Team Gemini Light Brigade? or what?

[Lineman1]

Hello, I am looking to get my first heavy duty mid/large sized fixed blade. I am looking towards Busse but I had some questions.
I want a good hard use large blade that is under 13-14 inches OAL. I want it to be able to do some chopping as well.
I am looking at the Busse TGLB as my first choice, but it has some great reviews and it also has some reviews that arent so great.
My second choice would be something like the BK7 or Busse Nuclear Outlaw.
Does anyone have any experience with the TGLB? Or thoughts on the subject? Thank you very much.

 

[CDKJudoka]

The TGLB is one of my dream knives. The BK7 is a great knife at 1/4 the price of the Busse and KA-BAR has an awesome warranty. I put mine through hell and it still takes whatever I throw at it.

 

[Firestrike]

What negative reviews have you seen about the TGLB?

I love mine, it does everything I have asked it to do, and has yet to ask me for a sharpening.

As far as I am concerned the TGLB is both useful and as Nut-N-Fancy would put it a second kind of cool, as it is currently the most recognizable Zombie Killing blade ever to hit the market. People looking at my knife say "hey isn't that the knife that Redneck guy uses on TWD?" Then usually followed by "Whoa, that thing is sick", "where can I get one?", "and how much?"

They may not know anything about how freaking awesome Busse (and Kin, gotta give love to the Rats and Dogs) is, but they sure know the knife well.

Seriously though, if you don't have a TGLB, you better get one or be prepared to always be kicking your own arse for not doing so.

 

[CDKJudoka]

What negative reviews have you seen about the TGLB?

I love mine, it does everything I have asked it to do, and has yet to ask me for a sharpening.

As far as I am concerned the TGLB is both useful and as Nut-N-Fancy would put it a second kind of cool, as it is currently the most recognizable Zombie Killing blade ever to hit the market. People looking at my knife say "hey isn't that the knife that Redneck guy uses on TWD?" Then usually followed by "Whoa, that thing is sick", "where can I get one?", "and how much?"

They may not know anything about how freaking awesome Busse (and Kin, gotta give love to the Rats and Dogs) is, but they sure know the knife well.

Seriously though, if you don't have a TGLB, you better get one or be prepared to always be kicking your own arse for not doing so.

This man speaks the truth!

 

[Firestrike]

This man speaks the truth!

Thanks, Bro...

I hope that someday soon your dream blade finds it's way into your life.

Nothing at all wrong with the BK series though, lots of Beckerheads here will agree.

I just kinda skipped from KaBar to Tops to Busse. Looks like I have finally ended my search in Wauseon (hope I spelled that right) Ohio.

 

[Lineman1]

The negative things I have heard is that is does everything "well" but nothing really great. But with reviews like that its hard to resist!

 

[cricketdave]

Its a tough really well made knife, chops better than expected for its size when you move your hand down lower on the hilt. It holds a good edge, thick enough to use but not so thick it won't slice well. Handles camp and hunting chores very well and is very well balanced, quick in the hand. You can choke up for fine work, or use it as a draw knife. Pretty much a great all around blade.

 

[Jeru]

I really don't like hollow grinds, but for a "heavy duty" outdoor fixed blade especially, it would be my absolute last choice (over convex, flat and scandi). How do you guys experience the hollow grind of the TGLB in the outdoors and how do you think about hollow grinds in general, if I may ask?

Thanks!

 

[Firestrike]

The negative things I have heard is that is does everything "well" but nothing really great. But with reviews like that its hard to resist!

In a way you can call it a Jack-of-all/Master-of-none,

Thickness, yep it's thick, but Busse compensated with the grind.

Look here, http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...(Cool-Pics)?highlight=light+brigade+treatment

Length, at almost 8" it's not what most would consider a hunting knife, it does however work well for quartering and Elk or Blacktail Deer. The length also allows it to chop well giving you a little extra bite, and batons quite well due to it's overall wedge shape.

Utility work, does good there. I regularly make meals using only the TGLB, potatoes/ham/onion/ no problems. Cheese ends up slightly thicker than a regular kitchen knife but hey I like cheese. Prying should not be an issue, it is Infi and has the Busse heat treat, look here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1155289-My-TGLB-s-tip?highlight=TGLB

David gives his TGLB a good morning workout.

Weight, while it has some heft, most who have handled mine were very suprised and though it would be much heavier, comparing to my Tops Firestrike 45, it is lighter by a few ounces, and when stabbing/slashing into a very large and hard rhined pumpkin it out performed the Firestrike in every way. (Non-scientific testing, just did so for fun)

Are there better knives for certian tasks? Yes there are, but only by a small margin IMO. If you are looking for a knife to thoroughly enjoy, and use without fear of failure, you would be very hard pressed to find anything better.

All around when compared to other's like it I believe it for sure is the Master of all the Jacks.

 

[Jeru]

@Lineman1 I would take a look at Fehrman Knives as well, if I were you...

 

[Grease]

Rather than a TGLB, honestly, I'd hunt around for a Swamp Rat hawk/knife combo. I actually just sold my TGLB and bought a Kill Devil Sniper Hawk & Rodent Solution as replacements, and the combo is waaay nicer for actual work. It's not as fun to fondle and show off, but for $400... I think I'd rather have function over cool factor.


Edit:

They make a handy combo, bolted together and mounted to a tek lock...

 

[Firestrike]

I really don't like hollow grinds, but for a "heavy duty" outdoor fixed blade especially, it would be my absolute last choice (over convex, flat and scandi). How do you guys experience the hollow grind of the TGLB in the outdoors and how do you think about hollow grinds in general, if I may ask?

Thanks!

I say overall the Scandi is my favorite grind, but generally on a smaller blade 5" or less. I have not been impressed with FFG's for outdoor purposes. The hollow grind on the TGLB gives the knife a lot of versatility, giving this beast of a knife the fine cutting edge you want on a detailed carver without sacrifing the brute strength of a 1/4" thick prybar.

 

[cricketdave]

I really don't like hollow grinds, but for a "heavy duty" outdoor fixed blade especially, it would be my absolute last choice (over convex, flat and scandi). How do you guys experience the hollow grind of the TGLB in the outdoors and how do you think about hollow grinds in general, if I may ask?

Thanks!

I've used a lot of flat ground and saber ground blades along with hollow grinds. The tglb is ground on such a large belt that its almost flat the hollow grind is very slight. I've got users that are larger and are hollow grind that I've beat on pretty good with no issues at all, they tend to cut better for me. As long as I'm not chopping concrete blocks there is no issue. Anything you would use a knife for they work great. Now if your wanting to carve an engine block or some other pointless stupidity I guess you would want something thicker. I've chopped with them split kindling, built shelters and skinned game, those are the things I expect any outdoors knife to do and the tglb does them well, so do the other more extreme hollow ground blades I use.