Mean Street help

ironwagon

ironwagon

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Oct 23, 2015
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Any info on this? It states it as INFI, were all the Mean Streets INFI? The fasteners are different looking too. Would that help age it? The handles look micarta? Thanks in advance!! :)
It's not on ebay so don't go looking :D jk of course!!


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The registration certificate's worth more than the knife. You can probably get $350 for it. I'll give you $20 for the knife.

But seriously, I think solid bolt Mean Streets were A2. At least that's what I heard when I was trying to find about a slotted bolt version that I'd just bought. Thread here.

On the other hand, the coating I've seen on older Busse's - up to and including early INFI - was smooth, and it's hard to tell from the picture, but that looks like the later, rougher coating. So I'm kind of at a loss. Or confused. Or something.
 
But the current price isn't bad, even if it's A2. Which I think it is, especially if the registration certificate came with it. I bought my first Busses right after they introduced INFI, and I didn't get those certificated when I bought mine. So I'm thinking if that actually came with the knife, it would weigh against it being INFI. That and the smooth bolts.
 
You guys are a hoot!! :p
Seriously though, it's not mine (hopefully yet). It's on ebay and I was just curious how legit it is. It's stated as INFI. He says he founded it in the bottom of a box at his store. He also has 2 Badger Attacks that look the same too. :thumbsup:
 
The SHBAs the same guy's selling have the same type of sheath. It's not the type of sheath my Busses came with around 2000-2001 (back when Busse knives came with sheaths). I wonder if some old Hog could date them by the sheath?
 
Yes, Micarta. I think black micarta (that's pretty greenish) was pretty much the only option back then.

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I've used one that was similar but I can't remember if the one I tested out on passaround was a2 or INFI.

I can say, I loved the straight handle steel heart I used every bit as much. I think I used either an A2 meaner, or an A2 badger attack.

The A2 held up great, and was lovely to sharpen.

I'd not hesitate to get one in A2.
 
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In the immortal words of Mater

“I’d bet my left 2 lug nuts that’s A2”

Or some variation of it.....

another solid vote it’s A2 that radius on the plunge line, I’ve seen on old blades. I recall someone used to even measure the diameter of the talon and butt - holes (sorry, couldn’t resist) and date them based on that.


But the handles are also beveled, the super early ones just have square cut Micarta.
 
asking the senior HOGs here, are the tiny rust spots on the edge (shown on the last 2 pics) good predictor of A2 steel instead of INFI?
 
I have one INFI blade with tiny rust spots on the edge bevel like that. It can happen.

That knife you show, however, is A2, which doesn't lessen its value one bit, IMO. It's a piece of Busse history.
 
ipal said:
asking the senior HOGs here, are the tiny rust spots on the edge (shown on the last 2 pics) good predictor of A2 steel instead of INFI?
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Discoloration on the edge would very likely point to A2.

If I had one I would test with mustsrd, or vinigsr on the edge.
 
Maggot Brain said:
A2 with Blued Finish (first pic in OP shows tooling marks, not a coating) & Black Linen Micarta. Super sweet blade there, anybody wanna loan me some $$$ to get in on the action??? Lol
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I'm pretty sure it is black canvas micarta on the MS. I compared two smooth bolt Mean Streets with a green linen BAD – the threads and weave patterns on the MS do not look like the linen micarta.
 
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