What version is this?

[Raden]

Can someone tell me how old this is. It's a BM with Kaiki with green speckle's micarta handles, the tang is coated, the only thing not coated is the top of the blade and ofcourse the edge. The sheath is more brown than kaiki. Any info is appreciated. This is my 2nd busse, and I've already ordered 2 customs. The INFI virus is taking full effect.

The handle looks more tan than the picture.

 

[Bravado]

Ahh yes the Infi worm has already burrowed into your
brain, I'm afraid it's too late for you.

 

[Chip]

I've seen green sheathes and I've seen black sheathes. Never saw a brown one yet?? My guess it was between the green and the black ones.

 

[Eric Isaacson]

Raden
The Micarta Handles will change colors depending on use and the oils in your hands. You can clean them up and they will probably look almost gray, or oil them and they will look close to black

That is a Battle Mistress with an Ergo handle(BM-e) probably made between 2000-2001(June/July 2001 they started sending them out with uncoated tangs). I'll need to double check when they switched to the E handles but I think it was sometime early 2000.

So what Customs/Variants do you have on order ?

 

[Raden]

Originally posted by Eric Isaacson
So what Customs/Variants do you have on order ?

One is a Artic Team with only half serrations, the other.... well I'll just say Marc will be posting some pics when it's finished.

 

[papathud]

Eric,
The handle surfaces being coated or not, is a cyclic event dependant on several factors. (Ask Jerry about it.)
When I was a dealer I would not know which I would be receiving.
Every shipment was like Christmas.
I received both kinds from July 2000 through my last shipment April 2002.
It was not just coated at the begining and then polished at the end.
I received some of each through-out.
I received coated knives right till and including my last shipment.

This is not a good way to date a Battle Mistress - (First you should ask her Daddy if you can take her out)

 

[Strabs]

Raden, I have also had some handles appear as if they are speckled
Some seem to appear more silky and smooth while others also appear fuzzy! Some are also very black yet some show more canvas layers!
There must be slight variances in Micarta batches or the way they are machined on any given day.
I like the "fuzzy" greenish yellow ones the best

Another handle that you might keep your eyes peeled for is the black paper Micarta on a satin or coated blade!
Absolutely gorgeous!

As far as the sheath, I have heard of some "brownish" ones before but never saw one!

I'm not sure if there is any good rule for dating the ergos, but I have made an observation that may not even really mean anything.
The handle slabs seem more refined and contoured on the top and bottom lately and they don't seem so square like some of the first ones were. I found my first ergos to be a bit too square on the top of the handle and took the Dremel to them to round them a bit but all the newest ones feel perfect out of the box!

Sound like a cool combo
Congrats!

 

[Eric Isaacson]

Andre,
Thank you for the info. I did not realize this. I will definitely trust your opinion as you have more, and handled many more Busses than I ever hope too.

I will make note of this so I don't pass any bad info along.

Thanks again

Eric