Bruce and I are not "bitching." I am merely expressing disdain for a lack of word from the guys running SR. I've purchased well over $1000 of steel from them. Bruce was merely stating a FACT. That the Swamp released ONE knife last year and they didnt even sell em well, or sell out of them.

I think I can speak for Bruce when i say this along with myself... We love the Swamp and 52100. We dont love the lack of communication from a co. we have so adamantly and loyally purchased from.

Would I ever do that to you, Bruce? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> If you simply must have more knives in 52-100 right away, Bark River makes a few in that steel, like the Mountain Man and Mountain Man Dag.

That would be a pretty decent poll Bruce. Being as you mentioned it -I will ask you to do it rather than me stepping in and being rude. I would ask that you mention several kinds of steel and maybe have folks pick them in the order they like best. Maybe even add some that other knife makers use as " might" help Bussekin see what the Dawgs/ Rats/Hogs are seeking and willing to to fork out their bucks for.Make for an pretty interesting thread and the new dawgs ( including me) can learn something about steel from you more knowlegeable guys <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />-Thanks

Busse's plans and production have always been a bit mysterious to me. I just see what comes and take it as it is. If I like it, I buy it. I have no real loyalty to any company at all unless I'm working for them, not even the iconic Harley-Davidson. I never got into the Ford Vs Chevy thing either. Communications here in the Yard have improved a lot since Renee was hired. I am glad about that, but there are plenty of other good knife makers out there.

Sounds good Bruce- I am just trying to pick the brains of some of the more knowledgeable here like you-Vic-Jeff-Tolly-Momaw and others. The steel on these knives and others surely is a deciding factor in our selections of blades I would think. I have spent much time studying this- but always nice to gain knowlege from others as to make intelligent purchases.I am also aware that there are other considerations when purchasing a knife- but the steel I find most interesting relating to performance-Thanks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

i only learned about bussekin knives very recently, i only learned about them from my desire to buy the best. id say a majority of busses marketing comes from word of mouth which lowers their overhead and also means WE are the ones working for them in a way. so when a company cuts off almost all communication with its clients then i can see why clients would be upset.

personally i wouldnt buy anything in 154cm id just assume go buy a cheapo kitchen knife.

i am sad i never got to buy a SR knife. i cant justify spending 2ndry market prices.

on a side note if SR does close shop what happens to their lifetime guarantee on knives? will busse take the guarantee?

Personally,...... I LOVE SR-101 steel and I am quite sad to see the lack of Swamp production, use of SR-101 and lack of Swamp communication. I can only assume that if Eric CAN'T offer info and input (for whatever possible reason of quite a few possibilities), that he has chosen to not create potentially false hopes (????).

As Bodhi mentioned on the other Swamp Rat post, Eric (who seems like a nice guy when I have talked and dealt with him) has posted MANY more times on Busse forums in the last year than Swamp Rat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

With the exception of SR-101 being more prone to corrosion, almost nobody would realistically notice any advantages in INFI over SR-101 in most smaller knives.

Both INFI and SR-101 have MORE than sufficient toughness for smaller to mid sized knives for 99.9999% of the people and uses.
And in my experience, SR-101 has close enough edge qualities to INFI for my uses. I am not even sure which I think is better.

And in regards to larger knives, I have been active on Rat Chat long before Scrap Yard existed and with the exception of a single "Skinny" pick and a S30V folder that doesn't really count in my book since it wasn't SR-101 and since it was likely made by Blade Tech or Spyderco.... (Blade-Tech might actually be made by Spyderco ?????), I have YET to see a Swamp Rat SR-101 blade break.

And considering MANY Battle Rats were made (AND often shown to be HEAVILY used and abused!) in both differentially heat treated and through hardened blades at 9.5" length and a good number of Rat Daddy's with 10.5" blades have never been seen or known to be broken, I would say SR-101 seems to be holding PLENTY tough.

The only SR-101 "Blade" that I have seen take any significant damage was an M6's edge that chipped during chopping. BUT, that knife "MAY" (????) have had it's edge temper damaged from "Possible" improper belt sharpening. So, even that is an example that is not known to be a fair mark against SR-101's toughness.

I have other satin SR-101 blades and can keep them maintained from corrosion. I would love to own many more.

Personally, I wish Res-C had not been taken away from Swamp Rat. I think SR-101 had/has a HUGE market for many different sizes and designs with Res-C, micarta and G10.

I personally prefer the edge qualities of SR-101 even with higher corrosion over the UBER-Toughness of SR-77.

Obviously, there is a market for SR-77 as many people feel they need such toughness at the cost of edge quality - even if SR-77 holds a decent edge.

I also feel there are many blade designs that could benifit from SR-77. I just feel (for my uses) that SR-77 is best suited for heavy beater knives and tools like Kukris and Crash Axes and other blades over 10.5" in length or tools needed to take EXTREME abuse WAY beyond normal knife or even heavy chopper use.... Since SR-101 obviously handles SERIOUS Chopping VERY well!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> , I think Busse is missing a significant market by not producing more SR-101.

On the other hand, since SR-101 can do about 98%-99.9% of what INFI can do and is mainly only hindered by being more prone to corrosion, I guess one could argue that Jerry might want to drop SR-101 to keep SR-101 from taking away sales from INFI at MUCH higher profit margins. (?????) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

.

+1 my thoughts EXACTLY!

bld- i dont see why the swamp couldnt shut down shop and just have BC. i thought the swamp was primarily afterhours work and managed/owned by Jennifer

ahhh! i think i understand <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ill take the sr101!!!!