What's so special about the Busses?

flatgrinder said:
I agree. A knife is like a car, it gets you from A to B. Whether you do it in a Pinto or a Ferrari, they'll both get you there. However, Busse's are DAMN GOOD knives!!
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A toyota corolla will get you there more reliably than a pinto and to me justifies a higher price. No different than quality knives or footwear or compass in my opinion. Its a matter of perspective.

Skam
 
For all those interested in cutting through car doors perhaps you would be better served with a hammer and chisel! And for the record yes a becker will chop through the softer metals such as car doors and hoods that steel is great stuff i have tested the bk7 and bk9 on two old cars. However no knife is designed to chop on cars! (it's not that much tougher than canned food and i am sure everyone here has used their knives to open cans) That crap is just sales appeal. No one is going to buy a knife and use it to chop concrete blocks in half either but the fact is that sales appeal works because it gives the buyer confidence in the fact that it should not fail in a life saving situation. If you have a becker or trailmaster you have a darn good survival knife. Heck two of my own favorite using knives are the 1085 ka-bar short and long heavy bowies. but boy just look at those busse's!
 
mymindisamob said:
I have just noticed that your posts that I have come across seem pretty confrontational and angry. That seems to be your angle in promoting skills, based on my visits to your site.
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Yeah, I know. When the claims of "paranoia" and the rest of the shit doesn't stick when flung, rest assured "confrontational" and "angry" will rear their heads. :rolleyes:

I don't dislike the knives although I do dislike some of the B.S. surrounding them.

The absolute best knife you have is the one you have with you and the one you know how to use.
 
Well, in that light since all the stars and the moon are aligned at the moment between us. I think you misunderstand the Aitor and Brewer Survival Knife Articles.

If you came away from those articles thinking that I was of the opinion that all of the accessories and claims about the accessories were joyous, I think you need to read them again. I was actually critical of a lot of the claims.

What you have to understand is, I've actually used an Aitor Jungle King II to do everything I would have to do in a survival situation. It has cleaned fish and small game, built shelter and done the various, mundane tasks that it was required to do.

You sometimes runaround and use the phrase, "Rambo Wannabe" to describe people who own hollow handle knives. To be funny for a moment, if someone starts asking how to make exploding broadheads, perhaps that is a "Rambo Wannabe." I pointed out in some "Is Survivalist a Naughty Word and Will Santa Refrain From Bringing you Knives this year if you Call Yourself ONE" threads that Stallone didn't wear camouflage in the first two movies. Yet the same Bladeforums Brownarounds insist on saying people that wear camo are "rambo wannabes." BWAH!!! I don't wear the shit, you see, but logic is totally lost on these people when they get some catchy phrase in their craw...

To be serious, a real "Wannabe," Rambo or otherwise, is the guy that thinks he should beat on a damned rock with his main blade when he needs it the most.

All of you, you get lost and you're hurt and it's for real, you better NOT abuse those damned knives! You take care of your gear and it will take care of you! You don't wrap an M1A1 or AR15 or a Remington Bolt Gun around something because it needs hit, you go get something to hit with. You don't dig with the damned thing, do you? Unplug that muzzle! :D

Do you understand what I am saying?

Most of this is BS and bragging rights. I have no problem with the knives, I have not liked some of the things Jerry has done in the past but that's forgivable.

But the potshots and BS...if it stopped, everyone would probably be better off.
 
Don Rearic said:
Most of this is BS and bragging rights. I have no problem with the knives, I have not liked some of the things Jerry has done in the past but that's forgivable.

But the potshots and BS...if it stopped, everyone would probably be better off.
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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. It's not the knives, it's the idiotic ranting and posting which seems to be making a good knife a turn off to some.
 
Interesting concepts, ideas and gripes all mixed into one great medium of entertainment. Isn't this great? And no, we can't all agree not to get along. There will always be divergent opinions.

To the person who took aim at the Busse with the .22 from 15 feet: I trust you made use of some protective gear for your eyes. I know of at least two people who have seriously damaged themselves by shooting at hard surfaces, both cases involved binge drinking and the often bizarre behavior that follows. One bloke shot a 7mm mag at 50 paces into a 3/4 steel plate, the 175 grain slug returned to his chest within a nano-second. Of course the lowly .22 seems virtually harmless although ER stats will shed a different light on that.

In the shed I have a very old collins knife that my grandfather had when he was a kid. It is heavy and sports a near 15 inch blade of 'mystery' steel. That knife had been abused for years, we threw it, smashed all manner of items and even left it out in the rain. It is Hartford's contribution to my knife collection, the model 1005. I am guessing that the knife is nearing 100 years or better, and it is still ticking.

I could still use my #1005 and be perfectly delighted having never laid eyes on a Busse product. The fact remains though: anything out of the Busse shop is, without question, a high end product. Sure, they need a sheath and are priced way too high...but they will deliver when needed.

My basic 9 gets the nod and has indeed served me faithfully. On the trail though, slid into my backpack, you'll find my super keen 18 inch ontario quietly waiting for the next assignment.
 
Don,

Now we are gettin somewhere without the head butting. First, I NEVER typed Rambo wanna be in my life I dont think. At least I cant remember doing it anyway. I have agreed on a ramboish assesment but thats it.

We will leave movie influence into rational knife decision making alone for another topic.

I have no doubt a decent made hollow handle blade can do a job. Hell the nickle blades with the bubble compass from the 80's can do something in the field. Hell, a rusty tuna can lid for that matter. The entire point I try to make in many threads is "buy the best you can afford to stake your life on" Where we differ is what is better quality and how much is reasonable to spend in that endevour. This is a matter of opinion and is what this forum is all about. I just happen to believe hollow handled knives are not as good a choice for SHTF situations as there are better options is all.

I am not a poet in my writing style ehmmm you arent either ;) and I,/we may get missunderstood to our own agendas and how we come across.

That said lively debate as long as its not personal is educational and fun to be quite honest thus I frequent here and other forums in my down time.

My goal is to educate as I see it and that brings in opinion and soemtimes that disagrees with others opinions. The diffreence is people need to understand that an opinion is just that and this is the net and thus its buyer beware no matter who speaks and on what subject.

I do enjoy many of your posts Don and even learn from what you have said but I try to keep the flames from burning best I can while getting a point across and now you have shown you can too so you are busted now friend.;)

Big wuss you are haha.

Skam
 
In regard to the inflated aftermarket prices; a lot of Busse forumites will sell recent blades at their cost price. That is, what it cost them, including shipping etc. So it costs the new buyer just a little over the original retail price + shipping to them. So each time the knives change hands, they tend to go up by the shipping cost. It would be nice if they dropped, but the demand is such that they don't.

True that not everyone does things this way, and some buy them merely to put on the exchange or evilbay and make a quick profit; they're not interested in the knives at all. Personally I don't like that but that's life; buy from them or don't - it's personal choice.

There have been plenty of smaller Busses, and FBM's, on the exchange at cost prices or little more recently.

The older and rarer Busses are just that; older and rarer. They are therefore more attractive to collectors and expensive to get hold of. Again, that's life. I would love an Anorexic Badger Attack as a user, but (a) I can't find one, (b) I can't afford one and (c) I probably wouldn't use it if I could - it costs too much even for me to make it a user. Given (c), I won't buy one unless I win the lottery as peronally I don't buy knives I don't intend to use. I don't have enough disposable income for that. Wish I did!

At the end of the day, Jerry's business model is what it is. Someone said he is a brilliant businessman as well as a brilliant knifesmith. That would seem to be the case. Many businesses prefer to keep limited numbers of high value sales, rather than high numbers of low value sales. It's much less of a headache I would imagine. Plus quality always seems to suffer when something becomes a mass-produced item. Too many factors to control (or not).

The best way to get a Busse is wait for a new release, then preorder it. Or check in at the BCS every now and then to see what's there. Same with Swamprat and Scrapyard. Checking the Busse forums will give you clues as to what is around or expected.

I'll finish how along the lines of my first post in this thread.

I was initially put off a little by all the 'hype' as I tend to be very distrustful of such things. But the more I read and lurked around the Busse forum, the more I thought that there might just be something to it. When I finally took the plunge and paid the money for a Busse, I was truly impressed and regreted it not one bit. Yes it was expensive (cost me five months 'disposable income') but it was worth every penny. To me.

If you are unsure, but can stretch to the cost, give one a try and see for yourself. But be careful; you just might like it.
 
To say that "a knife is a knife is a knife" betrays the ignorance of the poster.

All knives are NOT equal. Does anyone actually think that a $12 Pakistan copy of a Chris Reeve Sebenza is the same quality?

Same goes with cars. Production on Pintos ceased when too many BLEW UP!

Reciting "the best knife is the one you have with you when you need it" mantra is old, worn and skewed.

99% of us can CHOOSE which knife we'll have with us "when we need it," so why not choose wisely? Why would any sane person elect to carry a POS then hope that he won't be caught in a situation that requires a better knife?

When it comes to knives, you can certainly you can pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. If you pay too much, the worst that happens is that you're out a little bit of money. But if you pay too little, you'll find that the knife you bought isn't up to the task.....sometimes at the worst possible moment.....perhaps a critical moment.....that's when you realize that the little money you saved wasn't worth it. Not even a little bit.

and you'll end up buying the "too expensive" Busse after all, since you know it will NOT fail you.

.
 
So what is it with the continuation of the stinking hollow-handle crap still showing up here??

This isn't the "Skam and Don Show".

Take it somewhere else.

But the potshots and BS...if it stopped, everyone would probably be better off.
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No kidding. So stop already. The bulk of the posts (and yes, including yours sir) have nothing to do with functionality, ergonomics, or materials, but are aimed directly at Jerry and his customer base.

Did you ever talk to the Red Cross First Responder who was at Ground Zero using a Busse to pry open office doors and vehicle doors, who came to us at Blade unsolicited? She had a story to tell. But of course, I'm sure you'll just attack the Red Cross or Clara Barton to discredit her.

Get back on point here guys.

The knives.
 
I've never had more than $300 at a time to buy a knife. In fact, I think my record spent on one knife has been about $200. That being said, I've never had a problem with quick blade failure. I've never had a problem keeping a knife sharp. I've never had a problem with using my user knives for all I needed to do. I have a big cheap kuhk chopper that chops wood just fine. I think I spent about $40 on it. I have a few good dependable users, (two ka-bars, two SOG Recon Bowies, two Buck knives, and some others) that all hold their own and I know that they won't let me down. Some inexpensive folders and autos that I use for simple cutting chores and some food prep, none of them over $150. Never had a problem with them.

I've used one of my ka-bars and a hammer to remove steel brackets from my car that held the previous speakers in place and a few other chores that i was sure would ruin the blade just to see how it would hold up. Worked like a champ. I sharpened it right back up when I was done and put it back in the sheath.

Point being, If you think you need to spend $800 on a knife to survive, then do it. If it makes you feel comfortable, then it is perfect for you. I have NEVER found ONE knife that could do everything I wanted to do. Even if I had the money for a Busse, I still doubt I would be able to find that ONE knife. Therefor, I save my money and go with what I know works. The truth is, the great majority of us will never push a really good user knife to its limit without abusing the absolute hell out of it. None of us in our right mind are going to ue our knife as a ladder step to hold our body weight. There's no need for me to spend enough money to be able to do stuff I will never use a knife for. For what I use them for, my knives are more than I need. Some people need to know that they can use their knife to shoot lasers and cut through unobtanium. I'm not that person. My SOG Recon gets the job done.

As for the Red Cross thing. She is one of the few that have used a knife to its limits. In the case of a person in her position, that's awesome she had a Busse.

Don't get me wrong. They seem awesome and if someone bought me one, I wouldn't say they made a bad decision or say they wasted money or anything like that. I just simply can't afford one and for what I can afford, I do just fine.
 
David E: + 1 on that!!!

Hell, its only money.... and most people will tell you, buy a Busse and you'll not only get your dough back if you sell it, but you're likely to come out with a bit extra into the bargain.

The argument is tiresome in the extreme. Why buy a Rolex when a Seiko will tell the time just as well, etc etc... ad nauseum.
 
mymindisamob said:
I agree wholeheartedly about most of what you wrote. I am not suggesting that open discussion, even in the negative sense, be discontinued. I am suggesting, if not outright requesting, that the snide and self righteous attitudes of some should cool it in knocking those of us who buy, use and defend a specific maker. It has happened to those who like Cold Steel, Strider, and so on. I would like to hear what most anyone has to say, but not by bashing the majority of any group based on an arrogant few.
My "shut up" comment may have been over the top, but it gets old seeing posts with commentary about Busse isn't worth it and the Busse guys don't have anything but shiny knives. If it's not worth it, then don't buy it. If you think we don't use them, then you don't read much. If you don't think the knives are as good as we say, then they aren't for you, or you haven't done the proper research. It's that simple.
I know this is th W&SS forum, and that's why I come here often. I use my blades for much of what is discussed here. I use Busses and wouldn't own a Mora if someone gave it to me. But I don't knock the elitist attitude of those who feel they are better and more skilled than the next person because they use a small knife and carry less gear. Not everyone here is like that, and many are just very cool. BTW, I don't have any problem whittling or with fire and bushcraft using my Busse ST Ripper or Badger Attack, but I do carry a Superknife 2 for everything else.
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Fair enough. They're both somewhat larger knives so they got useable choils, but neither the Active Duty nor the Game Warden do. I like to use the part of the blade nearest the handle so the choil on the GW/AD just gets in the way.

You might not be the one needling the Mora crowd, but I'm sure you've seen some of it. It isn't usually a big deal. I agree that some of the snide comments are unwarranted and completely unhelpful to answering the original question (what are Busses like as survival knives) but there's no need to take it quite as personally. In the first couple of pages many of the negative comments about the hype and the fan club were from the pro-Busse camp, the point being that even if you don't buy into the hype the knives are still great when you look past all that--great steel, great heat treat, great warranty. They're also tremendously fun knives.

I think that part of the reason people are hesitant to trust the say-so of the Busse fan club when it comes to the knives is that so many of you (not neccessarily you, personally) seem to have almost a financial stake in their reputation. Now, it might be true that the only reason this is the case is because Busse offers a quality product that you guys believe in. Still, it is reasonable for someone with no personal experience with the knives to be skeptical of the Busse Fan Club's collective opinion when so many of them have bought up far more knives than they ever plan to use or collect, causing them to be scarce in the first place, then slowly introducing them back on the market at a big markup (and selling them CONUS only making it harder for folks in other countries to find what they're looking for... Grrrrr...). It almost looks like the same kind of racket the diamond dealers have going. *Of course* those folks are going to say their product is something special. So if you're wondering why people start these threads and don't just take the fan club's word as to how great Busses are, I think this apparent conflict of interest is part of the reason. The tendency of Busse fans to take things so personally and swoop down on these theads silencing any dissent tends to play into the perception that this is the case.

MORIMOTOM said:
Originally Posted by g30ff
Nobody here is trying to bash other people for collecting whatever knives they please....

there have been more than a few posts in this thread that have done exactly that.
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Alright I should have said "few people" instead of nobody. In the first few pages the worst most of it could be described as would be a gentle needling. There was an exception and a bit of a running feud that had more to do with personalities than knives, but reaction to the knives was generally positive. Some of the sharper criticism followed the Busse defenders in, but even 2dogs could have a laugh at his own expense when called out on his own hostility.
 
I thought that Cold Steel was the only brand that could stir up so much flame:D. At Least maybe Busse fans will know how it feels to have their brand questioned.

There are not just Cadillacs and Pinto's there are also Buick's and Mercury's. Just because you don't buy a Busse does not mean you will buy a Frost in its place. The bottom line is that you find something that works for you and one you can justify the money for and get on with life.:thumbup:
 
As for the original question "What's so special about busse knives", the answer: they cost twice as much.

Personally I wouldnt spend $400 on a knife, just like I wont spend how ever much extra Nike brand socks cost. Even if theyre better, the difference in performance isnt proportional to the difference in price, that extra money is paying for the brand name.

I'm getting Justin to make me a custom knife, with all the design features I want (including the "trademarked talon hole". trademark!? psssss I'll have a hold drilled where ever I damn well please) and tailor fit handle. In the end I'll of paid less than half as much for a knife that not only can perform just as well, butwill because I wont have any compunction actually using it for what it's designed for--heavy use.

I dont understand the whole glass case collection thing. If I'm going to get a sports car it'll be because its fun as hell to drive, not because it's pretty to gawk at (although cars do have the pussy magnet factor, so maybe thats not the best example). To each their own though, I'd rather spend my extra money on beer than something to hang on the wall.
 
sketchbag said:
As for the original question "What's so special about busse knives", the answer: they cost twice as much.

Personally I wouldnt spend $400 on a knife, just like I wont spend how ever much extra Nike brand socks cost. .
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If you read the entire thread you will learn that Busse has 3 companies and you can get a knife for well less than $200. Reasonable for a quality piece of kit. Hell my boots are $375 its in reason a decent knife can be $100-200. My opinion only of course.

Skam
 
I have two words for the hog avatar guy, he knows what they are. :D

Please, give us more September 11, 2001 emotional claptrap. :jerkit:
 
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