Team Gemini Ultra Light Brigade handles?

[inspector-callahan]

Anyone else think it was odd that Busse skipped the fitting and blending of the handle scales to the tang of the new TGULB?? They were just CNC cut and bolted on as-is? I have to admit, I noticed this rather quickly and was a bit surprised that there was no longer fitting in this area. I have numerous Busse's and none of the Nuclear Meltdown models are this way nor are any of the other Team Gemini LB's this way?

My other "nuclear meltdown" Busse's (NMFSH, for example) that have rounded edges everywhere except where the handle edge is fitted/buffed to the knife scales, so I am curious if this might have been a cost saving measure, or done purposefully to eliminate stress risers? If the latter is true, then I guess all of my other Busse's have stress risers, ha.

Its a great knife otherwise, but was honestly expecting a bit more in the fit & finish area at a $500+ price point. YMMV.

I hope this doesn't offend anyone, and is not meant as some pointless troll post. This also isn't any insinuation that this detail wasn't disclosed since the description clearly says "The Nuclear Meltdown treatment rounds all exterior corners of the blade, handle, and pommel, for a massive reduction in any possible stress risers and potential "Hot Spots" under heavy use!!!"

Goes without saying (but I will), I am a huge Busse fan and have an extensive collection. I would just like to hear if anyone else noticed this detail or cared about it......

Thx
IC

 

[boring]

at the price the Busse go for, there are certain refinements one would expect. Gotta be a cost saving measure.

 

[boring]

Is the tang that sticks out rounded?

 

[Will York]

Interesting comment. I haven’t picked up one of these yet, but the impression I get from looking at pics that have been posted has been positive.

The tang appears to stand just proud of the slabs, but the tang-to-slab fit in terms of spacing, flow and contouring looks to me to show purposeful design.

Could you talk a little more about what seems unfinished to you? (I know you’re a serious Busse-phile.)

I’ll re-post a couple of pics from the TGULB thread to show what I see that looks like good design/finish work to me—any objections just let me know and I’ll take them down:

 

[Makael]

Looks fine and finished to me .

 

[Srtr]

I noticed it immediately but found that I actually like it.

Waiting on my second tgulb to arrive to actually try it since my first one is just a catch and release but just holding it in hand feels good.

 

[extrastout]

This was specifically brought up in the sales thread here and as usual no answer...as well as what a deep dish hollow grind was. No answer, just told to drink. I passed on this blade and really wanted to pull the trigger because I've always wanted a tglb. But a simple question deserves a simple answer to a buyer at this price point, on a design that is priced to not dive blindly into (for me at least). I feel like we are turning into the sales department (no returns) for Busse brand, especially with the grab bags with price tags (another blind buy). I saw this in the pic and it did not bother me. It just bothered me that we could not get the answer if the tang blended. Knife guys like to talk about knife stuff and it sucks if the maker just ignores and focuses on sales/riddles. Sure its a fun game for the rich folk

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

I'd say it's a "win/win" type thing for everyone...

And just because something saves Busse Combat Co. time/$/equipment doesn't equate into the end line users getting short-changed...MOF, I'd argue it helps with innovation and utility.

take it from the Hogs that already have them "in hoof" ... they feel OUTSTANDING ...

I bought two and wish I'd gotten more-- and probably will later on.

It's a VERY unique model-- it's a relatively thin stock, full-tanged knife designed to be <ab>used like almost all the other Busse models*-- and unlike a lot of other makers' models in this division.

I think the stress risers combined with the balance/weight factors of the TGULB meld to make a great hard use Nuked blade that can slice like nobody's business-- something that's been unavailable heretofore without a custom regrind.

So, I love the differences-- keep bringin 'em Busse Combat Co.!

TGULB may not be for everyone, but that's the way it is with all blades, and if someone throws one back in the trough another Hog will root it out...no regrets.

*there have been a couple models, iirc, Jerry cautioned us to go easy on because of their thinness, but still agreed to stand behind if busted.

 

[Tyrade83]

I'd bet that you would never notice that during use. If you're just fondling, then for sure you'd be conscious of it and notice it. But it is for sure intentionally done that way. I don't know how much cost savings there would be from that though. Even though it a small area, there's extra tool wear and more time spent in the mill I'd think. But that could be offset by not requiring hand fitting along the gripping surfaces of the tang, so it's probably a wash.

I wish I'd taken pics of the Ergo BM after stripping the coating, but before satining it. There was rough cut edges from the CNC plasma table the along the whole perimeter, and the tang sat proud of the scales almost 1/16". It was a coated Combat Grade though, but it was the only one nearly completely untouched prior to coating that I've come across, or even heard about. Was probably not visible in the cloud of scotch vapours floating around on a Friday evening.

 

[zmbhntr]

Interesting thread IC. I noticed from the pictures online that something about the scale fitment looked a little bit different, but mine has not arrived yet so I thought it may just be a camera angle. Looking through more pics now it looks like the INFI by the handles is rounded on the TGULB whereas it is milled flat on the TGLB and is therefore flush with the edges of the scale slabs. I'm looking forward to receiving mine.

This was specifically brought up in the sales thread here and as usual no answer...as well as what a deep dish hollow grind was. No answer, just told to drink. I passed on this blade and really wanted to pull the trigger because I've always wanted a tglb. But a simple question deserves a simple answer to a buyer at this price point, on a design that is priced to not dive blindly into (for me at least). I feel like we are turning into the sales department (no returns) for Busse brand, especially with the grab bags with price tags (another blind buy). I saw this in the pic and it did not bother me. It just bothered me that we could not get the answer if the tang blended. Knife guys like to talk about knife stuff and it sucks if the maker just ignores and focuses on sales/riddles. Sure its a fun game for the rich folk

Well said and I have to agree. I have loved Busse knives for a long while (still do) and own quite a few. I used to be much more active here, but the overall lack of information has been a big disappointment for me personally, and a big part of the reason I have mostly moved on. There are so many great makers now that are very active on social media like IG and FB, and they post lots of details and answer tons of direct questions. The finish work on many of these makers is significantly better, the knives come much sharper, and the cost is the same or less. This is not intended to Busse bash at all, I'm know that Busse's can handle the most extreme of abuse and can be counted on in all situations. I personally have done things with my Busse's that a normal knife should never be expected to do. That being said, there are a lot of super steels out there now with excellent heat treatments that are probably fairly close in performance. At the end of the day, there are a lot of great knives out there from many great makers.

 

[eli1o]

Let's be honest... Busse knives are for collectors and accumulators, not "users".... I have quite a few Busses... There are plenty of "users" out there that are better... Busse has ascended to the same level as Randall, CRK, Hinderer...ETC...

Enjoy the design or not.... Practicality went out the window years ago....

 

[Srtr]

Let's be honest... Busse knives are for collectors and accumulators, not "users".... I have quite a few Busses... There are plenty of "users" out there that are better... Busse has ascended to the same level as Randall, CRK, Hinderer...ETC...

Enjoy the design or not.... Practicality went out the window years ago....

hmmm....gonna have to disagree here.

 

[UNRL Ghandi]

I bought three TGULB. The tang does stand proud of the handles and that could be seen in the initial pics that were posted prior to release. I don't mind them at all.

You can see how much the tang extends beyond the handle.

 

[zombieassassin]

I kinda like that look personally? But I see what you mean.

 

[Tyrade83]

I

Let's be honest... Busse knives are for collectors and accumulators, not "users".... I have quite a few Busses... There are plenty of "users" out there that are better... Busse has ascended to the same level as Randall, CRK, Hinderer...ETC...

Enjoy the design or not.... Practicality went out the window years ago....

I'd beg to differ. I did have some queens, but I use the hell out our them. I was the first one to use and post pics of using my 1/27 MOABM, use my CS WTF, my CS MOAB, I cut down some smallish trees with my Butaniku even though Busse recommended against it, I throw my Gladius, I've beaten my NMFBM though steel plate with a 4lb hammer, pried stumps apart with my AK47, field dress game with my CABS LE, BJ LE, BAD etc, and regularly use my Battle Mistresses and Steel Hearts in the bush and around the yard, I even prune low hanging branches around the property with a 1311, BWM, or Ruck. And they are stellar. Granted, some need some edge profiling to be optimal, but they work just fine. And I own Keffelers, CPK, and had some Cold Steel and Kershaw. I've broken or bent enough other brands to know the difference. Just because people like to post pics of all their pretty INFI, doesn't mean none get used. I'd say most of the regular heavy users just don't bother taking pics and posting about it. It's a tool. I don't take pictures of my shovel when I dig a hole, or my Skil saw and cordless drill when I build a fence either. The user blades are just tools, and get treated as such.

I'm not trying to call you out or anything, just wanted to show you the what happens behind the curtain that the forum or IG seem to be.

 

[Srtr]

I


I'd beg to differ. I did have some queens, but I use the hell out our them. I was the first one to use and post pics of using my 1/27 MOABM, use my CS WTF, my CS MOAB, I cut down some smallish trees with my Butaniku even though Busse recommended against it, I throw my Gladius, I've beaten my NMFBM though steel plate with a 4lb hammer, pried stumps apart with my AK47, field dress game with my CABS LE, BJ LE, BAD etc, and regularly use my Battle Mistresses and Steel Hearts in the bush and around the yard, I even prune low hanging branches around the property with a 1311, BWM, or Ruck. And they are stellar. Granted, some need some edge profiling to be optimal, but they work just fine. And I own Keffelers, CPK, and had some Cold Steel and Kershaw. I've broken or bent enough other brands to know the difference. Just because people like to post pics of all their pretty INFI, doesn't mean none get used. I'd say most of the regular heavy users just don't bother taking pics and posting about it. It's a tool. I don't take pictures of my shovel when I dig a hole, or my Skil saw and cordless drill when I build a fence either. The user blades are just tools, and get treated as such.

I'm not trying to call you out or anything, just wanted to show you the what happens behind the curtain that the forum or IG seem to be.

same for me. Lots of people take pictures of their safe queens or their edc knives when theyre eating or something, always confuses me...youre in the middle of eating a steak at a nice restaurant and you thought then was the perfect time to pull out your pocket knife to take some pictures for instagram after putting 500 filters on it.

I use my busse knives a lot but never take pictures when im actually doing it because....im actually working. I dont have time to get 87 selfies with my knife for the gram.

 

[honorearth]

I like the way it feels in hand and how it looks. I was unsure how i would like the proud tang but it is great it will also add a protective buffer for the scales when throwing the knife. The slightly smaller scales alsoreduce over all wheight.

 

[ScoMa]

Still waiting for mine to be delivered, but I’ll throw in my 2€ once it is?

 

[Makael]

This was specifically brought up in the sales thread here and as usual no answer...as well as what a deep dish hollow grind was. No answer, just told to drink. I passed on this blade and really wanted to pull the trigger because I've always wanted a tglb. But a simple question deserves a simple answer to a buyer at this price point, on a design that is priced to not dive blindly into (for me at least). I feel like we are turning into the sales department (no returns) for Busse brand, especially with the grab bags with price tags (another blind buy). I saw this in the pic and it did not bother me. It just bothered me that we could not get the answer if the tang blended. Knife guys like to talk about knife stuff and it sucks if the maker just ignores and focuses on sales/riddles. Sure its a fun game for the rich folk

You gave it 2 hrs 7 minutes on a Sunday............

 

[Tyrade83]

Let's be honest... Busse knives are for collectors and accumulators, not "users".... I have quite a few Busses... There are plenty of "users" out there that are better... Busse has ascended to the same level as Randall, CRK, Hinderer...ETC...

Enjoy the design or not.... Practicality went out the window years ago....

Just for fun, I just dry shaved my right cheek with my Ban Tang’d 1/300 SHBM. I have never straight razor shaved my own neck so I only did my cheek and a bit of my chin, because I doubt my wife wants to clean arterial blood spray from the bathroom walls.

And my back isn’t hairy enough to bother with trying that.