Recommendation? Good first Busse for camp/outdoors tasks?

Dadpool said:
At the cheaper and smaller end of the spectrum, how would something like a Ratmandu compare to the larger knives folks have been suggesting? Smaller and lighter, but not exactly small, and I guess not much for chopping -- but solid for batoning and wood processing?
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The Rodent 6 is a great compromise here. It's also one of my favorites. Smaller, but plenty capable of chopping. They can also be had for well under $300.
 
I've actually been on a quest for "the one" Busse knife pretty similar to your stated specs and preferences myself for the last couple of years. Evaluations are still ongoing (read playing with knives when I get the chance :D) but my current favorite of what I've bought to try out hasn't been mentioned yet: the SARGE 7. There's still more "evaluating" and a couple more I would like to try before I'm ready to pick my personal perfect Busse of that size though. I'll try to get a family pic of my current contenders tomorrow.
 
The DS8 is a real winner. The Res-C handle makes it very comfortable to use. The Trash-2, Chop House and 911 are also great camp knives. For a little more chopping the Basic 11 is outstanding. There really are a lot of good choices available.

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I love my TGLB but I've become a big fan of the Ratweiler. To me they feel choppier than the Gemini. Regular SR101 versions are easy to come by. Infi shows up on the exchange every once in a while.
 
026D0C68-1427-49BC-95FC-B8A85A472B95.jpeg 6DDE36A8-3FB5-42F9-ADA4-BA00ABF5C553.jpeg 791C9BAD-F7B0-4E9A-9A6E-F3D6A38CA618.jpeg Now they’re quite rare, but if you can manage to find a HOGFSH — that beast of a knife will last forever and work very nicely for just about anything. It’s a bit heavy (24-25 oz), but it’s all you need if you pair it with a folding saw and neck knife/folder.
 
Dadpool said:
Howdy! I've been drooling over Busses for the past year or so and might finally be ready to buy my first one. :D

I'm looking for a knife for outdoors and camp tasks, including chopping, and I live in the Pacific Northwest. That combination makes me think I'm after a larger blade (7" and up? But not in the machete range), in INFI for the added corrosion resistance (and probably coated as well), with an ergonomic handle. I will pair it with a small folder for food prep and lighter tasks, so it doesn't need to be strong in those areas.

I love the look of the TG-SE, and the recent A2 run looks like a good spot size-wise. (Same would go for the TGLB, I think, but I usually see them outside my price range.) Not sure how A2 stacks up to INFI, but based on reading threads here the general consensus seems to be quite nicely.

I also love the look of the ASH-1 and SFNO, and I like that both of those (unlike the TG) offer a thumb rest without a guard on the back. The ASH-1 seems a touch short for my use case, at least on paper.

All of that said, there are a staggering number of Busse acronyms and variations, and I'm sure I'm missing some! :eek: Am I on the right track looking at those three? Am on the right track with my general specs?

While I recognize that "you can't stop at just one!" is a thing, buying a second Busse would be unlikely for a long time. I'm trying to nail it on my first outing. Thanks for any help you can provide! :D
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You didn't say where you are in the PNW, but if you want to put your hands on a decent sized user collection, give me head's up the next time you are passing through Missoula. You can spend a lot of money and time trying to figure it out buying one after another after another etc. Or you could see which ones fit your hands and get the right one early on. ;)
 
Yes, the HOFSH is a grand choice. And they do come up rarely as ROB states. Regular FSH not bad either. Oh, and legend here decrees that all ASH1’s eventually go down Australia way to Andy. But I believe he only has two more than do I. It’s a constant tug of war between the hemispheres.

And I’m sure you now know that some of us have spent so much money on these fine knives that institutional care might be in order. Man, you get here before you know it. Good luck.
 
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My first Busse-kin knife ever was a Swamp Rat R6 in SR101 bought off the website. I ordered it and forgot I ordered it by the time it came in. I never used it because it was too nice and expensive compared to my ESEE's...then I bought an INFI knife, and another and another and another and started using those instead!

I just recently sold my near mint R6 on the exchange.

Ergonomics and design-wise, I believe it to be one of the best Busse knives out there - and it is so simple you can take the knife any direction you want in terms of geometry etc...

C
 
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AZTimT said:
You didn't say where you are in the PNW, but if you want to put your hands on a decent sized user collection, give me head's up the next time you are passing through Missoula. You can spend a lot of money and time trying to figure it out buying one after another after another etc. Or you could see which ones fit your hands and get the right one early on. ;)
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I should have spent the money to go to a knife show or 2 several years ago to check out knives in person...would have been a lot cheaper than mail ordering small, medium, large, extra large and tiny INFI.

If you love knives, Jerruh-World is a bad, bad place to be.

C
 
Dadpool said:
At the cheaper and smaller end of the spectrum, how would something like a Ratmandu compare to the larger knives folks have been suggesting? Smaller and lighter, but not exactly small, and I guess not much for chopping -- but solid for batoning and wood processing?
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As you might guess, the RMD is excellent. In fact, it’s my personal favorite 5” blade of all time. The conundrum is never “which hog/rat/dog will do” but rather, “which one will do best,” since as you can see, we all have our favorite flavors, and those will sometime depend on which day of the week you catch us on. Personally, I try to keep my Busse pool at around 50 different models, but this means constantly selling things I really do not want to part with.
 
COPIUOS said:
My first knife ever was a Swamp Rat R6 in SR101 bought off the website. I ordered it and forgot I ordered it by the time it came in. I never used it because it was too nice and expensive compared to my ESEE's...then I bought an INFI knife, and another and another and another and started using those instead!

I just recently sold my near mint R6 on the exchange.

Ergonomics and design-wise, I believe it to be one of the best Busse knives out there - and it is so simple you can take the knife any direction you want in terms of geometry etc...

C
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I have way fewer Rats than I have Hogs, but I honestly just do not see letting the ones I do have go, ever.

Right at the top of that list is my CS R6. God I love that knife.
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Lots of great choices here but my vote for a good "first" camp knife and all around outdoor knife would also be the Camp Tramp. A really great value - excellent performance at a price point of <$200

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The NMSFNOLE is my favorite in this size, however, if you don't plan on chopping a lot, the SHSJ is easier to carry and does a great job at batoning - both of these are infi and of course a little more $$$

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I appreciate all of the feedback in this thread! Its amazing how many folks have a different favorite Busse (or kin) for this role.

AZTimT said:
You didn't say where you are in the PNW, but if you want to put your hands on a decent sized user collection, give me head's up the next time you are passing through Missoula. You can spend a lot of money and time trying to figure it out buying one after another after another etc. Or you could see which ones fit your hands and get the right one early on. ;)
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Thank you for the offer! I'm in Seattle, but will keep it in mind if I'm ever out that way.
 
RedbeAR15 said:
Lots of great choices here but my vote for a good "first" camp knife and all around outdoor knife would also be the Camp Tramp. A really great value - excellent performance at a price point of <$200

The NMSFNOLE is my favorite in this size, however, if you don't plan on chopping a lot, the SHSJ is easier to carry and does a great job at batoning - both of these are infi and of course a little more $$$
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Man - those SHSJ's are the lick! I have to say, they are super awesome in hand!

C
 
clampdaddy said:
I love my TGLB but I've become a big fan of the Ratweiler. To me they feel choppier than the Gemini. Regular SR101 versions are easy to come by. Infi shows up on the exchange every once in a while.
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I totally agree. I held out on buying one because I wasn't sure about the he handle, then ordered one when the INFI version was released. A couple months later (but before I got mine) I got my hands on one and knew I had made the right decision. I don't have a TGLB, but I'm guessing the Ratweiler is heavier, however that's going to vary depending on the model of Rat you have.
 
Rasmus80 said:
The correct answer is the SFNO Le.

No Busse in existence is more awesome.
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I agree with this statement 200%. My all time favorite too. I wasn't even going to mention it to a new guy, because they don't turn over very often these days. I am currently holding 3 of the 300, I at one time had 7. I am sure there is a sneaky hog out there that has more of them than that.
 
Yes Dadpool, many choices. The Busse Mothership could have stopped the introduction of new models ten years ago, and a nearly overwhelming amount of choices would still exist. Any of the models mentioned here would make a fine introduction for you. And may be a tad small for your intended tasks, but think nearly all of us have at least one RMD. It was my gateway to this addiction. Followed by Skinny ASH1. Good luck.
 
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