Production Numbers

flybynight

flybynight

Joined
Apr 22, 2014
Messages
19
I wonder if Busse keeps production numbers of knives produced, how many in xyz finish, etc? Obviously LE models which are numbered are easy to see... but for example, anyone know how many TGLBs were made in Competition Finish? How many AK47s were ever produced? Things like that... I wish they were easy to reference!
 
With so many different variations and then add in the custom variations it's a little hard to keep track of. The best answer I can give is, more than I would ever care to count. It's way more fun to take the knives out and play with them than to sit and count them all day.
 
The possible answers to that question tend to fall into two camps:

1. It is Jerry's company and it is his own business, so he has chosen not to disclose production numbers. Note that numbered LE models do not really reflect production numbers, unless Jerry has announced a limited set.


or


2. Jerry, and the rest of the shop are always so drunk that they can barely ship out knives in a timely fashion, much less keep track of production numbers.


The net result is the same to us ... we'll never know. This is Jerry's universe, we just get to play in it.
 
Haha, ok. Thanks... you are both probably right. But, we all like playing with knives more than counting them... but as this forum demonstrates, we probably spend more time searching, studying, buying, selling, sharing, talking about and COLLECTING them than playing with them. Being aware of production numbers would just be a part of an already obvious discussion here. Just part of the collecting process. Second, I don't think... nor would I dream... that Jerry and the rest of the shop would have much to do with this. This is an inventory / accounting thing... someone else, more bean-counting capable, is already logging every single sale and what blade finish / handle / customization exists in that order and creating an invoice. Then they take your money for it. Then they deduct all of their costs, and that's their income. So, the information is already there. Just wondering if its ever been actually pooled together. Guess it depends on how curious they are from a sales standpoint: What blade sells the best, which color combo is in highest demand, which runs yielded the best net profit. Business stuff. I'm pretty sure they keep track of sales with more detail than a "knives sold" category as an income account, or just seat of the pants guesses on what is most popular. :)

Guess it isn't a public thing then! Would be so cool if it were... would definitely help shape rarity and after market / collector value / make it more accurate. Collecting coins or cars... guns or trading cards... or just about anything would pretty much suck if the manufacturer didn't provide production numbers. How many 66 mustangs were made? How rare is that 1909VDB? Yeah, that's Lebron's limited edition rookie signature card, but we have no idea how many were made. Maybe 10. Maybe 10,000. Dunno. :)

My point is while everyone will always insist they like to play with the knives they buy and aren't the "collecting" type who has a few safe queens, I'll bet that's a flat out lie for most. Rarely are the for sale posts "very used, scratched, f$%$ed up Busse BM". They are always "never used, mint"... which means they are collected... which means someone has to know production numbers to have any real or future sense of relative value. As Busse popularity grows, it will only become a more relevant question... better than just guessing.

If it were me, I'd have a killer database and log every sale, past an present... and every combo would have a category, sub category, etc, etc. And when that was done I could give you a number for every question you ever had, including one offs and customs. Of course, I'd make it a part of my existing accounting system to avoid double work going forward. These figures and numbers would make them even more collectible.

my two cents!

Loren
 
Thoughtful questions and comments, flybynight. I am somewhat new to this universe, and have often wondered the same things as you. Without knowing specific production quantities, I have been following certain Bussekin model sales here, and on other sites. Have gotten a loose sense of the availability/scarcity of those models. And I will freely admit to having a few users, as well a several "queens" obtained for admiration and investment purposes. Good luck in your research, hunting, and purchasing of these fine knives.
 
This is Busse ;) ... most people here are interested in getting drunk and waving sharp metal around as opposed to how many of the sharp metal were made.... oh and there is eating bacon..... :D
 
Andy the Aussie said:
This is Busse ;) ... most people here are interested in getting drunk and waving sharp metal around as opposed to how many of the sharp metal were made.... oh and there is eating bacon..... :D
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I'm not sure how wanting to determine which of my sharp metal objects is rarer than the rest is mutually exclusive to being drunk... or waving them around. For example, my family is famous for wine making. I spent summers making... and drinking... cabs before age 10. From shooting to hunting, like you I enjoy using them more than counting them. And trust me, we drink a LOT. Doesn't mean we don't hold a few of those rare bottles back, count how many we produced, and then let our buying public know "hey, in this particular vintage we only produced 20 cases". The people who treasure our stuff then place a higher value...and pay more for... these rarities. That's the market. And it's why sales prices on blade forums for custom busse items fetch a higher value.... because you can't get it anymore, and it's only made in xyz quantities.

It's how people make money, while enjoying their craft. Exclusivity is everything. I'm sure if these weren't hand produced here, and instead Jerry sold out to some China cloning factory, value would decline. And that has nothing to do with whether you like to drink or wave metal around.

At the end of the day we Busse followers want... NEED... to keep the brand exclusive if we want them to retain value. Knowing how much has been produced, and which is the most exclusive, is everything when collecting.

Otherwise we'd be selling piss wine at $8 a box in walmart, and not $300 a bottle cabs for those who know the difference between piss and exclusive. Busse is exclusive, and with that title comes disclosure about how exclusive... if they want to preserve their legacy.

It's exactly the same with cars. I race mine... on real tracks, real fast (avatar... and I know how rare it is, thankfully). I don't always just stare at it in the garage. HOWEVER, if you just look at the car culture as an example, 99% of it is about understanding what is rare / what is not. What is exclusive and what is not. Trust me, your gf is going to be a lot hotter for you in that 66 mustang than in your minivan. Because even she knows one is rare and desired, and the other is a sign you cut off your balls one drunk night while waving your knife around. :)

PS... ironic about the bacon. Here traveling in costa rica and this family made the most amazing mix of meat and egg and rice... I had 2nds and 3rds and I asked them what the hell was this meat, of which I'd just sucked down about a kilo of the meat part alone. Uncut, barely cooked, lighting fried bacon. I ate a kilo of bacon. I can feel my arteries clogging right now. I can't believe how they eat down here, and yet live longer than most. :)
 
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The rarity of certain model of Busse can be difficult to determine even if the numbers were periodically released to you. Say for example the we look at an original production run ASH1 with a hot pink blade and purple G10 hand shaped grips. The number shows that "only" three were ever made in this combo.... wow... one gets listed up and a buying frenzy based upon the "number made" sees it sell for $1K. Yep you have one of three only made.....right up until I say wow...look at that and go to the Custom shop and have three more made in that combo of grip/blade colour. This is not entirely fair as not every discontinued model is available via the CS, but LOTS are. Some REALLY limited runs exist, Prego Dodo, Nuclear Sea Horse, Battle Pappy but there is no hiding those facts. Add in an identifier such as an LE # it gets a little easier but the run of the mill blade, well I really don't think it will drive it much. "Discontinued for Good" such as the Comp Finish will have more input to price than how many Comp Finished blades were made I suspect.

Bacon can only be good for you....lets fact it....nothing that tastes that good could be bad for you ....right ???
 
Andy the Aussie said:
The rarity of certain model of Busse can be difficult to determine even if the numbers were periodically released to you. Say for example the we look at an original production run ASH1 with a hot pink blade and purple G10 hand shaped grips. The number shows that "only" three were ever made in this combo.... wow... one gets listed up and a buying frenzy based upon the "number made" sees it sell for $1K. Yep you have one of three only made.....right up until I say wow...look at that and go to the Custom shop and have three more made in that combo of grip/blade colour. This is not entirely fair as not every discontinued model is available via the CS, but LOTS are. Some REALLY limited runs exist, Prego Dodo, Nuclear Sea Horse, Battle Pappy but there is no hiding those facts. Add in an identifier such as an LE # it gets a little easier but the run of the mill blade, well I really don't think it will drive it much. "Discontinued for Good" such as the Comp Finish will have more input to price than how many Comp Finished blades were made I suspect.

Bacon can only be good for you....lets fact it....nothing that tastes that good could be bad for you ....right ???
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Good points... I guess I'd like a broader sense of how many in general were produced, and the forums can haggle of pink / purple handles etc... like how many AKs were ever made, how many comp finishes, etc.

You have no idea... I am having dreams of eating bacon meat loaf, which is essentially what it was... 80% bacon with bits and parts of other stuff thrown in. I'll have my son continue this conversation after my heart attack.

Thanks for the input...
 
Thoughtful remarks by both of you chaps. Andy - would you know if one can still get a CS ASH1 made new from Busse? My sense is that you cannot.

Thanks, Steve
 
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You should e-mail Garth, there have been some ASH1s at shows I believe in the last couple of years and if they have blanks they can make you one up. I would guess, and nothing more, you could still happily get a .32 if you wanted one specifically.

Andy
 
Andy the Aussie said:
Bacon can only be good for you....lets fact it....nothing that tastes that good could be bad for you ....right ???
Click to expand...

flybynight said:
You have no idea... I am having dreams of eating bacon meat loaf, which is essentially what it was... 80% bacon with bits and parts of other stuff thrown in. I'll have my son continue this conversation after my heart attack.
Click to expand...

I wish this were true more days than I can count, and bacon meatloaf :eek: That just sounds delicious. I may have to try adding bacon to my meatloaf...
 
If only I could post over some real bacon for you guys... not that skinny burnt to death stuff I always saw in the US (though when I was in Rochester the Canadian bacon I had was much more like thecommon variety here) ... ;) There is nothing like packing for a trip bush and adding a 1kg pack of bacon to the shopping...... ;)
 
Thanks, Andy. Your collection of ASH1's is an inspiration to us all. I have a mere three, but have only been at it since last October. And I have - of course - been tempted by other Bussekin models. Cheers.
 
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