The INFI advantage.

OwenM

OwenM

Joined
Oct 26, 2000
Messages
6,104
Well Modified INFI, anyway...
Managed to bash the Basic 9 edge-first into a brick that was partially buried today...the brick broke...no damage to the edge. Later the 9 impacts a rock that was hiding under the leaves at full speed (unintentional, I assure you), gets a few strokes with the file on the Leatherman Wave, a few with a grooved steel, and a few on a leather strop. Of the four little damaged spots, only the largest is visible at all, now.
It has also chopped hundreds of bushes, branches, vines, and small trees over the past week with zero damage other than some barely noticeable wear on the coating. It and the BK&T Patrol Machete (which is great, but has taken significantly more damage in the same area-less control, longer blade, weaker steel, more rocks) have gotten a real workout.

Had alot of power behind that downward swing on the rock, went through a 1 1/2" sapling like butter, and straight into the rock. I couldn't believe how little damage there was to the edge, so when I got done, I took a scan, and then another after cleaning it up, and fixing the edge (just a few minutes between the two).
I've had 1095 blades take damage deeper than the edge bevel from similar impacts...
 
I use my INFI (and modified INFI) for fishing and diving in the Gulf of Mexico. Gutting fish, hacking thru bones, chopping thru backbones. I then wash it off in the salt water. We usually stay out there all day.

I clean it either that night or the next day when I clean the boat. Finish it off with a light spray of oil. No rust, no stains, never needs any sharpening.

Not sure what INFI stands for, but the first letter must stand for Indestructable !
 
Thanks for the report, Owen. This only corroborates with my experience with INFI. Amazing resistance to chipping!

Is that #9 from Jerry? Either way, I'm glad to see you on the forum :D .
 
Originally posted by Andrew Lynch
Is that #9 from Jerry? Either way, I'm glad to see you on the forum :D .
Click to expand...
I'm glad to be on the forum;)
I bought this 9 from DancesWithKnives a couple of weeks ago (I love this thing!).
Be a while before my replacement knife arrives...which is cool, I didn't expect one to begin with:)
 
Owen
Great story, thanks for sharing it. These are the same type of results I have found when using my BA-e to chop out bushes, etc. It never fails I hit rocks or buried concrete,but the Badger cleans up just fine :D:D
 
After using a Basic 5 and 7 extensively I still can't really tell the difference in peformance compared to regular INFI. It's awesome stuff, and I haven't really noticed differences in sharpening either.
Glad to see your beating the crap out of the 9 Owen, just keep an eye out for rocks from now on:p:D
 
Owen,

Glad to hear that you are getting such great use out of it! I was hoping that it would go to someone who would really work it hard. I've put some serious use on the one I kept for myself, but nothing as challenging as your brick and rock impacts. That's amazing toughness.

Thanks for the report!
 
I found the same indestructability with INFI. I was using my SHII to dig a stump out of the front yard, and hitting some rocks and such from time to time. A touch of rolling, like what Owen's #9 shows, and it ceramic'd and stropped out in about 5-10 minutes.

Great stuff.
 
Originally posted by DancesWithKnives
Glad to hear that you are getting such great use out of it! I was hoping that it would go to someone who would really work it hard.
Click to expand...
You sent it to the right guy, then:D
I like this thing so much, that I've been carrying it everywhere I go (in the truck...I don't walk around the mall with it!) in the hope of finding stuff to use it on.
Running out of brush to clear, so I'll have to start searching for things to cut elsewhere. Haven't been camping in a few weeks...hmmm.

The handles fit my hands great, and give me better comfort and control during chopping than any others that come to mind, even when choked back for a three-finger grip, plus it's nice to know I don't have to be "careful" with it.
Really enjoying this 9.
I can't leave it alone. Keep playing with it, and though I was having trouble getting it super-sharp at first, after church today, I went to work with a loaded strop on both edges, and now it's popping hair. Can't wait to use it on something else:)
 
Welcome to the ranks of the infected. I see they got you too.:)
 
Yeah...I'm got:)
This is my fourth Busse...got plans for #5, 6, and 7, already.
 
"Tough as Nails".... seems to fit INFI Steel right on the head ;)
Although most nails aren't as tough...!
i Love that roll effect; when i can even get INFI to dull at all. No chipping, no metal loss;
Sing it with me:
what a wonderful world....
in Busse-Land!
INFI Always,
Clif
 
A blade never feels comfortable to me until the first time something like that happens. After a few such encounters you get a feel for the durability and your confidence with the blade grows. Nice job.

-Cliff
 
Cliff,
I'm the same way. Any time I get something new, it gets put to use immediately.
I don't have any confidence in a knife until I've used it hard...maybe done a little damage and repaired it. Only way to know what I can expect from it.
The dings, scratches, finish wear, whatever are what make it mine:) Those are just facts of life on a knife like this, anyway, and there will surely be plenty more.
Thanks,
Owen
 
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