Well, Jerry, I'm not one to say "I told you so"...
If you were to count the number of forumites who have posted on this thread so far, then count how many of those requested a knife with your discontinued straight handle design, you would see how many of us forumites miss it. I for one am sitting here with enough cash on hand, waiting in reserve, to buy the next straight handled BM I can find, but I will not part with it for an E-handled BM. Granted, the E-handle probably IS a vast improvement in ergonomics over the straight handle, but that's a moot point from a sales and market demand perspective. The E handle may run rings around the straight handle, but many of us diehard Busse fanatics just simply don't like their looks--at least not compared to the straight handle, which YOU designed, and WE fell in love with. If only you had designed a straight handle that wasn't so beautiful and awe-inspiring, we might have been more receptive to the new E handle's looks. But you didn't--you designed a handle so good looking that you may never top it no matter how ergonomic you get, but that's water under the bridge now.
I know form follows function at Busse, and that's as it should be, but please be mindful that not all of us out here are "field operators", and that to some of us, especially us Busse forumites, a great knife is a bit like a woman--you'd like to have one that is functional and comfortable, but it has to be visually appealing as well.
Why don't you do this: Start a new thread here for anyone who wants a straight handled BM (with original BM blade profile) to sign up, and see how many do. Then figure what your setup and production costs would be, and decide if it's worth it to you to make a small batch. Then once that project is over, start another signup thread for straight handled SH2's, and so on and so forth. Make it understood at the beginning of the thread that it is only tentative, and you reserve the right to decide not to make any, or to cancel their production at any time. Or alternatively, tell us up front how many straight handled BM orders it would take to make a batch at $350 each (or similar price that reflects a batch price, rather than a $100/" custom price), and then let us forumites do the leg work and spread the word until we get the required number of orders. I don't see where there would be any risk on your part with this approach, though I could easily be wrong.
Finally, how about offering different color schemes on your regular lines as an extra option, such as olive green canvas micarta scales with olive green nylon sheath; desert tan micarta with matching tan nylon sheath; layered camouflage micarta (like on some of the variants) with woodland camo nylon sheath, white micarta with white nylon sheath, etc, etc. Why are no knife makers offering that? (I know that many could do it, but why is no one OFFERING that as an option?) I'd gladly pay extra for that!
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I DO NOT CHOOSE TO BE A COMMON MAN
"It is my right to be uncommon...if I can; I seek opportunity...not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stole calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud, and unafraid; to think and act for myself; enjoy the benefits of my creations and to face the world boldly and say,
This I have done, and this is what it means to be an American."
--Dean Alfrange
[This message has been edited by X-Head (edited 02-19-2001).]
