Talon Hole - Why & What for????

D

DWRW

Joined
Jul 21, 2005
Messages
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I know that the Talon Hole is a Busse Trademark and that they are sometimes (VERY Rarely) used for D-guards and some other obscure lashing points for spears or something.

But, I have to be honest. I find the Talon Hole to be a nuisance and more of a detractor from function than any possible benefit.

Sorry if this is sacrilege, but it seems the Talon Hole is easily more con than pro to me.

I am sure some will feel the Talon Hole should just be there, but I am looking forward to seeing one justifiable good reason for it.

I think I will be hard to be convinced that any possible far-fetched reason for the Talon Hole will outweigh what I consider to be downsides of the Talon Hole. But, I am still curious.

I like choils, but a beef I have with Busse, Swamp Rat and Scrap Yard are the large distance from the main grip to the choil. When using the choil, I feel my index finger is unnaturally over-extended and I have fairly large hands (More often XL gloves than large.)

The Talon Hole also causes the blades to be shorted about an extra .25" or so on blade edge. I would much rather have more blade edge and no hole than a hole that I don't use.

Knives like the AD, or Meaner or Game Warden (to name a few) would be much better served by having a very small guard that allows your grip to be much closer to the blade edge.


Many of the knives that have a Talon Hole couldn't really have a D-guard and/or don't need one.

If I am missing something, let me know.

Maybe I am being too practical (????), but I am always looking for ways to improve and maximize performance from my knives. Even if minor technical little improvements!

Maybe the Talon Hole has sentimental value to some, but to me the Talon Hole is obstructing performance of many great knives.

I would personally rather see the Busse family of knives continue to improve the product than stick with a sentimental trademark that hinders performance.


...... OK.... now flame away.

But, I would be curious to know who might step up and agree with me as well.

.
 
While I don't agree with you about the talon hole, you are certainly entitled to your own preferences and opinions. The talon hole has never really obstructed the performance of any Busse I've ever used.(I really have used a lot of them) Sorry it does not work for you DWRW.
 
The Talon hole doesn't bother me at all. On knives that have a small choil, you wouldn't want to choke up past the talon hole so the only possible complaint is that it takes away from the blade length (but only about 1/4”).

On a knife with a larger choil, if you choke up with your fingertip in the choil, you are probably doing fine work so the grip isn't as crucial and in my opinion a spread out grip with your thumb on the spine is perfect for fine work and feels just fine to me.

The main question is how would you accomplish the “boomerang” lanyard configuration without a talon hole?

IM000614.jpg
 
With my LE BAT it allows for more deft movement when I need to do fine cuts; I can move my finger up into the choil and use the talon hole as a support point and as an obvious orientation point for blade direction.
 
I think it's a fair question. I don't mind them and it is helpful to distinguish a Busse from everything else out there. Another thing they have been used for is for a "pin" hole to lock the knife into kydex or leather. It would seem to work VERY well for those times when you wanted security rather than a fast draw for your sheath.

The way I look at it is if I am going to have a guard on a knife, why not have something else going on there...even though the use might be rare.
 
A good hard use knife needs a good sized finger guard. Why not put a hole in it to make it muti-functional? Space not wasted either.

When I use the choil I also move hand up on the grip so you don't have to stretch the finger at all.


edit- and don't forget about the Holy Terror, don't have one but heck I prolly NEED one
 
So basically the talon hole has no use and often gets in the way. Seems like more of a trademark thing. Still, good blades and design.
 
bell said:
So basically the talon hole has no use and often gets in the way. Seems like more of a trademark thing. Still, good blades and design.
Click to expand...

How would a small hole get in the way???:confused:

Need a good finger guard on a hard use knife for sure. Like I said why not put a hole there and make that spot usefull.

Some use's of the hole have already been mentioned above. There are many things it could be used for.

Even if you can't come up with any I still don't see how the hole could be in the way:confused:
 
Talon hole is awesome. Makes good rip cord D-guard, can secure knife with it in a sheath, etc. It does not detract from the function of the knife in any way so why not. KEEP IT, CUZ I LIKE IT
 
Ken44 said:
How would a small hole get in the way???:confused:

Need a good finger guard on a hard use knife for sure. Like I said why not put a hole there and make that spot usefull.

Some use's of the hole have already been mentioned above. There are many things it could be used for.

Even if you can't come up with any I still don't see how the hole could be in the way:confused:
Click to expand...

I'm with Kenny on this - How could a Talon Hole get in the way? :confused:
 
Being able to loop paracord through the talon hole and the pommel lanyard hole affords a level of security on any knife and is a terrific help when chopping. Also they can be made into blade catches
 
I like it as an additional lashing point. It is a good indicator of what knife it is, meaning trademark. It in no way weakens the tool in any of it's intended uses.
I have found the choil to be a little forward of my "comfort zone", but it has forced me to be more cautious in the work I would do while choking up on the blade. Thus growing accustomed to it, and liking it more in small work.

Just a bit of uninvited advice. Being that you chose to write "...... OK.... now flame away." makes me believe that you've seen this happen before. I think we all welcome questions, and even being a huge fan of Busse and their products, there are things I don't care for. That being said, here is my advice. Or maybe more of a request. If one wants to challenge an idea or design and it's elements, then just do that. Don't invite someone to take it to a negative. The question was posed quite politely up to the "flaming" comment. I don't feel that your opinions on this matter warrant flaming, unlike some of the trolls we have had visit, with no real interest in discussion or knives for that matter.
Other than that, I appreciate a challenging question like this. I haven't thought about the talon hole and how I used to use it in awhile.
 
also serves to keep users hand from sliding forward in a thrust into object. if liquid (ie.- blood) gets on handle, grip could get little slippery. also in a thrust, the objects muscles and bones will eventually stop the forward progress of blade. if not for the top and bottom of guard, grip could slip in a struggle and slide forward on edge of blade. all combat blades from east and west coulters have guards. also if opponents blade slides down yours your fingers dont get sliced! combat baby!!!
 
I use a lanyard in the talon hole of my FBM to keep my hand from sliding down the handle while doing extensive chopping. It works better then any thing I've seen or used on a large chopper, and I'm not looking back.

As for the smaller models I don't own any yet but I'm look forward to it.:D

Helle
 
I like to hold it up close and look through it with my left eye, then through the rear lanyard hole with my right. The real world looks much better from an Infi perspective. It's just not the same looking through the rivet holes. Very shrewd on Busse's part.:D ss.
 
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