Natural Outlaw in Pontotoc County

[MTF3]

I just got home a little while ago. After looking at the stack of mail & stack of e-mail I have to go though, I strapped on my new Natural Outlaw and headed off to the barn to check on a few critters. The cordova sheath with kydex insert holds the knife well in place, though I haven't decided what to put in the "gooz-ler" pouch yet.

I had to stop and eat some turnip greens first so I could remember how to talk. People keep asking, "What are you wanting us to forget about?" ("Hey, forget about it.")

The first thing I did was chunk the Natural Outlaw up against a big ole tree. It went bo-ing, reminding me I wasn't Andy Prisco. So I made a little better effort and single flipped it for a stick. I also stabbed a large pine. The drop point tip has a lot of strength. I hacked at a couple of small limbs and when I got up behind the barn I chopped down a small tree. (Much to my goat's liking) This knife has a six inch edge and normally wouldn't be considered a chopper, but the e-handle made it easy. It took less than 30 seconds to drop a one inch sapling.

Several people asked about the black coating at the New York show, so I sank it up in the remaining trunk of a three inch pine that feel victim to an earlier Busse attack. I chopped it several times deep into the top of the wood. I couldn't see any scatches or effect to the teflon coating. I brought it back in and wiped it good with a Tuf-Cloth and looked at it again under brighter light. The finish still looks like new. Even after clamping it between my computer desk and another joining piece, unprotected, to tie on a lanyard. I think I finally found a coating that can tolerate me.

I tried a "junk mail" test and the blade sliced up those credit card applications with no effort. Just like my INFI variants, the edge held up great after chopping.

I first handled this six inch monster back in June and knew then it was going to be special. Now that I actually have one, and have played with it some I know this knife is one useful tool. Like I told the dude in New York, this is my new "neck knife."

Thanks Andy, Jerry, Dave and the whole Busse gang. Another knife well made.

 

[Sand Man]

Thanks for the review. I should have a Busse N.O. in a few days and can't wait. This will be my first Busse, seems like a good one to start with.
I don't think that I would have the heart to throw it at a tree, but I will give it a good workout.

I'll let you know how things go.

------------------
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on,
I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.

 

[MTF3]

I have been really handling the E-handle on my Natural Outlaw. I had chopped with my SH variant with the E-handle and knew it was a natural chopper. I noticed in New York that when people would pick up a Busse with the E-handle they would hold it different than one would hold it while chopping or bearing down on it for a cut. They would hold the knife like one would just look at it. I got to gripping the E-handle in different ways to see just how it fit my hand. I have found if you grasp the knife like you were going to make a hard strike or heavy cut the E-handle positioned the cutting edge for maximum output.

I am of the opinion that one of the confusing factors about the E-handle is that people hold the knife different when they are looking at it than they would when they would actually use the knife. Gripping the knife at different angles I found points on the knife that added to the control of the blade. One of the many things Andy, Craig, and I got to talking about at the show was the fact that on the variants that Jerry had sent over, the tip on the clip points were dead center just as any true fighting knife. Even with the E-handle the tip was dead center; allowing you to know the location point without having to look. This couldn't be by accident.

I like the E-handle and consider it to be a good design for a heavy use knife. I have a cedar limb to chop up tomorrow for one of my "former" wives, so I will get more E-use tomorrow.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

How does the new checkering pattern on the slabs effect comfort and security?

-Cliff

 

[Yvsa]

:
Cliff I like the checkering pattern on the E-BM I have. However the handle was just to big for me and also to square. I used a coarse wood rasp to remove the square edges on the handle and also to "shape" the handle to fit my hand as much as I could. I also left the as rasped finish as I didn't want any of the handle smooth.
I now find it very comfortable to use although I have yet to do any long term chopping with it.

The pix I have seen of the old model BM the handle appears more rounded, but that's a guess as I haven't seen one up close or handled one.
Did your BM come with rounded edges on the handle?


------------------
>>>>---¥vsa---->®

Each person's work is always a portrait of himself.

---- Samuel Butler.

Khukuri FAQ
Himalayan Imports Website

 

[MTF3]

Originally posted by Cliff Stamp:
How does the new checkering pattern on the slabs effect comfort and security?

-Cliff

I chopped a little with both my 9" straight handle variant and with the E-handled Natural Outlaw that has the checkered handles. I didn't get my hands wet, but I found the checkered handle to be comfortable. The edges on my knife are smooth and I find no reason to modify it in any way. I was wearing heavy gloves since it is cold today (below 70 is freezing down here) and slacking the grip with the Natural Outlaw to get a good swing was easy. The E-handle is wider and worked better with heavy work gloves. I also chopped with both knives without gloves to compare. I found the big straight handle easier to control without the heavy gloves and the e-handle equally controlable either bare-handed or gloved. Meaning I was able to chop more accurately bare handed when using straight handled knife.

Both knives still glide right through paper and I am sporting a Band-Aid on my left index finger from not paying attention to "The Melvin Project" while returning it to it's sheath.

Cliff, I think you should try one of the new Battle Mistresses with the E-handle & checkered grip. The ones I have held were nice. I plan on taking my Natural Outlaw out for a little hiking stick hunting soon, so I will know more after some root digging, topping, and limb trimming.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Yvsa:

Did your BM come with rounded edges on the handle?

Lightly yes, I did some filework at the front of the grip but this was to make it more ergonomic when my finger was in the cutout.

MTF3, thanks for the info. I will be having a look at one of the new handles shortly.

-Cliff

 

[MTF3]

Cliff, just for you, Saturday afternoon while I was cleaning out and changing the water for my dogs, I got my hands wet. I had my Natural Outlaw on my belt. I thought about you and used it to swing/chop at some low hanging cedar limbs around my shop with my hands being cold and wet. I was able to hold on to it without a lanyard with no trouble. The grip did not slip or rotate in my hand. Of course, this was a short attempt and not extended use with wet hands. The checkering seemed to help. Different people might have different results and/or opinions. I chopped overhead and it did not slip out of my hand.

You should of handled some of those at the New York Show, they were nice.