Longing for the Busse knives of old...

B

big no-no

Joined
Nov 7, 2003
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44
Several years ago, Busse made his knives out of 5/16" A2 steel. I still have not forgiven myself for selling off my Badger Attack. Are there any other knife makers out there that make a knife like Busse used to make before he switched to INFI?
 
There's a company founded by the Busses and run by Mrs. Busse called Swamp Rat Knife works, and there is even a forum here dedicated to it. They don't use A2, rather they use D2, and SR101, which is a modified high-carbon tool steel But, let me ask you this, is there any reason you don't like INFI or the current Busses? It's said that INFI stronger that A2.
 
I didn't know that INFI was stronger than A2. I know it is a lot lighter. Intuitively that makes me think that A2 would be stronger since it is heavier, but I am anything but a metalurgist. Basically, I liked the heft of the knife. I picked it up and it felt as good as it performed.
 
I might not be right, but I thought a 5/16 A2 Busse vs. a 5/16 infi Busse, the infi would be heavier and stronger. I`m not a metallurgist either but try to learn as much as I can.
 
Uhm, lighter? Identically sized slabs of steel shouldn't vary by more than, say two or three percent in weight, maybe a bit more if one of them heavily relies on nickel while the other alloy has a lot of chromium or something...
 
I also can’t see why similar knives should vary in weight. There are very few alloying agents that alter the weight of a type of steel markedly.

You might want to check out the new Steel Heart (the FSH): it’s the heftiest blade I’ve ever carried.

If you like Busse straight handles check out Ranger Knives. Justin bought a pile of 5160 blanks from Jerry for his RD series knives, and they are very good hard use blades.

Heat treat is regularly as important as the type of steel, and Busse and Swamp Rat seem to know how to get the most out of the heat treat process.
 
i have many old busse users of a-2 and they are tough, tougher than a knife should be called on for use. one of my favorites is a busse 1/4" a-2 user. i also have infi users....
thats one reason busse's are guaranteed for life and his old models still fetch top dollar, he always used the best steel for his knives.
 
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