Chris :
[Mad Dog vs Busse]
has ever used both knives and what they thought of them?
I have used two TUSKS from McClung, one fully serrated and another partial,
and a straight handled Battle Mistress and a Basic #7 from Busse Combat.
Comments :
Handles :
Ergonomics - The grip McClung uses on the TUSK is very broad and filled my
hand very well. The index finger cut out also allows a strong snap cut. On
the negative it could be uncomfortable depending on your hand size. This was
why Mission decided not to use an index finger cutout on the MPK, since they
wanted to offer it wide scale, they could not use a feature that would be too
user specific.
Security - McClung uses a kind of dimpling on the G10, but it is not as
secure as the checkering that Busse uses. Then again there is always the
issue of aggression vs comfort. The shape of McClung's grips gives a high
security, but the Talons on the Busse grips provide an absolute level,
though uncomfortable through impacts.
Durability - Both the Micarta that Busse Combat uses and the G10/11 that
McClung uses are very durable. They can withstand extreme impacts (beat on
them with a hammer), they are very difficult to burn (can take exposure to
direct flame), and they don't readily absorb solvents so even if you soak
them in gas and light it, they burn out readily. They are very resistant to
cuts, punctures and general abrasion and have a high insulative value.
Misc - McClung uses a fully enclosed grip. This means your hand is not in
contact with any exposed steel. This is very good for providing protection
in regards to extreme temperatures as well as electrical shock. However the
partial tang that McClung uses gives up a lot of strength as opposed to the
full tang on the Busse, and McClung has a very square transition at the
front of the tang which is a serious design flaw.
Blade :
Cutting ability - Both blades have full flat primary grinds, are of similar
stock thickness and length, and mass and balance. The Busse Combat blade
does come with a more acute edge NIB and thus will out cut and out chop the
TUSK. Because of the greater durability of INFI it can be honed to a finer
edge than McClung's blades without giving up a loss in durability. The TUSK
does have what McClung calls "a positive included angle", which basically
means the edge is not parallel to the spine, it will enhance the slicing
ability as well as the performance on rocking push cuts.
Edge retention/durability - McClung heat treats his O1 to around 62-63 RC
and thus the strength of the edge is very high, it therefore resists rolling
quite well. I was quite pleased with the edge retention of both TUSKs on
soft materials like woods. The Busse blades will have more of an advantage
in more abrasive work. The edge on both TUSKS was brittle and fractured far
more easily than the edge on the Battle Mistress. The latter also makes
sharpening more time consuming.
Durability - The Battle Mistress has a uniform hardness of around 60 RC and
thus will be stronger than the TUSKs because some parts of it (spine) are
very soft and therefore weak. The tip on the differential hardened blade is
also a problem because it will be either left soft and weak or hard and
brittle. The softer spine on the TUSK should allow it to take a greater flex
than the Battle Mistress and absorb harder impacts without failure, but
neither is the case. I snapped one TUSK in half, and broke a huge inch sized
scallop out of the other on light stress work.
Sheath :
General - McClung's Kydex work is the equal of any that I have seen. The
Busse Combat sheaths I have seen (older Kydex rigs) are in the same class. I
have no experience with the leather or Cordura Busse rigs.
Warranty :
General - McClung has a claused warranty that only applies to the original
owner. Basically he will fix or replace the knife if he feels he should,
this is a common cutlery warranty. Busse has a full warranty covering all
major damage, this is not a common cutlery warranty.
Misc :
Features - McClung offers a serration pattern. It is chisel tipped like
Reeves uses but with more square corners. It is very durable (for a
serration pattern), but it difficult to cut materials with unless they are
under high tension because of the square corners which make a smooth cut
impossible. Busse has hinted at a serration pattern in the past.
Cost : The TUSK is about $1000, and the Battle Mistress $350, considering
that and the above, it is not much of a decision for me.
More details are given in the varous reviews.
-Cliff
