Opinioins please - Buffalo Soldier v. BA v. AD

Sproles

Sproles

Joined
Jan 11, 1999
Messages
700
First off - thanks to everyone who has been helping me out here. You have to admit though - you "Busse-nuts" have a TON of freakin' knives to keep track of. :eek: I am still learning and I appreciate you guys NOT kicking me off the Busse-island. I have a feeling I am here to stay - as long as I can learn me some things!

Ok - I have discovered the Buffalo Soldier - apparently a military knife that Jerry made a few too may and had an overrun sale awhile back. Only had 80-some and never again will they be made - right? What was the original selling price of these babies? I have the opportunity to buy one (you tell me a good price for one with a leather sheath - USED knife.) I also have some possibilities on an Active Duty, Badger Attack and an An. Badger.

Size wise - where does the Buffalo Soldier fit in. Looks just like one of the other knives (don;t know which one was in the picture with it) except for the finger groove on the blade, the "cut out" on top and the loss of the "talon hole" on the BS.

Anything else majorly different?

For a FIRST Busse - which would you do. I know that is is loaded question, but I respect your thoughts.

This will be a "just in case" knife and will be "user approved" if needed. I LOVE the green/black combo on the BS - so that is a definite PLUS.

Thanks again for the help.

David
 
The Buffalo Soldier is a nice knife and if I remember correctly it is ground to a nice thin edge. I think it is approx the same overall size as the Badger Attack. If I had to choose between the knives you have listed I'd probably go for the AD first, then the Buffalo Soldier and then the BA. However, it depends a lot on what you want to use it for. The only reason I'd get the BS over the BA is that it is more rare and also it feels a little better in my hand than the BA.

I don't have the original selling price handy but I'll see if I can find it.

:D:D
 
 
i have some user complaints for the buffalo soldier and the active duty,
the buffalo soldier is fully flat ground from 3/16. its a pretty wide blade, and it has a fairly long distal taper, so you end up with a thin feeling knife. its actually very strong, but when you hold another busse with the buffalo soldier in the other hand, it feels as weak as ive felt a busse feel. even the active duty varient i had that had a ground upper swedge felt stronger, and that was thinner, but being shorter and smaller, it seemed to even out more.

the second compaling for the bs is that its a fully curved blade. thats not such a bad thing, but with the finger choil, every time you try to cut something, the material will slip along the edge iether into the choil, or away from the knife (over the tip). there is is also the factor of having a reletively small amount of slice room compounded by the choil and full curve combo. all in all, im not a big fan of the choil in any carnation, when i use a knife for detail work, i grab the back of the blade and reeealy chok up on it, i never want an extra 1/2" of grip. with the widened choil, and the gaurd, the blade itself ends up being a full inch away from your front finger, unless you choking up on it. im also not a fan of the 3rd gen handles in general, as i feel that the index finger area is to small, making the entire thing feel like its constantly slipping forward, unless you put your hand back on the fat part, putting the edge even farther away from your hand.

the active duty is similar in that its a short mostly curved blade, with a choil. the effect is that whenever you try to slice anything, you'll end up having it catch in the choil, wich can be terribly annoying. other then that the ad is a great knife. the palm swell on the spine is a little excessive, but the gernal size of the handle is excellent. i just found that the choil was a constant problem in every task i use a knife for in my work and daily life.

the ba'3 is one that i havent actually tried - but i do have the SHBA and a Howling Rat. both of wich i find preferable to the ad and bs, but they are also bigger heavier knives then both of them. the howling rat has the full finger choil, but it has less dip in it then the busse style choil, wich makes it feel like the choil is less of a probelm. the handle is also the resiprene c wich is EXCELLENT for cold weather, and greasy hands - wich is something to seriously consider if you work with food. for me, its buffalo wings that kill me on certain knives, especially those without gaurds.

and then theirs the SHBA :D .... what i consider to be the best knife ever made. i have no complaints about that knife. 1/4" thick massive strength, but an excellent cutting edge because of the full grind, an excellent handle shape and size, with enough slicing room to keep your material out of the choil, and give you more versatility of cutting performance. just perfect. if i had only 1 knife, or 1 anything, it would be the SHBA in infi with tube fasteners. i carry the howler with me to for the just in case cold scenarios, and for greasy hands.
 
SethMurdoc said:
and then theirs the SHBA :D .... what i consider to be the best knife ever made. i have no complaints about that knife. 1/4" thick massive strength, but an excellent cutting edge because of the full grind, an excellent handle shape and size, with enough slicing room to keep your material out of the choil, and give you more versatility of cutting performance. just perfect. if i had only 1 knife, or 1 anything, it would be the SHBA in infi with tube fasteners. i carry the howler with me to for the just in case cold scenarios, and for greasy hands.
Click to expand...
thanks seth, you just drove the price of the best kept secret over the million dollar mark ;)
i'm sure glad i scarfed up a few of those old straight handled blades, watch the old satin jack climb in value (new or used)
the shba rules first followed by the other badgers, i don't share yur same feelings, i use mine mostly for hunting and hot dog willow cutting. :cool:
 
ya... i noticed one go on the sale forums for 1/2 what i got mine for, and i just said softly to myself

wh... b....i.... :(
 
Seth, just so you know, it was a real nice SHBA! :D
I have two SHBAs and have to agree, they are a real nice size and useable blade shape.
 
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