LEOs and Military: Question

SALTY · May 14, 2002

Men and ladies in blue as well as those in the Military: Do you carry a Busse? Which one? How carried? Any special uses anticipated?

Often times police and military are not paid enough to afford the gear they should have. This results in issued gear and some personal gear being used, often of inferior quality compared to what you should have. If I could, I would give you all Busses, but like campaign finance reform, that ain't happening anytime soon.

So, any of you carry a Buuse?

Sharpenough · May 14, 2002

Nimrod, the vast majority of Army personnel who deploy someplace hot are not issued knives as part of their TA-50 or combat load. You're on your own.

So you get what you think is the best knife for the job, and then you might discover that General Order #1 (the basic rules of the game for that mission) doesn't allow for the carry of a knife on your LBE. So you sort of sneak around (there are lots of places to hide knives under your body armor...), and generally if your blade length is less than 6 inches nobody will give you too much trouble.

I've carried Gerbers, Cold Steel Trailmasters, and SOGs before I knew about Busses. Now that I know about Busses, I'd carry a SH. But now I'm an old fart colonel, who probably won't get to deploy anymore....

EdwardB · May 15, 2002

In deference to Sharpenough, I'm only an enlisted man. I've been in for 18 years now and am both LEO and Military (Military Police). Knives are not issued and as has been stated elsewhere, most commanders frown upon personal carry (most actually forbid it) mainly because of the possibility of one of their soldiers getting injured in training and being liable for it. Too many of them are afraid for their career than letting the soldier have the best equipment available.

That being said, I've been carrying a Busse Steel Heart II for about 7-8 years now (I think). Best darn field knife that I've found so far. I carry it everyday in my car (actually, it's on my Load Bearing Vest -LBV - and attached pistol belt). I wouldn't hesitate to use it under the most extreme conditions. Fortunately I haven't been called to do so yet.

The Steel Heart, other than maybe the Natural of Badger Attack are well suited to military and LEO personnel. Tough, dependable and virtually unbreakable. The lifetime guarantee doesn't hurt either.

Ed

AnklePocket · May 15, 2002

Uniformity's very important. About 11 or 12 years ago I got my entire platoon a set of high-tech shoe inserts for our boots. I could've really used my Natural Outlaw back then. If I was still in I'd outfit my entire battalion with Natural Outlaws (hopefully at a discount).

LtCol AnklePocket

JDS · May 15, 2002

At home, an Assault Shaker inverted and wrapped around my belt. In the field, something special from Busse that was issued, just not by the Navy

Some of the Seabees and Marines I have worked with now have Badger Attacks and Satin Jacks.

BTW: I think the good Col's would agree that there is no such thing as "only an enlisted man". With 18 years in you my friend are the backbone of the Army. In my world a good Chief is worth several O's, and I'm an O

CPDARNOLD · May 16, 2002

As a LEO I carry too many blades to count. I change my folders on a weekly rotation, but I always have a Bassic 7 in my Riot bag.

Jason

Schleifalot · May 16, 2002

Some days ago I ordered one of my enlisted at the shooting range to take his knive off his LBE. It had two reasons:
It was a piece of sh...
He did not carry any other equipment on his LBE, he was only showing off.
At the same time I wore my SH in a kydex rig tip up on my belt. Nobody noticed it and it is deployed in one or two seconds.
Don't get me wrong. When a knive can be useful deployed I allow it. But I dont tollerate showing off, this wannabe only wanted to be cool.
When I was in a "nice mountainous country" deployed I had my basic 7 in my BOB in my car and several blades and gadgets like a wire saw in my cloths. In such environments stupid orders from above dont bother me.
Usually we arent alloud to carry blades, we are only equipped with a flimsy folder. If you are lucky you get one made by Victorinox.

SALTY · May 16, 2002

As per usual, the people that make the decisions are not usually the ones that have to live by them. If they dom they are so removed from the actual situation, that it doesn't matter anyway.

Busse knives in general use military field applications as well as in law enforcement is something that is really deserving of more attention, IMHO.