Another thing most people don't understand is how incredibly expensive hand finishing is in a North American shop. If you have ever ground out the dimples and lines in one of the Scrapyard CG's you will understand how long it takes.
Shop time is probably about 150$ an hour or more.
Thats why I think the comp grades will cost at least as much as the CG versions. If they have the god zero edge it will take a lot of hand finishing which is where the costs come from.
I was trying not to post anymore on this subject. But,...
Sorry Unsub.... I disagree.
First of all, we are not talking about a "HAND" finish.
We are talking about a belt grind finish at approx. 220 - 400 grit... comparable to what most knives in the industry offer for satin blades at under $100 for a completed knife.
Maybe Walter Brend gets $150 an hour or more when he personally steps up to a grinder... But, that is not what we are talking about.
And maybe it takes me, you and Joe third world grind shop with a $40 home grinder, without much practice, not much skill, having to change belts all the time and work around already installed handles a while to "Fix" the blades.
But, I am confident that Busse has enough production and machinery and skilled laber probably at a pay rate of about $10 - $20 an hour that (assuming they grind prior to installing the scales) they can put a decent satin finish on these blades in 15 - 30 minutes. I don't believe it should cost so much.
99% of the production knives in the world at probably under $50 total retail price or even less have a satin finish. (* Not "Hand" rubbed finish.)
.
