I forget that these are primarily shock knives used for a lot of chopping etc. I agree that a full tang knife that was designed to chop is like having an exposed backstrap on my S&W 500. Not very easy on the hands. I will say this, on my big bore kickers I like smoother grips that move rather than the sticky rubber tearing at my skin. [quote][quote]Someone mentioned Micarta as a "Cheapo" material?[/quote] Hmm think that might have been me! ;) My vitriolic view on micarta is widely known in these parts! (This lot just nod sagely when I rant then quietly ignore the rant! :D ) The point I was trying to make- albeit badly, was that the Busse handles look cheap and nasty to me- look at a BC and a Bark River handle. No contest on visual quality- metallurgy is a different matter, INFI is good stuff (though Mike's A2 is supposed to be good too)... Busse handles are roughly CNC cut and can be fuzzy and just look cheapo. Micarta has it's uses, I'm waiting on a G10 handled ss Bravo 1 from BRKT, on choppers res-C is so much nicer though. HornDog our resident chopper expert has said several times the DFLE is the best chopper going. (Vic chime in if I'm misusing/ misrepresenting your words!) I have considered getting a 7" BC of some sort with black G10 scales then wrapping them in electrician tape etc to make the knife more useful, then Sterling collapsed which stuffed that plan! :) [/quote]