Thanks to thatmguy I finally got my first piece of Busse. (Got to be careful typing that) First impression is that it is bigger than I thought. Before I recieved the knife I was a little afraid it was going to be too small but it turned out to be just right. It is wider than a K-Bar but about the same overall length. The blade thickness is the same but handles are much thinner on the SJT.
I think I would prefer the magnum handles even though I have small hands. It would just fill the hands a little better. Also, the canvas handles are not as rough as I feared but still provide good traction. The finger choil is a great feature as it adds a lot of control to the knife. The black knife coating is growing on me.
My dislikes are really nitpicking. I'm comparing the fit and finish to my only other expensive knife, a David Winston, which is probably not fair. The Winston is much better finished overall and sharper. There is very slight gap between parts of the handle of the SJT. Also, the knife is not as sharp as the Winston when first recieved but is serviceable. I'm sure it can be touched up and the gap is not large or distracting. Also, my K-Bar can be used to hammer in tent stakes due to a flat pommel. Not with a Busse. But I can use the Busse to cut out a branch to make a hammer a lot easier than with my K-Bar. Once again, these are very minor dislikes and most definitly not a deal breaker.
I haven't tried cutting anything yet so I can't talk about edge retention. From the many reports here I don't think that it will be a problem.
Overall the knife is just about perfect as a general use knife. Not to heavy, not to light. Many comfortable hand positions to hold the knife depending on use. I like using the finger choil to get the feel of a shorter knife with more control. Hold it a little farther back and it's a good chopper. I was looking at a CRK but Cliff Stamp's review and the praises sung here swayed my mind. I think I made the right choice.
Once again, Thanks thatmguy. The rest of you guys should also. He eliminated me as competition in the extravaganza. (That and I also ordered a crash-axe)
I think I would prefer the magnum handles even though I have small hands. It would just fill the hands a little better. Also, the canvas handles are not as rough as I feared but still provide good traction. The finger choil is a great feature as it adds a lot of control to the knife. The black knife coating is growing on me.
My dislikes are really nitpicking. I'm comparing the fit and finish to my only other expensive knife, a David Winston, which is probably not fair. The Winston is much better finished overall and sharper. There is very slight gap between parts of the handle of the SJT. Also, the knife is not as sharp as the Winston when first recieved but is serviceable. I'm sure it can be touched up and the gap is not large or distracting. Also, my K-Bar can be used to hammer in tent stakes due to a flat pommel. Not with a Busse. But I can use the Busse to cut out a branch to make a hammer a lot easier than with my K-Bar. Once again, these are very minor dislikes and most definitly not a deal breaker.
I haven't tried cutting anything yet so I can't talk about edge retention. From the many reports here I don't think that it will be a problem.
Overall the knife is just about perfect as a general use knife. Not to heavy, not to light. Many comfortable hand positions to hold the knife depending on use. I like using the finger choil to get the feel of a shorter knife with more control. Hold it a little farther back and it's a good chopper. I was looking at a CRK but Cliff Stamp's review and the praises sung here swayed my mind. I think I made the right choice.
Once again, Thanks thatmguy. The rest of you guys should also. He eliminated me as competition in the extravaganza. (That and I also ordered a crash-axe)
