HELP!Cant make up my mind SAR8 or NMSFNO

begreen61

begreen61

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Oct 13, 2008
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Anyone have both knives would like a side by side shot to make up my mind.Plus anyfeed back would be helpfull.Looking at these 2 Busse for hunting and camping reasons.
 
Well you could pick up a SAR8 satin blade at the busse store. Or, more then likely, have to watch, wait, and score a NMSFNO. I really like my SAR8 but i don't have a NMSFNO to compare it with. I had even offered a new CG NMFBM to trade for a NMSFNO LE with no takers. If your ok with a cg then you shouldn't have to much difficulty buying a NMSFNO. Otherwise you can get a SAR8 in satin tonight.
 
The NMSFNO will most likely chop better, having a broader blade which will put the balance more toward the tip. The SAR8 will most likely be lighter in the hand and therefore better for machete like tasks such as slashing. The NMSFNO is also available in CG versions, which could theoretically make one available for less money, although the secondary market markup sort of negates that.

I have an NMSFNO, and like it quite a lot. I would like to have a SAR8 so I could compare them directly with first-hand experience, but the lack of a CG model of SAR8 has prevented me from doing so. I'm not fond of the idea pf paying the several hundred dollar markup for a pretty shiny finish on a knife I'm just going to beat until it's all scratched up anyway.
 
Here ya go. :)

Busse_SAR-8_NMSFNO-LE.jpg


Man, I really hope that I turn up my Canon's battery charger soon, 'cause taking pix with even a Leica pocket camera with no flash ('cause direct flash doesn't work well on satin finished knives) suxx! :grumpy:;)

I haven't used either very much, so I can't really give an in depth opinion, but...

The SAR-8 is a little lighter in weight, and has a slimmer profile, thickness-wise as well as a thinner blade height. I would think that this would help if carried all day.
The NMSFNO LE has a more comfortable handle grip (to me).
Both have nice usable choils.
The SAR-8 has thumb notches. The NMSFNO LE does not, but it has a scalloped' thumbrest while the SAR-8 does not.
Both have enough blade weight to make them at least semi-decent choppers, yet light enough for other tasks and it's comfortable to 'choke up' on their blades.
 
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I think if you combined a normal NMSFNO and a SAR8, you would get the NMSFNO LE, so get that, or get all three :)
 
I have a SAR4 and a NMSFNO and I would say the NMSFNO by far based on the handle/grips alone. The SAR grips are very skinny and flat, the NMSFNO handles fit/feel great in my hand. Plus I prefer the broader/beefier blade.
 
I have both. If I could only have one, it would be the NMSFNO, with absolutely no doubt. It is one of my favorites, maybe the favorite, but I try to not think about just one, with the Skinny ASH, BWM, SJTAC and AD. I am also liking the BOSS St. more and more each day I use it.
 
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MustardMan said:
The NMSFNO will most likely chop better, having a broader blade which will put the balance more toward the tip. The SAR8 will most likely be lighter in the hand and therefore better for machete like tasks such as slashing. The NMSFNO is also available in CG versions, which could theoretically make one available for less money, although the secondary market markup sort of negates that.

I have an NMSFNO, and like it quite a lot. I would like to have a SAR8 so I could compare them directly with first-hand experience, but the lack of a CG model of SAR8 has prevented me from doing so. I'm not fond of the idea pf paying the several hundred dollar markup for a pretty shiny finish on a knife I'm just going to beat until it's all scratched up anyway.
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Not having an SAR8 to compare, I will still say the SAR will chop better with the STOCK edges. The NMSFNO stock edge was :( Now convexed, it chops like a machine for its size.
 
Oof that's a tough choice.

I have both and they are slightly different in performance. If really pushed I would probably go with the SAR8. It might be it's just my flavor of the month blade at the moment but I really do like it.

The NMSFNO is a great knife but I think my problem is my CGFBM does the jobs I would use it for so it ends up benched. The SAR8 is different enough to the CGFBM to allow it to get a share of tasks when out.
 
Thanks to all you Hogs ,This is a tough one,,Likeing the SAR8 looks wise,and weight wise,,but the NMSFNO has a reputation all its own.One day I'll own both.but right now selling one knife to get one of the above.Thanks again to all my peers from the Hog Farm for the info and Pictures,,you people are GREAT.
 
Had both NMSFNO and SAR-8 LE - both are great great knives, either one could have been my "one knife" choice - but I found I preferred the SAR-8 and eventually sold the NMSFNO. Like others here, I already have a FBM-LE for heavy duty chopping and prefer the SAR-8 LE for its lighter, quicker, sleeker qualities. And I suppose that both are numbered #94 might have played in my decision, too!

Bottom line: It's a personal choice, but you won't go wrong with either one.
 
230grains said:
Not having an SAR8 to compare, I will still say the SAR will chop better with the STOCK edges. The NMSFNO stock edge was :( Now convexed, it chops like a machine for its size.
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Good point - my recommendation was based on the assumption that you would put a workable edge on the nmsfno. I try to never let factory edges bias my thoughts on individual knives, as they have varied so much over time.
 
While the SFNO is my all time favorite, I do not like the NMSFNO as much. The SAR8 feel better IMO than the NMSFNO.
 
I think the NMSFNO is the better knife out of the two with much more versatility. I think it might be my favorite, but still trying to decide between it and the CGFBM.
But really, probably cant go wrong with either.
 
I'd argue for the NMSFNO simply because the SGF grips are the most comfortable of any Busse I've held.


But, I have to ask, since you mentioned liking the lean, ligth of the SAR-8, why not add 2 inches and get a BWM? The grips on it are a very close second in comfort to the SF grips, and I doubt either of the two you are looking at can do anything the BWM can't.
 
The NMSFNO I owned is one of the few knives I truly regret having to sell off (out of work, new baby). It will be one of the few I will purchase again at some point. To me, it is the most well finished knife I have yet handled. Even the lowest priced grips, black micarta mags, were extremely comfortable. The SAR-8 does not hold alot of appeal to me. This is likely from the grip shape. Having not held one this is likely a pretty unfair assessment.

One of the nice things about either of these knives is if you purchase it and decide you really want the other, there is a good chance of loosing little money or changing you mind.
 
MustardMan said:
Good point - my recommendation was based on the assumption that you would put a workable edge on the nmsfno. I try to never let factory edges bias my thoughts on individual knives, as they have varied so much over time.
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I don't have any problems taking a 30 dollar sander to a 400 dollar knife, neither do you. Not everyone is like us though, and not everyone can even reprofile an edge properly. It all depends.

Which one would I rather have? The NMSFNO, with a reprofiled edge chops and batons extremely well. Which is better out of the box? The SAR 8 I'd think. That said, if I had absolutely no ability to reprofile an edge, there are a lot of other knives i'd choose over an NMSFNO, including several bark rivers. With a re profiled edge, it's an absolute beast. The stock edge was useless for it's task.
 
230grains said:
I don't have any problems taking a 30 dollar sander to a 400 dollar knife, neither do you. Not everyone is like us though, and not everyone can even reprofile an edge properly. It all depends.

Which one would I rather have? The NMSFNO, with a reprofiled edge chops and batons extremely well. Which is better out of the box? The SAR 8 I'd think. That said, if I had absolutely no ability to reprofile an edge, there are a lot of other knives i'd choose over an NMSFNO, including several bark rivers. With a re profiled edge, it's an absolute beast. The stock edge was useless for it's task.
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I know you guys are talking about the NMSFNO CG but there is no reason to reprofile the edge on this one



There are also non-LE satin full convex NMSFNO's out there that have the exact egde as the SAR8. If you compare apples to apples then I would say for a chopper the NMSFNO wins. If you are doing more slashing and machete type work then the SAR8 wins. Factory edges on both of those are GTG.:thumbup:


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oeser said:
I know you guys are talking about the NMSFNO CG but there is no reason to reprofile the edge on this one



There are also non-LE satin full convex NMSFNO's out there that have the exact egde as the SAR8. If you compare apples to apples then I would say for a chopper the NMSFNO wins. If you are doing more slashing and machete type work then the SAR8 wins. Factory edges on both of those are GTG.:thumbup:


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I was waiting on someone to say that;):D
 
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