Looking to buy my first Busse

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JTR357

JTR357

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I'm looking to buy my first Busse knife.I want it to be an all around camp knife.I'd like around a 5 or 6 inch blade,nothing too big.I've been using a Buck 119 around the camp for years & that size works for me.I'm looking to upgrade to a better steel.
There are so many models & I don't understand all the different acronyms.I really like the meaner,but want something a little bigger for a camp knife.The meaner will probably be my second Busse,if all goes well with my first purchase.I'd like to get it with a sheath if possible.I plan on selling a few knives to purchase it,so I don't have the funds at this very moment.

I think that Tank Buster might've fit the bill.How long is that blade?

Any suggestions?


Thanks in advance for all & any helpful suggestion.:)

[edit]Forgot to mention:Ergos are a very important factor in all my knife purchases.If it doesn't feel right in my hand & creates "hot spots" after minimal use,it's as good as gone.I have medium to large sized hands,take a large size glove.
 
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The tank buster, or very similar shaped SJTAC would certainly fit the bill, but you don't mention what actual tasks you'll be using it for.

You won't be able to do much chopping with either of those, so if you want to chop, you might want to consider something a bit bigger. There was a lot of discussion of this topic in another recent thread here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7532514#post7532514

On the other hand, if chopping isn't on the agenda, and for me it honestly usually isn't, then the sjtac or tank buster could be great choices. A skinny ASH wouldn't be a bad option either, IMHO. The tank buster had a lot of variations available, so IF you can find it for sale on the secondhand market, you might be able to score the combination of choil / swedge you prefer.
 
Thanks MustardMan,The tasks will be mostly batoning,food prep,cleaning/gutting animals,not so much chopping.
 
look at the SARSquatch. thin enough that it's great for food prep, and a nice deep belly. not as much of a point on the tip as a skinny ASH, but I like the handle a lot better for a camp knife.
 
For batoning, the swedge of the sarsquatch seems like it would be a pain in the neck to me. If a swedgeless sarsquatch was offered, I'd be all over it.
 
thing is, though, that the swedge isn't sharp at all. it chews into a baton more than an ASH or something, but not to the point where you can't baton with it. and as much as I love my ASHs, the SARSquatch is so much more comfortable to use. haven't tried a TB yet, though, so I can't comment on that particular knife.
 
JTR357 said:
Thanks MustardMan,The tasks will be mostly batoning,food prep,cleaning/gutting animals,not so much chopping.
Click to expand...

A Badger or Satin Jack is about as large as you would want for some of those task, esp cleaning/gutting.

You can still find BATAC's around original price, and SJTAC at a good price. The slabs were kinda thin, but one with magnum scales feels just right to me.

A better choice, but at a much higher price, would be a Straight handle Satin Jack, or a BAIII. I like the ABA(.150) version of the BAIII more than any for what you desribe.
 
Thanks guys,

I'm leaning towards the Satin Jack,Skinny ASH,or a Tank Buster for now.

Don't think I'll ever learn all those acronyms.:o
 
Also, the SAR4 or HG55 would make for a great camp/game knife and can be found at a great price since both are new models.
 
I have similar Busse thoughts as JTR357.

How about an Hell-Razor? Is it like the SJ?

(So far I have a 2007 Special Edition Meaner Street.)

Thanks!
 
The Hell Razor has a swedge similar to the Sarsquatch, so again, it won't be the best for batonning, but for everything else it should work well. I sold both my Skinny Ash and my Sarsquatch, but I kept the HR:D
 
If you've handled and like the Sarsquatch handle but dislike a swedge, look at a SFNO.
 
BATAC. Badger Attack Tactical. That means the newer "Tac" handles. For game prep, I'd go with the thinner CG version.

Somwhere around here, lunde has pics of an antelope he dressed out with a BATAC.
 
Just about any 5-7" blade could fit the bill depending on intended uses, personal preferences, availability and purchaser's budget. These could include the: SAR 4; SAR 5, Basic 5; BATAC; NOE; ASH1 Skinny, LE, SE or CG; SJTAC; TankBuster; Hell Razor; SFNO, flat or saber grind; and the Sarsquatch. At 7"+ a bit, there are the Basic 7, SHE, SHSHII or NMSFNO. For pics, see "The Busse Collector" catalog and for hands on, see if there are local Busse fanatics having a get-together/chop-off.
As an aside, I thought that Lunde used a SJTAC on his antelope.
Pete
 
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