Trying to identify 2 Busse Knives?

C

chris1970

Joined
Jan 3, 2008
Messages
9
Hey guys, I have 2 Busse knives and I'd like to find out more about them. Been doing a little research on the web and I believe one of my knives is a "Battle Mistress". Found a picture on the Mojo site that is identical to the one I have and that's what they call it. Can't find a picture or any info on the other knife tho. The blade is stamped "G.P. Busse Field Grade", handles have wood grain "appearance", entire knife is approx. 13 1/2" long. Is anyone familiar with this model? Any info would be appreciated. Can email pics. Thanks
 
There's a Busse subforum here. You'll get a more detailed answer if you ask there or let this thread get moved.
 
I'll take it!!! :D

...Do you have any pix to help us ID it for you? USSR is right, if you pose this question in the Busse Subforum, we (over there) can help you with this... The stamp, to me, shows that it's rather old (vintage)...
 
Jaxx said:
I'll take it!!! :D

...Do you have any pix to help us ID it for you? USSR is right, if you pose this question in the Busse Subforum, we (over there) can help you with this... The stamp, to me, shows that it's rather old (vintage)...
Click to expand...

...and my HogBrother Jaxx is also right. :D

Take a few good, solid digital pics. Especially of the handle and the spine and post them on the Busse Sub-Forum here. You'll get lots of interest, we'll all enjoy pontificating ... and you'll leave with a good idea of what the knives are worth.

Oh ... and with a LOT of offers to buy. :thumbup:
 
...Sounds like a Steel Heart maybe... How long is the blade itself?
 
Blade is 8 1/2" long, can't post pics without paying membership, posted a couple on knifeforums
 
1198855406-KNIFE2.JPG



wow!! quite a find. jerry will have to give details, but wow!!

i have never seen this model before.
 
Ok... I poked around a bit. Without knowing more, I will guess it as a customized Desert Storm Fighter. It may have another official name, but seems to be based of of the same knife blank...

oe14_idahoskunk.jpg


Photo Credit: BadMojo

That's one good lookin' knife ya got there! :D:thumbup:
 
Also from BadMojo...


oe13_idahoskunk.jpg


Jerry Busse said:
Field Grade Desert Storm Fighter (circa 1988), 8" A2 blade, 13 3/4" OAL, 3/16" thick, & jet black parkerizing.



This is a very rare piece. * In reference to the knife shown above* In fact, it is one of less than 10 that were flat ground. The remainder of the Desert Storm fighters were hollow ground. It is also great to see how well that parkerized finish has held up under no use.

Here's a little history on these knives.

In 1986, I purchased, what to me at the time, was a huge batch of A-2 tool steel barstock (over 600 Pieces), that I believe measured 1 3/8" wide by 16" long and a little over 3/16" thick. I designed specific models that would fit this size bar. It is important to note that I didn't design on paper, back then. These knives were definitely the precursors to the Custom Variants. I would simply sit down at the grinder with the handles cut out and start grinding out the profiles of the blades. Once I had the blade profiled, I would put in the primary grinds and Bam! a blade was born!!! You'll note that the guards are not nearly as healthy on the Desert Warfare models as on all other models from the same period. That is due to the narrow barstock that these were cut from. I began making these models in 1986 and continued up through 1989. I would normally only sell these at gun shows near military bases and primarily only to military personnel. They sold for $225.00 unless you were military, police, or rescue personnel in which case the price was $135.00 . Hmmmmm. . . . looks like we were giving them away back then too.

We were at a gun show in Fayetteville, NC (Ft. Bragg) in August of 1990. Iraq had just invaded Kuwait on August 5th and the 82nd Airborne was being deployed on the following Tuesday for Operation Desert Shield. I have had bigger shows, money wise, but I have never sold that many knives at a single show. The fella at the table next to ours actually brought his wife to the show on Sunday so that she could see the frenzy. He told me it looked like we had hung a "Free Beer" sign over our table. Sunday was busier than Saturday as most of our Saturday customers brought their buddies back on Sunday. There was rarely less than 15-20 guys in front of our table. My good friend and main helper in the shop, Jerry Snyder, packed a boat-load of these blades along with some special small D-2 blades that had micarta as well as para-cord wrapped handles. It turned out that a "boat-load" wasn't enough. We called the shop on Saturday afternoon and told one of our guys to bring every finished knife we had. We sold 262 knives at this show!!!!! Subsequent shows were also very healthy and we blew through every knife we could make. With so many different models and variations of the same size, we just started referring to them as "Desert Warfare" fighters. They soon became known as Desert Storm fighters. I am always amazed at how few of these knives have re-surfaced. I have, likewise, only seen 1 of the 500+ small D-2 blades since we sold them in 1990.

Nice find!!!!

Thanks for sharing the pics!

Jerry
06/22/02
Click to expand...
 
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