TGLB, Convince me

Geoff

Geoff

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2001
Messages
817
I recently purchased by first Bussekin knife:

Swamp Rat Rodent 5 Custom shop "Bowie" variation.

I purchased this knife un-used from a member here.

I purchased this knife specifically as a low cost entry into Busse Knives and to determine if I'd like to add more to my collection.

I have to say I'm less than impressed. No fault of the seller, the knife is brand new as it was delivered from Swamp Rat.

1st off the knife is not sharp, I can fix that, second off the knife has an unsharpened swedge that appears perfect on one side and almost non existent on the other. And this is from the "Custom" shop.

I compare this knife to my ESEE 4 (due to similar size and intended purpose) and from a QC standpoint the ESEE gets the win. From a factory sharpness standpoint, again the ESEE. From an ergonomics standpoint the Rodent is the clear winner. The factory ESEE handle scales are inadequate, I've replaced them with the TKC G10 which add length and comfort to the knife. Even with the scales i'm into that ESEE $125

So i start reading online and it seems either people are saying every Busse knife they've ever touched or seen was atom splitting sharp and other people say many they've seen were like a semi-sharp butter knife.

So with this knife and the two sheaths I purchased i'm ~$250 into Busse so far.

So I'm torn at this point, I LOVE the TGLB but i'm a little hesitant to throw $500 at another knife and sheath at this point.

Please don't berate me because I'm being honest, I been hearing GREAT things about Busse since I was buying Strider's before the drama.

Additionally should i take the TGLB plunge the blade color will be Tanker Gray, What is the best looking handle option? I don't trust computer screen pictures too many variables with cameras, lighting, scree setting etc.

Thanks
Geoff
 
I am in the same boat (contemplating a TGLB)... watching this with thread with great interest.
 
Black canvas handle with a tanker grey blade.

This is a heavy brigade version. When it was new...

tumblr_n2vppf4B2i1siuc9oo1_1280.jpg


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And now it's stripped and loved...

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tumblr_n2vppf4B2i1siuc9oo5_1280.jpg


tumblr_n2vppf4B2i1siuc9oo6_1280.jpg



Hopefully these pics convince you.
 
I find that any knife makers might send out knives that are not at there most sharp point
this could be because sharpning wasn't made right (I had a custom knife maker who forgot to put on the final edge..) or like some busse I got, because not all knife needs to be crazy sharp

know, I say get the TGLB but don't spent money on the sheath, yet. try it and if it's in your liking get the sheath and make it a user.
if you don't like it, just resell it, you can probably get most/all your money back.

black canvas goes great with the grey
not my TGLB, but you get the point

dsc0287mx.jpg
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Don't hold back. $387 is a great price to get a Busse of that size. I regret not getting one at $347 a year ago.

Personally I recommend canvas is you plan to use it
 
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The TGLB's are a very popular knife.
Personally, I like other Busse's better but as mentioned above for the money you can't go wrong .
When they come up on the exchange, they don't last long.
 
I have one, and all I can say is the knife is AWESOME. I have not had the opportunity to handle an original non Light Brigade, but I hope too. As far as the sharp, not sharp argument only two of mine where factory new, and one was sharper than the other. Neither was what I call SHARP. That being said, why is this the only complaint I hear about Busse? I don't care if its sharp from the factory, I am going to use my knifes "thus the reason I pay so much for them" so I am going to sharpen my knives. Even on the other side of the spectrum if you are Trading them like baseball cards and not cutting with them, You still don't care how sharp it is.

Sharp is a subjective topic. What is sharp to me may be not so sharp to someone else and vise versa. I look at a blade for fit, Finish, and quality and that is where Busse shines. Oh and did I mention INFI.
 
The TGLB was my first larger Busse purchase and I love it. Mine is COMP finish with hand shaped black micarta and weighs in at 15 ounces. Its a great knife and feels amazing in hand. One thing you should always remember about Busses is if you buy one and for some reason you do not like it, you will like be able to sell it for every bit of what you have in it. You can't say that for many other knives. I like that because I buy them all, see what I like, and move the others on without losing money. :D
 
I have also been thinking thinking about ordering one, I already have a NMSFNO and have ordered a Ratweiler because I have read so many good things about them. I keep looking at the TGLB and thinking I need one. How would the TGLB feel, handle and perform compared to the other two knives I have listed. I would only be using the knives for light duty out door use such as camping or hunting, not hand to hand combat.
 
I've bought 3 team gemini's and might buy a 4th, the tg original was a heavy knife and while it was comfortable in the hand I like the tglb's much better. They are much more lively in the hand. Both the tglb's came reasonably sharp, one tanker grey with black g10 and one jungle green with black canvas. They were easy to sharpen at the angle to a much finer edge with little work. I like tanker grey the best of the blade colors. I'm thinking of ordering one with the black and tan g10 because I like the look a lot. The canvas is a bit more grippy and soft feeling, the g10 is a bit slicker but not like it feels like your going to drop it. I like the g10 simply because it stays cleaner when I'm skinning game. As for sheaths, the specops long sheaths fit it well and are reasonably priced and you can always get a custom sheath later. You won't loose much if any money if you don't care for it either.

I didn't care for the one swamp rat I had, the handle wasn't nearly as comfortable as any of the busse blades I've owned. The palm swell on the tglb in particular is very well done and the balance is one of the best of any of the busses' I've owned for me. So much so that I sold off most of my others.

I hope thats a help to you.
cricket
 
Geoff said:
I recently purchased by first Bussekin knife:

Swamp Rat Rodent 5 Custom shop "Bowie" variation.

I purchased this knife un-used from a member here.

I purchased this knife specifically as a low cost entry into Busse Knives and to determine if I'd like to add more to my collection.

I have to say I'm less than impressed. No fault of the seller, the knife is brand new as it was delivered from Swamp Rat.

1st off the knife is not sharp, I can fix that, second off the knife has an unsharpened swedge that appears perfect on one side and almost non existent on the other. And this is from the "Custom" shop.

I compare this knife to my ESEE 4 (due to similar size and intended purpose) and from a QC standpoint the ESEE gets the win. From a factory sharpness standpoint, again the ESEE. From an ergonomics standpoint the Rodent is the clear winner. The factory ESEE handle scales are inadequate, I've replaced them with the TKC G10 which add length and comfort to the knife. Even with the scales i'm into that ESEE $125

So i start reading online and it seems either people are saying every Busse knife they've ever touched or seen was atom splitting sharp and other people say many they've seen were like a semi-sharp butter knife.

So with this knife and the two sheaths I purchased i'm ~$250 into Busse so far.

So I'm torn at this point, I LOVE the TGLB but i'm a little hesitant to throw $500 at another knife and sheath at this point.

Please don't berate me because I'm being honest, I been hearing GREAT things about Busse since I was buying Strider's before the drama.

Additionally should i take the TGLB plunge the blade color will be Tanker Gray, What is the best looking handle option? I don't trust computer screen pictures too many variables with cameras, lighting, scree setting etc.

Thanks
Geoff
Click to expand...

Hi Geoff,
If you're not happy with the swedge grind, PM Hindsight on the SRKW form, or email ratcustomerservice@toast.net. I'm sure they'll take care of fixing it for you. :)
As to the sharpness, this is quite subjective... Every Busse & kin I have came with a Swine Shaving Sharpness sheet showing it will cut regular paper, and for a big knife like this that's fine by me. If you need the knife to be sharper, then by all means sharpen it to laser sharpness.

FWIW, Knives like these are designed to deal with whatever cutting & chopping punishment you can dish out without chipping or failing, not to have the thin atom cleaving edge you'll find on a Shun Santoku.

That being said I have a TGLB, it's regular paper slicing sharp, feels great in my hand, and I have it in my car emergency bag.
I'm most partial to Green/Black G10 and Tan/Black G10 (But I'm starting to develop a fondness for Black Canvas Micarta)!:D
Here she is:
10502182185_30b39c02d4_b.jpg
 
No convincing needed, get one and live happily ever after.
I love mine, I chose tanker gray and tan/black g10 scales.
 
Since you said sharpness isn't an issue, I won't address it. As for fit and finish issues, keep in mind Busse and kin have the best warranty and customer service in the industry. Hands down. As mentioned above contact the swamp if you aren't happy. Buying Busse knives direct really is a risk free purchase. Feel like showing us that uneven swedge? Just curious to see it since this isn't a common complaint.
 
The TGLB feels great in the hand, it doesnt feel like a big knife at all, it handles like a small blade.

Off topic: I feel ESEE has the best warranty in the business, since it cannot be void.
 
al g blenny said:
Since you said sharpness isn't an issue, I won't address it. As for fit and finish issues, keep in mind Busse and kin have the best warranty and customer service in the industry. Hands down. As mentioned above contact the swamp if you aren't happy. Buying Busse knives direct really is a risk free purchase. Feel like showing us that uneven swedge? Just curious to see it since this isn't a common complaint.
Click to expand...

I'll try to get pics of it but with the black krinkle finish and my questionable photography skills we'll see lol
Good side
ws3beu.jpg

Bad side
2i6copc.jpg

Top
e6zki1.jpg
 
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knifeguy101 said:
The TGLB feels great in the hand, it doesnt feel like a big knife at all, it handles like a small blade.

Off topic: I feel ESEE has the best warranty in the business, since it cannot be void.
Click to expand...
You obviously don't know much about the Busse warranty then.
 
Thanks for the pics. Yeah you are right. Looks a little off. I don't think it would bug me much but it's hard to say without seeing it in person. Probably looks more pronounced than in the pics. I'm sure the swamp will take care of that if you email them. You could also contact the seller and see if they will take it back since they didn't mention it when you bought it.
 
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