SHSH, Mulder Grade

[OldPhysics]

This one's for Dave ... he's waited over a week to see a pic of his Precious.

It arrived on my doorstep a little over a week ago, looking like this:

Perhaps you'll recognize it best like this:

It didn't come nekkid! No, it came fully clothed; perhaps some of you will recognize the creator of this extremely fine sheath:

Mulder's Precious has had the "hard life" to which all Busse Blades aspire. Here is what a true Busse owner can do to the extra-hard, original Busse smoothcoat:

Younger Piglets will not realize the hundreds, no thousands of hard use hours a straight handle busse knife must accumulate before it reaches this honorable state of senescence. The edge was actually in pretty impressive shape:

Here is where we finally see some edge problems, near but not at the tip:

The obverse of the edge looked the same, also showing trouble only near the tip:

The straight handle is in excellent shape:

More coming ...

 

[OldPhysics]

An spine shot of the handle:

Tip detail:

And the eponymous Talon Hole:

No Busse knife, particularly an SH, should ever be alone. Here is Mulder's Precious with a few close family friends:

From the top: Basic 9, Skinny ASH1, FSH SE 2007, CG NMSFNO, Mulder SHSH, HH FSH, CG SARSquatch, Ratweiler.

The SHSH is a mid-size member of the Busse family. No use comparing her to the little 'uns (EDCs like GWs, ADs, Meaners, and etc.) or the Big Choppers (all those BMs). I could have added other knives to this little picture, but it got hard to fit them into the frame (plus my CG FSHs and CG SFNOs appear to be "on the road" with others). I could easily have added a HellRazor, Chopweiler, SatinJack, etc. ... but this should be 'good enough.'

Here is a comparison shot with the Precious between the CG NMSFNO and a Satin SFNO that I found laying lazily around the library:

The regular SFNO is obviously shorter than the SHSH, but shares its relatively neutral balance. The CG NMSFNO is quite a bit more blade-heavy.

When it comes to the 'chopping category' of camp chores, I feel (after about 2 days checking out the SHSH) that the SHSH should best be compared to either:

Top: CG SARSquatch, Mulder SHSH, Ratweiler.

or:

Top: CG NMSFNO, Mulder SHSH, HH FSH.

I lack the time to make all the comparisons I'd like to, so I had to decide. I went with the second set: NMSFNO, SHSH, and HH FSH.

Note: the Basic 9 and the FSH SE 2007 rapidly dominated all the knives, including the SHSH, in chopping-related chores of all sorts. Those two knives are just too purpose-built (Basic 9) or too massive (FSH SE 2007 is really a version of the mammoth HOGFSH) for the rest of these knives to compete against them. BTW, I continue to be impressed at the Basic 9's ability as a chopper -- for its relatively light-weight, it's a real Beast.

 

[Bigfattyt]

nice looking user there. What are you doing with it? Some TLC edge care?

 

[Tyrkon Lawson]

Now that is an awesome looking user right there OP. But I think it needs to be thrown a few times just to make sure all the basis are covered.

 

[OldPhysics]

Into the woods.

All three knives were soon right at home:

That particular dead tree has been there for 5 years. It has a fairly spongy side and a side about as hard as a Virginia softwood can ever get (and that's pretty hard). Where you see them, the wood is extremely hard; it resists even a BM (and that takes a lot).

After about an hour, the HH FSH was the clear winner. It's not as neutrally balanced as the SHSH, but not as blade heavy as the CG NMSFNO. The HH FSH just took a bigger bite with any reasonable swing and was very easy to use. I'd rate the SHSH as about 90% as effective, as a chopper, as the HH FSH. The CG NMSFNO is impressive ... and it excelled wherever the wood was fairly soft (sinking in deeply and easily) ... but it's really only about 85% as effective as the HH FSH. I'd have to say that the SHSH was the most comfortable of the three with a bare grip, while the HH FSH might be best with gloves on. Please note that the CG NMSFNO has the machine-contoured mag handles, which might make a difference here.

Thank you, Dave. I got a fair amount of fallen tree limbs cleared off of the area just behind the rear lawn. I also got a pretty good blister, but that's my fault ... and not the Precious'!

Here are the contenders, after an hour of severe chopping (I know I was sweaty ... as a pig!):

It should go without saying (but I'm going to say it) that each of these knives simply laughs at 1" diameter limbs and branches. Those nuisances come off with a light swing. You have to reach 2" - 3" limbs before you note any real effort; at this size, the HH FSH and SHSH are clear victors.

 

[steelnut]

Wow, it gets better looking the more it gets whooped on!!!

 

[OldPhysics]

Now that is an awesome looking user right there OP. But I think it needs to be thrown a few times just to make sure all the basis are covered.

Mulder asked me to just generally review his Precious. JeepNut22 was the first to begin the review -- look for his post about 2 weeks ago, where we Virginia Hogs got together to do some damage to the landscape. You'll see chopping, batonning, squinting, and general mayhem.

If I have time, I will try to improve the edge. That depends on work schedule. I have to put my kit bag back together this weekend -- it looks like I'll be "on the road" for 2 - 4 weeks, depending on how difficult the problems turn out to be.

I've got to get Mulder's Precious reviewed, cleaned up, boxed up, and off to the next lucky Hog (mhawg) before I hit the plane at 0600 hrs Monday!!

Throwing? I'd sure like to, but I'm just not comfortable with that. I could easily mess up a nearly irreplaceable knife. What do I think? I think it would be a GREAT thrower!! The balance is really very good.

 

[Tyrkon Lawson]

Great impression so far. I can't wait to read more reviews on this classic.

P.S. - OP - Can you adopt me for a week or two? You have so many cool toys. And you use them too (like most HOGS).

 

[Uncle Tom]

That is tremendous, thanks OP!

 

[OldPhysics]

Great impression so far. I can't wait to read more reviews on this classic.

O.P. - Can you adopt me for a week or two? You have so many cool toys. And you use them too.

Could be! I still don't have ANY grandkids. But I have hope ... daughter is getting married this summer (finally) ... surely a grandkid (or two?) will follow?

You bet I use these knives. Why have them if they're just going to stay in the safes?

OK ... I have trouble swinging the SHBMs and SKs. Those things are just beautiful ... and $$$$$ ... and it's hard to take that first chop.

But. If it's a Busse, it's born to serve.:thumbup:

 

[knife hunter]

That is a great review OP


Love the pics. THat SHSH and sheath are incredible and I am so very glad that I didnt sell my user HH


thanks again....Have a safe trip......God's Speed:thumbup:

 

[walnutbear]

Thanks for the knowledge OP
Great picss

 

[OldPhysics]

That is a great review OP


Love the pics. THat SHSH and sheath are incredible and I am so very glad that I didnt sell my user HH


thanks again....Have a safe trip......God's Speed:thumbup:

Thank you, Trevor. I shall endeavor to satisfy ... while keeping the old gray head on my wrinkly neck.

Definitely keep your HH. That knife is too good to go without.

 

[hotrodKelley]

Thanks brother for the nice pics and review.

 

[OldPhysics]

Well. Batonning?

Yes.

My woods are getting cleared out, what with 2.5 years of INFI. But, after some wandering and confusion, I finally found a decent limb about 5' long and about medium hardness. I'd say it's been down about 4 years, given where I found it. I sunk it a foot deep into a shaft I dug (with my user BM, natch) and got to work while the light lasted.

It started off very well, with just one very solid overhand chop:

I took another limb and whaled away until:

I decided I could baton further, then chop one side away with the BM so you could see how well the SHSH was doing. About 2 feet down, I ran into a knot and the stub of a side branch:

Precious sliced right through with a few good wallops. No sweat.

Finally, I got bored and stopped here:

Standing back:

Can the SHSH baton? The only limit is the length of the knife. You have to have enough blade sticking out the other side to smack with your hand-log (or sledgehammer ... this being a Busse knife).

Now, after days of abuse, the edge looked ... well ... exactly the same.

 

[OldPhysics]

I trotted out a pretty green stick and tried to 'fuzz' it a bit:

Side view:

That was the work of just seconds. The still-sharp edge of the Precious makes perfect fuzz sticks as fast as you can grab and pushcut. Frankly, I couldn't do nearly as well with the HH FSH and CG NMSFNO ... and I really wouldn't try this with a BM.

I think I'm getting the picture here. What is the SHSH? The 'all arounder' everyone debates. Does it exist? I'd say ... yes.:thumbup:

More practically, I guess I'd call the SHSH a really great camping knife. It can do some impressive chopping, but it's not a BM or an axe. It sure does well with typical camp chores, but possibly(?) not quite as well as a smaller blade (say a 3.5" camp knife)?

 

[Lil' Foo]

Cool pics and review thread OP!!!
You picked the knives I was considering as a comparison. :thumbup:
Can't wait to get my hooves on the "precious".



And... thanks for the two new words of the day too!

se⋅nes⋅cent [si-nes-uhnt] –adjective
....growing old; aging.


ep⋅on⋅y⋅mous [uh-pon-uh-muhs] –adjective
....Giving one's name to a tribe, place, etc.

 

[silverdragon33]

that's a damn fine knife. looks even better with age and lovin

 

[OldPhysics]

Sadly, I haven't the time for an overnight camping trip.

But ... my wife has a kitchen and she's outdoors on duty right now!

A nice, ripe tomato is an excellent challenge for a knife. Unfortunately, last night's Greek Salad put paid to all our tomatos.

OK ... potato up next. It was a tough little bugger, but it eventually succumbed:

I ignored the screaming (military training!) and continued:

It was easy. Even easier when I realized I could not only put my index finger on the rear spine and choke up on the choil, I could actually just grip the knife further up the blade with my fingers. The nice, smooth old-style coating did not interfere with slicing at all ... a real advantage.

In no time:

Your typical SHSH potato slice:

You can also make a thin one:

I can be merciless in the kitchen. With one final blow, the potato's fate was sealed:

5 potatos later, I've got the makings of a gratin ... or maybe some potato chips. At this point, youngest daughter sailed through and claimed my fine camera ... some hogwash about schoolwork.

I can affirm that 3 cucumbers and a Spanish onion also fell before the ruthless edge of this bad boy before my wife found me out, and demanded to know what sort of demented dinner I was preparing. I've got to go back to the kitchen now and figure out some sort of answer for her.

Before daughter ran off with camera, here is a picture of Mulder's Precious -- proof positive that it can indeed survive heavy-duty kitchen work with minimal damage:

So, what can I say about the SHSH as a camp knife? It will definitely work, though it is a bit large. I certainly shan't filet a fish with it. A satin skinny ASH or a satin Cultie are easier and quicker in the kitchen (I've used both there), but the SHSH will absolutely do the job. The HH FSH and CG NMSFNO? Not so good ... I'll spare you any sight of the poor job I made with them. The potato slicing wasn't too awful, but I made a real hash of the cucumber ... and the onion was a crying shame.

Previous to the Precious, I felt my best all-around knife was the SFNO, ASH, or perhaps the SARSquatch. And they are all fabulous general-use blades. Now? The SHSH beats them out.

If you don't have a spare $1K lying around, and a few friends with extra Steel Hearts, then you won't go too far wrong with a Skinny ASH1 from Skunk (falls more toward the kitchen and camp chore side) or an NMSFNO (Exchange, preferably Satin, falls more toward the chopping and hard-use side). The Chopweiler/Ratweiler or SARSquatch are also excellent choices, when they can be found and the price is right.

Well, back to the kitchen and my gedunkenexperiment (thought experiment). Perhaps I can borrow a few tomatos from the neighbor just across the street ... way over there.

 

[Rat-30]

Thanks for the wonderful report, OP -

You should have seen the sparks that accompanied the granite strike that caused the edge to look 'like that' in the belly... mere mortal knives would have given up right there... Not 'The Precious'... :thumbup:

I was clearing a root for a deer stand in UP MI, and should have brushed the leaves back further from the stump... Strong lesson...


Thanks again!

.