Hi Jerry. It wasn't my intent to mention about copyright or trademark infringement or anything at all. It was just a heads up for a possible confusion when product goes to market... and the irony.
Mr. Niemei's knife is really a marvel. His belief in his design and the work he put into it is quite admirable. It is really innovative and will push the envelope or boundaries of folder lock design by raising the benchmark.
From what I understood about the guy, this is his first patented knife design to production. He made thirty three of them all by himself and devoted a year to the project to sell and promote them. He is pretty well broke now. By virtue of all aforementioned, the knife will definitely be a collectable keeper with a story to tell.
His devotion and passion to making a folder as safe and strong as a fixed blade reminded me of you, Jerry. He believed in making the safest folder possible because of all his negative experiences with folder locks accidentally failing and blades folding on him.
I can remember when I talked to you on the phone way back when you started out, Jerry, about why you got started into the knife business. You wanted to make the best knife possible that couldn't be broken by you. The reason was you thought all knives you had owned before then were not reliable and crap. This was especially true in your college days when you bought, used, and broke knives. I remember you conveying your frustration to me.
I am sure Mr. Niemi has the same undying faith in his knife and will back it up. I have a letter he sent and signed for me guaranteeing and stating it's reliability and dependability. That kind of accountability I can rely on and believe in. Ironic that the names chosen were the same concept... one of the fiercest and top predators of the wild. I think Mr. Niemi and you, Jerry, have very like minds and a lot in common. One is a budding custom knife maker trying to eke out a name for himself and another who is quite wise, experienced, successful, and extremely respected. Both are cut from the same good and tough stuff.
I am sure the seed being attempted to be planted out there by Mr. Niemi is the same one planted by you over ten years ago, Jerry. You certainly made an impression on me then about excellence and customer service and backing it all up. Mr. Niemi did the same for me this time around. The fruits of your labours, Jerry, is the extreme loyal customer base, discriminating collectors, and skilled contemporaries who you've garnered to you all these years. I would hope that Mr. Niemi would eventually have his time in the spotlight since his beliefs should ensure the same formula of success. Synchronicity is, indeed, strange and everything seems to come full circle.
As for the naming contest... bring it on!!! I want that insane MOFO of an axe and I intend to do my best in the contest to get it!!! I can never get enough Busse edged weapons. The axe will serve to complement the American Kensei I have. MWA-HA-HA!!!
Cheers!
Originally posted by Jerry Busse
Shmoop, Thanks for the heads-up! I called this one-of-a-kind custom piece the "Megalodon" because it reminded me of the ferocious, prehistoric shark. We did a cursory search on, the Internet, and the Trademark database and nothing showed up. I believe that it was because of the difference in spelling.
When we put a knife into production we do a full range trademark search although I'm not sure if that would have yielded any different results due to the difference in spelling.
We DO NOT knowingly infringe on other's rightfully held trademarks and I really appreciate the heads-up in this case.
Now it looks like we'll have to have a naming contest where we give one of these away as a prize. . . . hey wait a minute!!!! Was this part of your plan all along????? 
LOL
Nuke on!!!!!
Jerry
