What should be my first Busse??? Lot's of thought going into this one.

Noshtero

Noshtero

Joined
Oct 10, 2002
Messages
1,551
So I think I'm ready to take the plung and see what this "INFI" stuff is all about :thumbup:

I don't, however, want to get a Busse I can't really use. I also don't want to get one that's going to lose out to one of my current knives for the slot it fills, because then I'll just have to turn around and sell it. I tend to only keep 1 or 2 knives of a given type. I'm by no means a collector.

Here's my current layout:
Large Chopper - Ranger RD9 (like this one OK).
Medium Fixed - Koster 1/4" 3V Nessmuk (main carry. Like this one a lot).
Small Fixed - Ranger Shiv (like it OK).

My general woods bumming/backpacking/camping methodology is this:
1) I always carry a medium fixed blade. 9 times out of 10 it's my Koster Nessmuk. This isn't a traditional Nessmuk, because it has a 5" blade, is 1/4" thick, and is 3V. It's a beast of a Nessmuk. This is my primary knife.
2) I usually don't carry a small fixed blade, and instead carry a SAK or Multi-tool.
3) If I'm procuring firewood, I will bring a large chopper of some sort. I prefer my Pen Bay hatchet, but it is VERY heavy. 9 times out of 10 I bring the RD9. The only reason I like the hatchet better is because it outchops the RD9. I don't find it more comfortable, and it is more dangerous IMO.


So my thoughts on ways I can go with my first Busse:
1) Large chopper to replace the RD9. A BM is larger, thicker, and heavier than an RD9. This might mean it would win over my beloved hatchet, and become my primary large fixed. I really think I could do anything I wanted to the BM, and not worry about damaging it.
2) Semi-Large fixed to replace both the RD9 and Nessmuk. Something in the 7" range that could do both my 9"er's and 5"er's job.
3) Medium Fixed to replace the Nessmuk.
4) Small Fixed

For 4), I don't really dig small fixed, so let's rule that out.
For 3), I LOVE my Nessmuk, and think I may be inclined to use it even if a Busse is better.
For 2), This could make sense, but again, I don't really want to lose my Nessmuk
For 1), This could make a lot of sense, but I don't always need the Large Chopper.

I kind of feel like, if I'm going to get 1 Busse, I should get the biggest bang for the buck. I know, you all will say I'll get more, but I honestly don't think I will. I surely won't be buying dozens of these because I don't collect.

So.... thanks for reading this long thing. Any thoughts? My initial thought is to get a BM. It sucks that it's about the most expensive one I could get, but it's also the largest. Would you think that's the way to go based on my use? Would you perhaps say take one step down in size and think about a Natural Outlaw or Hell Razor?

If you think Battle Mistress is the way to go, which one should I be looking for. I don't really care if the thing is fancy, so I don't need super special scales on it or anything. Functional is key for me. Availability and price and heavy hitters too.

Thanks for the advice.
 
The best Busse to get is what's currently available. I know you're all about functionality, so the two most easily available might fit your criteria. The FBM LE is available at the Company Store and is expensive as you say but it is the top of the Busse line. The ASH 1 is available on order from Busse and is reasonably priced for an indestructable blade. You would be happy with either and as always they are easy to resell if your interests change.
 
Seems to me like what you need is some variation of the FSH. 8" blade, fusion handle, great chopper, very usefull for all-around chores. You may even want to get yourself a heavy heart with standard handles as that REALLY makes chopping a breeze. Many people think the FSH is Busse's greatest design. I personally do NOT own one yet, but I think that for your designs it would be the best bet as it allows you to keep your Nessie on your side and use it whenever you'd like, and have your FSH strapped to your pack for the heavy work. If you ever lost the Nessie or just didn't have it, the FSH is small/controllable enough to use for fine work, and still meaty enough to do the gruntwork.

If you check the EE, there are a couple of heavy hearts in there with black blades and black standard handles. If you get one and decide you don't like it, it will be MUCH easier to get yourself an FBM of some sort.

Good luck,
J

Btw...the FSH sounds like a (2) according to your thoughts above, though I think it would make a great companion to your Nessie instead of replacing it.
 
I think:

get a fat (.320) ASH1

- it's a classic model, very 'Busse'
- it's currently available new/direct
- you can pick the handles and finish
- it's big enough to baton and chop
- it's nimble enough to slice and dice
- and it's a good fighter, stabber
 
I would recommend either getting the CG ASH due to availability and cost or waiting a bit and get either a SARsquatch or BussMUK. The SARsquatch will be available after Blade sometime and Jerry said the BussMUK will be coming shortly. Both of the latter being pictured below.

MukMuk2.jpg

Sarsquatch3.jpg
 
Natural Outlaw (SFNO) is the way to go if you want to carry it around. Big enough to chop, small enough to make dinner. ASH1 is very similar, and currently available for order. Steel Heart if you want to go a bit bigger, Hell Razor if you want to go a bit smaller. Hell Razor would be the best blade for doing Nessmuk-type things. Satin Jack can chop, but is a bit light-weight for my tastes.

I'd also consider a Mean Street, though this would be a direct Nessie replacement. SARsquatch might be good, but nobody's handled one yet (at least the Blade reports haven't been posted as of me writing this) so you might want to wait for feedback.
 
The ffbmle is no longer available at the company store, it shows up in the pictures, but when you go to order it it is not available. My suggestion would be a combat grade battle mistress, its lighter than the ffbm at only .25" in. for a cgfbm, as opposed to .32" for a ffbm. The cgfbm has a ton of chopping ability and there are plenty on the forum, finding a ffbm is a bit tough. The ash available at busse combat with a .32" blade would be a good choice as well, I just ordered one. If you go with a cgfbm I would suggest the mag handles, unless you have really small hands.
 
first off, let me say that you have great taste in knives....i've seen daniel koster's work, and i am planning on a few nessmucks myself.....and justin also makes great knives with a busse like guarantee......that being said, to your question.....


if you want a big chopper then i think the FBMLE(fusion battle mistress limited edition) is your choice.....it is .32" thick, but sports a full height grind....it is a great slicer because of the grind, but it also chops like a demon and can take abuse and not even blink.....and for such a large blade, it is extremely quick in the hand.....i say, if you get a busse, you might as well get the best.....this is the best of the best.....only problem is that it is sold out and you will need to procure one off the secondary market......i have seen a "like new" sell for $600 shipped very recently, which is $100 less than the original price.....however, now that they have sold out, you will probably have to pay close to $700 or even a bit above that price....let me tell you though, it is worth every penny....


if you want a semi large knife, i would go with the FSH.....fusion steel heart.....

it is a very large blade in it's own right, just not as big as the battle mistress....it sports an 8" blade and is a great chopper, but can also do small knife tasks.....hell for stout, and like many have said, they just might be the "perfect" knife.....i believe they come with either a full height grind, or they come with a sabre grind.....i would take the full height grind because the only advantage sabre grind has is strength, but the FSH is plenty strong, and the full height grind gives it the best edge......


for the medium fixed, i would go with the skinny ASH.....like its name, it is a very thin bladed knife..... .195" i think..... but it's made of infi, so no worries about its strength.....if you choke back on the handle, it can chop if needed.....however, the true beauty of this knife is in the way it slices, and the way it balances in your hand.....the thin spine combined with the mag handles form one of the best feeling grips in any knife i have ever felt.....it's a little thin for batoning, but it would work in a pinch...the thickness combined with the full height grind gives it so much in slicing ability......the edge is convex.......


the skinny ASH is one of my favorite designs ever.....lots of people think the FSH is the "perfect" knife....i think that the skinny ASH is the best of the best....
 
Hey New...didn't you sell your fatty like a couple days before you even got it? Did you pick up another?
 
I'mGatMan! said:
Hey New...didn't you sell your fatty like a couple days before you even got it? Did you pick up another?
Click to expand...

you mean the skinny ASH????



and if you mean the skinny, then yes, but i handled it before i shipped it out to my trade partner.....


i traded it before i even received it from busse because i don't like skinny blades in general, but once i got, i wished i wouldnt have traded it.....


but my word is bond, so i followed through with the trade.....


and if you mean fatty, as in a FFBM, i have 3 of those....
 
Trying to read between the lines a bit, I'd say get one of the FBM permutations (depending on desired weight and thickness) then find a BAIII and go from there.

I'm not really a "collector" either. Certainly not in the sense some of these wackos are, but I have ended up with about 30 Busse users, lol. Even if you're not drinking the Kool Aid, it really does have that sort of effect. I could blabber on about that, but it's pointless, except to say that you will end up wanting more than two Busses. :)
 
BM is a great choice for your first knife. I think a CG BM might be the way to go as it is a great chopper and is still light enough to use for smaller tasks. If you can get one it should replace your hatchet and RD9 in one go.

Failing that I will echo the ASH-1 suggestions. Dare I suggest you might want to try get a Sarsquatch? If you pay attention to the forums in the next couple of days and weeks you should be able to get one.
 
Think around about that length yeah, probably fills the gap between the SFNO and the FSH. That's just my guess though.
 
The one Jerry has for sale right now.

Your second Busse should be the next one Jerry has for sale.

You may also add one of the knives Skunk has to sell. That usually gives you something to look forward to between Jerry's knife introductions.
 
I was in the same boat.

My first Busse arrived today, a .195 Active Duty. I wanted a legal-carry size knife for hiking/camping/whatever. I also wanted to see what Busse knives were all about before dropping serious cash on an ASH/HR/NO.

As expected, I am thoroughly impressed. The fit, finish, and overall quality are superb. This thing is beefy relative to its size. I'll have no regrets putting this blade to good (ab)use and seeing what INFI is all about.

To someone who has never handled a Busse, I'd recommend an AD or a GW as good way to test the waters.
 
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