Which Busse? Please recommend one.

I really like the SAR4 - kind of like a modified NOe!!! And I also like this oldie of mine - a Euro4 - little smaller than you are thinking - but I feel they are a couple of my best :)

Of course I also have a Jungle Assault on its way - so we will have to see how I feel about things when she gets here :D:thumbup:

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One of these two would probably fit the bill.

The SFNO isn't mine. I tried that model and didn't like it. If I did like it, the one shown in this pic would be the one I would buy (full flat with standard G10 slabs).

The HR is mine. I love it. It is well balanced, not too heavy and not too light, has a nice tip, nice length and great ergos. It's not the best chopper but it's a great all-rounder and can do the tasks of both a bigger knife and a smaller one.
 

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Well...just got the HHFSH in hand from my mailman, and as I suspected, the mags are too thick in the palm for my comfort. I will be trying to trade it for an HH with standard slabs. You may want to take that into consideration. For chopping, it seems like the palm swells on the fusion handles are just TOO thick. Feels like I'm squeezing a golf ball in my palm.
 
gofastalot said:
I think I've narrowed it down to: NMSFNO w/o Magnum, SH-E, SHSH2 or HHFSH. Time to make a trade...
Click to expand...

If you like the Ergo handles, you need to consider the ZTBM, ZTSH, and Mister/Uncle MoFo/MoJo series as well.

bigbusses.jpg


Uncle MoFo at the top, ZTBM at the bottom. The HOFSH shows relative sizes.
 
They are all nice. I almost bought a Battle Mistress this morning. I've really got to watch myself. I've narrowed it to an FSH or HHFSH...I think. I really like the handle shape. After I get that, and trade/sell the two I've got, I'm going to start looking into the smaller ~4" ones.
 
I'm a little confused now. The Bussecompanystore site shows the NMSFNO as NMSFNO BLACK MAGNUM MICARTA on the home page but on the order page it is "NMSFNO - Black with black machined micarta". Did I get the Magnum handle version? It seems like I did but I don't have another NMSFNO to compare to. Also, the Skinny ASH shows this on the order page: "Skinny ASH-1 - Coyote brown with magnum tan canvas micarta" So, it appears I got the Magnum handle on my Skinny Ash, which I really love. So, maybe I got two Magnum handled knives and I just really like the shape of the skinny ASH and the NMSFNO handle just isn't as nice of a fit for me. I wish these came in a box with a description or had some literature with them. Now I don't know if I should be looking for an FSH or HHFSH with or without Magnum handles. I guess the Skinny ASH has magnums so I should look for the FSH/HHFSH with Magnums....
 
gofastalot,
Yes, you got MAGNUM machined micarta on your NMSFNO. All NMSFNOs came w/ magnum slabs but the site states machined to distinguish them from "hand shaped" (smooth) mags which were an extra cost option. As to the handle shapes, the Skinny ASH is an anniversary reproduction of the Steel Heart 1 which is an old school straight handle blade while the NMSFNO has the Special Forces style handle, the SF in NMSFNO. Jerry does things his own way so that the knife comes only with the handle style offered. We may get the option for mags vs. standard slabs or machined vs. smooth, hand shaped but Jerry's blades are what they are and they fit you or don't.
As to what you should be looking for , if it is the shape, you like the palm swells, go for the mags. If it is the overall handle thickness, you may prefer mags on thin blades and standards on thick ones. The only way to tell is to handle them. Ask if there are any HOGs in your area that are willing to do so, perhaps at a get together. Or, buy one, try it and if you don't like it, sell it on the exchange or trade it for another. BTW, welcome to the forum and INFI insanity. Forget Cocoa Puffs, people go Koo Koo for Busse blades. Have fun and good luck finding your ideal Busse(s).
Pete
 
It really all comes down to the differences in each handle's design. All three of the knives you're trying to compare have very different handle designs. The ASH uses a "straight handle," the NMSFNO uses a "special forces handle" and the FSH uses the "fusion handle.". They are three different designs, and as such you're comfort level with vary with each in terms of what thickness slabs work best for you.

I like machined mags on my SFNO, but mags don't my work for me on Fusion handles because of the palm swell in the middle.

Conversely, machines mags and hand-shaped mags are also different, even though they may be similar in thickness. Machined mags have texturing, and a more abrasive (yet not uncomfortable) finish to them in order to aid in tactility. Hand-shaped mags are basically the same materials, just sanded and contoured instead of machined, leaving the abrasiveness eliminated, and making the slabs smoother.

All of these options are matters of preference, and unfortunately, often vary depending on the knife, handle material, and thickness of blade stock.
 
I think everyone has their preferences.
To me, Fusion handles are nice, but SF handles are friggin perfect.

Also, most grips leave big open spaces with no contact on my hands (big hands), but the mag handles and their big swells fill my hands great, and I don't like the feel of the standards so much. To others with different hand geometry, the swells on the mags cause hot spots and bad irritation after prolonged use.

Good news (bad news?) is, there's plenty of variety to bankrupt you one whatever you like. ;)
 
Thanks Pete, I like the Magnums on the thin-bladed Skinny Ash and I really like the shape of the handle. I am going to try a .25" thick FSH/HHFSH with the palm swells. If the fit is not perfect I will just smooth it down a little to fit. The knife is not going to be kept as-new for an investment so I won't feel bad about "making it mine".
 
Wow, a couple more replies while I was typing. So the FSH handle is different the the Skinny ASH handle? Oh boy, more options just when I thought I figured it out. I guess I will just have to try the FSH/HHFSH and see what happens. OR, smooth the handle a little on my NMSFNO. What is the best way to smooth the handle? Dremel, sand paper...
 
gofastalot said:
Wow, a couple more replies while I was typing. So the FSH handle is different the the Skinny ASH handle?
Click to expand...

These pictures may help:

bigbussebutts.jpg


Original SH (SHSHII)
New SH (ASH-1 Mags)
Rope (Original Satin Jack)
TAC (NARK)
Ergo (Uncle MoFo)
SF (Force One)

blackandsatinjune2006.jpg


EDC (Active Duty)
EDC (Meaner Street)
TAC (NARK)
Rope (SJ)
SF (Force One)
Fusion (HOFSH)
Ergo (UMFLE)
 
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