Gentlemen, you have been great with the advice on Busse Combat, specifically the Steel Heart. My question is this, would another Busse line such as the Satin Jack or Outlaw be a better choice for a woman? Something less heavy, easier to manage? Or would this sacrifice too much of what a high end survival knife should be capable of doing?
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Satin Jack
- Thread starter raptnblue
- Start date
RokJok
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- Oct 6, 2000
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IMHO the Satin Jacks are more cutters/slicers with less of the blade-heavy feel of the Steel Hearts. Consequently, the SH is a better outdoor all-around survival tool to me because it is better suited to the chopping called for in my heavily wooded corner of the world.
As I recall though, you were also interested in a blade with some self-defense capabilities. For self defense carry, the SJ was quicker in my hand than the heavier, more bulky Steel Hearts. It's slightly shorter blade should also facilitate a bit more discretion in its carry. If this is the direction you're leaning, the *sleekness* of the sheath you carry it in will be another major factor.
The Natural Outlaw is another very robust, deep-bladed Busse like the SH. But the NO also sacrifices that blade-heaviness I like in an outdoor survival knife.
Chopper or slicer-dicer.... Brute or dancer.... Apes or ballerinas.... You'll have to establish where you need the proponderance of performance for your knife to lay. You can then pick which Busse will better meet that need. Such sweet choices....
As I recall though, you were also interested in a blade with some self-defense capabilities. For self defense carry, the SJ was quicker in my hand than the heavier, more bulky Steel Hearts. It's slightly shorter blade should also facilitate a bit more discretion in its carry. If this is the direction you're leaning, the *sleekness* of the sheath you carry it in will be another major factor.
The Natural Outlaw is another very robust, deep-bladed Busse like the SH. But the NO also sacrifices that blade-heaviness I like in an outdoor survival knife.
Chopper or slicer-dicer.... Brute or dancer.... Apes or ballerinas.... You'll have to establish where you need the proponderance of performance for your knife to lay. You can then pick which Busse will better meet that need. Such sweet choices....
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- Mar 26, 2000
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Raprnblue, I tried to pM and e-mail you, but no go.
The NO-e was the first blade I thought of for you when I read your other thread yesterday.
At Blade 2003, we ahd a woman come to the table that was on a Red Cross First Response Team. She had her NO-e that she had taken to Ground Zero for Rescue/Recovery Ops. It had been used to pop doors open, both vehicle and structural.
The NO-e is about the smallest Iwould carry for outdoor use where I would expect to chop with any efficiency. The SH and BM offer more blade length, thus mass, making chopping easier.
The new Natural Outlaw model, the SFNO (Specail Forces - the handle design) would be a great blade, albeit a bit bigger.
The original Satin Jack is a very good knive for personal encounters, but, as RokJok mentioned, lacks blade mass usually necessary to be an efficient chopper.
Busse will be set up at Knob Creek in Louisville Oct 14-16. Don't know how far you are from there, but just a suggestion if you'd prefer to see some product offerings first hand.
It is hard to effectively recommend to someone when you don't know what sized blade/handle would be comfortable to the suggestee, nor your carry capability/preference.
Any of the models you've named would be effective in the field, but each for a different set of operating conditions.
The NO-e was the first blade I thought of for you when I read your other thread yesterday.
At Blade 2003, we ahd a woman come to the table that was on a Red Cross First Response Team. She had her NO-e that she had taken to Ground Zero for Rescue/Recovery Ops. It had been used to pop doors open, both vehicle and structural.
The NO-e is about the smallest Iwould carry for outdoor use where I would expect to chop with any efficiency. The SH and BM offer more blade length, thus mass, making chopping easier.
The new Natural Outlaw model, the SFNO (Specail Forces - the handle design) would be a great blade, albeit a bit bigger.
The original Satin Jack is a very good knive for personal encounters, but, as RokJok mentioned, lacks blade mass usually necessary to be an efficient chopper.
Busse will be set up at Knob Creek in Louisville Oct 14-16. Don't know how far you are from there, but just a suggestion if you'd prefer to see some product offerings first hand.
It is hard to effectively recommend to someone when you don't know what sized blade/handle would be comfortable to the suggestee, nor your carry capability/preference.
Any of the models you've named would be effective in the field, but each for a different set of operating conditions.
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- Jul 4, 2001
- Messages
- 1,662
Well being someone that has carried and extensively used both the Satin Jack and the Natural Outlaw I have a few opinions. The Satin Jack is a great medium utility blade. It is much livlier in the hand than the NO-E. If your looking for something a little lighter than the Steel Heart but is still a decent chopper the NO-E would be your best bet. If you have a Steel Heart and want a good all around utility blade you probably won't be wrong with getting a Satin Jack.
I often carry a NO-E in the field and woods because it will do the job of a Steel Heart. Yes is will be a little more work but it will do the job. If you try and chop with a SJ you'll end up using a baton and beating it through the wood you're trying to split. I rarely use my knife for any big chopping jobs. Just fire prep so I don't have an issue with carrying a 6 inch blade. I just choke back on the handle if I need more power for chopping. If I know I'm going to have to chop and I want to use a knife I'll take a SH or a Battle Mistress.
Hope this helps.
I often carry a NO-E in the field and woods because it will do the job of a Steel Heart. Yes is will be a little more work but it will do the job. If you try and chop with a SJ you'll end up using a baton and beating it through the wood you're trying to split. I rarely use my knife for any big chopping jobs. Just fire prep so I don't have an issue with carrying a 6 inch blade. I just choke back on the handle if I need more power for chopping. If I know I'm going to have to chop and I want to use a knife I'll take a SH or a Battle Mistress.
Hope this helps.
Good info guys, but I just had someone inform me that the new lines are all one inch longer. How does this effect your responses? Sounds lke the NO would be a good compromise, maybe its my nature, but I hate to compromise. Here's my nex stupid question. Just what are the blade lengths/total lengths of these blades? I would assume the thinner blades are the ones you all are refering to. I've heard the name the Battle Mistress---I guess my problem is I'd like to visually see all the models side by side with something to reference with. KY is a long way and unfortunately I can't take any time away from work during the first couple of weeks in Oct. October is a real busy month for me this year. Do they have shows in Va, NC or DC? How hard is it to get an older model Busse like the SH E instead of the Fusion?
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- Mar 26, 2000
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You might want to search the Busse forum for comparative pics. I know a lot of folks have requested and received numerous ones.
The Busse forums will get you a lot of help and info about the various models and comparative descriptions and tales.
Hope this helps.
Mike
The Busse forums will get you a lot of help and info about the various models and comparative descriptions and tales.
Hope this helps.
Mike
Don't forget there's a lot of information at
www.badmojo.tv.
The new Satin Jack is the same length if memory serves. The blade is a little wider. It is 3/16 thick unless you get the Heavy Ordinance Grade (HOG).
Compromise wouldn't be the word I would use. I would use maybe more convienient. More compact. The NO-E is certainly not a compromise.
The new SFNO (Special Forces Natural Outlaw) has a 7 inch blade and the blade is also wider than the older NO-E. A great blade but not as easy to conceal or carry anywhere but on a belt sheath. For most people at least.
www.badmojo.tv.
The new Satin Jack is the same length if memory serves. The blade is a little wider. It is 3/16 thick unless you get the Heavy Ordinance Grade (HOG).
Compromise wouldn't be the word I would use. I would use maybe more convienient. More compact. The NO-E is certainly not a compromise.
The new SFNO (Special Forces Natural Outlaw) has a 7 inch blade and the blade is also wider than the older NO-E. A great blade but not as easy to conceal or carry anywhere but on a belt sheath. For most people at least.
If you don't like to compromise, prepare to buy more than one. For some of us, that's a plus. 
A really good chopper generally won't be a really good self defense knife. Too blade heavy, doesn't have the "liveliness" or feel. Of course, khukuri's are the exception to this rule.
Do yourself a favor. As you're doing your research (which is nice and thorough, by the way), post your original question on the Himalayan Imports forum. You will receive a warm welcome from the folks at the "cantina" and some very interesting replies. You might be surprised....
PS - read Yvsa's posts twice.
A really good chopper generally won't be a really good self defense knife. Too blade heavy, doesn't have the "liveliness" or feel. Of course, khukuri's are the exception to this rule.
Do yourself a favor. As you're doing your research (which is nice and thorough, by the way), post your original question on the Himalayan Imports forum. You will receive a warm welcome from the folks at the "cantina" and some very interesting replies. You might be surprised....
PS - read Yvsa's posts twice.