The HOGB8 Thread

Which style for the satin HOGB8?

  • Regulator blade and handle shape, with .30+" thickness, but in satin INFI

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Basic blade and handle shape, but with modest swedged clip and massive thickness

    Votes: 19 90.5%
  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
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Better late than never! :D

I am thoroughly delighted with this knife. The light weight combined with enough blade thickness to keep it in the “indestructible” class is exactly what I’d hoped for, and by keeping the blade right at 8”, the packability of this piece is, again, exactly what I was looking for.

This IS the knife I hoped the Basic 8 would be.

I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the size of this piece—some think it’s too small to be a true chopper and some think it’s too big for lighter work. I agree. I don’t think the Basic 8 is the ideal knife for all tasks, or even for most. In fact, I think a Basic 5 or S5LE combined with a Basic 11 class chopper/brush clearer, and teamed with a good 3-4” blade folder (and a chainsaw :D), is a much better all-purpose blade battery than a Basic 8 alone.

But there are times when you need to perform a broad range of blade tasks, such as on a campsite, and the knife you have at hand or on your belt is always the most welcome and efficient choice--unless that knife is simply out-matched by the task.

There are also times when paring down weight and hardware to a minimum is essential, such as extended backpacking or off-trail hiking--any potential survival situation where carrying multiple fixed blades means leaving other potentially important stuff behind (or, means you have potentially diminished your ability to go the distance). In those kinds of situations, a single fixed blade on belt paired with a folder in pocket free up vital pack space, and carried that way their combined weight becomes almost negligible.

In these situations, for its size, strength, toughness, weight, durability, ergonomics, corrosion resistance, edge holding and ease of sharpening, and for the range of tasks it will perform effectively—even delightfully--I honestly don’t know what you can buy that will replace this blade and function as well across-the-board for its intended purpose. In my mind, that purpose is the ultimate field survival knife.

I so appreciate what Jerry has given us. I have no idea whether this effort contributed to his decision to finally produce the Basic 8. In fact, at times I’ve wondered if the thread might have been an irritant rather than a positive influence. But for whatever role we may have played, I’m just very glad he finally built this wonderful knife. I’m completely satisfied with the result.

My INFI/Res-C Battery is complete! :thumbup: :D

Thank you, Jerry.

My A-Team …

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Side-by-side with the venerable Basic 7…

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My measurements:

Blade: 8 1/8" long x 1 5/8" wide by .22" thick at ricasso/spine

Handle: 5" long

Length Overall: 13 1/8"

Weight: 12.7 oz

Grinds: Primary grind is full flat to a blended convex edge
 

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A very pretty picture !!!
HUGE thanks to the Busse Crew and all the members here for making it possible !!

 
Will, was there any extra charge to have your B8 made without a number?

You may have the only B8 special edition, which would be well deserved.
 
blademik said:
A very pretty picture !!!
HUGE thanks to the Busse Crew and all the members here for making it possible !!

Click to expand...

Wow-that's the first pic I've seen with all four Basic LE's since the 2011 Blade Show. VERY nice. :thumbup:

scrapper said:
Will, was there any extra charge to have your B8 made without a number?

You may have the only B8 special edition, which would be well deserved.
Click to expand...

Thanks--I think they look cool like that, too. No charge on LE's to order them completely sterile, AFAIK, and there was no extra charge for LOGO only on mine.
 
I would have liked to order mine with the logo only, but having a number worked out for me. I bought a Basic 4 LE on the exchange 2 weeks before the Ganza and it has the same number as the Basic 8 I randomly received.
 
scrapper said:
I would have liked to order mine with the logo only, but having a number worked out for me. I bought a Basic 4 LE on the exchange 2 weeks before the Ganza and it has the same number as the Basic 8 I randomly received.
Click to expand...

Meant to be. :D
 
Nice write-up Will. Thank you. Definitely helps with the wait and I'm always interested in your opinion. I was told six weeks, so please keep me supplied with reviews and pictures in the mean time. Excited to have one (two actually) coming my way. I'm thinking one in Kydex and one Spec Ops. Mike
 
Very nice and well deserved.
 
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