Tops vs Busse which is better?

RedEdge77 said:
Theres one thing TOPs has Busse beaten in, and thats the fact that TOPs offers folders!:p
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Ohhh. That hurts my parts. :D Maybe one of the Uber HOGS will post a pic of their Busse folder they keep teasing us piglets with.

Really though, I have always liked the look of the TOPS Wolf Pup. :thumbup: :cool:
 
Tyrkon Lawson said:
Really though, I have always liked the look of the TOPS Wolf Pup. :thumbup: :cool:
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The Wolf Pup is a great little knife. I've had mine for a about a month and it has been a sweet little EDC. The FF is awsome and the sheath is great as well:thumbup:
 
nelly1974 said:
WOW! I probably would'nt have gotten this many responses if i'd posted

Jennifer Lopez vs Vida Guerra:D
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Vida Guerra any day of the week! Not to mention she did Playboy! Vida=Perfection.
 
Boats said:
In North America, as I was implying, a knife/axe combo is usually considered more traditional than is the butch machete approach...
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Generally yes, there are brush tools which are similar to long blades in intent/design, heavily blades often on poles vs a long blade on a short handle. Some brush tools like the Brush Axe obviously come from the viewpoint of an axe culture :

brush_axe.jpg


Locally I could carry an axe in full view and it would be accepted as normal. I could even go into stores with it on my back without a word. However a large fixed blade would attract a lot of attention as it just doesn't exist as strongly in the culture.

That being said, for a lot of the brush work I do I prefer a long blade over a small blade/axe combination. I don't do a lot of leafy vegetation cutting for which machetes tend to be optimal, but more smaller wood work which is well suited to a parang/bolo. I like the SHBM for that, though it is a bit short.

There is a nice overview in Mear's work where he does wood work with both types of blades. For those that can't get out and do the work themselves, his tv shows offer a lot of indirect experience.

-Cliff
 
I have a couple of TOP's knives. One cheapy in 1095 and the other in 154CM. I like them both. I am not wild abouth the sheaths TOP's provides but they're better than the non-sheath Busse provides.

I have read and I believe that INFI is a superb steel. There was a comparison test done years ago between Cold Steel's Carbon V and INFI. INFI proved superior and Lynn Thompson had to eat crow (can you picture that?)

I would like to own a Busse. I have always liked the Mean Street line, but couldn't afford them when they were available. Now I can afford them but they are no longer made. Currently, I believe, Busse has as many knife companies, Busse and Swamp Rat, (and I understand a third company is on the drawing board) as they do available models. Busse has only one model in current production, a fantasy knife of some kind. Swamp Rat too, has only one model available, I believe.

Another gripe I have with Busse Combat is they do not seem to have a handle on what they are going to produce or when. To not know your own production schedule seems pretty sad for someone in business. If one does know their production schedule but keeps it a secret seems kind of childish. In any event, these frustrations lead me to eschew Busse knifes in the same way many would not buy a Cold Steel knife because Lynn Thompson acts like a goof. I prefer a more business like approach.

Having said all that, if Busse reintroduced the Mean Streets, I might buy one, just because I have always liked its simple, practical design and the INFI steel now used. For my other heavy duty knife needs however, I have turned to Becker Knife and Tool and Tops. Both brands have performed well and have done everything asked of them. I know I've gotten way off topic and I apologize. I think Busse is best because of the steel used.

To Busse lovers, no offense is meant. You own, what I am sure, are very good knives, maybe the best, in great steel. I understand brand loyalty and I believe Busse makes some of the best knives around.
 
OK, I admit it. I like the Busse forum, I enjoy the people there and the sense of family. All that and I don't even own a Busse. I love the way they balance but the ones I've handled at shows have been excellent quality and finish but they have handles that are just too big for my small/medium sized hands. Hogs are good people and Busse are good knives. Nuf Said
 
Willieboy said:
I have a couple of TOP's knives. One cheapy in 1095 and the other in 154CM. I like them both. I am not wild abouth the sheaths TOP's provides but they're better than the non-sheath Busse provides.

I have read and I believe that INFI is a superb steel. There was a comparison test done years ago between Cold Steel's Carbon V and INFI. INFI proved superior and Lynn Thompson had to eat crow (can you picture that?)

I would like to own a Busse. I have always liked the Mean Street line, but couldn't afford them when they were available. Now I can afford them but they are no longer made. Currently, I believe, Busse has as many knife companies, Busse and Swamp Rat, (and I understand a third company is on the drawing board) as they do available models. Busse has only one model in current production, a fantasy knife of some kind. Swamp Rat too, has only one model available, I believe.

Another gripe I have with Busse Combat is they do not seem to have a handle on what they are going to produce or when. To not know your own production schedule seems pretty sad for someone in business. If one does know their production schedule but keeps it a secret seems kind of childish. In any event, these frustrations lead me to eschew Busse knifes in the same way many would not buy a Cold Steel knife because Lynn Thompson acts like a goof. I prefer a more business like approach.

Having said all that, if Busse reintroduced the Mean Streets, I might buy one, just because I have always liked its simple, practical design and the INFI steel now used. For my other heavy duty knife needs however, I have turned to Becker Knife and Tool and Tops. Both brands have performed well and have done everything asked of them. I know I've gotten way off topic and I apologize. I think Busse is best because of the steel used.

To Busse lovers, no offense is meant. You own, what I am sure, are very good knives, maybe the best, in great steel. I understand brand loyalty and I believe Busse makes some of the best knives around.
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Hey, it's frustrating to all of us, but Busse clearly knows its production schedule, and Jerry and Co. go to great lengths to get knives to the folks who really try to get them--via Extravaganzaaaas on the Busse board and specials through the Company Store. It takes a little effort, and you have to pay attention. But the knives are there to be bought.

As for Mean Streets, I've seen quite a few go recently on the Exchange forums, so they're out there. You just have to look around, post in WTB, and be patient. Folks will find you.

There's something to be said for less production and better quality. It's why Busse is able to put out a good product and stand behind it. It's why you won't see a Busse knife made overseas and priced cheap.

Also realize that Busse puts a lot of knives in the hands of our fighting men and women.

The Karambit a "fantasy knife"? Try a very functional fighting knife and a pretty decent utility knife. Tell the folks over at karambit.com that they're playing with fantasy knives. :D Have a look at this link.
 
Guyon said:
Also realize that Busse puts a lot of knives in the hands of our fighting men and women. The Karambit a "fantasy knife"? Try a very functional fighting knife. Tell the folks over at karambit.com that they're playing with fantasy knives. :D
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I believe it is a traditional indonesian knife design, used for utility or combat. Not a fantasy knife. ;)
 
Busse owners are the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human beings I've ever known in my life.
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No they're not, they're buying up all the infi it's horrible!! I will chime in with my experience. I had a tops cqt magnum which I believe they don't produce anymore and it was one of the stoutest liner locks I've ever held. I'm not sure why the handle was a sort of zytel or frn like material, but it was defintely a beefy folder. They don't make them anymore I believe they make a "watered down" version of it. I like the vast array of designs that Tops offer. Some of them are a little outlandish, but you could almost find anything you want at any time.
 
brianNH said:
Only since you asked
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414596
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Yes, I saw that and he was rebuked by almost every other regular on the forum and later he returned and apologized. It was definitely an inappropriate comment, but not really the attitude of an "elitist prick" and not very common either. The mere fact that everyone else criticized his comments indicates that the forum is not hostile to newbie questions.

:D:D
 
The Karambit (several spellings) is not in any way, shape, or form a fantasy knife. I have trained with it for over 15 years and it is a nasty piece of work. The original Karambit I was introduced to was very simple. A piece of steel, with a curved blade, set into a carrabu horn handle. It was not sharp (aside from the tip) and was very small and compact compared to the ones out today. A cheap "throw away". Instead of making nice and neat cuts on your enemy it would instead "rip and tear" the flesh causing wounds that were more difficult to heal. Thus a dull blade (but pointy tip) was the choice.

I trained with Steve and Paul for many years, under Blaise Loong, before they established Karambit.com and made their videos/books. The karambit Steve puts out is a complete evolution from where the karambit started. Today you will more often see Karambits made to be both combative and to be used as a "tool". Many companies have really evolved the design. My only gripe is that most are very large compared to the earlier models thus making them less concealable. But people, such as Steve, have really taken it to another level.

That being said, I still prefer a straight bladed knife. But that's just me.

And since this is a Tops -vs- Busse thread does anyone have comments on the War Boar -vs- TOPS Karambit (Scorpion?)? Perhaps someone who has at least held both or used both? Thanks. Good thread guys.
 
My opinion on the people involved with Busse & Swamp Rat Knife Works is involved by their actions at BLADE this year.

Was looking at the new line of Swamp Rats on Friday of this year's BLADE, really like the new Bandicoot LM. Poster Eric Issacson started answering my questions. He answered the questions very well and introduced me to several of the other employees there. The next day I was there, as I was walking by the Busse/Swamp Rat booth he made it a point to come up to me, say Hi, and invite me to the Dinner they were having that night - even offered to give me another invitation for my friend who was not with me.

Combine that with some very nice knives, and thats a winning combination to me.

Now how about hurrying up and getting that Bandicoot LM out before my fall camping trips start :)
 
Eric Isaacson said:
It was definitely an inappropriate comment, but not really the attitude of an "elitist prick" and not very common either.
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You're right Eric. The attitude of a true "Elitist Prick" would be to only respond to a post that was started by "one of their own".
 
The Busse forum actually moderates itself pretty well. If people get too far out of line, they tend to get called on it. True of a lot of the other forums here as well.
 
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