Suggestions for a new outdoors knife.....

First of all, personally I wouldn't take my 400 USD Busse on a deployment, because I think it will get stolen. And unless you're a very tall guy I would take something smaller than 7", certainly not bigger. Something cheaper, lighter and less cumbersome than a 8" Busse. And I certainly wouldn't take a hollow grind either, with plenty of non-hollow grind options out there. Busse made a lot of awesome non-hollow grind knives. If it had to be a Busse I would want to take a Busse Combat Natural Outlaw NO E on deployment. If it has to be a around 400 USD I would take a Fehrman Last Chance. If it has to be around 400 USD and 7"+, I would take a Fehrman First Strike. Both are in CPM 3V. But I still would rather take something cheaper. Survive! Knives uses CPM 3V as well if you can find one. In your case that would be a GSO 7/7 then. Swamp Rat and Scrapyard offer awesome tough options as well (SR101/52100). I'm thinking about a Scrapyard 711 or 911 of you want a big comfortable tough blade. And compared to a TGLB it doesn't hurt so much if it'll get stolen or destroyed. Personally I would doubt between a good ol' ESEE-5, a Swamp Rat Ratmandu or a Survive! GSO 6. Certainly recommend CPM 3V. Super tough and still pretty corrosion resistant with 7.5% chromium.
 
When I was in the military I deployed a lot and carried two knives.A leatherman wave a cold steel SRK carbon v. I never felt that I was underknifed. I also packed a lansky sharpening kit.

Today I would pack a leatherman mut and something like a bark river 1.5 or survive 5.1 preferably stainless. I would pack my sharpmaker in my mo bag also.
 
I took a large knife on deployment(many years ago), a 7" custom that was a awesome piece however that only lasted about three days. Moving in and out of up armored hmmv's with a 14" piece of steel was not a good idea. My ruck was usually overstuffed with gear that was mandatory and ended sending my big knife home. I ended up using the hell of of a BM Nimravus that I took as well and never felt underknifed.

I would personally not recommend going over a 5" blade for any thing that you want to carry and use often. Of course ymmv.
 
BCMfan said:
yea i always have either a leatherman or gerber multitool, compact, and tons of function. I have a benchmade nimavarus.. spelling? haha just looking for something new to play with while im gone and away. Ill check out the BK7, and the glock knife. thanks
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If you want something to play with...then just get whatever looks coolest. Its just something to play with. Or get that Glock sideways suggeted. I have heard the same things he said about it many times.

As far as a 400 buck knife? I'd pass. As many have advised it will be lost, stolen, too heavy, or out and out embarrassing. And for all the time I've been hanging around this place I have yet to hear anyone who was serving who needed to cut down a tree or got into a knife fight.
 
In a combat situation, a knife, a bayonet, a 90 degree etool or a horizontal butt stroke are weapons of last resort. Hopefully you would never have to use them. But if you are placed in a situation where you need it (knife), I would want to have one handy. On the other hand, a knife as a tool will be a handy thing to have in the field almost every day. I too agree that 7" is probably too large of a knife. As others have stated, I would recommend nothing larger than 5". I would not recommend any folder as a weapon or a tool (backup perhaps or utilitarian cutting tasks), but if you are separated (SERE), a good 5" fixed blade tool might save your life and allow you to return home with honor.

To me it has always been a sad state of affairs that while serving your country and defending it with your life, you have to worry about people (comrades in arms) stealing your stuff. Unfortunately this has been the case for the six major conflicts that I either have first hand knowledge about or that close relatives have served in dating back to WWII. I wish that you did not have to worry about it, but you do.
 
BCMfan said:
Hello all,
Im new to the forum, well ive been reading post on here for a long time, but finally joined.
I am facing a dilemma... I want a new knife, and I need some suggestions from you experts.

My criteria
Price range- $400 or less
Fixed Blade with 7in blade length at least.
Full Tang
No serrations
Uses- field knife, survival, fighting


I am looking right now at the Busse Team Gemini LB, have also looked at the Fallkniven knives, but I want to know what else might be out there that is good, maybe cheaper. I will be taking this knife with me on deployment, can't have it crapping out on me. (everything a soldier uses a knife for is what the knife needs to do, daily task, etc..)

Thanks for reading, and hopefully you can give me some help.
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First off, Welcome!
Criterion Field & Survival & Fighting?
What is your deployment the result of and where is it to? Branch? Unit? Gear Ordinance Issue? I would ask this of you first to get a better match. I would not want a machete in a Icelandic deployment, etc. If your unit is a peacekeeping regi there may be mili legalities to personal choice of armament, weaponry, even use of personal tools. A naval deployment has a tremendous diff than an Air Force deployment in gear restriction and what personal arms, if any, are allowed. Can you specify?
It has been many years since I served but I remember the gauntlet I had to run trying to exchange my Berretta 92 for a 1911 Colt Commander.45. Like pulling teeth. You step off that plane/boat/transport/chute with Busse' finest strapped to your leg there may need to be a signed writ included in your orders...:)
 
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I own the Esee 6, and take it out with me hunting/camping. The sheath can easily be attached to molle via speed clips or a separate pannel that you can buy. The blade is top notch and useful as hell, the blade isn't rust proof (like fallkniven) but it is significantly cheaper. Esee also makes the junglas, which is an even bigger version if you want to be carrying a mini machete...

Take a serious look at Esee, you won't be disappointed.
 
Alright, im back. I dont spend a whole lotta time on computers so forgive me if I take a minute. Basically I am a single man, been in since 2003. Have 4 deployments under my belt. As you could probably guess I have quite a good bit of cash stashed away as each deployment was a good long year tax free. And I get housing allowence, no real bills. So I was wanting a pretty nice knife to take with me so i could say " this awesome knife went to war with me" I like war mementos, and think taking a nice knife with me would give it a good story.
The Regs... My unit is allowed to carry pretty much anything as long as the color is correct, nothing shiny and around 7 in blade length. Hence the BUSSE due to you can pick the color you want.
As to the other fellow, I dont feel too comfortable discussing a whole lot, but I will tell you that sometime in several months I am looking at a trip overseas, ARMY, 11b. As far as hmmwvs I just usually tie the knife down to my thigh and that keeps it pretty solid when exiting a vehicle in crisis.
True when in Iraq/AFG I never had to chop trees or start fires, I still like a nice useful knife. Thank God I have yet to pull a knife in close combat, cause that would mean my primary was outta ammo, my secondary was outta ammo or... too close for comfort.
Anyways, I thank you all for the great suggestions and pictures. I am looking at the swamp rat and others... but might still go with the BUSSE, i am just hoping that the 4-14 week wait time will be more like 4.. haha, otherwise Ill have to have mom and pop send me the knife once im there.
Thanks for all your help.
 
link2derek said:
Check out the Bark River Bravo-2 -- many choices under $300, and well worth every penny. DLT Trading and KnivesShipFree have pretty decent selections... Absolutely worth a look!

And WELCOME to the Forum!
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In additon to the Bravo line, Bark River also has an STS series with 4, 5.5 and 8.5" blades that is designed for current situations. Also worth a look to see a purposeful design.

The Bravo-2 and the STS knives are available now with a variety of handle materials.
 

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Update, bought the Busse TGLB today, tanker grey with black canvas. Got a 10% military discount too! Gonna get a spec ops combat master sheath for it
 
BCMfan said:
Update, bought the Busse TGLB today, tanker grey with black canvas. Got a 10% military discount too! Gonna get a spec ops combat master sheath for it
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I got my Ratmandu and Rodent 3 in 30 days approx from date of order - That was in January. Hopefully Busse can do the same.
 
BCMfan said:
Alright, im back. I dont spend a whole lotta time on computers so forgive me if I take a minute. Basically I am a single man, been in since 2003. Have 4 deployments under my belt. As you could probably guess I have quite a good bit of cash stashed away as each deployment was a good long year tax free. And I get housing allowence, no real bills. So I was wanting a pretty nice knife to take with me so i could say " this awesome knife went to war with me" I like war mementos, and think taking a nice knife with me would give it a good story.
The Regs... My unit is allowed to carry pretty much anything as long as the color is correct, nothing shiny and around 7 in blade length. Hence the BUSSE due to you can pick the color you want.
As to the other fellow, I dont feel too comfortable discussing a whole lot, but I will tell you that sometime in several months I am looking at a trip overseas, ARMY, 11b. As far as hmmwvs I just usually tie the knife down to my thigh and that keeps it pretty solid when exiting a vehicle in crisis.
True when in Iraq/AFG I never had to chop trees or start fires, I still like a nice useful knife. Thank God I have yet to pull a knife in close combat, cause that would mean my primary was outta ammo, my secondary was outta ammo or... too close for comfort.
Anyways, I thank you all for the great suggestions and pictures. I am looking at the swamp rat and others... but might still go with the BUSSE, i am just hoping that the 4-14 week wait time will be more like 4.. haha, otherwise Ill have to have mom and pop send me the knife once im there.
Thanks for all your help.
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man... just get what you want. coming from experience, compromise always leaves you wishing you got the one you want... from watches, to knives, cars and motorcycles, when you know what you want and buy something else because it "will be ok" you will always feel like you should have got the one you really wanted. if that bussey is the one you love, everything else will be the one you compromised on. its easy for us all to tell you what you "should" get in our opinions, but mostly its all our own bias... mine included, and I wouldn't get the bussey, but that's personal preference. iv'e carried fallknivens on my kit, a custom john Greco and two of my own... because I loved them. and they will be cherished memory pieces for the rest of my life. save the compromise for marriage and get the toys you love... nothing else will ever be "enough".
 
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