What's so special about the Busses?

[misanthropist]

I have what I guess some people would consider a Busse - a Scrapyard Guard. It's okay. I use it as a beater knife at work because I don't have any particular love for it but it does a half-assed job of a number of different tasks. It is a bit of a prybar! But it also chops (not very well but obviously better than a scandi) and slices (not very well...not sure what would slice worse, actually. Maybe a saw!)

If I wanted a real chopping knife I guess I'd be after something like a Dogfather or FBM. But then they weigh a lot.

My Guard weighs a little over a pound. I would guess a Dogfather weighs pretty close to two pounds. I've never handled a FBM but I imagine they are similar.

For that weight I can pack a small axe like a Wetterlings that will outperform the chopping knife by far, and a small knife that will outslice it by ever farther. I don't do that at work because I have enough gear hanging off my belt. But in the bush, I have a pack, so the carry is not at all a problem. And, if I somehow lose one of the tools, well, I still have the other.

The big chopper knives are a solution to a problem that I don't really have - the need to get everything in one tool. I don't have anything against Busse stuff, I just don't really have a need for it. I would consider buying it as I could probably afford it if I wanted to - I make good money and my monthly bills are under a thousand bucks - but I just can't justify it to myself on USER grounds. I think anyone who wants it ought to be able to get it, but it's not something I need or want particularly much.

 

[Guyon]

For that weight I can pack a small axe like a Wetterlings that will outperform the chopping knife by far, and a small knife that will outslice it by ever farther. I don't do that at work because I have enough gear hanging off my belt. But in the bush, I have a pack, so the carry is not at all a problem. And, if I somehow lose one of the tools, well, I still have the other.

The big chopper knives are a solution to a problem that I don't really have - the need to get everything in one tool. I don't have anything against Busse stuff, I just don't really have a need for it. I would consider buying it as I could probably afford it if I wanted to - I make good money and my monthly bills are under a thousand bucks - but I just can't justify it to myself on USER grounds. I think anyone who wants it ought to be able to get it, but it's not something I need or want particularly much.

Fair enough. There are the axe folks and the big knife folks. This topic has gone round and round. I will offer up that I like the choppers for a couple of reasons. One, a good, sharp chopper will come very close to a small axe in cross-grain chopping and still do other tasks well (like trail-blazing). Two, if you want to split wood, a small axe does not excel IMO, but you can split all day with a longish chopper and a baton log. When I'm making kindling for firestarting, I like to split off a lot of thin pieces of wood. I find a chopper/baton performs much more effectively than an axe in this task. Can you still do it with a small knife? Sure. Can you do it as easily? Nope.

The world's big enough for all types. While I own a couple of GBs and a Wetterlings, I still like my FBMs.

 

[Guyon]

misanthropist, here's a video of what I'm talking about. It's not my own personal video, but it's a good example of the activity.

 

[k_estela]

Guyon,

Nice video with good horizontal battoning technique. I'm cringing though seeing the follow through of the knife is right in line with a nice cinder block. A piece of wood at the base would be safer for the edge.

Kev

 

[misanthropist]

Good vid - that is not the approach I would take but then I grew up chopping wood with an axe every day. For me those are probably single-swing splits and I would get very annoyed with that process! But you know that would not be the case for everyone that owns an axe - the issue is not really what tool I bought but that I bought a tool I have used ten thousand times. If I had grown up splitting wood that way I would probably be so fast at batonning that I would see no point in the substantially more hazardous axe swing.

And anyway if everybody did everything the same way the world would not be the kind of place I would like to live! I like my leggy blondes but there's some pretty hot chicks in Japan too!

 

[snook]

I came into this thread kinda late, and I'm a self admittant lurker so had to read the whole thing and wait and now I'll post.

First Off I dont Own an actual Busse, I own a Scrapyard Yard Hook and a Swamp Rat Swamp Warden. I bought both from the company stores for original prices and had no problems doing so (in fact Eric at Swamp Rat really helped me out in getting it). I didnt find it hard to find these knives, I also know if I wanted a Busse (if I had the cash) I could have gotten one from them ranging from a sus scroffa, game warden, badger attack, and even a battle mistress (there were some in store for about 10 minutes).

Why did I get what I got, I looked around long enough to figure that if I was going to get a knife that I could stake my life on these companies provided a no question warranty and plenty of reviews that proved many claims. I didnt want to spend a ton of money so I went with the cheaper companies. After such I am looking at getting a real busse sometime after christmas.

Have I used these knifes to that extreme point? No, I don't like to abuse knives even if I know they can handle it. I have taken my yard hook camping and hiking and it has served me well, my warden has served well for the past week as an edc.

Are there other knives out there? Absolutely, Bark River and Ranger knives right off the bat are other companies I'm very interested in and will probably purchase from sometime in my life.

So for the final question. Are Busses amazing? I dont know I dont have infi, their family companies are very good tho and reasonable priced, from my experience they should hold their own in every level. They are special because of their warranty, since I've been around I have seen 4 examples of knives getting replaced no questions asked. 2 from breaking and 2 from small flaws that probably didnt need to be replaced. I think everybody here should get whats good for them, and if you want a hard use knife, then Busse or one of the family companies should be the first place you look.

 

[brianNH]

Just when you thought it was safe to read this thread....... "The Return of the Chef"

Now, what the heck is wrong with the push rod V twin?!?!?!?!?!

Jeez bro, you've got a few "issues". Theres some with more than a little animosity towards Busse products but you seem to have an axe to grind.

Not good for business and potential customers when you start taking sides. I would think that a smart businessman would remain neutral.

 

[g30ff]

Aww... how sweet of you to be so concerned for his business . He hasn't badmouthed anyone else's knives so the only business he's likely to lose is from those who are so rabidly anti-Busse they can't bring themselves to deal with anyone who likes them. I doubt he had any of their business before and I'd imagine he's fine with that.

 

[Guyon]

I'm cringing though seeing the follow through of the knife is right in line with a nice cinder block.

But it's a Busse.

Not good for business and potential customers when you start taking sides. I would think that a smart businessman would remain neutral.

I'd rather my sheathmaker not be a politician.

 

[brianNH]

But it's a Busse.



I'd rather my sheathmaker not be a politician.

You have been guarding this thread like it's a nest. I would hope you have more in your life than this thread and posting pictures of knives around the clock.

The thing about you Busse guys is theirs no individuality among you. You operate with a "Beehive" mentality....

 

[foxyrick]

Did someone say pictures???

Let's not cross swords over all this...

 

[Guyon]

You have been guarding this thread like it's a nest. I would hope you have more in your life than this thread and posting pictures of knives around the clock.

The thing about you Busse guys is theirs no individuality among you. You operate with a "Beehive" mentality....

I came to the thread late actually. I do like posting in W&S, but when it comes to Busse knives, I realize that many of the folks here are often only privy to the stereotypical rantings of misinformed individuals such as yourself. I thought I'd bring a little clarity to the conversation as someone who actually owns a Busse, who actually uses one, and who actually knows most of the regulars on the Busse forum.

The thing about guys like you is that you like to pass judgment without an iota of experience. I venture that there's more individuality and diversity among the Busse regulars than you'll ever know. As for my life, it's really none of your business, but thank you so much for the facetious well-wishes.

Good luck with your issues.

Edited to add: Hmmmm.... brianNH has actually bought and sold an awful lot of Busse knives, yet on occasion it appears that he likes to lash out at the elitism of it all. The issues are more deeply seated than I imagined. Can you say passive-aggressive?

 

[foxyrick]

And just to show that I don't just do Busses...

 

[brianNH]

I came to the thread late actually. I do like posting in W&S, but I realize that most of the folks here are usually only privy to the stereotypical rantings of misinformed individuals such as yourself. I thought I'd bring a little clarity to the conversation as someone who actually owns a Busse, who actually uses one, and who actually knows most of the regulars on the Busse forum.

The thing about guys like you is that you like to pass judgment without an iota of experience. I venture that there's more individuality and diversity among the Busse regulars than you'll ever know. As for my life, it's really none of your business, but thank you so much for the facetious well-wishes.

Good luck with your issues.

Mis informed you say?? I've spent a fair amount of time on the Busse forum. In the last two years, I would say I have purchased and used over 30 Busse knives through extravaganzas, private sale, and many from Scott at the Busse company store. He's one whom I do have a high opinion of. I still own several Busse's.

You may want to think twice before you play the "your'e misinformed" or "without an iota of experience" card.

 

[Guyon]

You may want to think twice before you play the "your'e misinformed" or "without an iota of experience" card.

You're misinformed if you maintain there's no individuality among Busse users. Check your own syntax above.

So you've handled a few knives. Good for you. They're good knives.

Spent any time actually getting to know some of the folks over at the Busse forum as individuals before you posted the statement above?

I agree. I do like the Busse knives however, I find the forum, the reindeer games, and the over inflated secondary market price gouging nauseating therefore I have chosen not to play.

In the last two years, I would say I have purchased and used over 30 Busse knives through extravaganzas, private sale, and many from Scott at the Busse company store.

 

[foxyrick]

You have been guarding this thread like it's a nest. I would hope you have more in your life than this thread and posting pictures of knives around the clock.

The thing about you Busse guys is theirs no individuality among you. You operate with a "Beehive" mentality....

BrianNH, I've not seen Guyon start slinging insults at anyone, I fail to understand why you feel the need to towards 'Busse guys' (there are Busse gals too, you know). 'Busse guys' includes me to an extent.

I've hung around the Busse forum as well, mostly lurking. 'No individuality'??? You really have to be kidding (are you?)

There's a big difference between supporting each other and being enthusiastic about similar things, and having no individuality.

This is the first (and probably last) response I have made to a personal comment. What you said has really ghasted my flabber!

Oh well...

As to posting pictures, the supposed topic of this thread is "What's so special about Busses?" One of those special things is how they look. To see that requires pictures, so:

 

[Guyon]

BrianNH, I've not seen Guyon start slinging insults at anyone, I fail to understand why you feel the need to towards 'Busse guys' (there are Busse gals too, you know). 'Busse guys' includes me to an extent.

I've hung around the Busse forum as well, mostly lurking. 'No individuality'??? You really have to be kidding (are you?)

There's a big difference between supporting each other and being enthusiastic about similar things, and having no individuality.

This is the first (and probably last) response I have made to a personal comment. What you said has really ghasted my flabber!

Oh well...

As to posting pictures, the supposed topic of this thread is "What's so special about Busses?" One of those special things is how they look. To see that requires pictures, so:

It's all good foxyrick. It just rubbed brianNH the wrong way because I challenged him on the leatherman comment, and he decided to get all pissy. Some folks have thin skin. As for my life offline, he need not worry his pretty little head about me. Last weekend, I was saltwater kayak fishing off the coast of South Carolina...

The weekend before that, I was hiking some pretty country down in Alabama...

In the coming weeks, I've got some deer hunting planned in Alabama and a conference in Austin, TX. There's lots to do outside Bladeforums.

Still, brianNH, I hope you liked the pictures.

 

[pedropcola]

I have about thirty Busses, ten Rats, and two Dogs. Better than anything on the planet? No. But, great knives, can't beat warranty, easy to deal with company. If anything goes wrong, Jerry makes it right. Even when (my opinion) the knucklehead behind the knife is the problem. Lots of hype and hoopla, absolutely. Whenever Spyderco or BM or Kershaw introduces a new steel, its the end all be all. Thats the knife world. The only thing I take issue with Busse over is width. Lots of Busse guys want a blade that is thicker than anything I could possibly use. One of my faves is a Buffalo Soldier that was thin enough to begin with and came with a full height grind. I personally would prefer more of that. I like to cut and thinner cuts better for me.

 

[mymindisamob]

I have about thirty Busses, ten Rats, and two Dogs. Better than anything on the planet? No. But, great knives, can't beat warranty, easy to deal with company. If anything goes wrong, Jerry makes it right. Even when (my opinion) the knucklehead behind the knife is the problem. Lots of hype and hoopla, absolutely. Whenever Spyderco or BM or Kershaw introduces a new steel, its the end all be all. Thats the knife world. The only thing I take issue with Busse over is width. Lots of Busse guys want a blade that is thicker than anything I could possibly use. One of my faves is a Buffalo Soldier that was thin enough to begin with and came with a full height grind. I personally would prefer more of that. I like to cut and thinner cuts better for me.

I agree. The thick beasts are really cool to hold and swing into chunks of wood, but my keepers and users are all on the thinner side. Usually strip them and then sharpen as I use. I am a hatchet and axe guy, but a large chopping blade is nice to use occasionally.

 

[Guyon]

I agree. The thick beasts are really cool to hold and swing into chunks of wood, but my keepers and users are all on the thinner side. Usually strip them and then sharpen as I use. I am a hatchet and axe guy, but a large chopping blade is nice to use occasionally.

I'm not as keen on the really fat choppers myself. They tend to bind more, whereas the thinner blades and edges do better at "biting" without sticking. I have lots of choppers, but among the Busses, the old-style Straight Handled Battle Mistress is a nice chopper. My favorite though is the Fusion Battle Mistress Special Edition, pictured above with the yellow leaves in the background. With the saber grind, it chops very nicely. I used it recently to limb out a 30-foot Eastern Hemlock that I took down in my back yard. Fun knife.