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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
FSH Comparison
- Thread starter Balislinger
- Start date
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- Nov 11, 2003
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Next up: SHSH II. Round pommel with partially grooved canvas micarta handles and screw fasteners. .26" thick, V-ground, A2 steel. Lanyard added by me (but not in pic)
This is a knife that's hard to pin down, even though it is perfectly balanced, and that may be part of the reason. The knife is so perfectly balanced it seems more like a true mid-size to me (like a SFNO) than a FSH, which I liken to more of a light chopper. At first I thought the blade on this knife had to be an inch or two shorter than the FSHs, but it turns out it's the exact same length, which surprised me. It may be less blade heavy or have less forward momentum due to the blade profile.
The old-school handle and scales on this knife feel great. For anyone who has held an old-school Busse in your hands, you know how these handles just seem to fit the palm perfectly and settle in. I like the shape of the blade better then my FSHs. One gripe I've always had against the FSH is the downward slope of the spine, which to me makes it look unbalanced or "sad," however probably makes the FSH a better chopper for its size. I prefer straight line grinds that are parallel with the center line of the knife, and the SHSH has that feature.
Even though the blade length is just over 8", the knife feels very manageable, almost like a SFNO, which makes me think Jerry put some secret into this design to make it superbly balanced and have ideal dimensions for a knife like this. The blade coating looks extremely durable, and the beadblasted spine gives the knife a special touch of class.
This knife makes a great all-around camp knife, but it's kind of heavy for that, being thicker than the two FSHs I just reviewed. Since I don't think this knife would make that great of a chopper, I would be more likely to reach for my SFNO when I need an all-around camp knife. Somebody with more serious needs, and that doesn't mind packing the extra heft, however, would do well with this knife. It's not INFI either.
So my bottom line: This knife's weight makes it a niche all-around camper for the person who doesn't mind some extra heft. The knife is superbly balanced for a blade this long, and the handle fits like a glove. The blade shape seems to me to make it a less effective chopper than an FSH. Cool to have in the collection, but probably not something I want to be carrying around the campfire.
This is a knife that's hard to pin down, even though it is perfectly balanced, and that may be part of the reason. The knife is so perfectly balanced it seems more like a true mid-size to me (like a SFNO) than a FSH, which I liken to more of a light chopper. At first I thought the blade on this knife had to be an inch or two shorter than the FSHs, but it turns out it's the exact same length, which surprised me. It may be less blade heavy or have less forward momentum due to the blade profile.
The old-school handle and scales on this knife feel great. For anyone who has held an old-school Busse in your hands, you know how these handles just seem to fit the palm perfectly and settle in. I like the shape of the blade better then my FSHs. One gripe I've always had against the FSH is the downward slope of the spine, which to me makes it look unbalanced or "sad," however probably makes the FSH a better chopper for its size. I prefer straight line grinds that are parallel with the center line of the knife, and the SHSH has that feature.
Even though the blade length is just over 8", the knife feels very manageable, almost like a SFNO, which makes me think Jerry put some secret into this design to make it superbly balanced and have ideal dimensions for a knife like this. The blade coating looks extremely durable, and the beadblasted spine gives the knife a special touch of class.
This knife makes a great all-around camp knife, but it's kind of heavy for that, being thicker than the two FSHs I just reviewed. Since I don't think this knife would make that great of a chopper, I would be more likely to reach for my SFNO when I need an all-around camp knife. Somebody with more serious needs, and that doesn't mind packing the extra heft, however, would do well with this knife. It's not INFI either.
So my bottom line: This knife's weight makes it a niche all-around camper for the person who doesn't mind some extra heft. The knife is superbly balanced for a blade this long, and the handle fits like a glove. The blade shape seems to me to make it a less effective chopper than an FSH. Cool to have in the collection, but probably not something I want to be carrying around the campfire.
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Next up: HHFSH (saber ground FSH), real pretty sandstorm G-10 mags, black coating.
This knife is heavy, and the handles are beefy. It has a good feel to it, very solid. It's .27" thick. This knife is heavier than what I would typically want to carry around, but you can tell it's more of a serious contender for hard use work than my SFNO. The combo of black coating and sandstorm G-10 looks great, especially since the sandstorm has some black lines that tie it in with the blade color. This knife feels like you could really put it through its paces, and it would emerge just fine. The edge geometry is stock, and therefore pretty thick. It's also a V-edge, whereas the FSHs we've looked at so far were convexed. This knife looks great, and HHFSH's aren't as easy to come by, but this knife feels like it wants to get out and beat on something, purposeful. That combination of purposeful and great looks is a good one.
My bottom line: I would only pack this knife if I could only take one knife, and I expected to come across a variety of hard use situations. Otherwise the weight would dissuade me. The V-edge would be more difficult to maintain over time as it gets dull, especially as thick as it is. But for hard use, and if you want a great looking handle, this is the knife for you.
This knife is heavy, and the handles are beefy. It has a good feel to it, very solid. It's .27" thick. This knife is heavier than what I would typically want to carry around, but you can tell it's more of a serious contender for hard use work than my SFNO. The combo of black coating and sandstorm G-10 looks great, especially since the sandstorm has some black lines that tie it in with the blade color. This knife feels like you could really put it through its paces, and it would emerge just fine. The edge geometry is stock, and therefore pretty thick. It's also a V-edge, whereas the FSHs we've looked at so far were convexed. This knife looks great, and HHFSH's aren't as easy to come by, but this knife feels like it wants to get out and beat on something, purposeful. That combination of purposeful and great looks is a good one.
My bottom line: I would only pack this knife if I could only take one knife, and I expected to come across a variety of hard use situations. Otherwise the weight would dissuade me. The V-edge would be more difficult to maintain over time as it gets dull, especially as thick as it is. But for hard use, and if you want a great looking handle, this is the knife for you.
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Next up: HOGFSH 2007 SE. DC on black/OD green G-10 mags.
This knife is a beast. It's meant for serious hard use, but it doesn't seem out of proportion. The handle feels great: swells my palm nicely to hold the weight of this thing. The knife is very well balanced. The edge geometry seems thinner than on the HHFSH, which is a good thing, although I didn't measure it except by looking at it. The weight of this knife seems appropriate to its size, probably because it is thicker than the others I found heavy for what they were. The knife is well-balanced, and manageable despite its thickness (.32").
This knife is meant for serious, hard use. The design is consistent with that purpose. It has a utilitarian look, gray blade, and black-ish scales. No need to keep this one in a drawer or preserve it due to aesthetic appeal, this one is built for use through and through. The G-10 is bomb proof, and although the beadblasting will scratch with use, it also helps protect the blade from rusting. This knife is a beast of a user, one you don't need to worry about hurting. Good to impress/scare sheeple with too. It's almost the quintessential bad-boy user. It's heavy, but if you plan on prying alot, chopping, or stabbing steel drums, this is the knife for you.
This knife is a beast. It's meant for serious hard use, but it doesn't seem out of proportion. The handle feels great: swells my palm nicely to hold the weight of this thing. The knife is very well balanced. The edge geometry seems thinner than on the HHFSH, which is a good thing, although I didn't measure it except by looking at it. The weight of this knife seems appropriate to its size, probably because it is thicker than the others I found heavy for what they were. The knife is well-balanced, and manageable despite its thickness (.32").
This knife is meant for serious, hard use. The design is consistent with that purpose. It has a utilitarian look, gray blade, and black-ish scales. No need to keep this one in a drawer or preserve it due to aesthetic appeal, this one is built for use through and through. The G-10 is bomb proof, and although the beadblasting will scratch with use, it also helps protect the blade from rusting. This knife is a beast of a user, one you don't need to worry about hurting. Good to impress/scare sheeple with too. It's almost the quintessential bad-boy user. It's heavy, but if you plan on prying alot, chopping, or stabbing steel drums, this is the knife for you.
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Last one: Factory Original Satin/Snakeskin HOGFSH. 13 or less were made.
This is a great knife. It feels a bit lighter than the one above, for some reason, maybe it's the thinner scales or the polished blade. The blade is beautiful; it's one big hunk of steel, but it doesn't seem that way because of the finesse put into the blade's finish. Flawless high-satin finish on the blade, and crystal-clear HHFSH logo.
The scales are flatter than what I prefer, but on a knife this thick (.32") they get by. Overall this is a really nice knife that doesn't seem as thick or as much of a bruiser as the other one, but you know underneath that high-scale veneer it is. It would be hard to take it out and beat it up, it's so polished, on the other hand, none of it's pretty features would be much damaged, and it would make a nice long-term user.
This is a great knife. It feels a bit lighter than the one above, for some reason, maybe it's the thinner scales or the polished blade. The blade is beautiful; it's one big hunk of steel, but it doesn't seem that way because of the finesse put into the blade's finish. Flawless high-satin finish on the blade, and crystal-clear HHFSH logo.
The scales are flatter than what I prefer, but on a knife this thick (.32") they get by. Overall this is a really nice knife that doesn't seem as thick or as much of a bruiser as the other one, but you know underneath that high-scale veneer it is. It would be hard to take it out and beat it up, it's so polished, on the other hand, none of it's pretty features would be much damaged, and it would make a nice long-term user.
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Sooooo . . . . now the real question . . . which one is my favorite?
The winner: The Hortonized HHFSH, a.k.a. "SFNO Killer."
This knife feels the best in my hand, due to the nice middle palm swell of the machined mags. It's also the best combination of balance and weight, and has killer edge geometry. While this wasn't a factor in it taking the prize, it's a knife I wouldn't feel bad about taking out and using. Great combination of class in a utilitarian package.
I should add that the SHSH II is really in a different class than the FSHs. Although it's a HH and blade length is similar, it doesn't really belong in this comparison, so nothing taken away from it, it's just a different kind of knife.
The winner: The Hortonized HHFSH, a.k.a. "SFNO Killer."
This knife feels the best in my hand, due to the nice middle palm swell of the machined mags. It's also the best combination of balance and weight, and has killer edge geometry. While this wasn't a factor in it taking the prize, it's a knife I wouldn't feel bad about taking out and using. Great combination of class in a utilitarian package.
I should add that the SHSH II is really in a different class than the FSHs. Although it's a HH and blade length is similar, it doesn't really belong in this comparison, so nothing taken away from it, it's just a different kind of knife.
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I'm going to make another plea to get the term HOGFSH deleted from everyone's vocabulary. They were marketed only as the HOFSH. See here: http://web.archive.org/web/20041204223154/www.bussecombat.com/knives/
I suspect the "G" crept in there because it was added for the HOGSJTLE: http://web.archive.org/web/20050422022949/http://www.bussecombat.com/knives/
Yours in pedantry....
I suspect the "G" crept in there because it was added for the HOGSJTLE: http://web.archive.org/web/20050422022949/http://www.bussecombat.com/knives/
Yours in pedantry....
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Great choice. The Easton smooth bolt Heavy Heart is very similar to that one and I love the balance and feel of that one over all my other FSH's.
All of yours are absolutely amazing though, George.
Congrats on all!
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Good call, and duly noted
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Great choice. The Easton smooth bolt Heavy Heart is very similar to that one and I love the balance and feel of that one over all my other FSH's.
All of yours are absolutely amazing though, George.
Congrats on all!
Cool man, got a pic of the Easton?
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Sure, Here you go:
The handles on this are the most comfy fusion handles I have ever felt and like you said the balance and feel of the Heavy Heart is perfect IMO. I hope they make more smooth bolt goodies like these again.:thumbup:
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It doesn't have a maker's mark on it, so I don't know, but it's the best kydex sheath I've owned. The retention system expands to allow easy entry and exit of the blade while still securing it tight once in. If I showed you the back it would make more sense.