Is the Busse market mostly collector driven?

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emt1581

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Dec 28, 2011
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On pretty much every forum, other than this one, that I post whenever someone asks what knives to get...usually for survival/heavy use purposes... I always suggest Busse. However, no one else ever does or even comments on Busse other than that they are expensive.

It got me to thinking about the consumer base for the knives. Other than the military which does private contracts and such... I'm thinking the vast majority of their consumers have got to be collectors. That is, people that either collect/buy high end knives and keep them and don't use them or people that may buy them and use them hard, but it's not the only knife they have and they probably have 10+ other blades because collecting is a hobby for them.

Now where I'm going with this is my curiosity if we'll ever see Busse/kin go mainstream to maybe a Wal-Mart or Cabela's? Price-wise they really are competitive with a lot of other brands for what you are getting. And I know plenty of people that'd buy them if they were more educated on the quality like...say...from...ADVERTISING (TV, Mags, etc.).

I know there are ads from the "just in case you can take it with you" that I've seen here... but I have yet to see one anywhere that I've looked.

My point isn't to bash the company. I'm just curious what the consumer base does look like and I'm curious if we'll ever see Busse go big (not to say that it isn't a very successful company because I know it is)?

Thanks

-Emt1581
 
I think it is close to 50/50. There is certainly no doubt a BIG collectors market for Jerry's blades, which is why you can see so many new blades that are 10+ years old still bouncing around. However I think there is a great big group (50%) that use the hell out of them and LOVE that they take the beatings they do. The thing with Busse (that i too have found from the other forums I frequent) is that we tend to congregate HERE and not populate the other open forums with take of blades used to hell. I too get really sick of the "Busses don't really get used" attitudes that exist out there but it is a free world as well. as I just said on another forum I could NEVER use 1/2 of the blades I own not in 10 life times I would not however buy a blade that I could not (because of finish/looks/rare materials etc). I own very few LE blades for much this reason but even those that I have could well end up jammed in a sheath and taken bush if the bug bit me (or the dead rise ... ;) ), my favourite user is a B4LE afterall.
 
I want a busse, but they dont seem to offer anymore than a knife half its price.

still want one, but I like nice things.
 
Considering that within the last 5 years, over 50% of the world's population now lives within a town or city, compared to rural living, the lack of "users" is logical and not confined to owners of Busse.

The world just does not have as much of a need for knives, but many still want or like them.
 
abizzybomb said:
No, I have a few knives for different tasks. I tried buying a Busse/kin for every job. I have a few that cover several categories.
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So how many Busse/kin knives do you own and how many other knives do you own (not counting those you use JUST in the kitchen)?

Thanks

-Emt1581
 
This topic just keeps getting brought up. Most of the time someone at some point claims that Busse owners don't actually use their blades. BS. If those people would actually spend some time in this forum, they would see all the "show us your users" threads. Sure it's nice to know you can abuse a Busse and then sell it for a pretty penny later. Most of us Bussekin owners use our blades. Sure we all get that sickness where we buy more than we can use but that doesn't mean much. I have a few that haven't cut anything but they probably will at some point.
 
Busses 6. 5 of 6 used. I won a Dagger that I haven't used. Other knives more than that. I use them all but, not as much as my Busses. They can't take the beating my Busses do. I've even accidentally hit paving stone with my NMFBM and only got a small roll in the edge. Heck, my Skinny Ash fell 4' off a speaker in my garage. It landed on the tip with no damage to the knife but, took a chunk out of my floor.
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al g blenny said:
This topic just keeps getting brought up. Most of the time someone at some point claims that Busse owners don't actually use their blades. BS. If those people would actually spend some time in this forum, they would see all the "show us your users" threads. Sure it's nice to know you can abuse a Busse and then sell it for a pretty penny later. Most of us Bussekin owners use our blades. Sure we all get that sickness where we buy more than we can use but that doesn't mean much. I have a few that haven't cut anything but they probably will at some point.
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You are missing the point.

I'm not comparing users vs. non-users. In other words people that buy their Busse's to use them vs. those who buy so they can sit them on a shelf to look pretty.

The purpose of this is asking whether Busse knives are consumed mostly by a collector base instead of your average Joe that just wants a quality blade.

There are tons of people that have 1 pocket knife and maybe 1 fixed blade. A lot of times, price enters into their decision and a made in china POS will do just fine. But a large population of those 1 pocket 1 fixed will spend money on what they buy to ensure quality if need be (the "Buy once cry once" crowd). These are the same people that shop at your Wal-Mart and Cabela's, Gander Mtn, etc... but since they don't sell Busse and Busse isn't advertised to that consumer base, that consumer base does not buy Busse.

If anyone on here is a Duck Dynasty fan...same concept. The father (actually turned down pro-football career offer because it interfered with hunting season!!)...he had the company and made it successful to live a good life and support his family. The son took it over and transformed the consumer base mainstream and increased sales exponentially.

Again, not implying anything. Just curious.

-Emt1581
 
abizzybomb said:
Busses 6. 5 of 6 used. I won a Dagger that I haven't used. Other knives more than that. I use them all but, not as much as my Busses. They can't take the beating my Busses do. I've even accidentally hit paving stone with my NMFBM and only got a small roll in the edge. Heck, my Skinny Ash fell 4' off a speaker in my garage. It landed on the tip with no damage to the knife but, took a chunk out of my floor.
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So you own 6 Busse knives and some others and do not consider yourself a collector? What would the number have to be in order for you to classify yourself as such?

-Emt1581
 
emt1581 said:
So you own 6 Busse knives and some others and do not consider yourself a collector? What would the number have to be in order for you to classify yourself as such?

-Emt1581
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I guess I consider a collector someone who doesn't use their blades... I see your point though. Some may consider having 6 collecting... If I could collect I'd buy 2 of each. 1 to use and 1 to display.
 
I believe that the definition of 'collector' depends on how you look at it (subjective). It seems that your definition would mean that any more than just one is 'collecting'. If that is how you would define it, then I'd definitely say most people that buy Busse's are 'collectors' since it's damned hard to buy just one. Especially considering you can't just go to a store to try it before buying, which means you'll likely go through at least a few in the quest for ones that work for you.
 
There are several analogies that can be made, watch TV, bet you see a KIA/Toyota/Ford/GM TV commercial at some point in a day, how many time do you see Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini etc etc run a TV ad or have a dealership in a small town. Now these are still production vehicles, just like Busse are production blades, but the buyer is a different kettle of fish than the average Toyota/Kia/Ford buyer is. Maybe a better educated/more discerning about the item and of course $$s come into play.

Emt… I get what you are saying, but I don’t think it is about “collectors” it is more about “educated buyers” …. it is why Jerry does not NEED to offer his blades through large retail outlets. There are clearly enough “educated buyers” to keep him (and a good group of staff) well and truly in business. Why that “education” has brought the buyer to Busse for differs person to person no doubt at all.
 
I should however say that it is easier to say "I collect knives" than to try and explain 100 of the things hanging around the spare room..... ;) ;)
 
aaaa_cccc said:
I believe that the definition of 'collector' depends on how you look at it (subjective). It seems that your definition would mean that any more than just one is 'collecting'. If that is how you would define it, then I'd definitely say most people that buy Busse's are 'collectors' since it's damned hard to buy just one. Especially considering you can't just go to a store to try it before buying, which means you'll likely go through at least a few in the quest for ones that work for you.
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I think I mentioned 10+ as collectors. Not just 10 Busse's....maybe one Busse, some Gerbers, Victorinox, Benchmades, etc... just 10 blades that they have bought even though they might only carry one or two daily.

And as for your second point... hook, line, and sinker pal!! ;)

You're RIGHT!! You CAN'T just go to the store and try/buy one!! Imagine if you could!!! How many people do YOU know that show at the big stores that would gladly pay for quality?!?

So the more replies I'm getting here the more obvious it is to me WHY I'm getting such a harsh/ignorant response on other forums when I suggest Busse to people. No one knows anything about them other than they are expensive!!

I appreciate the replies. Please keep them coming! :)

-Emt1581
 
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