I haven't decided what the best busse kin knife is for me yet but I do have a favorite little knife.
the yard keeper combat grade. the wide blade shape with a full flat grind has the best edge of any busse I have. I would think it would be as sharp as the bd. it is 50% thicker but the blade width is a 100% wider allowing the full flat grind to get a very fine edge. it is strong enough to baton or pry. the edge retention will not be as nice as the mple howling rat but it will also be much stronger. I like the blade shape. on delicate tasks and slicing it works better than the dm or mple. this is my impression. what is your favorite small busse kin knife?

howling rat or sw sar

Since I haven't tried all of them, I don't know which is the best small knife. My favorites are the HRLM, SS4, and BDLE in that order.

I am at a toss up between my BAD and Muppy. I just can't get over how great that mudder handle is. I don't own an SS4, but suspect it would top my list if I did.

Umm. Tough one. Really depends on how you define "little".

The CGYK is sizewise quite similar to the older Howling Rat Gen 1s, 2s, and in blade size like the HRMLM. The CGYK provides huge performance per ounce of knife, that is for sure.

The BADs, ADs, Muppies, and Game Wardens are all great little knives in their own right but definitely smaller on the blade scale than a preferred outdoor knife for me.

The step up to the 4"/5" is where my personal sweet spot is. I love the original DM for it's indestructability. Yes, you have to do some work on the edge to get good cutting performance but this was no biggie for me. The DMDC/LEs are great too, though I think of them as more 'tweeners' between the CGYK class knife and the CGDM. Also in this size we need to consider the SS4 (I'm a heretic and not a big fan of the mudder handle) and the RMD, the RMD being a really outstanding knife. The Leaner Meaners are in this size range too and while I really like the cutting performance, I find the weight vs. blade length more than I prefer in a knife I want to hike with. I have one custom shop LM that may make a liar out of me though as soon as I get some pants for it.

i like my MUDDY ACTIVE DUTY. ALOT

The HCLE works very well for me.

im hearing alot of good things about this little Yard Keeper I got coming... and is the tan yard keeper a CG knife??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

yes reconseed!
it is the Cg yardkeeper reconseed.
3/16" thick sr77.

lol
it's just tan thats all.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Well I love my Mud Puppy but I have not had a chance to abuse or use it yet, it is still sharp from the factory. The other vote of mine is the the Howling Rat (Gen 2) I have had mine for several years now and have chopped, pryed, and batoned that little thing a lot, it as fantastic little blade.
but those are the only ones I have any chance with.

I just finished stropping my HCLE. Maybe that is my favorite small Busse kin knife. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Dang this thing takes a wicked edge! I know I broke the tip on one, but that means little to me. I only did that in a test and I messed up. I don't routinely use my fine point knives in such a manner. This HCLE is a little jewel. The mudder handles might be a bit more comfortable, but the G10 is nice, too.

I'm getting an urge to see a busse badger atac...that looks like a great sized knife, tough and handy i bet