Jason...those are screamin cool bro. Damn! 3 of them? You've been a busy Hog brother. I really like the one on the end without the swedge bro. Something about it screams....use me!!
Here's copy of a thread that I had in my archives from Cobalt. I don't think he'll mind me posting it here in this thread. I don't recall the original thread or date...it was a while back. But great information from a very extremely good source.
SHBM History (author: Cobalt)
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SHBM Age
I have been studying SHBM lineage and have gone through the process.of trying to age them. the following is only for production run knives as the custom shop knives can come in any config, and I hope that Andre can verify this, along with SHSH masters Randucci and Mulder since I am sure the SHSHII went along the same handle changes. Enjoy:
97-98 SHBM with smooth handle slabs and smooth bolts or slotted bolts
these are the oldest of the SHBM's. Probably the first 50 -100 had these handles I am guessing. LE#37 had them and the 1 of 6 I use to have had them also but with slotted bolts.
97-98 SHBM with partially grooved handle slabs slotted screws
most of these were slotted screws but I have had a few with hollow rivets. Arguably the most desirable SHBM handle
97- 98 - SHBM with fully grooved handle slabs and slotted screws
98-99 SHBM with partially grooved handle and hollow rivets
99 - SHBM with fully grooved handle slabs and hollow rivets
The most common SHBM handle.
mid 99 - SHBM with angle grooved micarta handles and hollow rivets
this is near the end of the SHBM production run and were not very common. I have not see coated SHBM's with this handle but I have a few uncoated ones with this handle. Probably the rarest of all handles that I have noticed.
the end - SHBM with diamond quilted micarta handles like the E-handles.
Since the SHBM production run went from late 1997 to late 1999, all these handle options had to be in that time frame.
In this first picture you will notice the different handles smooth, partially grooved and all grooved with slotted and hollow rivets. The fully grooved slotted is a 1 of 300, so it appears that in slotted handles all or partial grooves is not an age determinant. The hollow rivet handle is all grooves, but I have another one which is partially grooved and I think it is earlier than this one.
Now here comes the next pic. In this one you will notice all three knives are Angle Grooved Micarta. One is LE #236 and the other Two are Factory Bead Blasted. All three had to have been made near the same time. The Two bead Blasted SHBM's are identical and are part of the 12 bead Blasted SHBM's done in factory. I say Bead Blasted, because I am sure Double Cut term did not exist then. All three of these knives had to be near te end of the SHBM production run.
Now, the next Handle, I do not have but I know it exists. And that is an SHBM with a diamond Quilted Micarta handle pattern. That had to be the last one of the SHBM runs and I have no clue how many were made, but I have heard of at least two. Anyone have a picture.
LE's Today and yesterday
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This is more of a historical discussion on how manufacturing improvements allow the ability of obtaining LE's, when pertaining to BM's of course.
It is amazing to me how different the manufacturing is of BM's these days. I was able to get my LE's without a problem as was anyone else who wanted one. The FBM's as a whole were available for only several months before the were taken off the market, but in that short time a shipload was produced.
By comparison, the original SHBM was in production from 1998 though late 1999 early 2000 and I'd bet that more FBM's were produced in 3 months than SHBM's were in that 3 year period. Evidence of this is the SHBM LE. Look on badmojo and take a look at the LE's. 1whobuys #37 is actually a Satin Collector grade 1 of 300 looking knife, which makes it a very early blade. DarkNemesis LE is a hollow rivet LE with no clip, which is reminiscent of the last run of SHBM's and that one is #236. Of course the one Skunk found is #500 and has looks in between the other two so it is actually in between them in manufacture date I would bet. So the time laps between LE #37 and LE#236 is near 2 years. I have never seen another SHBM LE. So I think that #37, #236 and #500 must be the only LE's.
My new LE's I have #13 and #998. I got them both within weeks of each other. If it wasn't for Busses new mfg method, I might be waiting another 2 years for the new LE's. Thank goodness for advanced manufacturing.
How many of you who remember the old way are glad of the new way. I for one am. I know that many are still not happy since the runs come and go fast, but we do get many more knives than before.
