I need some Busse help... want to order, but this stuff is CONFUSING!

K

Kyle B.

Joined
Jul 14, 2008
Messages
117
You guys seem to be the leading authority on Busse Knives, so I figured that this is the best place to ask a few questions on the topic. I really would like to add a piece of INFI to my collection, but MAN ALIVE, this stuff blows my mind. So many abbreviations, grades, handles, sheaths, micartas... I mean, just thinking about this stuff makes my brain hurt. Oh, man, I need to take an asprin before--
326299593.jpg


:D


So, do you think you could help a poor Busse newbie out? Here's what I want to know:

1) What's the difference between standard, competition and combat grade knives? What's the price difference, and are the advantages worth it? I don't plan on chopping through rib bones and splitting skulls with this knife too very often, but I want to know that in a fight this knife will take care of me, not breaking, bending or dulling.

2A) When ordering from Busse himself, can I only order the knives listed on his site (for example, right now all that's listed is two versions of the Battle Mistress, last month it was just two versions of the ASH-1) or can I order exactly what I want?

2B) I've heard a lot about Busse's custom shop. If Busse can't make me a BATAC, can the custom shop? How long would this take, and is there any extra charge for having the custom shop do it?

3) When ordering directly from Busse, do I have to contact the sheath company I want to have make me one, or can I just tell Busse which one I want and pay him extra for it?

4) What is Busse's wait time to make a knife?
 
Last edited:
i'm no pro, but if you want a specific knife, the sales thread might be nice to check out. many safequeens out there.

and as i interpreted it, you can only buy what's offered on the busse site from busse.
however the bussecompanystore has a rolling list of infi, right now there is a few skinny ash1 and a couple of scrofas, a couple of bads.

the sheath is ordered from the sheath maker, many of them listed on the busse site has allot of busse knives so you don't have to send your knife to them. just order.


im not sure about the different verision, but CG as i get it is a more stout and stronger then the standard. LE is limited edition, offerded with various features such as tigerhide scales and satin finnish.

regarding their performance, i don't think it matters what knife you use, the things you use them on will break before the knife dose....
 
I'm also no expert but I've come a long way. I recommend you keep reading this board as well as the exchange. Also, if you like what you see on the Busse site, you should just go ahead and order because whatever it is won't be around for long. Right now the Nuclear Meltdown Fusion Battle Mistress is for sale but Jerry informed us that it'll be gone within days or even minutes, never to be offered again!

Also the combat version has a coated blade with four colors to choose from as well as 4 handles. For a beginner it can be a little frustrating trying to figure out what looks like what so you'll see a lot of people asking for picture requests with really specific color combinations. Last week I asked people for examples of Urban Grey and Desert Sage and a bunch of kind people on this board were nice enough to take pics of their knives and show them to me.

As for the abbreviations, the following site has helped me a great deal. Just click "appendix" and read them all! lol

http://www.bussecollector.com/

If I think of anything else, I'll post more info. Good luck!
 
Kyle B. said:
1) What's the difference between standard, competition and combat grade knives? What's the price difference, and are the advantages worth it? I don't plan on chopping through rib bones and splitting skulls with this knife too very often, but I want to know that in a fight this knife will take care of me, not breaking, bending or dulling.

2A) When ordering from Busse himself, can I only order the knives listed on his site (for example, right now all that's listed is two versions of the Battle Mistress, last month it was just two versions of the ASH-1) or can I order exactly what I want?

This is correct. You can only order what is currently listed

2B) I've heard a lot about Busse's custom shop. If Busse can't make me a BATAC, can the custom shop? How long would this take, and is there any extra charge for having the custom shop do it?

They say a custom shop order is "2 weeks" but it is sort of a running joke here. It can take quite a long time. I would just plunder the exchange

3) When ordering directly from Busse, do I have to contact the sheath company I want to have make me one, or can I just tell Busse which one I want and pay him extra for it?

You are responsible for securing a sheath and contacting a sheath maker.

4) What is Busse's wait time to make a knife?

Good question. For the custom shop you can send an email to ask but I have a feeling it will be a while as orders may be plentiful.

5) Can anyone here give me a ballpark estimate what a Badger Attack, NARK or Satin Jack should cost?
Click to expand...

Supply and demand. Check the exchange for various examples of each model you are looking for that are selling currently and sold recently. That should give you a ball park estimate as to their going rate.
 
Thanks guys, as far as the questions above go I think I have what I need. Now I just have a few more quick ones for the forum members with Busse Custom Shop experience.

I think I know what I want exactly. I'd like to get a Combat Grade BATAC, Desert Olive finished with black Magnum micarta stocks and standard fasteners. I'd get a black Chuddy Bear randall pouch sheath with a snap-open stone pouch permanently attached and sent with an EZE-Lap 36F stone.

1) Will Busse Custom make older model knives or do they too only make what's currently offered?

2) Anybody know how long it actually takes the Custom Shop to make a knife, de facto? Weeks, months, longer? :eek:

3) Is there an extra charge for having the Custom Shop make your knife, or do they just charge what the knife cost when they came out? (For example, when the CG BATAC came out in 2007 it cost $227 + $35 for the Magnums.)
 
Last edited:
I think the rule of thumb is $100 per inch when you order from the custom shop, and you'll have to wait in line for quite a while (I think it's usually a couple of years but I might be wrong). My recommendation is to post a WTB (want to buy) thread in the exchange, and take a few minutes every day to check the for sale section. It might also be worth it to check that other auction site. Good luck!
 
Welcome to the infisanity...

Combat grade is the standard model. Competition grade is the state a blade would be in for in house testing of the design. This is INFI in the raw, baby! Bare nekkid, dimples and all. The LE's are the numbered creme de la creme of the regular release...so tastey. Then there are customs...
I wouldn't worry about breaking a Busse, either. If you really are concerned, or are really going to beat it, go for 0.20" and up in thickness, IMO. I have the CG ASH-1 at 0.320". Breaking it? Yeah, good luck with that.
Dulling... I used my ASH-1 to cut walnut for campfires last week, and it still shaves. I have reprofiled the edge on mine, but I had to baton the heck out of my ASH to get through the walnut. And if it had dulled, infi loves stropping, and is one of the easiest steels of its type to sharpen, IMO.
As to sheaths...there are Busse recommended sheath makers, there is the Sheaths and such forum here on BFC with a master list of sheathmakers (not all sheathmakers are on there, yet) to choose from. The recommended sheath makers are outstanding, and well worth the wait/cost. Some are Hogs and may even have the knife on hand, so you won't need to send yours. Busse no longer handles sheaths (in general), so this would be a seperate transaction.
The wait time is affectionately known as "2 weeks". It just varies. For instant gratification, the company store or the exchange is the place.
You can go to www.hogcult.com and see models and release prices, but the after market is its own game. Patience will net you the best price.
Good luck, and better get an asbestos wallet, cause INFI is gonna burn it up! :)
 
Ikarus said:
I think the rule of thumb is $100 per inch when you order from the custom shop, and you'll have to wait in line for quite a while (I think it's usually a couple of years but I might be wrong).
Click to expand...

$1,075 + $35 for mag scales + $15 shipping + $88 for a sheath...

That'd be $1,213 for my next carry knife setup. NOT gonna happen. I'll check the For Sale ads.... :grumpy: ;)

Thanks a lot for the help!
 
Might be less for a knife that small, especially since it's a model they used to make.
 
Kyle B. said:
$1,075 + $35 for mag scales + $15 shipping + $88 for a sheath...

That'd be $1,213 for my next carry knife setup. NOT gonna happen. I'll check the For Sale ads.... :grumpy: ;)

Thanks a lot for the help!
Click to expand...

Before assuming that this is the price for the BATAC custom ordered (sheath & shipping not included), unless this IS what you heard from the Shop... I'd call Busse and ask them if it is doable, and what they'd charge ya. Another option is to place a WTB thread with your specifications in the "Knives, Wanted To Buy" sub-forum here on BladeForums, and hopefully someone will sell you theirs. :)
 
Yeah, it can never hurt to ask, and Jerry seems like a pretty good guy. I'll call Monday. If the wait time is just a few months and I can get the knife for a pretty good price I may just have to break down and place an order. If that doesn't work out I'll just have to dig through the couch cushions to see what I can afford to spend and place an want ad of a BATAC or ASH-1 on the site. Thanks a lot for the advice!
 
Just curious but why are you so hung up on the BATAC? You can score a beautiful ASH-1 on the exchange just about everyday for around $300.
 
A resource that I didn't notice mentioned is the Busse Company Store (Click the "Order Here" link to see what's currently available). The Company Store typically has more stuff than the Main Site, and whats listed as available is actually in stock -- you pay, they ship the next day. The Main Site has more "cutting edge" knives than the store, but when you buy there you're placing a pre-order that may not ship for months.

If you haven't already, you may want to look through the Busse Help Site - Acronyms, Porn Links, and Definitions Sticky link at the top of this sub-forum -- it's a list of resources you may find helpful.
 
Welcome to the Infi, Kyle.
There are a lot of good resources (company store and the exchange) that will help you in your quest to obtain Infi. I have acquired most of my Infi from other forum members.
The BATAC is a real nice blade and it does pop up on the exchange every once in awhile.
I hope that you will be able to find what you are looking for.

Dan
 
EvanBNW said:
Just curious but why are you so hung up on the BATAC? You can score a beautiful ASH-1 on the exchange just about everyday for around $300.
Click to expand...

Well, the Steel Heart is my second choice. In the same configuration as above I figure I'll spend about $300 on the knife, maybe a bit extra on Magnum scales and $103 on a Chuddy Bear sheath. The only thing is, I want a knife that's just a bit smaller. Whereas the ASH is over a foot long, the BATAC is a slightly more compact 10", easier to conceal.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top