Why Are Busse Knives So Expensive?

goldie

goldie

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2000
Messages
4,520
I can see why custom folders can be expensive,with tight tolerances,locking mechanisms,many parts,but fixed blades like busse's are one piece of steel with handles,seems much easier to make,why do they cost so much??
 
Because there are so many people that are willing to the price.

Though I do find Busse knives to be expensive, I don't consider them to be overpriced.
 
Pick up any Busse Knife and it feels like it was made for my hand. Takes me many trips to a hardware store to find a perfect hammer that fits my small hands.Only one handgun fits my hands, A 1911 Govt. My large friends say the same thing about Busse Knives, it fits thier hands as well.

I met Mr.Busse once for a brief moment years ago at The Great Western Gun Show in Pomona Calif.(Mid 1990's), Talking to him, I got the feeling this guy knew knives like very few people I have ever met.I am no expert on knives,but he explains everything about his knives in minutes... Very friendly, customer service type guy etc etc. His booth was surrounded by military,LEO types,knife knuts,hunters and backpackers.It was almost like the other knife makers didnt exist. One of the guys I was with told me,"now this guys knives are something else,lets check him out...". We all ended up with knives that day. I walked away with his knife at a price I could easily work with.Very Fair. He looked me in the eye and told me he wished all folks in uniform/badged were oufitted with his knives,gave me a helluva discount. Good Man.

I can see why his has such a huge fan base. His knives really are all that. In a world of cost cutting,wannabees,overseas outsourcing,tagging something as 'Tactical or Extreme'...Busse knives shrugs all that and gives you a real tool built by an American with Pride.

Expensive? Yeah, I only have one. Saving up for another.
 
Busse knives are so expensive because they're the best, and supply doesn't quite meet the demand.
 
at first i didn't understand or believe the stories behind these knives. then i bought one after weeks of research. now i'm a believer!!! when you feel that heavy, solid, hunk of american steel. full tang! this sucka is gonna last and get it done! that is what is gonna save my life one day (or not). point is, i got better odds with it than with a cheaper brand that may not be as extreme (when you need it most!).
 
some are very expensive.

some are in the high end production price range.

some are far less.


depends on what model and whether it was a custom shop offering. if you are referring to aftermarket prices, simple economics determines pricing.

the original shop prices are very competitive, and some times less, than other manufacturers.
 
Here are a few reasons: One of the very best steels, heat treatments, warranty, and customer service out there. Plus lots of variety. I also think Jerry's testing and willingness to test his products live helps. Most of this can be said for some other brands as well and they are similarly priced. I feel the price is more than fair for the quality. IMHO. :)
 
Products that meet or exceed their hype often command a high price once everyone knows about them.

There are knives in the kitchen cutlery world which are more singular in purpose, but cost much more than any regular Busse and well worth their prices, too.
 
they use INFI steel which they own and can charge whatever they want for. and even at their current prices they cant keep them in stock so why not charge that much.
 
It should be pretty easy to see: the steel is very expensive (and in this case, it actually means that it's also very good indeed), and people are willing to pay for the Busse name.
 
goldie said:
I can see why custom folders can be expensive,with tight tolerances,locking mechanisms,many parts,but fixed blades like busse's are one piece of steel with handles,seems much easier to make,why do they cost so much??
Click to expand...

It's easy to quote the supply and demand from economics 101...it's true, but there is more to it. Are Busse knives expensive? Well, you have to ask "in relation to what"? There are a lot of expensive knives out there that are not necessarily customs...Mad Dog, Chris Reeve, Mission (Beta Ti-versions), Mercworx, even TOPS with a very basic 1095 steel are expensive, but American made and have very good heat-treatment. A knife is a knife, but so is a 1911...why are Clarks and Wilson's more than a $1000 more expensive than most Kimbers and Springfields? Believe me, if a Busse was too expensive, than it wouldn't be as popular as it is. I will admit the cult-status has some effect on price, however most knife makers do make concessions for law enforcement and military...the reality is that there are users and there are collectors and collectors drive the price up for any commodity.

The name is part of it, but it's also the reputation. I bought my first Busse (an older Steel Heart II in A2) in the early 90's. Since then, they've added their proprietary INFI steel...which, like any other industry, you have to calculate the cost of development, tooling machines, etc. There has been extensive tests, comparisons, etc...all that is an enormous amount of investment. You don't just stumble across proprietary steel and start pumping out knives. Does this justify the price of the knife? I don't know. I'm sure Busse has a break down for the cost of material, heat-treatment, machining, employees, advertisement...you start doing the math, it starts too all make a little sense from a business point of view. If Busse could make a knife for $50.00 and sell it for just under $100...and could keep up production and Q/C, I'm sure they would be much cheaper and we would all have Busse kitchen sets. Unfortunately they are not for everyone. I'm happy with my two Kimber .45's, and don't think I'll ever get a Wilson...however, I have found that Busse works for me and I can justify the cost for what I do and the performance their knives show.

ROCK6
 
Busse knives from Busse are NOT expensive. Take any blade in the $225 price range and compare it to a Badger Attack TAC. Heck, take any Busse and compare it to any knife at the price of release (not after-market). Busse knives are cheap!
Can discontinued Busse knives get expensive? You betcha. Once you have one in your hand, it will take a premium to remove it :) But to be fair, I am still amazed at how inexpensive the blades are NEW FROM BUSSE. Other knives are cheaper in the after-market? You don't say.... ;)
 
It really all depends on how/when you purchase. On the aftermarket forum they tend to sell for high prices. The way they produce their product warrents a high aftermarket cost. Very limited supply and specific timing.

If you purchase from Busse at the time of their normal offering, then I feel like they sell at very fair prices, for what you get.

I very much regret selling my original Satin Jack. Not so much that I would ever pay today's prices for one. Yet, if Busse ever offered that model again at their normal (today's) pricing, I'd snatch one up in a heart beat.
 
I agree with the comments about supply and demand. Also I think there are elements of the "beanie baby" phenomenon involved. Busse is smart enough not to buy into the customer generated hype however, that's why their prices are still typically lower then the secondary market prices. If/When the bubble bursts they will not have priced themselves out of their own market. :thumbup: Smart operators.
 
i wish i didnt hear all this good report on these knives, you know i'm going to wind up getting one; or two.i was so wrapped up with folders,ive overlooked some of the fixed blades only because they cant be carried as easily as folders.i guess the same positive goes for swamp rat & scrapyard as well?;)
 
goldie said:
i wish i didnt hear all this good report on these knives, you know i'm going to wind up getting one; or two.i was so wrapped up with folders,ive overlooked some of the fixed blades only because they cant be carried as easily as folders.i guess the same positive goes for swamp rat & scrapyard as well?;)
Click to expand...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news...but I'm afraid so! :(
 
I bought a badger attack just a few weeks ago at a price that was very similar to a ZT 0100 that I purchased a few months ago. I'm kicking myself because the BATAC is quite superior to the 0100, well with the exception of not coming with a sheath. I used to have a problem spending this amount of money on anything but pistols/rifles, but now... I have to hide my credit cards
smiley_abused.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top