New Busse Thumb Notches - Yay or Nay?

Raining

Raining

Joined
Oct 13, 2006
Messages
1,895
Just wondering what you all thought of the new scalloped notches on the HG55 and SAR4. I cannot comment as I don't have either knife yet.

Are they comfortable in use? Better or worse than no notches?

And can someone strike a firesteel to see if it sparks on the notches? :cool:

Thanks.
 
Ah, I see as I posted this that Guyon has indeed created sparks. Very cool! :thumbup:
 
I think they are super cool. :)
 
I say yay. I've not had them in hand yet, but I generally like well-done thumb notches or file work on other knives.

They do look like they could benefit from a little smoothing with some fine sandpaper, though.
 
I like them a lot. I thought the Skinny Ash, BAD and ASH-1 LE would benefit greatly from some thumb notches. They don't need to have a rough edge if the spine is square like in the previously mentioned models. However, for the SAR4 (rounded spine) they are perfect, as they provide a nice little area to spark off a firesteel. I really like this because sometimes I operate on a minimalist style. Although Busse's are heavy and not so savvy for the lightweight part of minimalist adventures, they are unbelievably cool. I can see why Jerry has such a strong following. Although my wife hates my addiction, she did admit they look artistic. So long story short....I say YAY.
 
Hate 'em. I apply thumb pressure of the first inch of usable edge. Not the choil ricasso. I would be reaching over them and with the abbreviated handle to accommodate them I would be gripping a rough steel surface with the meat at the base of my index finger. Jerry has said you can't make everyone happy with thumb ramps/grooves. I am glad to hear many like them.

It makes me wonder... how are you all using your knives that makes you so willing to give up a ton of leverage and control you get being closer to your edge?

That knife would be an inch shorter with no choil/traditional talon hole.

Edited to add: I can tell it's a sweet knife and very capable but everyone stroking it's SAR mission readiness aren't SAR folks. It's an amazing, beautiful, useful tool for ANY chore you would ask of a medium sized knife. Optimized for SAR, I don't know.

AND edited again and again trying not to sound too harsh about this. Sorry.
 
Last edited:
What Dunner said... :thumbup:

Very VERY nice knife, outstanding in fact; but I don't see it for SAR.

Cheers,
8
 
Raining said:
Ah, I see as I posted this that Guyon has indeed created sparks. Very cool! :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I struck sparks the other day when mine arrived, but apparently folks don't read all the threads:foot:

The gimping is fine, but not for tender non working hands. What can I say, I grew up dairy farming and rough things are a way of life. It's very stylish in a Busse way giving the knife that much more distinction IMO.
 
Dunner said:
Hate 'em. I apply thumb pressure of the first inch of usable edge. Not the choil ricasso. I would be reaching over them and with the abbreviated handle to accommodate them I would be gripping a rough steel surface with the meat at the base of my index finger. Jerry has said you can't make everyone happy with thumb ramps/grooves. I am glad to hear many like them.

It makes me wonder... how are you all using your knives that makes you so willing to give up a ton of leverage and control you get being closer to your edge?

That knife would be an inch shorter with no choil/traditional talon hole.

Edited to add: I can tell it's a sweet knife and very capable but everyone stroking it's SAR mission readiness aren't SAR folks. It's an amazing, beautiful, useful tool for ANY chore you would ask of a medium sized knife. Optimized for SAR, I don't know.


AND edited again and again trying not to sound too harsh about this. Sorry.
Click to expand...

That caught my attention too, they put the groves right where that fleshy part between your thumb and index finger applies all the pressure on powerful cuts.

Personally I don't need the groves to begin until about 1/2" after the handle ends, or about where the stop on the SAR4. I'd have to grip the handle 1" farther back to even get my thumb on those and the loss of leverage would probably be more harm than the groves would help.
 
I don't own an HG55 or a Sar4 because of the scalloped notches. I desperately wanted a Sar4, so I contacted Busse about having them ground down into a thumb notch. I received a polite... "no". More for the rest of you, I'm happy with the knives I've got, for now that is.:D
 
Personally I think they're fine. Cool looking and they *grip* better to afford extra leverage for control. However, I've been a mechanic most of my life and with a 1/4 inch of callous on my thumb and the rest of my hands , I kinda have built in armor against the oversharp ones(my HG-55 is a wicked sharp version). A sanding block and sandpaper would take of any too sharp points, so there is really nothing there that can't be conquered. They do spark firesteels easily. I think the HG-55 is well designed and the thumb notches don't bother me at all. Looking forward to the next shipping of the SAR4 so I can enjoy this blade as well. If you don't like the notches grind em down a little,,,,,,, then sand em to 1500 grit polish. No worries !!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Dunner said:
Hate 'em. I apply thumb pressure of the first inch of usable edge. Not the choil ricasso. I would be reaching over them and with the abbreviated handle to accommodate them I would be gripping a rough steel surface with the meat at the base of my index finger. Jerry has said you can't make everyone happy with thumb ramps/grooves. I am glad to hear many like them.

It makes me wonder... how are you all using your knives that makes you so willing to give up a ton of leverage and control you get being closer to your edge?

That knife would be an inch shorter with no choil/traditional talon hole.

Edited to add: I can tell it's a sweet knife and very capable but everyone stroking it's SAR mission readiness aren't SAR folks. It's an amazing, beautiful, useful tool for ANY chore you would ask of a medium sized knife. Optimized for SAR, I don't know.

AND edited again and again trying not to sound too harsh about this. Sorry.
Click to expand...

when I look at the handle I see a very compromised grip when your hand is all the way forward at the gaurd. a high control grip, because all the pressure goes to the index finger and the pinky, wich are great fingers for stabilizing grip and control, but not a powerful grip because the middle and ring fingers are left without large purchase.

that is, until you move your hand back an inch. when your index finger rests closer to the beginning of the talon hole side upsweep, your fingers are in a more inline position, rather then with your index and pinky jutting out. a more powerful grip, and it puts your hand in the right position to push on the thumb grooves.

to me, the grip isn't just meant to be the 1/2" distance from the edge caused by the gaurd and choil, it's meant to be a full 1 1/2" back.

but I haven't handled one yet, and I haven't heard anyone comment on this, so maybe I'm crazy and a grip with an inverse finger swell is actually strong AND dexterous.
 
River-8 said:
What Dunner said... :thumbup:

Very VERY nice knife, outstanding in fact; but I don't see it for SAR.

Cheers,
8
Click to expand...

Wasn't it supposedly created with feedback from SAR folks? :confused:

It would be nice to see a version without the thumb grooves. :thumbup:
 
Dunner said:
Hate 'em. I apply thumb pressure of the first inch of usable edge. Not the choil ricasso. I would be reaching over them and with the abbreviated handle to accommodate them I would be gripping a rough steel surface with the meat at the base of my index finger. Jerry has said you can't make everyone happy with thumb ramps/grooves. I am glad to hear many like them.

It makes me wonder... how are you all using your knives that makes you so willing to give up a ton of leverage and control you get being closer to your edge?

That knife would be an inch shorter with no choil/traditional talon hole.

Edited to add: I can tell it's a sweet knife and very capable but everyone stroking it's SAR mission readiness aren't SAR folks. It's an amazing, beautiful, useful tool for ANY chore you would ask of a medium sized knife. Optimized for SAR, I don't know.

AND edited again and again trying not to sound too harsh about this. Sorry.
Click to expand...

Dunner, I thought you and other SAR folks were giving behind the scene guidance to Jerry on this design:confused: Guess not by your comments. Why did you choose not to buy one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top