I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up some dogs (and a large hog) and need to focus down on 3 users.

I really like the Yard Keeper and prefer it over the Dumpster Mutt DC. I know that is heresy in some quarters but it just feels better in my hand and it now travels with me daily. However, I can’t pull it out at work and need a smaller EDC fixed blade.

I like the look of the Wardens but don’t want to pay $200+. So my first question is if a mud puppy is a good alternative or do I just bite the bullet and get a warden user?

I also have a FBM LE. It is an amazing piece of steel but it is a little too heavy for me. Second question, is a Dog Father a better alternative or should I just get Bushwacker BM while they are still available.

I know there are no right answers but would like to get some opinions.

Get the bushwacker. No question about it. $350 for a Battle Mistress is a STEAL!


Sell that FBM LE and you should be able to get enough money for two BWBM's.

The dogfather CG isn't quite as heavy as the FBM LE, but it's a big, heavy, beastly chopper. The BWBM is thin, light, and sexy.

The dogfather LE is slightly lighter and has a better balance, but you could end up paying in the realm of $300 for one (I sold my Desert Dogfather CG for $225). Get the Bushwacker at factory prices and don't look back.

Thank you - sounds like a plan.

What about at the smaller end of the scale - a little EDC?

The best EDC put out by the Bussekin family of companies is, IMHO, the Swamp Rat Vex. The Mud Puppy has too much handle for such a small blade, and all of the Busse's like the Active Duty and Meaner Street have stupid elf choils and talon holes wasting blade space. The Vex is nothing but blade and handle - very, very functional design.

And it's actually thin enough to, you know, cut stuff.


They can be had for less than $150 on the exchange somewhat frequently.


Another option would be some of the HACK series from Busse, but those are pricier and tougher to find. Or the High Street, which has a full size choil, but is a bit "nastier" looking blade shape, so might tend to intimidate some folks. I sold one of my High Streets for $225, but I've seen them go for more than that.

Once again, thank you for the guidance. I've seen the Vex but they don't come up too often so will have to be patient...

I liked the vex as well. Wasn't my kind of blade but if I was to edc a fixed blade I could see that one fitting the bill pretty easy. I have a swamprat hairy carry LE but like MM said about the mud puppy, the handle is a little long to carry all of the time.

Good advice M/M! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

dont forget about the rat wardens. I love my skelly warden, but you can get a rat warden a lot cheaper

Seattleduke, love the avatar. I love that movie.

I have CGFBM and yet to pull the trigger on a BW Mistress. I might, just can't pull myself to it since I have a DDF too. Smaller, I have a Busse Warden and a Culty. I love the Culty and the Warden is nice but heavy.

I was living in London when Lock Stock was released. The location for Sting's bar in the movie was across the road from where I worked (a place called Vic Naylors) so it has fond memories.

Yes...looking at the Skeleton and Rat Wardens as they seem to come up more often that the Vex. I do like having scales though.

Take a look at a BDLE also <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />. Yes- the Vex is awesome IMO <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />-Luck

Another option would be the Busse Apprentice blade that is up on the exchange. It is supposed to be INFI but does not have the talon hole or an annoying choil. For the price the guy is selling it at it may be a great option. It also has a cord wrapped handle which might allow for easier conceal carry.

The BWM is likely to become much much more expensive the day they leave the company store. At ~$350 will will not be able to get as large an INFI knife anytime soon. My favorite busse-kin chopper is the Swamp Rat Battle Rat. Is is a little shorter buy much lighter then any of the other offerings and benefits from the Res-C grip. At this time, if I had the money, I would have either have kept the Battle Rat or purchased a Cg BWM.