OK I am sold, BUT

50rod said:
why don't you like the ash1? it seams like a good all around woods knife.
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Skinny ASH - perfect for me. stronger than most blades of other makers, still superb slicer...easy carry. (not really a chopper, tho')
SFNO LE - a classic. does everything, but it's a bit heavy for smaller tasks ( for me)
Sarsquatch - a fantstic blade IMHO. similar characteristics as the SFNO, but very light for it's size
NMSFNO - a bit big for my taste, but feels smaller than it is...
SAR8 - everybody raves about it.

all are great blades in the 6"-8" range
 
50ROD,

I was you last year. I now own three. I haven't ordered the current battle mistress yet. I'm trying to figure out what color combo. If you can find a nmsfno or a sarsquatch go for it.
 
50rod said:
why don't you like the ash1? it seams like a good all around woods knife.
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Mainly because of the size. I just don't like 6" knives. Too small for camp/choppers/all-rounders, too big for small knife tasks. I don't like the Tank Buster or the BATAC, either. YMMV.

btw, where do you live? Maybe there is a Busse fan near you, you could have a chance to handle some blades. That is one problem about buying a Busse, it's a bit of a leap of faith. But, as has been pointed out, if you are patient for a good deal you can get one, try it out, and sell it off and likely only be out the cost of shipping. dbltap45 went through several that way before he settled on his collection.
 
resinguy said:
you can get one, try it out, and sell it off and likely only be out the cost of shipping. dbltap45 went through several that way before he settled on his collection.
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Yeah, I'm going through that, only I like most of the ones I sell...


It's more like, buy a bunch, get the credit card bill, faint, and when I wake up, realize I have to sell some to pay for the ones I just ordered :eek:
 
Yup. I have four knives in-bound, and just got a Koyote last week, so I recently hauled out the whole collection to cull some for sale. :rolleyes:
 
LYCOSA!

Yes I do. I'm a big fan of the emerson 7. The tanto point is a bit of a challenge to sharpen.

Some co-workers have called me this due to my folder.

Enough of this.

Have you selected a knife yet 50rod?
 
I am very much in a similar situation to you 50 rod in terms of what I use or might need from a knife....but "bush clearance" and "dressing deer" are not easily combined...I have bought all of the above suggestions looking for the best combination...for me I find weight a "key" critical issue...I simply cannot stand knives which get uncomfortable on long "treks"....20 mile walks/hunting stalks where you are forever hitching your pants is "purgatory" for me....

On the basis of keeping weight low I find the older style longer thinner blades are best if you are keeping the knife on your person as opposed to in a rucksack/bergan...these are similar to a Finnish Leku...they save a bit of weight over the deeper blades like the FSH, NMSFNO, SFNO LE, and some Busse blades with exposed tangs have a lot of weight in the tang....so I particularly like the Basic series of knives which are good on weight because the tangs are hidden and in terms of a modern offering I like the SAR8...

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The SAR8 is a bit heavier but feels very similar in the hand and both blades enable you to choke up on the blade with a "spine" grip if need be for dressing game. Personally though I would use a light folder for work inside the carcass...and for food prep...

But on "bush clearance" these size knives work "way" better than a ASH 1 and because they are lighter they are actually more easily carried. I carry these on a rear angled cross draw with the sheath tucked inside the waistband and this has them out of the way and pressed in tight for fast movement without "flapping" on your leg...and if you use a dangler style system then pulling the sheath out of the waistband can be easily done if sitting in a vehicle...the only thing to be careful with is sheathing the knife when carried round the back...but having it out the way and not on display works well for me over here...:thumbup:
 
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Here are some comparison pic's if you want to compare the sizes,

SAR 8 and FSH...

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SAR 8 and NMSFNO...

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Here is a SAR8 with a 4 inch Woodlore Custom...

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and my favourite "Bussekin" combo of a Basic 9 and a S5LE...

P1000898.jpg


The sabre ground SFNO LE though is a good knife as a more compact option...carried in a kydex sheath like this it does'nt flap about and is comfortable....but it does'nt have the longer reach for chopping that the SAR8 and Basic 9 have...

P1000853.jpg


To be fair though any of these are "great" options and all work "really well"....the differences are just "nuances"....but like many have said...when you buy just the "one" you always end up coming back to "try another"....
 
Bro, I wouldn't get too caught up on having the thickest knife, especially a Busse - I don't think you could break a .22" thick Busse in the wilderness.
 
PeterPHWS brings up some good points.
All my recommendations were based on wanting ONE knife in the 6-7" range (possibly extending into 8".

However, as I've said on the WS&S forum several times, a combo of a big chopper and small utility knife will let you do the most tasks, and is historically, what people who live in the wilderness carried since the dawn of time.

Again, with the caveat of staying all-Busse,

The big chopper
MOAB (if price and weight are no object and you simply want the biggest bruiser)
NMFBMLE (Again, high price, but probably the best performer of the BM line, rivaled somewhat by the FFBM)
CGFBM (Meat and potatoes of the BM line, still thick at .250")
BWM (Bushwhacker Mistress -- if price, with it being a current offering, and weight, being thin, are objects.)
Killa Zilla (not yet offered, and no timetable given, but being a kukri-like-object will most likely outchop all of the above, and there are many other advantages of the kukri design. Reviews of the prototype will start sometime in December. Won't be cheap)

Utility knife
Active Duty
Boney Active Duty
Game Warden
Lean Mean Street

My advice:
Go to http://hogcult.com/, select Chart view, and look up the names.

Buy the combo that appeals to you the most.

Any of the above blades, coupled together, will be tough enough and able to perform any task you want to do in the woods. Busses really do live up to the hype.
 
50rod said:
If I were dropped in the middle of the crap with a knife and a set of survival skills this is the knife I want ________?
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SFNO LE.
.22 thick sabre grind. The sabre grind's added heft does a very good job of biting into wood. The rear of the handle is open to allow you to choke *back on the handle for a little more bite.
You can baton all day with it and another plus for the open rear handle.
It'll clear brush.
Flat grind = easy to sharpen in the field.
Large choil to choke up on for detailed work.
Comfy full belly handle.
Rides well lashed to a pack, lashed to pack straps, scout style or on belt.

And .... The price is right. Most SFNOLE's that sold recently sat in the exchange until the prices dropped to cost or well under. :confused::confused:

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DSC00023-5.jpg
 
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50rod said:
If I were dropped in the middle of the crap with a knife and a set of survival skills this is the knife I want ________?
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What you would want first is a full size axe. Second is a 6-7" study knife. Third is a leatherman type tool.
 
Brother, he isnt joking. Sorry to dig up an old thread here, just ran accross this. I went through between 25-35 Busse knives before I found the ones that fit me best. Buy, Sell, and Trade for what you want. In the end, when you find the few that fit you well, you will never want to let them go.
 
dbltap45acp said:
Brother, he isnt joking. Sorry to dig up an old thread here, just ran accross this. I went through between 25-35 Busse knives before I found the ones that fit me best. Buy, Sell, and Trade for what you want. In the end, when you find the few that fit you well, you will never want to let them go.
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whats the knife in your avatar dbltap? Looks very nice.:thumbup:
 
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