Since I am definitely getting the HG55LE and just bought the NMSFNO, I decided to cancel my M9LE order. It is a beautiful blade, though. It has been one month and one day since I ordered with no confirmation. If I had not bought the NMSFNO, I would get the M9LE for sure, but I really am quite pleased with the NMSFNO. Recent repairs to my Mule, mowers, and now my daughter's Jeep have been costly, so something had to give. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I havent gotten the M9LE confirmation either,
and I must have been within the first 10 (if not the 1st)
who ordered it.(was on the site when he posted it)
so.... I am thinking about canceling it as well,
especially since I got that Cheese Knife from the Ganza
thing coming. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

(knowing me I wont cancel,the MicroLam Header in the basement is rated to
30,000 lbs and I'm nowhere near that!)

As daft as it may sound given the number of knives I have I am interested in "utility" in my knives....I have an aversion to "too many"....but at the same time it is not easy to give in to the thought that one may be a better knife than the others...then there is testing and figuring out what works best...then there is the "cost" of off loading some where you feel it sensible to thin things down...this leads to a reluctance to give some knives true use and a half way house appraisal of trying to determine matters from handling.

I also find that too many knives keeps quite a drain going on my finances....

But like many of us the "parting" with knives once they are in that "good to great" zone is hard to do...

It's a constant battle of the mind...LOL....

I don't want to influence anyone to cancel their orders. I still think the M9LE will be a beautiful knife, but with two new Busses and all these expensive repairs, I just need to cut back on knife purchases for a while. And I will have the HG55LE. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well said. I am thinking of pulling the trigger on the HG55. I really think the Killa Z is going to be out of reach for me.Anybody else think the same?

12 more posts PlickenChucker!
just 12 more... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As appealing as an INFI Khukuri is, I don't need one. My HI and CS khuks and my Busse FFBM are all the heavy choppers I need. That's why I passed on the NMFBM.

But the HG55LE is priced nicely for a Busse LE, and I would actually carry it.

I might be wrong but I expect the Zilla to be the last Busse I would ever part with....and as such worth moving existing knives to acquire....BUT it will not be cheap....at present I have many I need to move so hopefully not to many problems...

I just wish my earlier ignorant buys of the Entrek Destroyer and Chris Reeves Project 1 and to a lesser extend Katz Lion King as this is a cracking knife...had just been avoided...hard to get your money back on these.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I have been down that road. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> But, I don't think they were bad knives and I didn't take significant losses.

Chris Reeves definitely makes (or at least "machines" and "finishes") a high quality product. His folders are held at the highest levels... although, I haven't been able to justify a $350 - $400+ folder yet. I had a Jereboam and a Neil Roberts. Both were nicely made, just ultimately not the style knives I wanted. I don't like the round hollow handles of the Jereboam and similar and the Neil Roberts just didn't feel right in my hand. So, I sold.

Same for the Katz knives. I also had the Aristo Kat Lion King, along with an Alley Kat and a Cheetah. They were decent knives and I agree the Lion King was one of the better and it "did" feel nice in my hand. But, it still just was not up to par with so many better Busse and kin options I have and even some other options. Also, I am not a fan of hollow grinds - especially on my larger knives. I just had to sell stuff to pay bills and slim the collection from time to time and the Katz blades just eventually couldn't keep making the cuts (pun intended). Also, I found a lot of Junglee knives at a fraction of the cost that were almost identical or even nicer..... that I still have (Hattori Fighter, Baby Fighter, Waterloo, Marco Polo and Yakuza... none of which would bring me much if I resold, but I bought at good deals anyway... )

I still have a couple of Entrek Tantos including a Wakizashi that was custom re-ground and satin finished by Ray Ennis personally. The other is the "Brute". I used to have one of Entrek's sub-hilt models. I forgot which model. The finish quality and guard was horrible on the Sub-hilt. I sold it. Entrek sheaths are also horrible, but the knives are pretty decent for the money and I won't realistically carry the Wakizashi or Brute - just collectibles.

I used to have an ivory handled custom Ray Ennis knife with a blued steel blade and very nice simple rounded file work on the spine that was VERY nice. But, I sold it as I needed cash and couldn't justify some of the customs I had... I think I sold it to some guy in England. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Considering the competition, Entrek isn't really a stand-out option. I would have to recommend quite a few other options instead for my uses. I will probably keep the Tantos as they are unique (sort of like the DMCG - super thick pry-bar like. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />) In the past, I had more Entrek knives on my wish list, but those knives have fallen so far down on the list, I don't see them being relevant considerations anymore - unless I come across a "mega"-deal..... even then, I couldn't and shouldn't justify it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/paperbag.gif" alt="" />

Knives coming and going is part of collecting. You learn what you like as you go. But, I have become (or at least continue to try to be) much more careful about what I buy - more sure about what I want or might use and more sure I buy right so I can minimalize losses if I have to sell. But, it is hard to buy certain brands when the only places you see them are on pictures on the internet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />

.

H/D - sorry that you had to cancel the M9-LE. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I know that you truely appreciate the Swamp's knives, and choppers in particular. But I had to pass on the HG-55, which was hard to do as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, sometimes we have to choose. If I had the money I'd get the M9LE and the new Busse kukri, too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I don't know about the "Zilla" yet. I feel it "could" be an ultimate Kukri. But, I am VERY concerned about the price.

I have been considering some HI's for a while. I am not sure if I will personally be able to see and justify return value in what I expect to be a VERY high priced Kukri from Busse. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I doubted the NMFBM because of it's price vs. bang for buck, but caved and bought anyway. Now that I have it, sure, it probably "IS" the ultimate 11.5" bladed chopper knife. But, I am still doubting it is worth what I own it for (to me). It just costs too much for a knife to chop stuff with - for me anyway.

At one time, I had invested a lot of money in custom knives. They were nice, but ultimately I sold most of them as I just couldn't justify keeping them for what they cost me to own. They were indeed very nice... But, actually in most cases nicer than I could comfortably justify using. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I may not use all of my knives. I have too many to use. But, my general concept for most of my collection is focused on knives that would/could and DO make excellent users - I I choose to use.

I sort of want them to "justify" their value to their cost for my uses as well.

I honestly feel that (sometimes) just because something is the "BEST" doesn't make it justifiably or "realistically" better in real world use.

For $100's of thousands of dollars, you can buy SUPER fine exotic sports cars or cigar boats, but where, when and how often can you benefit enough from their performance to "really" justify the cost? In most cases, owning certain things is just boiled down to "bragging rights" and pride of ownership.... which I guess can be fun, I just need more money to justify certain things. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ...

For me and my available funds, I could question MANY similar things in a similar way. At some point, you have reached a limit of investment returns - "Law of Diminishing Returns".

Similarly, while a Kukri made of INFI will be tougher than an HI, if the HI is tough enough, isn't that good enough (?????) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I don't think I have ever heard of an HI breaking (?????) - In the end, which will perform better?


(For the record, Aston Martin's are still VERY cool in my book. DB7, DB9, Vanquish, DB5 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> and the DBS <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> Scenary!...... and oh yeah... a DBS! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

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