I posted this to get some attention. I have been here since the beginning. I have a scrapyard tatoo (maybe first one). Bout all the original model's. But I have been watching the shop and nothing new has co me out. Sure busse is pushing stuff and scrapyard run offs etc. But why are new knives coming out? I think that last june Dan spoke of one? I could be way wrong on that.


Why no new knives. Even the forums consists of birthday tributes and speak of whats on bladeforums or busse releases. It seems like the Busse parent company is absorbing this and Rat knives to stay viable. Dont feed me swamp rat has the ruki and ratmandu. They have had those for months and same thing there. Likely thise exist due to overproduction....could be wrong.

Maybe I am way off base here, and fine if I am. But how does a company stay viable and pay costs with nothing to sell. Its disheartening as I loved the knives here. Not trolling. I am wondering if this has not been discussed here. If it hasnt,...why?

Well I can't say for sure because I am not employed by Dan or Jerry. BUT they are going to Blade again this year, but NOT having a booth! They have said that production of some models is so great they just don't have the time to put anything out for blade.

They do a lot of work for military and other contracts and fulfilling those contracts cuts in on the time and resources needed to make blades for the general public. Don't loose heart, they WILL make knives available to us normal citizens when they can. It is hard balancing out contract blades with blades for the general populace. The contract blades are a GUARANTEED source of revenue that can not be ignored.

So just set back with your favorite bone and enjoy the companionship we all share.

Barrabas, I'll admit I wonder the same thing. Dan has been pretty much a ghost when it comes to this forum, and there's been very little in the past 3-4 years. I think the new business model has absorbed the Yard into Busse and Jerry just has too much going on to worry about SYCO.

Who knows? Maybe they'll come out and suprise us. But at this point in time, the company appears to be withering on the vine, just like this once active forum.

B74, many of us have been concerned for quite a while now. This forum was once the second hottest forum going, and now it's practically dead. Thank goodness we still have a few Dogs to hang in there with us.

I believe that Jerry changed his business model due to demand; I remember him posting about buying a bunch of new equipment and another building. It seems more and more to be mimicking companies such as Bark River instead of the old and more customer friendly Busse. He keeps rehashing some of the same models with slight variations such as the Team Gemini and ASH: I guess they sell a LOT of them and it helps pay the bills and keep them busy. But I really miss the interaction with Dan; his being MIA has really hurt the Yard.

You are also right about the first Yard tattoo; on your left shoulder (back) if I recall correctly. Mine on the arm was second. I'm still proud of my tattoo and association with ScrapYard, but I sure wish we could get back to where it once was. In the meantime, visit us more often, as we could sure use more Dogs like you!

"But how does a company stay viable and pay costs with nothing to sell."

I don't think that SYKCO was ever a separate company with its own production machinery, and employees. If there were less demand for Busse Combat products, then Swamp Rat and SYKCO knives were made. If demand increases for Busse Combat products, then less SYKCO or Swamp Rat knives were made.

Private Klink, your spot on, on the location of the tattoo(left shoulder). I have lurked here for a while and bought here or the echange on BF for my dogs. I guess its just sad. These were/are knives that most anyone could afford to own. I couldnt keep up with Busse, but I could here as many others. I never felt like any were a downgrade either. I just hope they come back strong at some point or tell us its over.

Ray. I joined in 2008 and that was exactly what Dan said was going on. They operated on "Off times or down times". Don't know if this game plan has ever changed or not, but Yeah it is frustrating to not have anything up for sale but such is life. MANY of the good things in life are waiting for and I guess The Yard blades fit this category. I highly cherish all my Scrapyard blades and for fixed blades that is all I ever use, as I have a few to pick from.

That's still no excuse for the lack of communication.

True Dat. It is frustrating.

Well, I'm not excited to pick up a new blade as I used to be because I can't go camping or do much yard work anymore. I'm seriously considering selling most of my knives except for a few that have sentimental value such as the Regulator that I bought from Tom or the 411 that was my most used knife. My 1311 was never used. Retirement is great but getting old is not.

I've thinned the herd out myself. It's just not any fun when there's no new blades coming out, so I've pretty much lost intrest in it. I've got a few that I'll keep regardless, but the rest I could get rid of and not think twice about.

I'm seriously thinking about thinning out my collection as well.

Dear God...here we go again... SYKCO is not at all a stand alone company, it is brand that is sold out from under the Busse umbrella. Just now the Busse brand and model is where that company is at and doing well (very well) I would suggest. SYKCO could not sell another knife and keep on existing just as it is, the only overhead it has is probably this FREE to us forum. Of course the DS probably does not count as a release either...

For grown ups we sure seem to need a lot of comforting.

Many of us have a LOT of Bussekin knives Andy, and we know that SYKCO is just an offshoot. What IS a concern is the lack of communication from Dan Busse. Initially he was a big part of the forum and really wanted it to take off, which it did.
But he has since seemed to lose interest in it, and with that many of our folks lost interest as well. Compare his posting to Jerry's at Bladeforums, and Busse Combat is quite busy but Jerry still posts occasionally.
While we are all "fans" and customers of the Busse companies, it would still be helpful to hear from Dan occasionally. And none of us would die if the forum disappeared, but we would certainly be disappointed. Many folks over at the Swamp feel the same, as you should well know.

Yes I own a couple as well Tom. I guess I struggle with the need for attention or affirmation here. My view is that my dept to Busse (of all walks) is satisfied when I pay for my knives and theirs when they deliver (and along with that goes warranty) all the rest is a bonus that has somehow morphed into some kind of entitlement. I just don't get it. The vast majority of complaints about Busse was availability and Jerry has gone a long way to addressing that with OP2W, hand in glove with that appears to be a hell of an increased workload. Dan I suspect is hard at work doing his part to keep those wheels turning, I am all good with that ! Knives are being delivered everyday it seems so it is working. No Busse are not doing tables at Blade, they are still attending and putting on a free show for the Busse crowd that is in attendance, probably not too many companies that do so.

Jerry has worked hard at generating a following and it has worked; I have been buying Bussekin blades since 2002 myself. There are several Hogs who have done so even longer, and it has been Jerry's interaction with customers that has helped keep it going. He KNOWS how to market his products!
Dan built a following with ScrapYard much the same way; interacting with the customers. But his lack of communication has caused one Moderator (HornDog) to lose interest as well as many other customers/followers. Nobody expects the Yard to pump out knives like Busse Combat as it is indeed an offshoot company using the same equipment, etc. But the leader of the company...Dan... has seemingly abandoned his following. I'm sure you realize that communication with customers is vital in business. Kudos to Jerry for having the Saturday festivities at Blade minus the booth; once again Jerry knows how to market his products and keep a following.

I check this forum daily even if I don't post much anymore. Dan did know how to whip us up into a frenzy. And alot of that kept me coming back. I've bought the SYKCO blades offered through the Busse site but it's not the same. Of course I've been buying more Busse blades too which I usually passed on before. I go through cycles where I buy a ton and then scale back to those I really use or like. Most of those turn out to be SY.

I'm sure Dan is doing well and staying busy but the model seems to have changed for a bit. I do miss the Brotherhood but will always come back this way.

The Brotherhood is what it's all about.

Exactly, Tom. I enjoy talking to you guys, even Randy, whether or not any new blades are released.

I know what you mean Ray!

Someone get Dan on the Blower
demand answers!
take no prisoners!

Me,I'll just pop some orville redenbacher popcorn
and have a Dog-N-Suds rootbeer and read the replies

Ah Gee, thanks Guys.

We were just thinking about you Randy.

Probably trying to figure out how to put a tracking device on My Jeep so you can track me to "The Stash".

WOW! You figured us out!

Hay, I B smart!

Pretty good for an East side kid!

THANKS COWBOY.

You're welcome.

Shoot, a simple drop in and say hello from Dan would go a long ways. I simply won't pay Busse prices for knives, so the Yard was a good alternative. But now, I'm more likely to go ESEE instead.

Throw the Dogs a bone Dan!

Dan hasn't even been on here since Christmas of 2017

My last knife purchase was a Fallkniven.

I've got a coouple of them. I carry an H1 as my deer hunting knife most of the time.

Being a Bowie fanatic I just HAD to get that "Modern Bowie" model.

I could have about figured that one Tom!

Andy,
I feel what you’re saying, but think you’ve missed the point.

I can’t speak for everyone, but believe what I’m about to say regarding how I feel is reflective of the general sentiment in this thread.

The entire Busse model was based upon experimential sales. As an architect I’ve been outbid for jobs but was hired anyway (even though I cost more) because I marketed myself better and telegraphed a better experience through my interactions / enthusiasm with the prospect before / during / after the project.

The Busse Family (Swamp Rat being the least effective example) followed this same marketing / business model.

I also used the “lack of availability” to imply demand due to superiority ploy. When I’m seemingly instantly available my demand drops.

All of these factors seem to parallel what I’ve seen with Busse.

I started buying their products in 2008 and stayed around because of the experience. Yes, they sell a great product (I would argue the focus has shifted from innovation and hard use knives to collectibles and fantasy knives) but so do lots of other people .... AT MUCH LOWER PRICE POINTS.

We all have or had a ton invested in the Busse Experience. Case in point, when I recognized the business model change a few years ago I wanted to be one of the first to start dumping my massive horde of steel (don’t be the last person to the life boat ... you may drown). If you recall, I sold SEVEN CG ASH and two LE . That was just my current ASH “inventory”.

I’ve contined selling off my collection, and in fact shipped my last two 1111 within the past week.

I’m down to an incredibly small collection of knives that are all SR101. The steel that brought me here.

I have no interest in buying the stuff Jerry is pumping out because the cost to performance ratio isn’t there. As you stated, SY SR and Busse Combat are all the same company. Therefore I won’t pay 50-100% more for SR101 because it says Busse in a rather ugly new way instead of the old attractive SY logo.

The rehashed designs also hurt us who had spent a lot building brand demand on he secondary market. That was a calculated move by Jerry and should not be overlooked.

My final judgment ...

I’m done here. I’ll spend my money elsewhere because it won’t have the same experience but it’ll be cheaper.

For the record, the only knives I kept...

A couple of gifts from friends here at the Yard.
SY 711
SR RMD
SR R6 & R6 Custom
Busse SR101 AD ... only because Dan refused to address the constant din of GIVE US A SMALL THIN KNIFE.
SR Warden

As of last night I was contemplating selling what little I have left excluding the 711 and R6.

Fallkniven and ESEE make great “real world use” knives ...

iPhone changed “experiential” to “experimental”.

I certainly miss the Dog Bowls. I still have a fair amount of SYCO knives and I’m sad it looks like I won’t be getting any more.

I need my knife to come with a sheath. Even those cheap nylon sheaths the Yard would sell were good enough.

Like Lord ugh, Architect, I've unloaded a bunch of my stuff. I need Res-C for my choppers but other steels are fine for EDC tasks.

MM

Also all the staff that would interact on social media seem to be gone, how long ago did Josh leave the Swamp?

I think they all left in 2016.

I just saw that Busse won't have a booth at Blade this year. I know that's probably old news, but it's amazing to me that they're so busy they couldn't build inventory to bring to the show.
I say that sincerely, as I'm glad their business is booming. But as a fan of the pit at the booth, it's disappointing. I was planning to go to Blade this year again, but now I'll just save my money and go somewhere else.

Totally understandable.

What stops me coming here is, I am afraid, the somewhat entitled attitude of pay me attention pay me attention...sorry but I get that from my professional dealings and I can't fathom it too far elsewhere. This is a bloody forum not life, I don't need the affirmation from the owner to feel great about myself. Brotherhood...yep just as long as Dan is paying us attention. So I guess I will, with that, quietly bow out.

Sorry to see you go Andy, but different strokes for different folks. If you had ever been to a Blade show and seen how Dan promoted the Scrap Yard and the forum members you might better understand the feelings of so many. He was very interested in the Yard forum...at first... but since has lost touch. He was very proud that at one time we were the second busiest forum going, and now we are practically dead.

As I mentioned before, Jerry keeps in touch with the Busse Bladeforums and the Hogs. Everyone likes the fact that THE man keeps in touch with his customers via the forum; it's simply good business. Dan could learn a lesson from his younger brother.

Andy, I hate that you feel that way. I think what really bugs me is what Tom was talking about, how Dan started off being really involved and now totally ignores the forum. His lack of presence here seems to point towards a general lack of presence companywide, since the Yard hasn't released a knife in ages.

Wait a minute

So a person that supports the Yard (Andy) is gonna stop posting here and people that are tired with the Yard are leaving...who's left?

What about casual posters/moderate lurkers like me?



MM

Same as me MM. I'm just hanging out and waiting to see what happens.

Shoot, I've got some shop credit still out there, if it's still any good. So I've got to stick around.

I still like hearing from the few Dogs still around, but it would be nice to hear from Dan.

To be honest I'm still shocked the Yards still here.

This and Bladeforums are the only to chatrooms I go to and that are still around for me.
In the early 2000's I was on a bunch of different chatrooms (music, martial arts, tech, finance, fitness), now its all facebook and twitter and Instagram.

MM


Also, see if Jerry will take your credits...just in case

Hey Dawgs. Yeah it is kinda discouraging.