If only they still made BAIIIs...

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whisk

Joined
Jul 19, 2007
Messages
4
Well I've been looking for a long time for a good Busse to use as a hunting/backpacking knife, as mine get abused a bit.

Problem is, all the shapes are a bit 'wierd' or more for chopping than hunting. BATAC is too chunky for my taste, AD and MS are too small! Nuke EDC doesn't have the right curve for skinning etc. etc.

In my eyes, the BA3 looks perfect, those piccies from redwolfhowlin show just what I'm after (particularly the 7th one down on the left!)! Pity they don't make them any more and they seem to be like hen's teeth and damn expensive second-hand!

I can't be the only one who thinks this way...can I??? If Busse released some more they'd sell like hot-cakes!
 
I have to agree with you on the old A2 steel Badger attack. I had an old BA and a Mean Street, from Jerry's first batch, and traded them to two Fusion steel hearts, but I have to admit that the old badger attack felt perfect in my hand like no other medium size knife has yet, I love the HOFSHs to traded them to, since I didn't have any FSH at the time(now I have 7), but I really do miss that old BA and would love to pick up another one if I could find one under $300, but that will never happen unless I come across one from some unsuspecting knife dealer at a gun show. I have the old Steel heart IIs and they are the same way, feel great in the hand like no other.. I really wish Jerry would do a remake of those Badger attacks in INFI and .25 thick! ... EXACT same design, but color options! Your right, it would be an incredible seller for all who like a comfortable midsized knife.. I now have a BATAC LE that has replaced it, and don't get me wrong, I love my BATACLE, but it just isn't the old BA.
Here's to my Buddy Grant, who now has my baby :-)
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got to love the old style! ASH 1???? maybe ABA, ASHII ??? one day???
 
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I have to agree with you guys my favorite 2 knives is aN old infi straight handled badger attack and a ba3 both of them went with me on vacation last week to the rocky mountains and utah...BOTH CAME HOME BEAT UP NOW I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SHARPEN THEM. I like fatty versions but these are very thin and and cut very nice.
 
FBUSMC, the original Badger was eventually made in INFI, and was 1/4" thick.

Look for the ones with tubes holding the slabs on. :thumbup:

I had one, but traded it for a variant... Still not sure if it was the right choice....:confused:
 
whisk, welcome to Bladeforums.

The BAIII is a great shape and size, but don't discount the AD or Meaner when it comes to hunting. One thing I've found over the last several years is that you don't really need a large knife for hunting duties. I've moved from bigger 5-6" blades to smaller 3-4" blades. A lot of the Bark River hunting knives aren't that large. The Meaner has a blade shape very similar to the Buck 110, probably one of the most used hunting blades in existence.

Some hunting-sized blades:

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Beautiful knives, Guyon. I especially like the collection of 110's (though I've never owned one) and that ABALE. THAT'S an older Busse I REALLY like.
 
I agree Guyon, 3-4in is fine for most hunting duties. In this way, the LMS would be fine, and very similar to the knife I used growing up hunting.

However, the game I hunt now can bite back - and I can say from experience that it's very off-putting going up against a wounded Boar with a Buck Vanguard (previous knife) or similar 3-4in blade. It's just not long enough for defensive purposes. The Ratmandu looks great - pity it's not in INFI.

I also like the look of the curve on the BA3 - for skinning purposes. It should also be strong enough to be used as a utility (camp work, light chopping etc). I only have room for one blade, so I like it to do all these jobs with only a little compromise. My current knife (Fallkniven S1) is a great size/shape but the steel has proven its not up to chopping bone and similar rough tasks. I have a picture which makes my blade look serrated from the chips. INFI, apparently, is well tough enough.

I think Busse got it very right with the BA3. Not too big, good shape, good curve etc. Chopping power - tick. Defensive uses - tick. Use as a backup survival knife - tick. DAMMIT!!! I just can't get my hands on one!

Please Jerry, just one more BA3 run???
 
For it's size, I've found the handle to be a bit thin. Otherwise I love the knife. Just would prefer a bit beefier handle for that bladesize.
 
I'd have to agree with the opinion that the SHBA is just about as perfect as can be. I handled one at Blade and immediately wished I had not! Perfect size and shape for my girly hands. Oh well, maybe someday...;)
 
I agree,
The BAIII is about the best all around knife I've ever owned.

Perfect Blade... Perfect handle in every way.

I like the ABA much more than reg BAIII though.


I would love to see a version with .5 inch taken from handle and blade length.
 
whisk said:
However, the game I hunt now can bite back - and I can say from experience that it's very off-putting going up against a wounded Boar with a Buck Vanguard (previous knife) or similar 3-4in blade.
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The BAIII is not significantly bigger than the Buck Vanguard. I can take a comparison pic at some point if you'd like.

You might look into something like a SH-E or maybe a NO-E (or possibly a BA-E). Seems to me like those would be great pig stickers with the longer blades. They both have some belly for skinning, and both could handle bone chopping duty.

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I feel ya bro, I've had that request in my sig line for a long time and not even one offer :grumpy: They are scarce :grumpy:
 
i didn't like anything with a 3rd gen handle, or the shba. I'm hopeing that my all custom comes out better. the problem with all customs is that during the 2-3 year wait period, your taste in knives can change.

if I could redo the order, it would be for a ratmandu with out a choil, one thick and one thin, and a slight modification of the cold steel finn wolf design.
 
I agree with Ken if we are allowed to modify perfection a little! Half an inch, especially on the handle, would be really perfect. Bill


Ken44 said:
I agree,
The BAIII is about the best all around knife I've ever owned.

Perfect Blade... Perfect handle in every way.

I like the ABA much more than reg BAIII though.


I would love to see a version with .5 inch taken from handle and blade length.
Click to expand...
 
Folks listen, those old school SHBA's aren't what you are looking for. Maybe I should do another passaround so you can all see the error of your ways. :eek:
I've still got a couple kicking around collecting dust. :D

piglet
 
I have an ABALE with he butt ground by Busse flush with the Micarta. Feels great, and at the time I bought it I envisioned it as the perfect hunting knife. I now would consider it that only if I was on a wilderness hunt and had to have my skinning knife on my person. However, as long as I am in dragging distance of the truck (where there will be a skinner and several other knives) the AD to me is the perfect knife for whitetail field dressing.
 
I sold my BA3 like a IDIOT. Stripped it and applied the DC finish to it and then sold it. :(

Did I metion that I'm an IDIOT.

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I kept the SHBA though. :thumbup:
 
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