From Old to New.

J. Oeser

J. Oeser

Joined
May 13, 2009
Messages
4,182
Back when the Bushwacker LE came out I decided I needed to find a SHBM that would compliment my collection well. What I really wanted (and still do:cool:) is a SHBMLE. But, since Tony G wouldn't sell me one :p;) I had to find something else. Then one day I came across a SHBM that was a little different from what I had seen on the exchange. So I began to research. I found an old thread started by Cobalt here: SHBM History where he said this,
"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."

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At that point I knew I had found the one for me. And after some e-mails back and forth with a kind old HOG this arrived in the mail:

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And here are those angle grooved machined micarta handles:

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It also compliments my Lean Mean very nicely. :cool:

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So I began to think about two of IMO the best knives to ever come out of Wasseon, the BWMLE and the CABSLE.

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If we hadn't had the original "old school" versions, then we would have never arrived to the current evolution of amazing knives. Both of these pairs of knives could be carried together and tackle almost any chore that came in your path. So here is to the old and the new and to Jerry and his amazing designs. :cool::thumbup:

And a few more comparison shot for fun. :D;)

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if you were planning to use all of them, which of each set do you think you'd like better as a user, old or new?
 
Great pics and great sets. I sort of wish now I'd picked up a BWM, even a CG one.
I just felt like, since I have a SHBM user, it would be a little redundant. What do you think?
I actually use 3 of the 4 knives shown above, and I can say I like the CABS over the LMS, though they are actually pretty different knives.
 
Last Visible Canary said:
if you were planning to use all of them, which of each set do you think you'd like better as a user, old or new?
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I might get some crap for this but I would pick the new over the old and here is why. First, I like to use uncoated knives, which I know is easily remedied so sort of a moot point. The SHBM tips the scales at 21.2 oz. and the BWMLE at 22.9 oz. giving the BWMLE an advantage already, just in weight. Then factor in that the SHBM is about .27" thick flat grind versus the .22" saber on the BWMLE and then the advantage increases. The BWMLE is more blade heavy which I assume would give it an advantage in a chop off. Also it is saber ground which should prevent it from getting wedged in as easily. Also, I think the handles on the BWM are more comfy due to larger palm swells and a little more room between talon holes. In the end though, I think the differences are so minimal in the performance department that the advantage would be negligible.

I share Guyon's sentiments on the CABS as well. In fact, I would go as far as to say, IMO the CABS is the best Busse EDC sized blade EVER! Yeah, I said it, now what. For a blade under 6" there is no better option in INFI or most other steels for that matter. The CABS is a better slicer and that is what I want in a smaller blade. The Lean would survive prying more than the CABS but other wise the CABS will out perform in all aspects.

Guyon said:
Great pics and great sets. I sort of wish now I'd picked up a BWM, even a CG one.
I just felt like, since I have a SHBM user, it would be a little redundant. What do you think?
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It would be redundant in the sense that you would have two knives that would perform almost equally as well as the other. The only major difference is that the handle ergonomics on the BWMLE IMO are better and more comfortable, especially if you have bigger hands like I do. That and the balance point is a little different on the two with the BWMLE having a slightly longer blade. If you're happy with your SHBM and don't have an extra $600+ lying around to buy a BWMLE, I would just stick with what you have.
 
Those are a couple of nice pairs there and I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of your light-box setup and camera model.
 
LMT66 said:
Those are a couple of nice pairs there and I wouldn't mind seeing a picture of your light-box setup and camera model.
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That's easy, it's just good old mother nature. Evening sun is great for knife pics although I still don't consider my pics in the ball park of many of the other folks here. The camera is my wife's old Canon Rebel. I did steal her 70-200 L-glass lense though for these pics. (don't tell her or I'm dead) She is a photographer and doesn't let me touch her "equipment".:p:D;)
 
Sweet knives (very cool SHBM), cool photos, and a spot on comparison. ;)

Granted I've never handled a Leaner, but I do think the new versions have meaningful improvements that make them better users (cost differences aside, which only amplify such).

I wound up with the BWMLE and CABSLE as my ultimate user combo, and couldn't be happier. I too think they're the best and most useful knives Jerry and crew have ever released.

Or, at least out of the several that I've had and fondled. As I've mentioned, the only thing I'd change about either of them is different handles (which I'm having done) as I prefer black canvas.

I mentioned to Jerry in an email recently that I thought the CABSLE was a home run, and I believe that extends to the BWMLE too.
 
DowntownDM said:
Sweet knives (very cool SHBM), cool photos, and a spot on comparison. ;)

Granted I've never handled a Leaner, but I do think the new versions have meaningful improvements that make them better users (cost differences aside, which only amplify such).

I wound up with the BWMLE and CABSLE as my ultimate user combo, and couldn't be happier. I too think they're the best and most useful knives Jerry and crew have ever released.

Or, at least out of the several that I've had and fondled. As I've mentioned, the only thing I'd change about either of them is different handles (which I'm having done) as I prefer black canvas.

I mentioned to Jerry in an email recently that I thought the CABSLE was a home run, and I believe that extends to the BWMLE too.
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I agree completely. And thanks for pointing out another reason why I would choose the new over the old. Since I was a poor recently married young man when the "old school" versions came out, I missed out on original pricing for both of them.

I'm fortunate that I absolutely love black paper so these are ultimate perfection for me. You'll have to post some pics when the black canvas goes on those though, they should be sweet users. :thumbup::cool:
 
That is an awesome pair J!!! The oldschool that is. I love the new Busses, but the older blades are legends.
 
oeser said:
The BWMLE is more blade heavy which I assume would give it an advantage in a chop off. Also it is saber ground which should prevent it from getting wedged in as easily. Also, I think the handles on the BWM are more comfy due to larger palm swells and a little more room between talon holes.
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Assume? Should? Waitasec... you haven't beaten these bad boys yet? What's stoppin' ya'? :D
 
oeser said:
That's easy, it's just good old mother nature. Evening sun is great for knife pics although I still don't consider my pics in the ball park of many of the other folks here. The camera is my wife's old Canon Rebel. I did steal her 70-200 L-glass lense though for these pics. (don't tell her or I'm dead) She is a photographer and doesn't let me touch her "equipment".:p:D;)
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Well, I hate it when my wife won't let me touch her equipment!

Some great pics there J.

I will be down in Provo for a quickie visit in a week.


Great knives too!

Your BWM le number is wrong though.......does not match the # on your cabs!
 
Guyon said:
Assume? Should? Waitasec... you haven't beaten these bad boys yet? What's stoppin' ya'? :D
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Yeah, I know. :o:p I don't dare beat on the SHBM or the Lean Mean, yet. Once the CABS arrived I decided that was the one. I have #61 to pound on and leave #1 nice and clean. I had an Okuden sheath made for my BWMLE and was ready to use it until the B11 arrived. I just love using that sweet basic so I have left the BWMLE alone. Maybe one of these days I'll use it.:thumbup:;)
 
Bigfattyt said:
Well, I hate it when my wife won't let me touch her equipment!

Some great pics there J.

I will be down in Provo for a quickie visit in a week.


Great knives too!

Your BWM le number is wrong though.......does not match the # on your cabs!
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When you're down give me a call if you have time. :thumbup:

And if you find the guy with #1 . . . ahem, robstar . . . see if he would sell it. :p;):D
 
Great pics of two awesome combos! :thumbup: I too wish that I had ordered a BWM LE when I had the chance.:(
 
Great write up Jared .... :thumbup: Certainly interesting to know the differences on the BWM LE and the SHBM ....

Also interesting to hear that you use the B11 rather than the BWM LE .... from using both a lot I think the B11 makes more sense as a user .... it is lighter and chops slightly better ....

In time I think the B11 will become accepted as the best knife Jerry ever made as a "user" .... I cannot see it being beaten for performance v weight .... old Jaxx is probably sitting on a "gold mine" of an investment with all the ones he has .... :cool:
 
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