TankBuster Question

[Sufler]

Is the TB handle really that big? Saw one photo that made me think that I was glad not to order one. Your opinions? And, I'd also appreciate any more in-hand shots to clarify my perception.

Thank you.
:thumbup:

 

[Jaxx]

Hope these help. I'd say that I have medium palms with slightly longer than average fingers. They're decent handles, but more utilitarian than some other Busse handle styles. if you wear gloves frequently while using a knife, this is a very decent handle. I like 'em, but the ASH-1 style handles are definitely more comfortable in comparison.

 

[Joshua J.]

I don't have any in hand shots but here's my comparison pic.
I wouldn't say the handle is overly large, just designed with different grips in mind. If you want to hold the knife farther back for chopping then the handle has a little extra length to accommodate for that.
I have more large-ish hands, and have to hold the knife at the very back to fit my thumb on the spine portion of the handle.
Also, be aware that this thing is a lot heftier than it looks (and very nicely balanced:thumbup. It's the heaviest knife of the three in my photo. The SOD is 16 oz (before mod), the Spyderco/Hossom is 17 oz, and the Tank Buster came out at 18.3 oz (approximately, it was too heavy for my micro scale).

 

[Nuke41]

The TB grip feel thin in my hand compared to my Jackhammer and certainly to my SAR 4, I wish they had made the panels a little thicker.

 

[MikeH]

One of many things I like about Busse Combat is that they put an adequate handle on their knives. Even then, some such as the Ash-1 would be more comfortable without the rear talon.

This is not meant to bash another fine knife company, just to illustrate personal preference. I have a friend who has a Bark River collection, and I really like the knives but all that I have held seem to need another half inch of handle.

 

[richstag]

Small comparison Pic:

In my hand, gripped as far forward as possible without utilizing the choil:

 

[RickJ]

I love the Mags on my TB, this is one great knife, I have L/XL hands as far as glove size and I got Mags on mine, I have said it many times that this knife feels great in the hand. I just hope they stay up long enough for me to get two more.


RickJ

 

[richstag]

I love the Mags on my TB, this is one great knife, I have L/XL hands as far as glove size and I got Mags on mine, I have said it many times that this knife feels great in the hand. I just hope they stay up long enough for me to get two more.


RickJ

I agree, and neglected to mention, the TB Mags are very comfortable. Personal thing though

 

[Last Visible Canary]

it's a handle that could cope with another 4" of blade. I have medium sized hands, and for me the biggest issue is the positioning and size of the palm swells.

In the image with the tank buster and nmfbm there is also a modified sar5. I custom ordered the handle in that profile to make it perfect (to me) for a 4.5" medium duty knife. I moved the palm swell position to be in the correct anatomical position to the finger swell and kept it relatively straight. If you look on both the tac and fusion handles the palm swell and finger swell are nearly dead center of each other, barely offset. If I could have anything done to the tank busters handle I would just shave off the palm swell to make it about 50% of the normal size. Personally I never hammer with the pommel (tendency to hit the handles and screw the tube fasteners) so I'd might off the butt as well even though it would make it blade heavy.

So while the palm swell is a bit excessive, the handle isn't so big that it's cumbersome like on the sar4 where it seems like half the weight of the knife resides in the last 2 inches of handle. Because the handle has an extra inch or so thats covered by scale after the pinky, your able to choke back a little to get the same weight/chopping power as a standard grip nmsfno.

I really, really, really wish I could get a reduced palm swell active duty without a choil. that would be just about perfect.

 

[Sufler]

Thanks all for your input. I'm sorta on this "quest" to find that one good user Busse still. When the TB came out, I thought it would be a good choice. How's the TB in comparison to .25" thick FSH?

Thanks.