What you look for in Busse vs other knife companies...

[hhmoore]

Icing on the cake: Handle texturing and design. I'm a texture snob...peel ply <anything> gives me the heebiejeebies.

Thank you!!
I had a Spyderco Manix 2XL in S90V/peel ply CF...the feel of those scales just creeped me out. A shame, too; because I probably would have loved the knife, as it seemed to fit my hand well. I really should have invested the money in some contoured micarta scales for it; but I'd read a few horror stories from people that botched disassembly/reassembly (messing up the lock mechanism).

 

[Freedom Pullo]

My favorite folding knife steel is CTS-204P.
I've had about all of them, and I just love 204p. I have a Military in both 52100 and 204p. I like the 204p better. As a matter of fact, that green KW 204p Millie has been the most perfect knife I've ever had from Spyserco. Ive also had the s110v vedsion, as well as s30v, cruwear and thats it I think. (Just Militaries)However, I would love to see both Spyderco and ZT, use more 3V and especially would love to see 4V start making the rounds.
Also, huge props to cpm 10V! This is an incredible folding knife steel too...
Yeah, so for folding knife steel, my top 2 would be 204p and 10v.

Spyderco’s CTS-204P seems a little easier to sharpen than 20CV and M390. My favorite stainless for a folder too

 

[Cobalt]

Nope, other knives already came with sheath.
Older time, Busse came with sheath too, why not now?

Not sure what to tell you bro. You can still participate in what this thread is about if you wish.

 

[inkynate]

Busse (& kin) and Spyderco make over 90% of what I'm interested in and what I end up buying.

Never gave too much thought to why, I guess I just know it when I see it, but I do agree with a lot of the reasons that have been given here.

Oh, and P2.1: Long live peel-ply!

 

[DamascusBowie]

Because people buy sheathes anyway and Busse would have to add cost to a knife for a sheath nobody wants. I'm glad they don't. I just got a Gossman with a sheath and switched to a spec ops instead because it suits me better. Plus some really good folks make a living as sheath makers

Seconded, Busse can barely keep up with the work they already have and can’t keep their custom shop open, in addition to the reasons already mentioned, I’d rather they not have another unnecessary thing to worry about. Sheaths are an individual preference and easy to obtain by the customer.

 

[Yonose]

Me 2. Most of my folders are spyderco millies, with the exception of some ZT’s I bought because they look like knives that cost a lot more. Rexford and Hinderer collaborations. S30v is not a problem for me as done by spyderco, zt, or bos. Having said, I wish all of them were made from either cruwear or s110v! I don’t hate 204p or vg10 though...
G10 is great for a folder, titanium’s good too. Big knives I like handled in micarta or resiprene c.

 

[Yonose]

I guess it comes down to a couple of things for me: style, steel, quality fit, finish & materials, and customer service.

Style: I can't even predict this! But I like historical or historically based designs ie bowies, nessmuks, hunters in fixed blades. Nothing that's too 'out there'.

Steel: I like SR101, A2, 3V. I haven't tried too much else and to be honest I don't know that I would ever notice the difference. For some reason I have been shying away from stainless steels.
Before I discovered knives properly I used plenty of Victorinox, Green River, Swibo and F. Dick skinners. My favourite was the Swibo.

Quality etc: proven 'brands', good reviews. It's a bit hard down here to get my hands on a knife just to 'try' so I probably don't stray too far from anything established.

Customer service: absolutely paramount. I love Busse and Bark River for this. I have had an absolutely outstanding experience with Bark River recently and they really helped me out. I find Pete Winkler of Cross Knives great too - his knives scream out to me and he is a top bloke. He built my nessmuk and the pictures and updates from the other side of the world during the build made the experience really cool.

To me, the Busse knives that I have are my apocalypse knives. If I had 30 seconds to race out the door I would grab my Ratweiler first, my Cross Knives Nessmuk 2nd and my CG FBM 3rd.

Dibs on that Randall made post apocalypse.

 

[Aias]

Love Busses for the ergos, the steel, and perhaps most of all, I don't think twice about using them for just about anything. They are beasts build to take anything and ask for more, and if I happen to damage the knife, the Boss has my back.

What I look for in other knives... well, for a while it was Emersons for folders, until I got an XM-18 (3.5, slicer grind, non-flipper)--I sold all my other folders (except for my GECs) and am convinced that the XM is the perfect edc folder for me.

In terms of other fixed blades... forged blades make it on my radar--my favorite being Lon Humphrey's knives. I have a few, and they are awesome. He forged 3v (unbelievable) and the results were amazing--he did a run of Kepharts, and it might be the perfect small camp knife. Besides Lon's knives, I love my Randall. Other than my Busses, I guess I'm a traditionalist at heart.

And Dicko, I have the same Shining Mountain Bowie! Great knife!

And an example of a well loved Bussekin... Trash 2

 

[Private Klink]

I really like the shape of that Bowie!

 

[DirtyPhill]

Scandi ground
Traditional design
Preferably pounded on by a hammer
With or without a handle

I am a wood carver that is always on the hunt for a new carving knife or traditional knife of Scandinavian design.

 

[DJC72]

In all honesty, nothing really competes with a Busse for me. From Choppers to bad a** survival type blades, I always buy Busse. Until Busse starts making Bushcraft Blades, AA Forge, Adventure Sworn and Fiddleback Forge fit those roles.

 

[Adian]

I love my Busse blades and have gone through a lot in the last couple years to find what I really like. I learned that I can’t do coated blades but I love the satin. I have a handful that I really love and haven’t yet had anything pop up (other than the mil over run that I miss due to Hurricane Maria) for OP2W Part 2 that has had me jump to buy since funds are tight with our recovery efforts.

I also grabbed up a Keffeler Sasquatch last year and it is as beastly on a knife as my Busse’s. Have also found a few Miller Bros customs that I like.

Folders is a whole other story. I’ve gone through as many of them in the last couple years as I have Busse in my quest to find what I really like. My overbuilt custom blades, it’s Daibor every time. Ergos are great, great blade design, great steels, awesome grinds and custom work. Not to mention D is a great guy and has awesome CS skills.

For my thinner carry (I wear shorts just about every day in PR) I carry a ZT0777 or a 1 of 2 Mosier Indignation. Again both have great blades and great CS. My next custom folder will be with Greg Lightfoot.

 

[Aias]

I really like the shape of that Bowie!

Thanks--that's the Gunfighter. That one is in 1095 and Burl handle. Lon has now changed over to 52100. His 1095 is the best I've used--I carved a 70lbs pig on a spit with it, hacking through bone too, and it stayed pretty darn sharp w/ no edge damage. It's a good mix of geometry and tempering.

 

[Dicko]

Dibs on that Randall made post apocalypse.

Ha ha the leather and stag? It's actually a modern Scagel... I love it! She's my special occasion carving knife.

And Dicko, I have the same Shining Mountain Bowie! Great knife!

It's a beast! Other than tactical garden and slicing up the odd rump steak primal I'm yet to use it in anger. It's too thick to use in the kitchen too - everything just splits apart!

 

[Private Klink]

Blade shape and steel used are very important to me.

 

[evltcat]

With other brands of knives I buy, I carefully consider both the steel and the maker's / brand's reputation when it comes to heat treat.
I never worry about anything from Busse or Carothers, because they KNOW their HT to the nth degree.

I also am getting picky about blade shapes. Guess it's a side effect of having a bunch-o-blades.

 

[shunsui]

I like large handles. Busse and Spyderco folders go well together.

 

[Yonose]

Ha ha the leather and stag? It's actually a modern Scagel... I love it! She's my special occasion carving knife.

It's a beast! Other than tactical garden and slicing up the odd rump steak primal I'm yet to use it in anger. It's too thick to use in the kitchen too - everything just splits apart!

The 3rd from the top, I mistook for a Randall and betrayed my noobish self! Just started collecting big blades outside of 1095 and 5160. I think Aias called it out right, the shining mountain bowie!?!

 

[Aias]

Ha ha the leather and stag? It's actually a modern Scagel... I love it! She's my special occasion carving knife.


It's a beast! Other than tactical garden and slicing up the odd rump steak primal I'm yet to use it in anger. It's too thick to use in the kitchen too - everything just splits apart!

I used my Shining Mountain to carve a fairly large lamb we spitted a little while back... it sliced meat as well as it hacked through bone:

Then there was that time my Gunfighter met a 70lbs pig...

 

[Private Klink]

Man, I like that Gunfighter model!