Basic 9 was my first. Got it in 2000 or 2001 (I think...) It was my first taste of Busse blades. Jerry told me waaaaay back then to use the hell out of it, and not worry about breaking it.
I took that to heart. It has been everything from a heavy woods chopper, to a tent stake, to a hammer (spine, flats too. Check out the marks in the pics), to a jack handle, to a pry bar, you name it. This thing has been there and done that.
Jerry told me they were guaranteed forever, so I didn't baby it. It was my "gateway blade". Still have it, still use it, still love it.
Yes, those are nail head marks on the flats and hammer marks on the spine. If you don't beat the hell outta these high performance blades, how do you see just how high performance they are?! Tough love!
She could do with a trip back to the mothership for a tune-up, but to tell you the truth, I can't bear having her away from me for so long. I'm always using the thing.