Pronunciation of Knife Jargon

E

Eager

Joined
Oct 9, 2002
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337
OK I've been interested in knives for years but since I started looking at this forum my knowledge (and interest) has really expanded. I don't really know anyone that I talk to about knives on the same level. Also, I live in small town far from urban centers so untill recently there hasn't been any knife selling retailers in the area. Now we have a knife shop at the Mall and a Sportsman's Wh@rehouse and the salespeople have read about some of the lingo/jargon that I've seen here. So now I have a pronunciation problem because their version (of the knife jargon) is different rfom mine and neither of us knows which is right. I have been through many of these type of pronunciation foibles with my gun related hobbies. What commonly mis-pronounced knife related words have you learned? Please share the correct pronunciation with us. Examples:

Busse = Bus (the vehicle) + ee or Boos + ee ????

Ka-Bar = K (like the letter) + Bar (where you drink booze) ????
 
It's "Kay-Bar" and "Bus-see". Although Jerry's German ancestors pronounced their name "Boossah". ;)
 
Quiet Storm said:
It's "Kay-Bar" and "Bus-see". Although Jerry's German ancestors pronounced their name "Boossah". ;)
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I was trying to figure out how to pronounce Jerry's last name when I came across this:

I don't want to make it seem as though the material I was doing was timeless. I was 23, nervous and green. I worked with what I had. My last name, Busse, is German, and the "u" is pronounced with the traditional umlaut. You pronounce it to sort of rhyme with "juicy." Joking about never being able to name your children "Harry" or "Anita" was a great icebreaker with the audience.

"I could never join the army because then what would I be? Private Busse? Major Busse? General Busse?"

You get the idea.

Source: http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2000/09/12/comedy/index.html?pn=2

From what I can gather, no member of the Busse family ever responded. (Same problem with this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=430199.) So AFAIC, we still don't have a definitive answer. That's why I decided to resurrect this old thread.

How do the Busses pronounce their last name: BUS, BUS-see, or BOO-see? And please, don't guess if you weren't born with the name Busse or you're not married to one. Thanks. :)
 
bld522 said:
How do the Busses pronounce their last name: BUS, BUS-see, or BOO-see? And please, don't guess if you weren't born with the name Busse or you're not married to one. Thanks.
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I don't fit either of those categories, but I have spoken with Jerry. He uses BUS-See.

Rick
 
rbmcmjr said:
I don't fit either of those categories, but I have spoken with Jerry. He uses BUS-See.

Rick
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Thanks. But I wonder if that isn't an "Americanization" of the actual pronunciation. I wouldn't blame Jerry if it is. As the comedian alluded to, the original pronunciation of Jerry's last name might not lend itself well to the image of a Combat Knive company. ;)

I guess a better question would be how Jerry's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather pronounced their last names. Not that it matters all that much. If Jerry wants his last name to be pronounced BUS-see, that's good enough for me. I just want to make sure that when somebody asks me whose knife I'm holding, I state the name of the manufacturer correctly.
 
It's a habit I've been meaning to break. For months I was reading it as "byoo-see". Then I corrected at Tad Gear. I still have problems remembering to think of it as "bus-see".
 
ignoramus said:
It's a habit I've been meaning to break. For months I was reading it as "byoo-see". Then I corrected at Tad Gear. I still have problems remembering to think of it as "bus-see".
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Your problem in pronunciation raises another question. I wonder if the Busses and the Buseys actually belong to the the same family? If they do, then it's entirely possible that Jerry Busse and Gary Busey are cousins.

If you think that's far-fetched, check this out:

Where did the name Busey come from? If the French connection is true, then there are a choice of names, e.g., Debussy, Dubois, and Beausse from which Busey may have derived. Other spellings, Bussey and Bucy, are confirmed spelling variations of the Paul Busey lineage in America. Other similar names in America, e.g., Busse, may be related.

Source: http://busey.org/index.html
 
What about Spyderco?

WHen I bought my very first one, a Police model, back in the early to mid-90's I think, the seller pronounced it Spy der co with the emphasis on "der". I always pronounced it that way. Then I was in a knife shop one day and the owner corrected me: Spiderco, like you would say spider with the "co" on the end.

Which is right?

Also, wothout ever knowing, I would see Busse knives and think "Byoo see". It never occured to me it would "Bus see".
 
StretchNM said:
Also, without ever knowing, I would see Busse knives and think "Byoo see". It never occured to me it would "Bus see".
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Either pronunciation would appear to be an Americanization of the original and historically incorrect. But once again, the only thing that matters is how Jerry wants his last name pronounced. So far, the consensus is that he prefers "BUS-see". But neither he nor any member of his family have confirmed that yet.
 
I, like the thread's author, really committed to collecting over the last couple of years. Several words/names come to mind that I either can't figure out, or have heard pronounced more than one way:

1- SOG. Sog (like bog) or S.O.G?
2- Detent. Day-TAUNT or DEE-tent?
3- Vallotton. VAL-oh-ton or val-LOT-ton?
4- Mcusta. em-Coo-stuh or something I can't imagine?
5- Tanto. TAHN-toh or TAN-toh or both?
6- Xikar. ZIE (rhymes w/eye)-car or...?
 
bld522 said:
BUS-see is the correct pronunciation, USSR. Dan Busse, Jerry's brother, just confirmed it. :)
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every time i have called, amy-o answers " 'bus-see' combat knives, this is amy, how may i help you?"

since jerry is often nearby, i would think he would have said something if she was saying his name wrong.
 
iceaxe said:
I, like the thread's author, really committed to collecting over the last couple of years. Several words/names come to mind that I either can't figure out, or have heard pronounced more than one way:

1- SOG. Sog (like bog) or S.O.G?
2- Detent. Day-TAUNT or DEE-tent?
3- Vallotton. VAL-oh-ton or val-LOT-ton?
4- Mcusta. em-Coo-stuh or something I can't imagine?
5- Tanto. TAHN-toh or TAN-toh or both?
6- Xikar. ZIE (rhymes w/eye)-car or...?
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1. s.o.g. as in special operations group, correct?
2. i believe either is correct
3. proper noun, not sure
4. just as confused as you are
5. either is correct
6. zie-car would be my guess.
 
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