Pros & Cons: Fusion vs. Straight Handle?

XMP

XMP

Joined
Feb 9, 2007
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OK, I understand that some handle types are rarer than others, but what I'd like to hear about concerns utility. From a user standpoint why might one want a FSH or a FBM, instead of SHSH or a SHBM, and vice versa. So for those that own or have used both what are the pros and cons.

Purely from an appearance sake I like the look of the straight handles better. Is there any reason I shouldn't wait for them?
 
XMP said:
Purely from an appearance sake I like the look of the straight handles better. Is there any reason I shouldn't wait for them?
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I dont understand what you mean by waiting for a SH Busse. They are currently only available on the secondary market. I recommend getting a FBM right now since they are available and see if you like it. If you dont then sell it and wait it out till you find SH Busse.
 
Easy

Straight Handle knives are only good as safe queens and collector pieces. :foot:
The Fusion Knives are built to be used and abused. :eek:

Buy a Fusion while still available and never look back. :thumbup:
 
a lot of people say that the skull crusher on the straight handled knives has a tendency to pinch your little finger if you have large hands. i can't say this with certainty as i haven't had the pleasure of holding or owning a SH Busse.
 
Generally speaking, the Fusion represents the latest in the evolution of Busse blades and handles -- so according to the Busse crew, the fusions are "upgrades" to the old designs.

Outside of the rarity factor, a few people think the straights are better, more comfy, etc. But "generally" speaking, the fusions will be best for the masses.

I'm one of the few that really like the ergos ;) It's very subjective :thumbup:
 
I like the balance of the Fusion models.

The SH Busse that I have (a SHBM) is just perfect.

I would recommend that you buy all the Fusion models that you can get your hands on. They will never be cheaper or easier to find.

I'd also recommend the same approach regarding the older SH models.
 
i agree, the longer you wait the harder it will be to find what you want.
 
gimmejr said:
I dont understand what you mean by waiting for a SH Busse. They are currently only available on the secondary market. I recommend getting a FBM right now since they are available and see if you like it. If you dont then sell it and wait it out till you find SH Busse.
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Well, by waiting I was referring to two things: it appears that there are a lot more fusion handled knives available on the secondary market, so for certain knives you'd have to wait for the right opportunity for a SH on the secondary market; second, if I understand correctly the anniversay knife to be released later this year will be a straight handled Steel Heart, so one can 'wait' for that too. OK?
 
I really like my SHSH. Great all purpose handle that's super comfortable but isn't too bulky. The downside to this handle style is something called "Busse pinky". When chopping, the straight handles tend to bite.

The Fusion handles are pretty massive, but very comfortable. I'm pretty set on getting a fusion mistress. I think that on such a massive knife, the larger handle won't get in the way and they're great for chopping.

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Good luck in your choice! :thumbup:
 
The handles did hurt my pinky finger on the SHBM and SHSH's That I owned. My hand had the tendency to slide down towards the pommel from centrifugal force, while chopping at full force. The FBM doesn't have that problem. Performance wise they are very close. It depends on how you sharpen them as to which one will out perform the other. You can double the chopping ability just by thinning out the edge. The worst for me would have to be the Ergo series as mine never fit my hands well and actually hurt them to chop. My friend had the same problem. Every one's hand is different so it's hard to say.
 
I do wish I kept every Battle Mistress I ever had though, and the two SHSH's. I had one of the first 300 SHBM's made, a screw handled SHBM with screw heads not ground off. A tube fastener model, and two tube fastener SHSH's. I will never sell any Busse's ever again. It's my creed.
 
I like both, but the Straight Handles are my favorite -

A few of these are no longer with me, but here is a group shot of a few SH and Fusion...

fam1.jpg
 
xanax said:
I do wish I kept every Battle Mistress I ever had though, and the two SHSH's. I had one of the first 300 SHBM's made, a screw handled SHBM with screw heads not ground off. A tube fastener model, and two tube fastener SHSH's. I will never sell any Busse's ever again. It's my creed.
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I still have one of the SHSH's that I got from you years ago. Seems there was also a Satin Jack in the mix.

Very few Busse's impress me like the SH's, and that is mostly on the smaller blades like the AD and GW.

I'm speaking mainly of how they feel to me, in the hand.

Rob
 
The Busse Large Straight Handled knife "Pinky Pinch" Does not happen on all of the big knives, but Rather seems to be on those the the exposed steel near the rear Talon hole was not chamferred, or not done so Smoothly.

That is to say that on some of the older knives the edges of the metal where the little finger rides seems to be a little sharp instead of beveled.

I Round this edge, smoothing it with a Dremel Tool on my own user knives that were not finished properly.

On my One of three hundred it was not an issue, the fit and finish of the handle is Perfect for my hand there is no "Busse Pinky Pinch" there is no pain, only Magic in the hand.

Same with most of the Steel Hearts.

Seems like this happened more often with a Straight Handled Battle Mistresses.

The Smaller knives to my knowledge never had this issue and were all Sweet to hold, ask anyone who has ever held an old smooth bolt or slotted bolt Badger Attack.

So, the comfort issue sort of depends on the finish of each individual knife and the hand holding it.

Since each of the older knives are at the very least a little different one to the next this is a very personal thing.
 
Here's my order of preference, for Steel Hearts or BMs.
1) Magnum Fusion
2) SH for a BM
3) Fusion
.
IMO, there's NO comparison between the magnums and the regular handles.
Don't get me wrong, they're still great handles, but WOW! The Magnums really do it for me! :D
 
Andre

Amen to the smooth and slotted bolt SHBA's. The EDC of choice for me.

Only have 3 now, 2 smooth fatties and 1 slotted, but all get belt time every month or so.

All my other Busse's (including the shsh and shbm), would go before I turned loose of my SHBA's.

Just that simple.

Rob
 
I am one of those that can make any design work for me so I can pretty much use any handle design and have. The fact is that I have been using straight handles for so long that I am more confortable with them than anything else. I am sure that someone who got confortable with fussions would feel the same about those over others.

What I like most about straight handles is that you get more blade length to overall length than you do with the fussions. An example is my SHBM is 15 inches long with a 10 inch blade. My FSH is 14 inches long with a 8.5 inch blade.
 
I firmly believe that the following are the improved features (on the Ergos and Fusions) over the older straight handled kin:

-Little to no twisting in your hand while chopping.
-Comfy/neutral angle for poking, stoking, digging, twiddling, flipping, slapping, spanking, etc. Think of it like holding a 1911...natural and like an extension of your arm.
-broader slide back (chopping) to choke up positioning.
-no pinky pinch (I have experienced it but as papathud stated, not all straight handles do it as severely as others)
-Better steel. The old A2 and Infi is extremely inferior to the new stuff and should be discarded imediately . (Thankfully, Blade Forums has been kind enough to provide a list of people that are authorized to assist in proper disposal of these older models with questionable quality. Please visit here for more information: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=261413

Good day:)
 
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