STRIDER vs BUSSE

Just cuz I can't resist-

After doing my "homework" here and on other sites, including Cliff's, for about a year, my impression is that Busse is the absolute top of the heap for the end all, hard-use, SHTF knife- no other steel matches the qualities of INFI. Personally, I really like a lot of the Busse design elements as well- the first time I picked up my Fusion Steel Heart I was totally impressed with the design of both the blade and the (Magnum) handle. There is also the fact that they come with an unconditional guarantee- why settle for less? Also, you will notice that you can't find anything negative about Jerry or Busse Combat on the forums.

In my admittedly limited knowledge of steel, S30V is not what I look for in a large hard use knife- not ductile enough or easy enough to sharpen for my taste judging from what I have read- but even if it was, the things I have read here about Strider and how they treat their customers and stand behind their products would have turned me off.

Now, continuing to do my homework, let me save you the trouble of finding your next "Busse vs." foe- as soon as I have the $$ I plan to get a Fehrman. I don't see it as quite the "ultimate" that Busse is, but they get great reviews for performance, fit/finish and customer service. I believe they also offer an unconditional guarantee. They have a 4" and a 5.5" that I would like to try. The really great thing about knives in this class is that if you don't like them, you don't lose much on resale. Well, except for Busse- they usually go up!

Is this not a wonderful time to be a knife nut!?

Meant to give my $.02- ended up $1.25- :o
 
Busse had many videos on line showing their knives in use, it was on their older website.

-Cliff
 
I think that Strider and Busse make good knives, but I find the handles of both brands uncomfortable.
 
I have owned knives from both Busse and Strider. While I found both companies to be lacking in the fit and finish category, both brands had their ups and downs.

INFI is quite obviously superior to S30v for many large fixed blade applications. INFI is ungodly tough stuff, where S30V can be a bit on the brittle side. If I merely needed a sharpened prybar, Busse would easily be my pick. A Busse is as close to indestructible as you’re going to get.

I had definite rust issues with the INFI though, which should be expected. This is not a stainless steel. The rusting issue, in my case, was made even worse by the pitted finish left on the blade tang. Strider’s combination of S30v and blade coating was far more rust resistant than my unpainted INFI blade. Painted INFI is something I have not used extensively, but it should be stainless enough for all but the worst of environments.

Both steels are rather difficult to field sharpen. I actually tried to reprofile my Busse by hand once, using 200 grit wet/dry paper, and got virtually nowhere. INFI is very tough stuff, although it can work both for and against you at times.

The one nail in the casket for me, as far as Busse goes, was the ability of the knife to cut. Both samples I tried had very obtuse edge angles, and had far too much steel behind the sharpened edge, to be very useful. You could chop with them, but that was about it. Any cuts requiring more finesse than a full chop were pretty bad.

In the end, neither brand won me over.
 
Buzzbait said:
The one nail in the casket for me, as far as Busse goes, was the ability of the knife to cut. Both samples I tried had very obtuse edge angles, and had far too much steel behind the sharpened edge, to be very useful. You could chop with them, but that was about it. Any cuts requiring more finesse than a full chop were pretty bad.
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The shop will thin the edge to your specifications upon request, and I bet Strider would as well :thumbup:

Which models in particular did you have experience with?

I had a slightly obtuse edge on my Anorexic badger, but I reprofiled the edge with an EZE Bladesharpener, and now it slices very well.
 
I own several Busses and want to buy some Stirders. I just havent got around to it because Busses are sucking up all my cash. The only issue Ive ever read about with a Strider is there fit and finish. Other then that they seem tough as nails.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
The shop will thin the edge to your specifications upon request, and I bet Strider would as well :thumbup:

Which models in particular did you have experience with?
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I had a Busse Natural Outlaw and a Satin Jack. I actually sent back the Natural Outlaw to Jerry, after he suggested that the Satin Jack had a much thinner grind. The Satin Jack I received in replacement, was still not close to my standard for cutting efficiency. I eventually traded away the Satin Jack.
 
Buzzbait said:
The one nail in the casket for me, as far as Busse goes, was the ability of the knife to cut. Both samples I tried had very obtuse edge angles, and had far too much steel behind the sharpened edge, to be very useful. You could chop with them, but that was about it. Any cuts requiring more finesse than a full chop were pretty bad.

In the end, neither brand won me over.
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I'm not a Busse purist or anything, in fact i only own one Busse, the HOG Fusion Steel Heart, and even at 5/16" thick (mine actually mics at .325"), i was surprised by how it pops hairs and push-cuts magazine paper. It may split some rigid media like potato or whatever due to thickness, but the geometry makes for a very functional cutting tool. In fact, a half-inch or so from the edges, the thickness of the Busse and my Benchmade monochrome are about the same (the Busse is a little thicker). Which Busses did you try? Just curious. And darn it, i just can't help myself -- I like the "lick my sack" approach to customer service. Besides the fact that i think it's kind of funny, i recognize that not everyone has the same personality or "bedside manner"... I like Mick Strider and i would buy his knives if he made them out of an adequately tough material like Busse does, no matter what names he called me. (i realize that probably puts me in a minority...):p
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
The shop will thin the edge to your specifications upon request, and I bet Strider would as well
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Yes, you could just adjust the angle as well, my SHBM is about 8/12 per side, primary secondary. Easily outcuts a stock Dozier K2 for example. Takes about a couple of minutes to rip the bevel on a small knife from 20 to 10 with the right benchstone and INFI works well at low angles.

-Cliff
 
Buzzbait said:
I had a Busse Natural Outlaw and a Satin Jack. I actually sent back the Natural Outlaw to Jerry, after he suggested that the Satin Jack had a much thinner grind. The Satin Jack I received in replacement, was still not close to my standard for cutting efficiency. I eventually traded away the Satin Jack.
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Was that the old style Satin Jack or the Satin Jack Tac? the SJTac has thinner stock, wider blade, and a convex primary grind. Never tried one of the old style ones. also, which outlaw version?

I guess it depends on how you expect it to cut- my Spyderco Temperance outcuts most of my Busse blades in binding materials, but it is delicate, and cannot be used nearly as hard. It is always a tradeoff. I use my Fixed blades pretty hard, but Right now I am carrying a Spyderco (three, actually) Because most of the cutting I do here at work is easier with a thin blade. (cardboard, plastic & paper) My New Game Warden should fill that role quite well :thumbup:
 
When you pay Busse pricing, the knife should cut well, straight from the factory. When you send the knife back in for an acceptable replacement, it damn sure ought to cut well, straight from the factory. Neither of my Busses came within a stadium's length of cutting like my Dozier K-1 or K-4. There comes a point when you just decide that a particular knife company's philisophy on acceptable cutting, differs far from your own.
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
Was that the old style Satin Jack or the Satin Jack Tac? the SJTac has thinner stock, wider blade, and a convex primary grind. Never tried one of the old style ones. also, which outlaw version?
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The Satin Jack was 3/16" thick, with a convex edge grind. The NO was 1/4" thick, with the basic Busse edge grind.
 
hara-kiri-yogi said:
And darn it, i just can't help myself -- I like the "lick my sack" approach to customer service. Besides the fact that i think it's kind of funny, i recognize that not everyone has the same personality or "bedside manner"... I like Mick Strider and i would buy his knives if he made them out of an adequately tough material like Busse does, no matter what names he called me. (i realize that probably puts me in a minority...):p
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No your not alone evne if your in a minority. Im a big fan of mick in general. :p

He really is a stand-up guy. He just isnt PC in the least. But its more than understandable cinsidering his enviornment. And he really does make some great tools. Im hoping that eventually he'll eventually shange his blade steel from s30v to zdp 189.

My dream knife is strider BT made out of INFI.
 
hara-kiri-yogi said:
And darn it, i just can't help myself -- I like the "lick my sack" approach to customer service. Besides the fact that i think it's kind of funny, i recognize that not everyone has the same personality or "bedside manner"... I like Mick Strider and i would buy his knives if he made them out of an adequately tough material like Busse does, no matter what names he called me. (i realize that probably puts me in a minority...):p
Click to expand...


No your not alone evne if your in a minority. Im a big fan of mick in general. :p

He really is a stand-up guy. He just isnt PC in the least. But its more than understandable cinsidering his enviornment. And he really does make some great tools. Im hoping that eventually he'll eventually shange his blade steel from s30v to zdp 189.

My dream knife is strider BT made out of INFI.:thumbup:
 
Buzzbait said:
When you send the knife back in for an acceptable replacement, it damn sure ought to cut well, straight from the factory.
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Yes, assuming you were clear about what you wanted and it was agreed to. If it doesn't then you either demand a full return on cost + shipping, or if you are willing, give them one more chance. Likely going public with the complaint the second time so as to insure a more positive outcome.

Neither of my Busses came within a stadium's length of cutting like my Dozier K-1 or K-4.
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Both of the Dozier's I handled were outcut many to one by an Opinel or $5 Mora.

-Cliff
 
How about a Buck - Busse collaboration?
I'm going to have a beer now.
 
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