Any reviews of the ASH?

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privateisland

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I have seen lots of pics of the ASH... I've seen the mods, the sheaths etc. But, I am looking for threads that have actual user reviews of the ASH (both the fatty and the skinny I'm looking for). The search button is not working for me... You guys have any links? Thanks.
 
Go to Google, click "advanced," type in your search query, and in the spot where it asks what domain you'd like to search, type in "bladeforums.com" and it's just as effective as doing a search here on the forums.

J
 
Here's a quick review: they ROCK. I have 3 ASH-1s, a CG, an LE, and a HOG edition, and they are some of my very favorite knives. They are large enough to do some chopping, and small enough to carry easily.

If you somehow manage to break a CG, you get a gold star! The CG is hands-down the toughest knife you will ever see or use, but they are razor sharp and cut very well.

The LE is beautiful- it's more elegant and lighter in the hand, and is probably more useful than the brute CG for general knife duty. It's also probably 10 times tougher than you could possibly need it to be.

I carry the HOG edition in my day pack every day, and love it.

I don't have a skinny ASH, but they are comparable to the LE, except for the finish. Basically, there's no wrong choice to make, except not to get one while they're still around.
 
I have to agree with MoonPorker. The ASH1 is the best "One" knife I have ever come across. It can dig, chop, pry, slice, pound, baton and the warranty is bulletproof. It feels much more balanced in the hand than it initially looks to be. Most people seem to call this a large blade, but I feel it is the best compromise for carrying one knife instead of a chopper and a small blade.
I also feel that the ASH1 is one of the simplest knives to sharpen, from convex to reprofiled asymmetric. It just screams "Bring It On!" and then cleans up like a beauty afterwards.

Hope this helps to some small degree.
 
mymindisamob, is the ASH convex grind? How good of chopper is it? I have a BM-E, FFBM etc. Could you use this to chop 2x4's, small dead trees to make a shelter etc?

What about the skinny version... Can you use it to chop? If so, how good of chopper is it in comparison to the fatty?
 
I did a small 2x4 chop test here with the CG ASH-1 included. Not the best review, and my hand was a bit messed up at the time. Hope it helps a little with your query... :thumbup:
 
They don't chop well compared to an FBM or a FSH.

The 2007 SE (similar to the LE except double cut finish and different handle) can take a beating. I threw one dozens of times with only minor tip damage and I missed a lot more than I stuck it, the misses landed on asphalt.

Comparing the ASH-1 to any knife except another Busse and it's got good ergonomics and is incredibly tough. When I compare it to some other Busses, it no longer has a toughness advantage and for me there are other Busses with better ergonomics.

The looks are sexy but I would rather have a Special Forces or an EU-17 handled knife for general use.

When I chop, I go for my FBM, when I have a small job I use one of my smaller knives. The luxury of a collection means that the ASH-1 hasn't found a user niche for me. If it was my only Busse, I would think it was the best ever.
 
privateisland said:
mymindisamob, is the ASH convex grind? How good of chopper is it? I have a BM-E, FFBM etc. Could you use this to chop 2x4's, small dead trees to make a shelter etc?

What about the skinny version... Can you use it to chop? If so, how good of chopper is it in comparison to the fatty?
Click to expand...

My ASH is a convex since I reprofiled it. It is not the chopper that the SHs or BMs are, but it holds it's own as a good compromise for a "One" knife. The FSH is the best chopper in my estimation, but the FBM would be if it wasn't for some physical shortcomings I have. I have owned many Busses and handled almost all the common Busses at some point. The ASH1 beats out the SFNO (which was my "Holy Grail" until I traded it for my ASH1+) in ergonomics and is more robust in my estimation. Although I haven't built a shelter with my ASH1 yet (I do this with every knife at some point) but it will happen soon and I have been clearing a path on my property with it so far. It does an adequate job, but a 3/16" FBM would kick it's butt.;):D
 
2 photo slideshows below----

I tested a ASH1-CG -against a Hell Razor and a Camp Tramp in Jan of this year.

http://www.putfile.com/pic/7515408/?action=slideshow

As far as overall comfort,use of use,etc----the ASH 1 CG is too heavy-and too thick.(compared to the other 2).

I would love to get my hands on Skinny ASH to compare.

I took all three out again a few weeks later--and had 3 other people compare them as well

http://www.putfile.com/pic/7525719/?action=slideshow

The Camp Tramp was the favorite-then Hell Razor -then ASH.

I would suggest you HOLD and compare the Both models of the ASH before you get one.(if possible)

If you are looking for a knife to cut with--there are better models to choose from.

If you are looking for a Sharpened Pry Bar type knife where you think you might have to ABUSE it--The ASH1 CG is your ticket.
 
Jeepnut worked out a BUNCH of Busse family knives with some surprising results. Of course, it was simply a chopping test, but you should be able to glean some info from what is left out of the data recorded.

Apparently the CG ASH1 is a beaver of a knife. It WANTS to chew up pieces of wood and spit out sawdust. However, if you're looking for something more all-around, there are other knives I would look at first. The Hell Razor may be one of them, or the SFNO. Your best bet is to try and speak to someone here who is going to Blade and have them proxy a SarSquatch for you. Maybe I can have someone pick me up one FOR you. Let me know ASAP, though.

J

Oh, and just to be fair, In Jeep's thread the CG ASH1 should probably have been compared with the medium-sized knives instead of the smaller ones due to the absurd weight/thickness of it.
 
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the ASH-1 LE is a very good candidate for an "all around knife" if there ever was one.

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i have handled both the skinny ASH and the CGASH....

the CGASH has a really THICK blade, but it has such a wide blade with a full height grind and can be made scary sharp....i think it has a great overall blade geometry....


the spine is thick enough to abuse, the edge is thin enough to slice.....and if you want to chop, you can choke back on the handle and it's no FFBM, but it will do the job....



however, i really regret trading my skinny ASH.....it felt like the perfect knife to me.....the handle was so damn comfortable, and it fit my hand like a condom.....the spine was really thin, i forget the specifics, but it was maybe half the thickness of the CGASH.....it was a light knife, but if you choke back on it, it would also get the job done......the skinny ASH is the best fighting knife......with the thin blade, it can be made "stupid sharp", and it comes with a convex edge....the balance is right at the handle blade juncture......



the skinny ASH would get my vote as the best ASH out there......
 
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