I have one as well and really like it. Yeah the stud is a little off. This is the ones they actually approved. When Ontario started getting them made cheaper RAT stopped endorsing them. It really has surprised me with how rugged it is. AND at least for me it holds a pretty good edge.

Lets see, I have the following PAIRS of blades.

1. large and small Grips (modified sheepsfoot blades)
2. large and small CRKT Crawford Kasper folding fighters (plus the fixed blade)!
3. large and small CRKT crawford designed folding falcon
4. large and small Benchmade Pika

Guess that's about it for pairs. Oh yeah I did at one time back before they were stolen in 1986 when I moved from Omaha to Tokyo a Large (11 inch) regular (5 3/4 inch) and mini (4 inch) Tanto from CS.

I still have the Mini, some scumbag packer took 8 out of 11 knives I shipped in my hold baggage.

Why dontcha send me those Grips for testing purposes. For proper long term use testing they will be handed down to my kids and given to your next of kin in 75 years, how's that sound? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It's VERY tempting, but I am still working on my own long term testing of the mini grip and expect to start on the full size testing in about <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/2weeks.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I was talking to a friend yesterday, GOOD knives do not need to be expensive. I have a BM Monochrome that cost me 30 bucks and is a VERY good knife. But I have some $300.00 plus knives that aren't any better, they just look prettier.

and that's why Scrapyard and Swamp Rat are the best of the bussekin right? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

It's all a matter of using good steel and getting the whole heat treat process correct. Personally I like a blade steel that has an RC hardness of 56-58. USUALLY they hold an edge pretty well enough and are also relatively easy to sharpen at that RC.

A lot of folks think so yes. INFI is supposed to be a really good steel, but as far as toughness, being able to take a beating and keep on ticking, the Rats and Dogs are reputed to be the better choice.

Y'all know I love my DFLE. It is surely tough. And edge holding is amazing for S7 steel. But the SR101 steel seems to be a bit better in edge holding. It is plenty tough enough, as we have seen with the Waki. I think SR77 is even tougher. But INFI has the edge holding and the toughness. At least it has that balance of both. And it is much more corrosion resistant than the others. But INFI is expensive. So we have the Swamp Rats and Scrap Yards. Busse has the high performance knives covered. In smaller knives, I'd just as soon have 154Cm as INFI, because I just don't use them the same way I use choppers. In small blades, I use folders. I just don't use small blades that hard. But some folks do.

Vic, INFI is tougher that the other two or three steels! I though folks were saying INFI didn't have the toughness. Man, I'm sorry I put out the wrong info! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />

The toughest thing I have discovered about INFI is trying to sharpen it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbdn.gif" alt="" />

Reminds me of sharpening a butter knife on a brick. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I don't like INFI because of that. S-7 is twice as easy to sharpen and SR-101 as easy as 440-C <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If ANYONE in the Busse Family dares to make a folder,please do NOT use INFI!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />


Peace

I don't know if INFI is any tougher than SR77 (is any knife steel?), but it has extreme toughness along with superior edge holding and corrosion resistance. If Jerry Busse thought there was a better steel, he would use it. He has used ATS-34, D2, and various other fine steels in the past. Some of those are very hard to sharpen, but INFI is not. It's the best all-around knife steel made. And it is exclusive to Busse. But it sure ain't cheap! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />