Model ID / Need the expertise of some veteran HOG’s please

[luethge]

I recently picked up what I believe is a 2003 (NO-e) Desert outlaw recurve variant with raptor scales...

It has the custom shop logo, it’s raw INFI around the edges of the handle, and it has a unsharpened swedge.

Any information from you guys / gals would be appreciated.


Is this knife 1 of 7 ?

Value ?

Thank you in advance Blade Forums BUSSE thread..

Last picture for size reference with a Ratmandu & Skinny ASH.

 

[Jaxx]

Looks like a Natural Outlaw recurve variant- mebbe an NO-e Caretaker variant...? Def started life as an NO-e (Natural Outlaw- ergo) blank.

 

[Still Voracious]

Did you happen to check badmojo.net?

 

[luethge]

Did you happen to check badmojo.net?

I did. It definitely helped.

I was mostly wondering how many of these variants were made? How rare , or abundant is that particular knife.

Not sure where I saw it but I thought I read only 7 were made?

Thank you Jaxx & Still Voracious

 

[tuica]

Nice, and wish I could assist. Standard Caretaker on my Grail List. Never even seen one for sale, here or elsewhere, in my five years as a Bussemun.

 

[resinguy]

Yes, I think that is a 1 of 7 Caretaker variant. Check with forager, I seem to recall that he had one for sale some time ago. Value on such a thinly traded model is very tough to estimate. Unless you stole it, the price you just paid has set the market price.

 

[resinguy]

More info in this thread:

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...y-of-the-euro-releases.1414534/#post-16314330

Yes, I still have that 1 of 14 Desert NO-e variant. No, it's not for sale.

Funny story about it. Way back whenever I was fortunate to have scored two of the Ur Mil Overrun Ruck Kensais. Later I saw a pic posted of that 1 of 14. Luv me a straight clip point. I was able to persuade the owner to trade straight across for a Ruck. It was one of the very few times the owner had ever let a Busse go. Over the years the resale value of the Ruck went up considerably, the No-e not so much. The Busse market can be a funny thing. One might think that a 1 of 7, or a 1 of 14, would be valued more than some other blade with many more copies. but the buyers decide. No regrets; I still have the other Ruck, and it's a hella fun user.

 

[gk4ever2]

... Luv me a straight clip point. ...

Same here. I almost bought a 1 of 14 Desert NO-e years ago, but managed to hold off. More recently I acquired a HOGB8 and SH-e2, both with clip points.

 

[Cobalt]

Just to add to what others said, this one is based off of the NO-E LE, which were all sand colored.
Not my knife, just for illustrative purposes.

 

[MikeH]

Looks like a NO-E Recurve to me, of which seven were made. There were 14 of the clip-points made, and also five triple-grinds, all in desert tan. At one time I had three clip points, two recurves, and one triple grind, as the NO-E was one of my favorite collection focuses. Down to two clip points (thanks Resinguy, still have the Ruck!) and one each recurve and triple grind now.
Something interesting I noted about the three clip points were that no two were alike. There was something about each, like different handle pattern or clip length, that set it apart. Each of the three had a different clip length. I also have a desert tan regular pattern NO-E like Cobalt pictured, but with a definite willow leaf shape to it. Ah, the days before cookie-cutter uniformity!

As to the existence of a desert tan Caretaker variant, I must have totally missed those. The only Caretaker I have or have known of is the Black/Black Canvas model made for the European market, identical to a standard NO-e, but with the butt ground flush with the handle slabs. Live and learn.

Thanks for the walk down memory road. I need to go to the knife closet and re-acquaint myself with some memories. I may find that some of them are even still correct!