Why all the Busse Hate?

[GregB]

As a Long Time Lover of Busse and Busse Kin, I think you really have to USE the knives, HARD to appreciate them. I'd read about them and seen them online, then found a NIB Basic 9 with paperwork and leather sheath at a dealers table at a local gun show (this was after they had been discontinued, but not long after). Bought it and took it camping the next weekend to see if it was as good as advertised. It was.

Used it to process all my firewood for two nights. I batoned it, stuck it in the log, beat it out, flexed it, etc. Did all I could to put her through her paces. She wore me slap out. When I was done It would still almost shave and never took a set or even showed any edge damage. I was hooked.

Fast forward to my 2nd or 3rd blade show (the one after the Knob Creek Show where the MOAB was introduced). Even I was trying to figure out how the knife in my avatar was worth that much money. I'm a state employee married to a state employee (think double NC teacher salary). I wasn't paying that much for any 1 knife, I didn't care how awesome it was. After fondling it for 3 days in June, in Atlanta I bought it. Actually, I charged it.

Brought it home late Sunday. Went out the next morning before work and stuck it in the stump. Took my avatar picture to remind folks what they are for. Was an early member of the MUG (MOAB Users Group). Loved her and miss her. Used her a good bit and one day may replace her with a .36 CG if the stars ever align. No Regrets.

So unless the poster has used and abused a Bussekin, I'd say they don't know what they're talking about

GregB

 

[Higgs Particle steel]

As a Long Time Lover of Busse and Busse Kin, I think you really have to USE the knives, HARD to appreciate them. I'd read about them and seen them online, then found a NIB Basic 9 with paperwork and leather sheath at a dealers table at a local gun show (this was after they had been discontinued, but not long after). Bought it and took it camping the next weekend to see if it was as good as advertised. It was.

Used it to process all my firewood for two nights. I batoned it, stuck it in the log, beat it out, flexed it, etc. Did all I could to put her through her paces. She wore me slap out. When I was done It would still almost shave and never took a set or even showed any edge damage. I was hooked.

Fast forward to my 2nd or 3rd blade show (the one after the Knob Creek Show where the MOAB was introduced). Even I was trying to figure out how the knife in my avatar was worth that much money. I'm a state employee married to a state employee (think double NC teacher salary). I wasn't paying that much for any 1 knife, I didn't care how awesome it was. After fondling it for 3 days in June, in Atlanta I bought it. Actually, I charged it.

Brought it home late Sunday. Went out the next morning before work and stuck it in the stump. Took my avatar picture to remind folks what they are for. Was an early member of the MUG (MOAB Users Group). Loved her and miss her. Used her a good bit and one day may replace her with a .36 CG if the stars ever align. No Regrets.

So unless the poster has used and abused a Bussekin, I'd say they don't know what they're talking about

GregB

To a lot of people hard use is taking a picture of a Becker laying on the ground or stuck in a log because they simply dont have any real outdoor experience beyond campgrounds. Hard use is moving from cutting their lunch meat to making a feather stick. They think its impossible that a Kabar can rust. They've never spent two weeks in the mountains with only their gear, no campgrounds. They havent experienced camping in a muddy wheat field in Mississippi. They havent trekked from Colorado to Wyoming in the Rockies. They havent killed a wild hog with a knife and they hate people that choose to spend their money on something flat out badass instead of what they consider financially intelligent.

 

[hhmoore]

I'm not a hater...I just haven't drunk the scotch.

(I don't even know what that sheath is supposed to fit...bought it on the exchange a while ago; and it hasn't really worked with anything else I've tried. Fits this pretty well - so I'll use it until I get something better. Looking at a leather/kydex mutant; but if that doesn't work out, I've got something else in mind)

 

[Cobalt]

When all ammunition is expended, those with INFI will prevail.

There is much truth in those words.

 

[shunsui]

... and they hate people that choose to spend their money on something flat out badass instead of what they consider financially intelligent.

Actually, I justify owning more than 10 knives because I consider it financially intelligent.

CD rates are still way too low.

 

[Turbo Tension]

For most people, a Swamp Rat is more than they’ll ever need. It truly takes an abusive user, or high volume user, to make a superior product shine.

 

[Robdude]

I recall my days growing up as a huge Michael Jordan fan in the early 90s.. i remember the hate that people had for him. Living in utah i heard "jordan sucks" nearly every day.
what is clear now of course is that he was clearly the greatest basketball player to ever play. I think haters are just part of the territory when you achieve high levels of greatness..

 

[Phixt]

I hear ya there but I've never really heard anyone refer to Jordan as snake oil.

I think that's what churns a lot of the hate; haters thinking it's all snake oil since they can buy a Becker (great knives) or from a lot of other companies and get the job done for a fraction of the price. We know better it's not snake oil.

I guess a lot of Jordan haters would argue at this point that you could've surrounded a different star with the same teammates and produced similar results for a fraction of Jordan's contract, but that's bull!

 

[u812]

I have noticed over the years that many hate or at least put down things they can't afford. As for myself I think Rolex and Omega are very overpriced watches and not any better than my TSAR.

 

[zombieassassin]

Why buy a Glock? My Hi-point shoots just fine, most of the time, with special ammo, and the temperature is just right for the slide to operate. Wink

 

[dogboye]

I need to replace the mainspring in my SIG P6/225. If they deleted the "how to" videos, I will be displeased. But them, I've been displeased with pretty much everything huge tech companies have been doing lately. They've abused their monopoly power enough to overcome my innate libertarian sensibilities to the point where I'd welcome government regulation. How big an a--hole do you have to be for that? Quit being evil, Google.

From what a couple of the gun guys on YT have said, that is about exactly what is going on. It’s infuriating. I’m jumping over to Full30 wholeheartedly. I like SIGs, but I’ve invested in Glock. Easier to work on than anything I know. And have laid up enough spare parts, I think, to last me til the grave.

I could go on, but I won’t, as it will get pure political then.

 

[dogboye]

The road of life has many forks - Lets see the hater take a hammer and drive their "superior" blade through said paved road with a hammer and put it on YT - Or, run over it with their JD lawn mower and tell the company "I ran it over with my lawnmower" and see how that warranty claim goes over- we know how Busse handles them
Or if you want, watch all 8 parts to this one LOLO!!!

As the a**hat that accidentally ran over his BB13, I approve this message.

I must stress, I didn’t ask for a warranty claim, either. Bossman offered to take a look to see if it could be sharpened out. Next thing I knew, it was replaced. And I can tell you I have kept a sharp eye on it ever since. Not gonna let THAT happen again.

Incidentally, random parts have started falling off that lawnmower deck since then. I think the BB13 May have struck a killing blow during that incident.

 

[dogboye]

When all ammunition is expended, those with Busse will prevail.

There is much truth in those words.

One last thing.... I agree with Cobalt, to the “fixed” first quote.

The only reason I say that is, as good as I’ve come to believe INFI is, I believe the TG and TG-M in A2 can keep pace with any other knife I’ve experience with, and short of throwing them under a lawnmower, I believe they’re right there on the same floor with INFI. And SR-101 is right there behind INFI and Busse A2.

As for hating... I’ll add this: from my earliest knife days, I have always bought the best I could afford. When I started, it was the Buck Duke, in, I believe at the time, 440C (but I could be wrong; it was the late 70’s, which I think was still the 440C era). I’ve steadily improved my cash flow, and upgraded my buying habits. I’ve only been able to afford INFI in the last couple of years. Busse-kin a couple of years before that. Steel notwithstanding (assuming I have some correct understanding of the grammatical use there), Busse knives, in all their form, offer the best value of any knife I’ve run across. There is no other knife, from no other maker that is in the same league as Busse.IMO.

 

[gdog363]

One last thing.... I agree with Cobalt, to the “fixed” first quote.

The only reason I say that is, as good as I’ve come to believe INFI is, I believe the TG and TG-M in A2 can keep pace with any other knife I’ve experience with, and short of throwing them under a lawnmower, I believe they’re right there on the same floor with INFI. And SR-101 is right there behind INFI and Busse A2.

As for hating... I’ll add this: from my earliest knife days, I have always bought the best I could afford. When I started, it was the Buck Duke, in, I believe at the time, 440C (but I could be wrong; it was the late 70’s, which I think was still the 440C era). I’ve steadily improved my cash flow, and upgraded my buying habits. I’ve only been able to afford INFI in the last couple of years. Busse-kin a couple of years before that. Steel notwithstanding (assuming I have some correct understanding of the grammatical use there), Busse knives, in all their form, offer the best value of any knife I’ve run across. There is no other knife, from no other maker that is in the same league as Busse.IMO.

Why do you think SR-101 takes 3rd?

 

[dogboye]

For me, it gets even sharper than SR-101. And so far, seems to hold an edge just as well.

Also, I believe A2 is what Busse started out as their only steel. Although they went on to work SR-101 instead of back to A2, after starting to use INFI. So perhaps SR-101 is better than A2. But, I know that SR-101 is also more corrosion prone than A2. So there’s that.

 

[extrastout]

people convinced that comp/working/stripper finish is as cool as a satin finish for the cost is my only gripe (its like buying new pre ripped jeans to look like you actually get down and dirty). In turn it doesn't take much to impress a modern Busse fan. I get the badas$ I don't care about the finish thing, but whatever happened to I use my pricey knife and made it look badas$ over time....Good for Busse this trend though...Success

 

[dogboye]

I dunno... I kinda like BIG finish, or DC. The latest CF seems to be the new BIG. Satin is maybe the nicest looking (I REALLY like DC, so I'm not sure, IMO), but I really can't justify paying the extra for satin unless it may be a safe queen. I don't really have a desire to pay more for a knife. I just want to pay what it takes to get the best. As long as CF, BIG, or DC (or a stripper) doesn't become a corrosion problem, I'm good with any of them, and the rest is just aesthetics. Are CF, BIG, or DC as "cool" as a satin finish. No, absolutely not. For me, all of them are a step (at least one step) above coated for performance and convenience. Once I get to that point, while I'll be the first to concede that satin is the coolest (well... DC), I don't think satin adds to the performance. And I don't want to pay for it for a user, unless that is the only option.

Man, those are a lot of words to say that... I think I agree with you... but I like DC, and it costs less.

 

[nydude]

Actually a little surprised this thread still has legs being that there probably are not many Busse haters here and I don't think we need to justify our love for these blades to each other.

In the end there are couple answers that can be as simple or as complex as we want to make the.

First, simply, people like to hate things that are expensive, because it allows them to justify not wanting that thing....Like say health insurance.. .

Can we go deeper and talk about constructs of perceived brand value, and the open pit that is consumerist need? Is stuff really just stuff or is it more to us? Maybe after that we delve into resentment over systemic socio-economic disenfranchisement of one group or another? or is that concept, in and of itself, a political red herring?

Sometimes you genuinely dislike something lots of people like and just have to say it. I was in undergrad at an art college in 99' and every time I got into someones car or house Sublime was playing and I was so fed up I decided to hate them forever, but that's a very isolated thing for me.

In the end, haters gonna hate, because they hate themselves, and being loud and obnoxious is the only way they feel they can get attention, which they ultimately conflate with love. it's sad, and it's easy to choose something else.

Keep up the awesome Busse crew,

In the timeless words of both Bill and Ted, "Be excellent to each other."

nyHOG

 

[hhmoore]

Still going huh? Okay, I'll take another turn:

Because hating on Cold Steel just isn't a challenge, anymore, and there are just too many people in that club

 

[extrastout]

I dunno... I kinda like BIG finish, or DC. The latest CF seems to be the new BIG. Satin is maybe the nicest looking (I REALLY like DC, so I'm not sure, IMO), but I really can't justify paying the extra for satin unless it may be a safe queen. I don't really have a desire to pay more for a knife. I just want to pay what it takes to get the best. As long as CF, BIG, or DC (or a stripper) doesn't become a corrosion problem, I'm good with any of them, and the rest is just aesthetics. Are CF, BIG, or DC as "cool" as a satin finish. No, absolutely not. For me, all of them are a step (at least one step) above coated for performance and convenience. Once I get to that point, while I'll be the first to concede that satin is the coolest (well... DC), I don't think satin adds to the performance. And I don't want to pay for it for a user, unless that is the only option.

Man, those are a lot of words to say that... I think I agree with you... but I like DC, and it costs less.

If you take a breath after all the offerings recently...I started realizing the unfinished blades are the price of satin blades a few years ago. It kind of came out of nowhere. Like I said people are paying the price so why not. It's up to the consumer to keep the price point in check. People are willing to pay high prices for unfinished blades, thats it and thats why it seems to be a luxury to have the cut corners finish for a satin price (well, from a few years ago). But I guess its the same as sr101 almost seeming like it would replace infi for a while there, but hold the same pricepoint. Infi obviously is here and rougher than ever. Busse is still my favorite fixed blade and to be able to practically afford a blade that I can't be ashamed to use...Satin does not seem to be an option recently....but the other finishes just are not jusified at the pricepoint to me either (its not finished!). It personally puts the blade into a collector pricepoint and thats not my jam. These knives should be used, thats the whole point of finding the best brand. I'm in the secondary satin user market in the meantime