To choil or not to choil?

motts

motts

Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Messages
1,448
Guys, I'm looking into getting my first Busse...a Tank Buster. There is an option to get it with or without a choil. I've seen picks of both. My question is, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Sorry for the newb question, but I don't want to make the wrong choice. Thanks.
 
Just like my dad states that there is no such thing as bad Stag, in terms of his definition of the handle material for a knife, there is no wrong choice with regard to order your Tank Buster with or without a Choil. I prefer a Choil, so mine was order with one. Unless you have a reason to order it without a Choil, I suggest that you specify one.
 
the advantage is you can choke up on the blade.

by having your index finger closer to the edge you should be able to make more precise cuts.

many people dislike the choil because the prefer more useable edge. on many busses, the choil is purely aesthetic and non-functional. not so with the tb, unless you have fingers like kielbasas.

with the choiless version, you can get your hand pretty close to the edge, right up against the guard. so being able to choke up further may not matter to you.

i prefer the choil, both functionally and aesthetically.
 
Hey Motts,

Last week I asked the same question about a skull crusher and got some really good responses. The order went in as w/choil, swedge and round butt. I've heard a choil would make it easier to choke up on the blade when doing things that may require more control as well as make it easier to sharpen the whole blade.
 
I personaly like a choil for the reasons stated... and a skull crusher. It would come in handy to break a car window in a rescue situation..... Or give another combat feature to the blade. The more functional a tool is makes it more valuable to me.
 
I hate the choil and the huge ricasso that it comes with. I just hope I'll never need to preform surgery, carve a nativity scene, or make paper snow flakes in an emergency with only my Tank Buster around.
 
In combat situations performing surgery to save a buddys life is something that could happen.... But if the knife is locked in your safe there is little chance of ever doing anything with it... All depends on your specific needs and use for the knife or design taste for collectors.
 
What a way to begin your addiction!!! I started with a SHBM. I like the Choil both aesthetically and functionally, so I ordered w/ choil..
 
Thanks for the helpful replies everyone. Aesthetically, I do like the way the choil looks. I just thought that for notching, more fine work, you could do it easier without the choil, if you were using the part of the blade where the choil would be. What you have all said makes sense though. I think I'll order mine with...now just need to decide on skull crusher vs round and swedge vs no swedge :p .
 
I think you need to ask yourself what are you going to use this blade for..... The three main groups for a quality knife like a Busse seem to be Military, Woodsman and collector. The way you would spec your knife out for the first two would be different, but if you are a collector it does not matter.
 
Personally I think I am going to go with the choil if I get one. I think it just looks wrong to go without. Usually I am not a fan of chols but on this knife it looks right. Also, it has a handle exactly like the batac which I find it difficult to choke up on without use of the choil. Just for me anyways. (also i think its nice for sharpening)
 
I'll go against the grain here and say I hate choils on any knife less than about 7 inches. With a choil you're just giving up valuable blade edge.
 
Tel1sps said:
I think you need to ask yourself what are you going to use this blade for..... The three main groups for a quality knife like a Busse seem to be Military, Woodsman and collector. The way you would spec your knife out for the first two would be different, but if you are a collector it does not matter.
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Woodsman and Military could really be grouped together as both will use the knife in about the same way unless the person is in the Desert in a combat zone. When I was in the Military I found something around 6-7" to be the ideal blade length.

I also found I never used that part of the blade where the Choil would be so it wouldn't be missed.
 
Tel1sps said:
I think you need to ask yourself what are you going to use this blade for..... The three main groups for a quality knife like a Busse seem to be Military, Woodsman and collector. The way you would spec your knife out for the first two would be different, but if you are a collector it does not matter.
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Yeah, I plan on using my knife. Definitely will be used as a woodsman, I love the great outdoors and plan on my knife being my constant companion. I have decided on going with choil and with swedge. I'm still just trying to decide on round butt or skull crusher.

I'm excited to get this knife! Thx again for replies.
 
Ankerson said:
Woodsman and Military could really be grouped together as both will use the knife in about the same way unless the person is in the Desert in a combat zone. When I was in the Military I found something around 6-7" to be the ideal blade length.

I also found I never used that part of the blade where the Choil would be so it wouldn't be missed.
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I agree with you.... except a difference between Military and Woodsman would be with the swedge... Military would want it sharpened for better penetration and the woodsman would not for batonning to split wood.
 
Tel1sps said:
I agree with you.... except a difference between Military and Woodsman would be with the swedge... Military would want it sharpened for better penetration and the woodsman would not for batonning to split wood.
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Yep I agree 100%. :thumbup:

You would laugh if I told you how many knives I have gone though when I was in the USMC and after. LOL
 
Tel1sps said:
I agree with you.... except a difference between Military and Woodsman would be with the swedge... Military would want it sharpened for better penetration and the woodsman would not for batonning to split wood.
Click to expand...

Very good point...I may have to rethink the swedge then.
 
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