How Does Busse Design Knife Models?

[straitshot]

Busse seems to have a unique position among knife producers. All models and lines sell out in advance, quickly, or eventually do without price reductions, discounted retailing, or "sales" common to others. The aftermarket offers the chance to get in on the models but usually at the same or increased cost. I know much of it is due to impeccable service, materials, and quality, yet designs must have something to do with this.

How are the designs determined? There is one coming up that is likely to be the result of forum suggestions, a seemingly unique process. How about past models?

1) Specs requested by the military then offered at retail?

2) Evolution of popular models?

3) Tweeking past models?

4) Filling an obvious gap like wildcat cartridges?

5) All, none, or some of the above?

6) Others? User feedback?

7) Does it even matter?

Whatever the method(s), they sure are effective.

 

[Ken44]

Jerry.

I'm sure the military has request that he works with also

 

[Wabajack]

IMO, have never been a huge fan of Busse marketing/production style, they are far to tailored to the collector market for my taste. I would like a standard production run of busses, using thoroughly time tested designs.

Cheers,
~Wabajack

 

[Walking Man]

IMO, have never been a huge fan of Busse marketing/production style, they are far to tailored to the collector market for my taste. I would like a standard production run of busses, using thoroughly time tested designs.

He did that for a long time, and his schedule ran WAY behind. As far as time tested designs go.... you can always special order something similar to an older model. Jerry also thoroughly tests every model, and has many willing volunteers to give him feedback as well.

 

[Heavy]

Jerry starts all designs with a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue. Once that's gone he cracks a beer and gets to drawing...

Just kidding....maybe...


I really think that while Jerry has a lot of designs in mind he just kind of lets things evolve...Seems to have worked so far.

 

[Wabajack]

He did that for a long time, and his schedule ran WAY behind.

So there is obviously money to be made on his behalf. That means it is beneficial for him and his customers.

As far as time tested designs go.... you can always special order something similar to an older model.

But they can cost more than a utility minded consumer like me would be willing to spend. And memory serving correctly, the waiting time for said special order can be quite a long time.

Jerry also thoroughly tests every model,

Of course, as one would expect, but a standard run with time tested designs are about as good as it gets. This would be a perfect solution for utility users like myself.

Standard Production would keep cost’s down for the manufacturer and in return would hopefully pass those savings on to the consumer. Besides that it would allow the consumer to choose their ideal knife at the time that is most ideal for them.

and has many willing volunteers to give him feedback as well.

IMO, time tested knife designs offered in a standard line-up are the way to go for utility minded consumers. Price is lower and design has been perfected over time.

Nothing against what Busse is doing now, I would love to see them continuing their production style, but I think a lot of people would like a standard line-up of Busse’s alongside the more collector based knives.

Cheers,
~ Wabajack

 

[Walking Man]

wabajack.....
There are some time tested models out there.... but mostly in respirene. Check out swamp rat and Scrapyard knives, they seem more like your style. At least as far as the handle goes. The blades seem to be mostly based on the original Busse Basic series, but there are many exceptions.
Part of the new production lineup and not keeping the older models may have been based in sales, everyone already what they wanted. I personally like the newer knives much better than the E handles. The only ones I really miss are the old style satin jack and the BAE, but I find the new line has more than adequate replacements.

 

[Dunner]

I think most of the knives ordered are user grade. They end up have a collector premium because people who don't get it and think the knives are too expensive during the order period don't bother to order one to their liking and have to chase one down in the secondary market when they figure it out. All of mine are users.

 

[Walking Man]

On second thought... maybe he just goes to the Dark Ops and Cold Steel websites for ideas. LOL.....

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

The new production protocol keeps wait times down. Less waiting equals more sales. Setting up the tooling for one (possibly two) models at a time is more cost effective for them.

I like the new way. I would not want several years long Randall-esque wait times to get a knife.

Getting knives is easy.

 

[Dunner]

AND you can go and find whatever combat grade Busse you consider to be the "ideal knife" (which is different for everyone and probably different even for an individual from one week to the next) in the exchange if you have even a tiny bit of patience. As far as value goes... combat grade/user grade Busse's are the best value I have found in a knife. If you just want cheaper, then that's a different issue.

 

[Tyrkon Lawson]

Kind of like a ouija board. The staff get Jerry inebriated and put a pen in his hand. And the spirits (not super natural) take over.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

IMO, have never been a huge fan of Busse marketing/production style, they are far to tailored to the collector market for my taste. I would like a standard production run of busses, using thoroughly time tested designs.

Cheers,
~Wabajack

what's a "time tested" design?

what most of us like is the innovation and variation jerry is able to produce. if he had a factory like benchmade perhaps he could make much larger runs.

as it is, there is something out there for everyone. maybe the knives currently available aren't to your liking, but i guarantee there is a past line that is. and every past line has made or will make a return in some form.

since ive been buying busses, there have been no less than fifteen models, with countless variations, not including ganza offerings.

there is a standard production run. check the bcs, wardens and badgers are available for immediate delivery.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

So there is obviously money to be made on his behalf. That means it is beneficial for him and his customers.

id guess that money is not the only driving force in jerry's decision to produce and sell the way he does. anyone who has talked to him can probably attest to that.

But they can cost more than a utility minded consumer like me would be willing to spend. And memory serving correctly, the waiting time for said special order can be quite a long time.

on the secondary market, sure, costs can be very high. many models have collector value that is difficult to measure.

but, for example, the recent release of meaners and ad's were all priced near 200.00. quite a deal for a knife of that size and quality.

Of course, as one would expect, but a standard run with time tested designs are about as good as it gets. This would be a perfect solution for utility users like myself.

again, what does that mean? there are more variations and designs than any other mid-tech company i know of.

Standard Production would keep cost’s down for the manufacturer and in return would hopefully pass those savings on to the consumer. Besides that it would allow the consumer to choose their ideal knife at the time that is most ideal for them.

and again, buy from the shop, and the prices are all VERY reasonable. it would be impossible to produce the ideal knife for everyone all the time.

at some point, there has probably been the ideal knife for most, though.

IMO, time tested knife designs offered in a standard line-up are the way to go for utility minded consumers. Price is lower and design has been perfected over time.

you keep saying that. time tested. do you mean time tested as in what will sell? time tested as in what works?

more models and more variations than any other company. there is something for everyone.

and i disagree with prices being lower. look at the original pricing, not the secondary market pricing, and it is hard to argue that busse knives are expensive relative to what else is being made.

 

[Hogwash]

Most Busse's incorporate a number of time tested design elements.

The newer models always seem to have better ergonomics, increased quality and usually surpass the utility of the model they replace.

On the other hand my favorite chopper is my EU-17 Magnum which is an older design than the FBM. The FBM has a much more intricately machined handle, a bigger and better blade, a radiused plunge grind, a better thumb ramp and CBT.

For me the EU-17 Magnum just fits right. The FBM fits very well also and it fits more people very well. Busse's best chopper is certainly the FBM, it is only my personal taste that favors the EU-17 Magnum. In fact I only have two EU-17 Magnums while I have 5 FBM's and I'm considering a sixth.

I like the current production system. There is always something to look forward to. If they just made a hand full of models to cover a reasonable selection, once I had a set, there would be nothing to anticipate.