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.
I am sure he knows
