Why the change?

[Elwin]

Just wanted to say a big hello and intoduce myself. I dont own any Busse's, yet, but the knives interest me. I have a degree in Material Science and like reading about all the new alloys and materials that people use to make knives and handles, particularly INFI steel. I've only been out of school for a couple of years, so I dont have a lot of experience yet.
That said, my question is more about design than material. Why did Busse change to the E style handle. Also, for those who have used both, how do you like them. If this has been discussed before, just point me in the right direction.

 

[Andrew Lynch]

I hope you stick around . The handle question is one I wondered about when I was pretty new to Busse. I'll try to convey to you what I know about it.

First of all, they were designed in conjunction with a hand doctor (I don't remember what they're called ) to ensure their ergonomics are correct. This happened after Jerry hurt one of his hands.

One of their main advantages is that they are at a comfortable angle, especially for heavy chopping. They just "feel right", in that you can use it at a normal and comfortable wrist angle at all times when chopping. This enhances your comfort while chopping and makes chopping less tiring, letting you chop for longer.

Another great advantage is that they almost eliminate twisting while chopping. They give you a lot of torque to keep the blade from twisting. I can assure you, it is almost impossible to make an E-model twist while chopping.

Also, due to the angle at which the blade is set relative to the handle, it is similar to having a re-curve, but without their disadvantages. You have a slight shearing effect while chopping due to this, which enhances chopping performance.

Once I got to handle one, I immediately fell in love with the handle. The one thing I wanted to change was to make the handle a little thicker (my hands are large). Jerry helped me out

Forgot to add, about straight-handled performance vs. E-handle performance:

I have heard that the straight-handled knives twist quite a lot more than the E's.

Here are some comments by Carl Theile on the subject:


"I am aware of other tests involving SH (straight handle) vs E (ergonomic handle). These were field tests of significant duration by three control groups. Equal numbers of each were given to two groups (read: group A all got SH and group B all got E). Group C was allowed to choose and their choice recorded. 30 days into the trial groups A and B had to swap. No modifications were permitted. 60 days into the trial all were required to select one over the other. The choice was binary- either/or.
It is my understanding that a significant majority selected the E style. It would be useful for me to add that the field exercises required extensive daily use of these knives by each team and that all were skilled and trail-hardened.
-carl"

"My personal choice is the E series and, I work less and get more done with them than with the SH series- but I'd rather have an SH to throw. I do that better with them than with an E. That said, I rarely throw knives anymore and an E will work if you let it.
Andrew- I can ask, but doubt success. We rarely endorse products as a group- though we are allowed to represent personal opinions and to some limited extent, facts as we know them.
-carl"

"Those choices should imply the nature of the field testing- wish I could go into more detail. I can say it included creation and destruction of human habitat on an almost daily basis.
-carl"

 

[Ad]

To me, the E handles are a definite improvement in terms of comfort. They roll in your hand very nicely when working the chopping motion. And if you are at all into the Filipino/Indonesian stick fighting sytems, this rolling motion seems to make the transition from stick to blade very easy. My Battle Mistress E is a dream to work with. I am very new to stick/blade fighting, but my Battle Mistress E is very, very comfortable when using it in a martial manner. Busses rock.

 

[Dark Nemesis]

Elwin:

Welcome to the Busse forum

As for the handles, I think it has been summed up best already. The new "ergo" design does relieve some of the stress caused by extended use. I wasn't very fond it it at first (understatement), but after really giving the BM-E a chance, it has proven to be a very comfortable design. Even more so than my user straight Mistress, and I have to admit that a big part of that is due to the handle. Once you get used to the ergo's given angle, it's very difficult to go back to a straight handle.

 

[Eric Isaacson]

Elwin
Welcome to the Busse forum, I hope you stick around and join in our discussions.

Great question, here's what Jerry had to say about it shortly after they were introduced

"Why the new ergonomic handle design?
Why change a proven design? That seems to be the question.

About 13 years ago I made the first prototype for the Steel Heart and it looked very similar to the new “dropped handle” ergonomic model. Its performance was remarkable when deployed in chopping tasks, foil grip defense moves, speed of sheath removal, etc. . . However, I made the standard model straighter because of aesthetics. Now I’m sure that “Busse Combat Aesthetics” will go down in history as, perhaps, the greatest oxymoron of our time. “Busse Combat” in Latin literally translates as “Psychotic performance! Aesthetics be damned!” Personally, I find the straight handled Steel Heart II to be the best LOOKING knife in the world. Noticeable handle drop simply does not LOOK great. . . at first.

Busse Combat’s motto “The Beauty is in the Performance” was the deciding factor when it came to the new design changes and based on this criterion, the new ergo model shines as the most beautiful knife we have ever made. Arm and hand fatigue is greatly reduced when chopping with the new ergo model because the wrist is in a natural, and not flexed or extended, position at the moment of impact. The handle profile is wider and less likely to shift in the palm under heavy usage and the palm swell disperses the energy absorbed more evenly over the entire width of the hand. The talon is angled away from the rear of the handle almost eliminating the chance of blisters and yet still secures the user’s grip. The new “Diamond Quilted” micarta slabs offer the most secure micarta grip surface ever offered by any maker or manufacturer.

The reaction around the shop when I first displayed the new “ergonomic” design was borderline homicidal and a small faction of our knifemakers tried to overthrow the shop and seize control. However, after using the new model, everyone quickly agreed that “seizing control” was what the new ergo handle design was all about. Even my brother, Dan, reluctantly, agreed with the group although he was later seen talking to the “old style” Steel Heart and was overheard mumbling something about “I’ll save you baby!”

For those of you still having difficulty with the new design, please remember that with less fatigue under heavy usage you can deploy your knife for much longer periods of time. Needless to say, that can have its benefits. Less effort equals less caloric output and that equals less food needed to survive and that equals less time spent gathering food and that equals more leisure time and/or more time to work and make money and that equals a longer, more prosperous life. So, in other words, if you want to live long and prosper you’ll need to get the new ergo handle design. Quite simple, really.

Yours in Nuclear Ergonomics,
Jerry Busse"

 

[SALTY]

Andrew said it. Around here, if you are not fast, you're last.

Many do like the straight handle, but for chopping and other tasks, the E handles are thought to be more ... well ... ergonomic.

 

[Elwin]

It seems like the Busse knives are designed as mainly choppers. Is this true, or have people found the E handle to help in other areas? I have a Buck Mentor. It has a slightly dropped handle, and it seems this would be preferable for thrusting, and some other tasks. Also, the blade comes around better for slashing in the reverse grip. Oddly enough, it seems to help with throwing, giving a little bit of snap just before release. The spin was just a little different, but the spin is one of the things to learn when throwing a knife. I'm gonna go stare at the steel heart and natural outlaw on the website. Later everybody.