SHBA -- Ole'

OldPhysics

OldPhysics

Joined
Sep 2, 2006
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A few weeks ago, one of Jerry's classic knives flew into town for a brief visit:

IMG_0229.jpg

Here he is with a young friend, the SAR4 (LE). I think you can tell that the youngster is glad to see him.;)

You have to admire the classic lines of the SHBA. The gentle downward sweep of the spine as it flows toward a sharp and quite useful tip. The simple belly, useful for all knife and camping chores. And especially that outstanding grip -- it seems hand-shaped and it is very three dimensional, filling your palm completely. In fact, for a "little" knife, this SHBA feels very substantial in the hand. It's almost impossible to lose hold of that excellent straight handle.

When you get the rare chance to meet a classic like this, it's always good to bring out a few comparables. There are many, many choices in this class -- here are just a few (the ones that fit into a shot with my nice Canon):
IMG_0223.jpg

I won't be cruel. Here they are from the bottom: R.A.T. 4S, Meaner SE07, BATAC SE07, SAR4 LE, SHBA, SAR5 (of course), Ratmandu, and R.A.T. 6S.

Here's the bottoms-up view, for those who prefer it:
IMG_0224.jpg


The SARs (4 and 5) have more belly than the old SHBA:
IMG_0226.jpg

But I prefer the tip on the SHBA, I think -- easier to drill with and nice for detail work on fruits and vegetables. The handle? For me, with my meaty but medium-sized hands, the SHBA wins, followed somewhat closely by the SAR4, with the SAR5 a distant third. I have to give a nod to the longer and very substantial SAR4 handle for controllability, though. I think Jerry is on to something (no surprise) with this new handle.

Oddly enough, I think the Ratmandu is a good comparable to the SHBA:
IMG_0227.jpg

The Ratmandu's blade is a little longer and is still good for point work. The SHBA's handle is more filling, but the Ratmandu handle feels very good, too ... excellent for finger control in the kitchen. The SHBA is chunkier and feels more centered, somehow:
IMG_0236.jpg
 
A few more detail shots for you.

With SAR5:
IMG_0228.jpg


With some fine R.A.T.s:
IMG_0230.jpg

Both R.A.T.s are excellent wilderness and camping knives. Their blades are topnotch and their handles are just fine ... but not as fine as the handle on the SHBA.

A few more comparisons are in order. Here is the SAR4 spine next to the SHBA spine:
IMG_0231.jpg

There's a lot of steel in that SHBA.
IMG_0232.jpg


I know someone will want to see the SAR5 spine near the SHBA spine:
IMG_0233.jpg


The SHBA is no chopper ... not that this will surprise anyone. However, it is formidable in the kitchen. The SHBA was a surprise guest at my eldest daughter's recent "shower" (I think that's what they call this American pre-wedding ritual) in Virginia. Time (and daughter's preference) forbade the intrusion of my camera, but that SHBA did yeoman's work on a frantic preparatory morning. Everything from vegetable and fruit chopping (and detailing) to sandwich cutting (yes, cucumber sandwiches!) to meat and bread slicing and even stirring!!:eek:

I did get a few comments about the knife's thickness and weight at the beginning, but those went away quickly when it became obvious the knife could do every job thrown at it. It may not be a Shun chef's knife, but it is no slouch -- and let's just see a Shun survive after I baton it through a tough loaf of sourdough!:mad:

My personal thanks to Mulder for trusting me with one of his precious SHBAs. It's a long way from Alaska to Virginia and I very much appreciate the visit. The experience has cemented my opinion of the Busse old school knives -- they were classics from the very beginning. Even if you own all the modern knives, you will still benefit from seeking out those old school knives. They have a certain freshness and maybe a little magic that you simply should not miss.

Now Mulder's beauty is off to my friend Lil' Foo in the not-so-far North. Enjoy, my friend!:thumbup:
 
OldPhysics said:
A few weeks ago, one of Jerry's classic knives flew into town for a brief visit:

IMG_0229.jpg

Here he is with a young friend, the SAR4 (LE). I think you can tell that the youngster is glad to see him.;)

You have to admire the classic lines of the SHBA. The gentle downward sweep of the spine as it flows toward a sharp and quite useful tip. The simple belly, useful for all knife and camping chores. And especially that outstanding grip -- it seems hand-shaped and it is very three dimensional, filling your palm completely. In fact, for a "little" knife, this SHBA feels very substantial in the hand. It's almost impossible to lose hold of that excellent straight handle.

When you get the rare chance to meet a classic like this, it's always good to bring out a few comparables. There are many, many choices in this class -- here are just a few (the ones that fit into a shot with my nice Canon)
Click to expand...



That looks like the SHBA that I rehandled for Dave, I'm surprized he sent that one, he seems to like it a lot! Yes, the old straight handle knives are very nice.

:D
 
randucci said:
That looks like the SHBA that I rehandled for Dave, I'm surprized he sent that one, he seems to like it a lot! Yes, the old straight handle knives are very nice.

:D
Click to expand...

Yes, I believe it is that one! I think Dave has developed additional bravery after a recent pass-around. At any event, I treated it like royalty and heavily over-packed it for its flight to Foo (as they say).

It is a great knife and I absolutely loved your handle.:thumbup:
 
If you want a blade this size that melts into your hand...this is the one. The belly contours are perfect to my large paws.
 
Ahhh...I am missing her from her visit here not long ago! 'Ducci's custom slabs are a treat in the hand! Nice review, OP, and great pictures!
 
It's not for nothing that a SHBA was on my hip for the entire 2005 hurricane season and close to 2 years afterwards.

It was my "get out of the truck in the canal knife".

An AD and MS were in the rotation before.

The AD is working it's way back in, the MS has a new home.

I also carry a Seb and that's what people get to see. The Busse's stay tucked out of sight.:D

Indeed, the grip feels like it was made just for me. My favorite Busse, period! Close second is the SHSH, but hard to carry.:cool:

Rob
 
Jamie, great write up man!! :thumbup:

The SHBA is one of my top 4 ever.

Great pics too esp the comparison pics.... :cool:
 
Thanks for the review! Very informative and even a bit entertaining :D


I love the Straight Handles as well :thumbup:
 
Great to meet you at Blade Jamie . I love the comparisons and the straight handles are great . I'm trying to stay away for now to many others on list 1st . Who knows how long I can resist ?
 
Jamie,

Thank you for the review and great pics! I am a big fan of the old SH models and the more recent ASH1. The SAR4 handle seems pretty much the opposite of the old straight handle on the SHBA, SHSHII, SHBM and Basic series, less in the middle and more at the ends, so I am curious how it will feel compared to the SH in terms of comfort and controllability/security (realizing this is all somewhat subjective depending on an individual's hand size and shape).

Gene
 
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Thanks for the great pictures and a trip down memory lane:thumbup:

Damn, I miss my old SHBA...:grumpy:

Maybe one day..
 
Great review. Nice comparison shots to see the differences in the lengths and features all together.
 
Great review, Jamie, and great pics! The SHBA is impressive - and threads like this are dangerous, and will have me thinking that I want and need those SH line old Busses... OUCH! :eek:

OldPhysics said:
A few more comparisons are in order. Here is the SAR4 spine next to the SHBA spine:
IMG_0231.jpg
Click to expand...

I just love seeing tip shots like this, and so seldom do I actually see them in reviews. The tip is a very important part of the knife, but in most pics you can't really see its profile well - in these pics you can. :thumbup:

Interesting to observe how the SAR4 and the SHBA look closely related...
 
gk4ever2 said:
Jamie,

Thank you for the review and great pics! I am a big fan of the old SH models and the more recent ASH1. The SAR4 handle seems pretty much the opposite of the old straight handle on the SHBA, SHSHII, SHBM and Basic series, less in the middle and more at the ends, so I am curious how it will feel compared to the SH in terms of comfort and controllability/security (realizing this is all somewhat subjective depending on an individual's hand size and shape).

Gene
Click to expand...

The two handles are indeed quite different. Both are very secure, but for me that SH allows more finger control ... keep in mind, that particular handle was improved by Tim Randucci!

The more I play with my SAR4, the more I come to like Jerry's new handle. I'm looking forward to future experiment by folks like Tim. It would be interesting to see a SAR4 handle with a little more 3dimensionality to it (if that makes sense).

I'm glad I got some good tip shots for folks like Elen. The tip isn't a big deal for chopping, but it's very important for just about everything else.
 
Great post, Jamie. The review and pictures definitely do the SHBA justice. It is the best-feeling FB I've ever held. Now if I could just get the right big knife to accompany it, I'd be done for a while. I grabbed an HH with mags, and the handle didn my work, so I just traded it for an HH with standards, and have found that the Fusion handles don't work for me at all. Now I've got to try something else, but it will probably be a while, as little Isabella Sofia is the priority now.

Oh well...

Again, GREAT review, Jamie. :thumbup:
 
You didn't take pics of beating it???? I'm surprised. Foo - beat it into the side of an old V6 or something. ;)
 
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