did sharpen nicely, though at 59-60 Rc it may be just a bit too hard for an everyday use tool.
Due to the knives sober yet functional shape and sectional geometry, if the INFI steel lives up to its reputation, this may as well be one of the best knives money can buy.
Now for the things I didn’t like about it.
Notice the picture below. Knives come with sheaths as its an integral part of any sharp tool.
Left to right: Silver Facon, custom made with a Collins machete, Busse BWM, Cold Steel Bowie Machete, Machete Artilleria Eyersberg. Schebaum & C Solingen 1898, Buckmaster 184
The BWM sheath is the white piece of carton pictured below. Compare it to other sheaths. The Cold steel’s sheath isn’t pretty, but you know what? At least there IS one. And for a sub 20 dollar knife it does work darn well. Of course I could have one made, Kydex, leather, titanium or gold, but at least it comes with one and I don’t have to worry about my new knife not having a sheath.
Busse is a product of excellence, and no matter if you end up having a custom sheath made for it afterwards, it should come with one. Maybe a choice between kydex or leather, maybe just one depending on the intended use of the specific model being sold, but SOME sort of sheath is light years away from a piece of cardboard around the blade. Busse customers aren’t exactly indigent, for the price of the knife some sort of sheath should be included.
Second criticism, the edge it came with. Mine was inspected by “11”, and I tell you I was disappointed with how sharp the knife was. I read that this was an issue but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Mine even had some wire edge close to the tip that I had to get rid of. This is the type of edge Bellota or Tramontina machetes come with, mostly because they are thrown in a shelf at Home Depot and they don’t want people to get cut.
A knife is a cutting tool by definition and any knife that takes pride in itself should come as sharp as the quality of materials and craftsmanship allows. My Tramontina table knives (typical serrated ones) they come with a certain edge, the pictured Buck 184 “Buckmaster” is sharp enough to shave, with ease, out of the box.
I’m not sure what’s the point of having best steel in the planet if the edge doesn’t reflect its capability when brand new. Yes, after sharpening you see what its capable of. But you don’t buy a Ferrari, only to have the dealer tell you “Yes… you might want to take it to the mechanic, we sell you the thing but we done tune it for you so leave it in the mechanic for a few days. You can’t really hit the road as is”, as he hands you the keys to your brand new premium car.
Nice paper curl after sharpening my new BWM
These are intended as constructive criticism, the things I’ve observed and what I’d do to make one of the best knives in the world king of the hill beyond doubt.
I’m very pleased with my Busse and would buy another Busse knife again.
FerFAL
So keep in mind, shaving sharp just makes it that much more dangerous for you in everyday use while really not affecting chopping, stabbing or splitting ability much if at all. Seriously, and this is not aimed at a specific person, if you plan on using your "survival" knife only to slice paper or shave then life must not be that rough. 
