Team Gemini Ultra Light Brigade handles?

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Worked fine for me. The tang is radiused, like you see on a lot of the liners and things coming out of Italy, and it adds a nice level/feel of refinement, IMO. I like it on my lionsteels and I like it on the TGULB.

Day 1 of owning the knife:
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I think this is one of the most useful Busse's I've owned, even with the top guard. It just has a nice balance and feel to it. Will it ever beat out my ratweiler? Probably not, but it's damn close. I'm also biased to the RW as it was my 1st Busse kin and I beat the heck out of the thin cut I had before getting the infiweiler that I now need to put a few years of beating into before it can get that nice used look to it. It does fit that size I like a lot though.

The left 3 are recent acquisitions, thus why they look newer.
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I happen to like the proud tang. The scales matches up nicely to the end of the raised edge and it's clean. It's not like they're crudely billed on and have uneven shoulders that created hotspots.
 
Srtr said:
Tgulb is easily my second favorite busse design to date.

I doubt anything will top the ASH2 though.

For me at least.

ASH2 is such an underrated beast.
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I totally agree. ASH 2 is my most used Busse. Followed by my woodstove's kindling processor - a Nuked Foresaken Mistress. Then my REK'ed TGLB which was modified to be a TGULB before they existed. I used my TGLB to gut a deer this year to see if it should be my "If You Could Only Have One Knife" knife and it did very well and it still remains my IYCOHOK knife. I have no doubt that the TGULB could find a home in that role for those who don't have a modified TGLB. Nice lightweight super knife that can do just about anything.
 
My TGULB just arrived, and I have to say that I really like this knife and how light it feels.

In regards to the thread topic of the handle fitment, I will not speculate on if it costs more or less to have the tang radiused like it is (there are way too many things to consider), but I can definitely feel a difference in hand as compared to the previous style where the tang was milled flat. I just pulled it out of the box so I have no first-hand use with the knife, but the hot spots will definitely be different. I'm sure with a glove on it wouldn't be very noticeable, but it does have a bit of a foreign feel in the hand as compared to any other Busse I have handled with no gloves on.

My initial impression is that I really like the TGULB a lot, but I do not like the radiused edge. I'm sure it was done for a reason, and it may be something obvious that I'm not thinking about, but I really wish that Busse would be significantly more forthcoming with information and details. Changing something like this on a well known and loved blade, like the TG series, deserves an explanation. If any of the crew does chime in here it will likely be something short and sweet followed by a "let's drink", and I guess that is what the brand is known for; in that light, I would very happily have a beer with anyone on here.

This post is worthless without pics I know, so here are some comparison pics. Bear in mind that my TGLB has aftermarket scales on it so a direct comparison would not be fair, so here it is next to my beloved competition finished ASH2 that is getting some very well deserved recognition in this thread. TGULB has black micarta and the ASH2 has black G10.











 
inspector-callahan said:
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.

...

Thx
IC
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Just FYI, the more famous similar fighting knife, the one given to Green Berets upon graduation (or used to since it appears the army got cheap[er]) is this one:

https://chrisreeve.com/products/green-beret

note that it has the same sort of “proud” rounded tang. This is the knife real fighters use (well, in reality most will keep these safe and bring a “user” instead, but just sayin)

so, Busse is merely copying the real deal here. So if you want the real deal, this is closest

for what it’s worth, I have the green beret too and while it’s fit and finish is absolutely perfect (like really really flawless, down to a mirror polish secondary bevel, making it one of the sharpest knives I got) that handle is super uncomfortable. Which is why I bought tgulb.
 
So, I just received my knife within the last week or so and wanted to weigh in with a few thoughts. I can understand how it would be taken that the level of finish is off by the tang sitting a bit proud of handles, but the way these are rounded I feel it is much ado about nothing.

I don't expect there to be any functional difference, like there would be with a regular square tang profile against the handle... that you would feel as being sharp potentially depending on how far out we are talking.

I feel that having the tang sit a bit higher than the handle would only lend itself to better protect the scales and prevent shifting or bending the tube fasteners if the knife was dropped or beaten as has happened for some in the past.

To echo the sentiment of others here, these TGULB's are just freaking cool AND the machining on the comp finish ones are impeccable. I mean you truly have to see it to believe it, there are no fugly marks at all on my blade, it's like a piece of industrial art... no joke!
 
Maggot Brain said:
So, I just received my knife within the last week or so and wanted to weigh in with a few thoughts. I can understand how it would be taken that the level of finish is off by the tang sitting a bit proud of handles, but the way these are rounded I feel it is much ado about nothing.

I don't expect there to be any functional difference, like there would be with a regular square tang profile against the handle... that you would feel as being sharp potentially depending on how far out we are talking.

I feel that having the tang sit a bit higher than the handle would only lend itself to better protect the scales and prevent shifting or bending the tube fasteners if the knife was dropped or beaten as has happened for some in the past.

To echo the sentiment of others here, these TGULB's are just freaking cool AND the machining on the comp finish ones are impeccable. I mean you truly have to see it to believe it, there are no fugly marks at all on my blade, it's like a piece of industrial art... no joke!
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I'm a machinist. Comp finish is an unfinished product, meaning do not pass on to customer unless from a greatly reduced price. This is why they put gremlin lines in their starting price point coated "comp" finish blades that are a hundred dollars cheaper (for those stripper folk). I never understood why unfinished turned into a top notch option over the years. Bad enough you need to reprofile and sharpen the blade on top of it. Then get a sheath. Wish Busse still had the scrapyard blades and swamp rat cheap comp finish coated blades availabe for the user.
The tang again does not bother me. It just makes more of a cold spot but does make it easier for machining. Its a savings to machine the tang seperate than together with unfinished handle scales. You now have a scale department, and a blade department with just assembly on the next stop. Save a whole step with finish grinding them pinned together in the end....I am all about being back in the ring with Busse but people need to stop being in denial of what you are getting. The "comp"etition is here, making it easier to second guess what I'm actually getting for my buck. Yes there is a lifetime warranty but the blade will never be made again since that is the whole nitch of Busse (models no longer made after each year)......Other companies make a good blade they continue it. The Busse crowd are turning into blind addicts that have no clue what they are getting but need to have it just to have it. They will defend their big investment at no costs. Its a tight nit buying market around here. I wish Bring the 911 non glamour knives back, simple well priced, can't complain type user blade.
 
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Maybe I'm not understanding the OP. The fit and finish on mine is great. The tang protrudes a tiny bit and is intentionally rounded. Which seams like it would be more work, not less to produce well. It's very comfortable so far, though I haven't done extensive chopping, I don't see anything that would be uncomfortable about it.

Also, pretty sure Jerry described exactly this feature in the first full post about the knife. It may be this allows for a larger plural space in handle while sill maintaining structural integrity, which is the hallmark of the LB series.

It's a wonderful knife IMHO.
 
eli1o said:
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....
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Ok, I will be your huckleberry . . .

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My RMK Cattleman: it has been on my belt off and on daily for about 12 years. See patina, home mod thong hole, crack in the stag, and well-worn sheath. All from use, be it necessary to add. Might still be my very favorite EDC (no offense to my beloved Sus Scrofas and Streets - they get their days and their dues, that is for sure).

My CRK Mountaineer: know that this is a knife I bought in 1993. It has had three complete spa treatments, two new sheaths, and that is the 3rd butt cap on her (technical slot canyons are cheese graters). She did about a hundred technical slot drops with me, very conservatively logged hundreds of miles on and off trail, and faithfully went up some pretty serious faces and mountains.

I found Busse 7 years ago = same treatment for them.

With all due respect, Sir. Do speak for yourself.
 
extrastout said:
Its a comp finish underneath the coating
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if I'm understanding you, no, Busse Competition Finish is a different thing from Combat Grade INFI pre-paint...

Competition Finish, as it's name implies, has been finished a little more than pre-paint CG INFI...I stripped more than my share and the difference between the two grades is obvious to me. Mainly there are less gremlins. They may be hand picked for this step simply however with no additional finishing, idk for sure of course because I haven't been there in Wauseon or worked a single hour in their shop.

Respectfully, it's possible your experiences may be different from mine.

here it is from Jerry:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/if-you-like-ugly-howz-about-a-competition-grade-finish.504711/

*also note: it's possible Competition Finish, as such, has "evolved" since then. MOF, I'm sure there was a change around 07/08 when more of the decarb was removed. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if more changes have been enacted since the "return" of CF models post TGLB zomby apocalypse :confused::eek::p
 
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Maggot Brain said:
extrastout, why on earth would they go out of their way to put the gremlin machining marks on the blades if they are coated?


Believe he means the standard combat grade coated versions.
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To deter piglets from stripping the coating on a reduced price coated blade... to then get the upgraded comp finish that's been hidden all along.....I will say that I am regretting passing on this blade. I just really respect and appreciate dialogue from the creator toward the product not the sales pitch.
 
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