Swamp Rat Custom Shop Vexillaris

[MustardMan]

The word I was hearing was that they were a show-only special. They did, however, have a decent number of them left when I left the show just after 3:00 Sunday, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them show up in a ganzaa or something.

 

[suttond]

Eric

Will these be offered at the Ganzaa or on your web site? I wasn't at blade, but I would be interested in a couple of them. Thanks

 

[suttond]

Show special pricing was $99 for the micarta, $119 for G10. All the Busse knives released at Blade had special pricing for those who were able to attend, the future 'Ganza prices will be higher.

Is that common practice for Busse to offer a knife at a reduced price, then jack the price up for everybody else because they didn't attend the Blade show? I haven't seen this in the past, I've always thought Busse was very honest when it comes to their prices. That doesn't seem like a very honest business practice if it is true.

 

[mhawg]

Is that common practice for Busse to offer a knife at a reduced price, then jack the price up for everybody else because they didn't attend the Blade show? I haven't seen this in the past, I've always thought Busse was very honest when it comes to their prices. That doesn't seem like a very honest business practice if it is true.

That's kind of a bass ackwards way to look at it suttond. Yes, you are privileged to have a special price for going to the show to purchase this or any other knife. Are you being punished when you are offered the knife at the normal selling price in the comfort of your home! I don't think so. I doubt many folks will get to buy one at all due to the limited number manufactured. This is a Custom Shop blade and naturally will be less available than the standard line of knives. Sorry you didn't make it to Blade but don't slight Busse Combat for their pricing strategy.

 

[Jaxx]

Is that common practice for Busse to offer a knife at a reduced price, then jack the price up for everybody else because they didn't attend the Blade show? I haven't seen this in the past, I've always thought Busse was very honest when it comes to their prices. That doesn't seem like a very honest business practice if it is true.

I think that you are looking at it backwards...

The regular price was already determined before they left Wauseon OH, but Busse wanted to offer a few special deals for those who put out the money to come to BLADE in spite of a rough economy. If you think about it, those who didn't come and who will pay the regular price will come out waaaay ahead because they didn't have to pay for their flight or gas to BLADE, a hotel room, meals, etc. or the TAX that we paid on knife purchases at the Show.

In short, they didn't set the prices with the intention of raising them, they set the prices with the intention of lowering a few prices and offering a few deals one time only for BLADE attendees.

I think that this was very kind of them to do, and they didn't have to, those knives would have sold either way.

 

[u812]

I think that you are looking at it backwards...

The regular price was already determined before they left Wauseon OH, but Busse wanted to offer a few special deals for those who put out the money to come to BLADE in spite of a rough economy. If you think about it, those who didn't come and who will pay the regular price will come out waaaay ahead because they didn't have to pay for their flight or gas to BLADE, a hotel room, meals, etc. or the TAX that we paid on knife purchases at the Show.

In short, they didn't set the prices with the intention of raising them, they set the prices with the intention of lowering a few prices and offering a few deals one time only for BLADE attendees.

I think that this was very kind of them to do, and they didn't have to, those knives would have sold either way.

Well put.
I can say that the show is fun and I would have went even if they were no good deals but it does cost a good hunk of change to go.

 

[MustardMan]

Is that common practice for Busse to offer a knife at a reduced price, then jack the price up for everybody else because they didn't attend the Blade show? I haven't seen this in the past, I've always thought Busse was very honest when it comes to their prices. That doesn't seem like a very honest business practice if it is true.

Others have said it far more eloquently than I would have, so I'll just say you're full of crap

 

[Bulldog18]

I couldn't make it to Blade this year and look forward to making it next year. I believe those that made it and spent the time and money to make the trip should get a break and I for one am happy for them. I think that its pretty decent of Busse to take this into consideration and offer the Blade show discount. Nuff said!

 

[GregY]

Any stats on blade length / comparison size? Bigger than a Game Warden, smaller than a Dog Skinner?

Mmmmm... MORE D2! That's awesome!

I just got mine yesterday. I used my micrometer (warning, I took these measurements right before I went to bed):

width of tang at pommel: 0.145"
width of blade at ricasso (between the slabs and the plunge line): 0.140"
width of blade at transition from primary to edge grind: 0.040"

It's a full flat primary grind blended into a convex edge grind. Mine came (just barely) shaving sharp and made short work of some fairly thick steaks my wife and I had for dinner last night. My wife's comment, "you just have to press down and it cuts right through". (Oh, the steaks marked the blade.)

Compared with my Game Warden, the Vex is distinctly larger in cross section (the blade is longer and taller, the handles are taller and a bit longer) but thinner in every way. Blade thickness .140" vs. .195" at the front of the handles, the Vex has thinner handles.... the weight is very nearly the same. As a coincidence, the fastener holes very nearly line up.

I'll add some additional comments- it feels wonderful in my hand. It's fairly handle heavy, the point of balance is between the first and second tube fasteners, closer to the first (about 1/3 and 2/3). The blade feels very light and agile. Total weight is 7 or 8 ounces (I don't have a digital scale, just compared with my zt0200). There is one main problem with the fit and finish- the plunge lines for the primary grind each look nice individually, but they are nowhere near symmetrical. Looking forward from the choil things look... lopsided. I suspect the same folks with did the Busse HACK's did these. (I've heard people complain about weird Busse edge grinds, and I've seen some uneven ones myself, but I've never seen a primary grind on a Bussekin knife that wasn't perfect.)