Scrapyards - Rugged, unrefined (Probably the worst of the three in terms of edges and grinds), but honestly, a good value in that the steel and heat treatment is great for their intended use and they're the most comfortable. Their downfalls is there's only so much they can do in terms of designs, but I LOVE res C and the dogfather is one of my all time favorite choppers.
Swamprat - Still cheaper than Busse, SR101 is a great steel with a great heat treat. Not much to comment on in terms of fit and finish, but i've had dull rats from the factory. For the most part I like the designs they put out and the Ratmandu is best in it's class IMO for a knife in that size range.
Busse - The most expensive of the three, not worth the money IMO. I've owned a lot of Busses, and they're impressive hard use knives, but i classify them with strider in terms of fit and finish. I've gotten uneven grinds, completely dull edges to the point where they will not cut skin and geometry that's thick for an axe. When I say not worth the money, this is coming from someone who has owned about 20 different Busses. Understand when I say "not worth the money", I rarely think any high end knives are worth the money they charge, so take it with a grain of salt. The battle mistress models are probably the best choppers you'll ever find (minus the bushwacker, IMO that fell short), and they're probably the toughest knives i've ever encountered (I've beaten the hell out of my choppers). If you can, I'd recommend something from the basic series, like the Basic 11. That's one Busse I do regret selling, but that was for personal reasons, not the quality of the knife. I've heard they've picked up in the fit and finish department though, and knives have been leaving the factory with even grinds and sharp edges, good for them.
:thumbup:
