IMHO, the MPLE is too much handle for such a small blade. The only reason I still have mine is because I hate selling knives.

I'm pretty much in agreement with most of your comments.

The quoted passage, above, is related to something I was going to say about these two knives: To me, the Bandicoot is more of a defensive knife design, and the SS4 is more of a camping/outdoors knife design (which is what I prefer).

Of course, either could serve decently in either role.

I also agree that I prefer it to many Busses, such as the meaner and the AD. Of those types of blades, this one is nearly ideal in blade shape and size, while having a lighter, more comfortable, better insulated handle. It may not look as nice as a fancy G10 or micarta handle, but, overall, I prefer the SS4 to those.

I have to give you that.

I actually still like the MPLE and really wouldn't want to sell.
But, I have to concede the mudder handle is quite large for it's cutting edge.

To me, the mudders are a bit of an anomaly. Typically, even on a knife sized like the SS4, I would prefer NO choil. But, to me, the mudder grip's shape sort of intices the urge to choke up. The mudders are comfortable in normal grip. But, I do tend to want to choke up.

The MPLE is even more unique. Because I really wouldn't normally want a choil on such a small knife. But, again, with the mudders, it just seems to need a choil. I think the very small angled choil that was given to the MPLE was actually brilliant. But, in the end, I can appreciate where other handles might be better suited for the MPLE's AD like blade - like an AD without a choil!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

My collection of knives that carry comparably or smaller than the MPLE, but offer WAY more blade with smaller yet very comfortable handles is quite extensive.

Worth noting: The SS4 has a larger choil compared to the MPLE's. So, in reality, the SS4's cutting edge is really only 1/2" longer than the MPLE's.





IMO, the most notable Busse and kin offering great handle with a great blade and best functional balance yet compact ratio of blade to handle would be the new Vex.






I like the mudder handles. They do feel comfortable in hand. But, they are long and thick for many smaller knife designs.

But, more importantly, choils eat up way too much blade edge on smaller knives.

The SS4 offers more reach than the Vex. But, notice the similarities between the SS4 from the choil/choked up position compared to the Vex:




The Vex is very much like an SS4 in the choked up position. Very similar blade edge and length with reasonably similar blade shape. But, the Vex is in 154CM, micarta and with much less handle - thinner and shorter, but still VERY comfortable and functional. The Vex doesn't have the reach the SS4 offers if you hold the SS4 in standard grip, but it is a VERY good contol task knife that carries VERY well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I have just a VERY slight preference for the SS4's blade shape over the Vex's. But, they really function very similarly. The Vex should a slight advantage in slicing (which I prefer) because of slimmer thickness and full height grind. But, I like the over-all shape of the SS4's blade steel.

However, I like the naturally choked up position on the VEX. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> - And the slimmer, shorter, easier to carry over-all knife that still offers very comparable performance and still very comfortable to me in the hand. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Now if I could have just gotten the Vex in INFI at that price. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

The HCLE 3.5" actually has a thinner handle compared to the MPLE, but over-all length and cutting edge length are VERY close. Choils do this on small knives. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

The following picture looks deceptive to me because in reality the MPLE is only about 0.125" (1/8") longer oal than the 3.5" HCLE at the bottom. Somehow in the picture, the MPLE looks about 1/2" longer in the picture to me. But, it isn't.





Here are a few of a bunch of others to compare handle/blade sizes of the MPLE:





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Likewise, I have to agree with most of your follow-up comments there.

Coot - more defensive

SS4 - more camping/outdoors/utility/chore/functional/useful/versatile/etc. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I also feel the SS4 has about an IDEAL blade shape and size for MANY tasks.

To me, the MAIN problems with most Busse's are the choils and to some lesser degree some of the Talon Holes. A small Talon Hole might be OK if the handle is designed right around it. But, I like my hand very close to a blades edge on smaller knives. The choils on most Busse knives are not even functional choils like on the SS4. They snag, waste otherwise usable blade edge and move the functional blade edge way further away from my grip than I prefer.

Two of my GRAIL knives are to have an AD without a choil and a much smaller or NO Talon Hole and a SHBA without a choil and either a much smaller or NO Talon Hole. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" />

The SS4 and Meaner are VERY similar - Except the SS4 has a functional choil and NO Talon Hole. To me, it is a NO BRAINER. The SS4 is WAY better than the Meaner.

However, I don't mind canvas or linen micarta on smaller knives. On smaller knives they don't add so much weight or effect balance in any bad way. And they do look nicer.

However, I still like mudders.


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I agree wholeheartedly about the Vex - it packs a lot of blade in a very small package. That thing is my "EDC" - people freak out about carrying blades on a liberal arts college campus, so I keep it in my pack, but it's with me every day and gets used for a lot of mundane tasks like slicing fruit and opening boxes.

I picked up several EDC sized knives at BLADE - the Vex, Mud Puppy, and High Street.

Of the three, the vex has the most usable edge for its size, followed by the HS, and then the MPLE in distant third.



The High Street is a VERY cool looking knife, and the choil is certainly very usable, but between the talon hole and choil you give up a LOT of blade real estate. I still like it better than the Meaner Street, whose choil is big enough to be annoying but too small to use.

All told, I wouldn't kick a 'Coot outa my collection!

Not on the buy list at the moment either though... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cool High Street MM!

Thanks... I personally like this one better <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

That's nice..gotta love blue

Nice collection!
I've got one of the Mud Puppies, but I'm selling it because it was sort of an impulse buy. Oh well, we all have our momments of weakness.

The Bandicoot was my first Bussekin blade. Bought it straight off the web site. Picked up an SS4 a while ago and fell in love with the mudder grips. Although I would take the SS4 over the Bandicoot, the margin is quite small for me.