-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Someone explain busse-kin to me, and relationships please.
- Thread starter SVTFreak
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2011
- Messages
- 350
The way I see it Bussee Combat sells high end knives. Like $400+ they started two separate companies/lines of knives which are Swamp Rat and Scrapyard. Through these lines they sell more affordable blades usually -$200. Other than that I am at a loss. They are all part of Bussee.
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2006
- Messages
- 6,710
The Busse Knife Group - http://www.busseknives.com/
Bigfattyt
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2007
- Messages
- 19,226
Busse is run by Jerry Busse. It uses INFI steel (proprietary to Busse, and some times Scrapyard gets their mits on extra steel). INFI is super tough, even at higher hardness. It does not rust or stain easily when stripped or satin finished. It can bend, and take huge stress and impact without breaking or taking a set, or blowing out the edge. It gives up a bit of edge retention in the area of slicing (IE cutting cardboard, or slicing rope etc) from some of the other "super steels" out there. It more than makes up for that if you are doing impact work like chopping. Very easy to maintain a sharp edge. No special tools or diamond stones needed to sharpen.
They are working on a higher harness higher wear resistance version of Infi. I had a BAD which was treated a few RC points higher that seemed to hold a bit better edge in a small, thin, slicer. The new version (yet to be released) is supposed to be even better in that application.
Swamprat is run by Jennifer Busse (Jerry's wife). It uses primarily SR101 steel (modified 52100 steel, a great ball bearing tool steel). They also use a few others occasionally. Every bit as good looking as Busse. Sr101's primary weakness (if you want to call it that) is corrosion. It is a tool steel, that is prone to rust, if not cared for. If coated, you don't really need to worry about it. If stripped, or satin, you need to be aware, and keep it protected, or just let it patina if you are cool like me (I don't mind carbon steel, all stained, and grey !)
I think, in the smaller knives, Sr101 shines above INFI! I think it gives a bit better edge retention for the performance and toughness. Infi is super tough, but in smaller knives, you don't really need as much outright stupid toughness. I am willing to trade some "tough" for some more edge retention, and the ability to really go with a thinner edge.
Scrapyard is run by Dan, Jerry's brother in law (if I remember correctly).
Scrapyard originally used left over steel from Busse, designed to be tough, and have a huge price/performance ratio. They use Sr77 (a modified jack hammer bit steel), INFI (when they can steal it). Elamax recently, and a few other odds and ends like D2 and CPM 154 (if memory serves me correct?). Can't be beat for the price! Super tough, though geared toward utility, and not beauty!
They are all made at the same shop. Same stellar warranty, and the same great people working on getting them to us!
I recommend all three! Though, I have to be honest, I only have INFI in my stable right now!
They are working on a higher harness higher wear resistance version of Infi. I had a BAD which was treated a few RC points higher that seemed to hold a bit better edge in a small, thin, slicer. The new version (yet to be released) is supposed to be even better in that application.
Swamprat is run by Jennifer Busse (Jerry's wife). It uses primarily SR101 steel (modified 52100 steel, a great ball bearing tool steel). They also use a few others occasionally. Every bit as good looking as Busse. Sr101's primary weakness (if you want to call it that) is corrosion. It is a tool steel, that is prone to rust, if not cared for. If coated, you don't really need to worry about it. If stripped, or satin, you need to be aware, and keep it protected, or just let it patina if you are cool like me (I don't mind carbon steel, all stained, and grey !)
I think, in the smaller knives, Sr101 shines above INFI! I think it gives a bit better edge retention for the performance and toughness. Infi is super tough, but in smaller knives, you don't really need as much outright stupid toughness. I am willing to trade some "tough" for some more edge retention, and the ability to really go with a thinner edge.
Scrapyard is run by Dan, Jerry's brother in law (if I remember correctly).
Scrapyard originally used left over steel from Busse, designed to be tough, and have a huge price/performance ratio. They use Sr77 (a modified jack hammer bit steel), INFI (when they can steal it). Elamax recently, and a few other odds and ends like D2 and CPM 154 (if memory serves me correct?). Can't be beat for the price! Super tough, though geared toward utility, and not beauty!
They are all made at the same shop. Same stellar warranty, and the same great people working on getting them to us!
I recommend all three! Though, I have to be honest, I only have INFI in my stable right now!
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2012
- Messages
- 6,973
They all share the same production facility in Wauseon, OH.
Scrap Yard Knife Co. advertises their "Superior price to perfomance ratio" and they mean it, you'd be hard pressed to find a better knife for the money. They do limited production runs of a small number or knives at a time, and do not have a Custom Shop in order to keep their prices low. They will use any steel that they can get for a good price and use similar heat treating protocols as Swamp Rat & Scrap Yard. They have used SR-77(modified S-7 shock steel), SR-101, INFI, 154CM, Sandvik 12C27 Stainless, Elmax.
Swamp Rat Knife Works is the intermediate between Busse Combat and Scrap Yard in terms of price. Their knives are priced just slightly more than Scrap Yard's on average, but are still an awesome value. They only use SR-101 steel, which is supposedly a modified 52100 with a few extra points of Chromium. Swamp Rat operates a Custom Shop and will modify existing knives from Swamp Rat.
Busse Combat is the flagship line of the Busse Knife Group. Their prices are usually 2-3x more than Scrap Yard or Swamp Rat, mostly because of the increased cost of INFI vs. other steels. All of their current knives are made of INFI, which is a proprietary steel that Jerry Busse basically invented. While INFI doesn't score the best in any category of steel performance, it scores remarkably well in ALL categories which combined with their heat treat protocol makes for an insanely tough knife. Busse operates a Custom Shop and will modify existing knives from Busse Combat.
Scrap Yard Knife Co. advertises their "Superior price to perfomance ratio" and they mean it, you'd be hard pressed to find a better knife for the money. They do limited production runs of a small number or knives at a time, and do not have a Custom Shop in order to keep their prices low. They will use any steel that they can get for a good price and use similar heat treating protocols as Swamp Rat & Scrap Yard. They have used SR-77(modified S-7 shock steel), SR-101, INFI, 154CM, Sandvik 12C27 Stainless, Elmax.
Swamp Rat Knife Works is the intermediate between Busse Combat and Scrap Yard in terms of price. Their knives are priced just slightly more than Scrap Yard's on average, but are still an awesome value. They only use SR-101 steel, which is supposedly a modified 52100 with a few extra points of Chromium. Swamp Rat operates a Custom Shop and will modify existing knives from Swamp Rat.
Busse Combat is the flagship line of the Busse Knife Group. Their prices are usually 2-3x more than Scrap Yard or Swamp Rat, mostly because of the increased cost of INFI vs. other steels. All of their current knives are made of INFI, which is a proprietary steel that Jerry Busse basically invented. While INFI doesn't score the best in any category of steel performance, it scores remarkably well in ALL categories which combined with their heat treat protocol makes for an insanely tough knife. Busse operates a Custom Shop and will modify existing knives from Busse Combat.
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2011
- Messages
- 7,247
Mailing addresses differ a bit but the fun truly begins when all 3 gather at shows, especially Blade.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2012
- Messages
- 598
Of course Rob you send him to "YOU'RE" page
(Rob makes the saweet logos for the 3 and the custom shop).