I wish that I could be even ethically right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I see you have been married before.

Karnack know.

Karnack believes that the Randall's queue supports his conclusion bld. There is little opportunity for a new generation of knife knuts to acquire a Randall knife even at list price. How many 20 year olds will wait 5 years for a knife? That's a quarter of the amount of time they've been alive! So not many. How many 20 year olds will appreciate the history and romance of a Randall's knife? Very few. Many of the current generation of 20 y.o. - 30 y.o. soldiers WILL know about Busse's however.

Please don't mistake Karnack's prediction as derogatory to Randall's. They make very nice knives and the individual hand forging and finishing of each blade is definitely something special. The issue they face is fundamentally because of the success of their current business model. It prevents them from building their brand with the next generation of knife enthusiasts.

General responses and questions...

I love my RAT3 and carry it often.

VIC - how do you like that RAT folder? I didn't get one because they're imported. Maybe I was a little too closed minded on that one.

I personally carry my RD4 (when appropriate), because its nice having that indestructable "small" (the biggest 4" knife I've ever had though!) blade, as you really never know when you might need it. I may be over prepared, but there's always the stories of people that drown in their cars when they go in to a river or something similar (I personally knew 2 guys that died in a mustang convertable that went in to a lake - had they had something like my RD4 to cut through the top, or break out a window, they may still be alive). Maybe you'd need to pry something in an emergency situation. Car accidents come to mind a lot, but I'm sure there's other instances where a really tough knife will do something vital that a regular little knife won't. Not to mention, my RD4 would be an excellent self defense tool, between the stout blade and heavy skull crushing pommel. And, if for some unforseen unlikely situation where I ended up being in a survival situation, the tough knife will be an asset.

Different strokes for different folks, as they say. I tend to error on the side of caution and preparedness.

Oh yeah, and Busse's are a great investment - I too would just buy up tons of them and sell them on the 2ndary market a few years later, if I had that kind of liquid fundage lying around... since I don't, I have 1 Busse. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It is nice, but the thumb stud placement is a little awkward for me. I prefer my CS Voyager. BTW: See Jeff's post on his forum. They are discontinuing imports at Ont/RAT. Everything to be US made. New US folder?

It's bad enough waiting for the next release of a great knife from the Scrap Yard!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I hope they do a US made folder. I'll pay some extra bucks for something made at the Ontario factory.

I also have 2 voyager Tantos (4"), one in combo edge, one full serrated, and I like them. The serrations kind of suck though when you get in to hard use with them, because the little teeth break off. My full serrated is in good shape because I use it appropriately, but the combo edge serrations are wel... gone.

I've got to get the Tank Buster if it ever comes out... I'm not counting them out, but I won't be buying most of the stuff that they put out like I will w/ the Yard.