If Scrapyard or Swamprat made a dedicated fighter I would be all over it but they don't and with the lackluster response to the HookGuard I understand why. The Hooker is an amazing survival bowie that can be used as a fighter and it gets no respect compared to the DF or CampTramp. So I have been looking for a really first rate dedicated fighter like the Reeves Neal Roberts Seal knife and have had my eye on the Mercworx Sniper with the chilli pepper handle. It looks like the Busse PBF but with a sharp back edge and no hook. It is a lot of money to spend though without ever handling one so I would love some input if anyone has or has had some of their knives specifically when compared to the Busse family knives.

If Scrapyard made a dedicated fighter it would be a no brainer. I have even been seriously considering buying a spare HookGuard and doing some major mods to make it less of a survival knife and more of a fighter but it would take a LOT of metal removal. I would also welcome any other suggestions for a fixed blade fighter like the PBF. I have also considered some semi custom Perrin bowies.

While more of a stilleto Pro Tech is making a very faithful version of this beautiful Brend custom for 200$.

Imagine how slender and sharp you could make a FS style dagger out of S7 or INFI?
A little ugly for my taste but definitly a dedicated fighter.


Yummy Lummy


While this Boker repro of a WW1 Boker trench knife is beautiful I am looking for something with more belly so it can actually cut.

A HookGuard from 3/16th stock would be perfect.
This CR SEAL knife is very similar to what a 3/16th HG would be. It does not work well at all for chopping and the handle is poor compared to res c but the balance is very sweet.


Well even if I don't get any insight into Mercworx knives I did get to post a bunch of awesome fighters. I would also love to see some of your pics for serious fighters.

I will end with the one I think would be the ultimate(I have never seen one in person) fighting knife. It has everything beauty ,balance ,steel the whole package.
It is a PURE BRED FIGHTER!
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I have some Busse PBFs, and they are extraordinary knives. They are also some of the most underrated and undervalued Busses. Instead of trying to find something like a PBF, why not try to find an actual PBF on the secondary market? You can probably find one for not much more than what you'd pay for the others, if you are patient and diligent. (Hint: Look for the naked ones; they're less expensive and more available.)

(No, mine aren't for sale.)

For a dedicated fighter, how about a boker applegate? It is the natural followup to your commando dagger, designed to improve on it's shortcomings.
It was recently adopted by the Germans as their official SF knife, in all-black trim.

I have one of those fighters that you have pictured, third one down. Designed by Michael Enchanis, who was a big muckity-muck in knife fighting, back in the day.
He wrote several books on knife fighting. His design was made commercially by Al Mar as the Warrior, and by another firm, who called it the hobbit warrior.
Good design, shockingly light and quick in the hand. I am glad I managed to score one.

hmm. i have a cheap version of that third knife you posted. i dont think its the same, although it looks excactly the same excpet its black and has differtn serrations. and its not that great, so i think its a different rip-off version.

Love that Hobbit knife but I was disappointed in the Boker Applegate. I don't like the handle or the balance. I think I have the best of the Real FS Daggers anyway.

I want something with the ability to CUT. I read what one of the best of the WW2 knife fighters said about using a knife. He said you have to go up and cut or slice not stab or slash and technique was important. It was the same with the jap swords and even the FS was designed so it could cut not just stab.

Evolute ,thank you very much for the info! I just assumed that because I think the PBF is the best Busse ever and one of the best fighters ever made that it would be the most expensive Busse on the secondary market.Duh now that i think about it the Mojo's and Hookguard are some of the least popular models and everyone seems to hate the hook so it would make sense that the PBF was cheap and undervalued.
You also totally had my number ,I was just thinking "maybe Evolute would sell me one" when I read they were not for sale.LOL
How about some pics though?

I love the PBF, would love to get one too..

just wished that it had a more pronounced lower guard, just the talon hole alone seems a bit inadequate..

Unsub,
Why not stick with the FS design? There are a couple of guys who make custom, stronger ones. The current Brit issue are pretty nice. I have also seen Wilkinson Sword ones (new) that were up to pretty high standards.

Tessaiga,

The PBF has the most pronounced lower guard of any Busse knife, by far. It's not like the regular Busse talon hole guards at all.

By the way, be aware that the handle on the one in the picture, above, is after market work, and is a significant departure from the actual shape of the handle.

Sadly Wilkinson Sword folded about 2 years ago. They may be back in production in some way- but I missed that news! The Wilkie FS were the real deal..

The FS Daggers are awesome but the PBF style knives allow for cutting as well as stabbing which gives you a lot more options and really a totally different style of fighting. The FS is best used from behind while the bowie style PBF knives are designed to use the same tactics and techniques as sabre's and bowies. Snap and back cuts are generally what people think of but people like Emerson have made a complete yet simple system that brings boxing style footwork , Napoleonic sabre techniques and Fairbain and Sykes seminal work from WW2 together.

The Hookguard really is an excellent fighter and really anything lighter and pointier is not needed for real combat. In many ways the Hook is better because the recurve and extra weight give more force to the blade.