American Service Knife (ASK)

[A.L.]

Finally a SAK for hipsters who can´t carry normie knives!

 

[ferider]

I actually like the Ironsides. $240 is pretty steep, of course. Then again, people pay more for a used GEC these days.

 

[rhino]

who cleans their ar15 bolt?!

i would get more use from a unicorn horn sharpener.....

1. People who have to pass weapon inspections.
2. Obssessive-compulsives, clean freaks, and people who do it because that's the way they were taught.
3. Collectors who don't shoot a lot.
4. People who don't realize that carbon residue on the bolt does not affect function of the rifle.

 

[AdventuresWithMedfords]

I can’t fully explain my excitement for the ASK. I was fortunate to be nearly the first person to get his hands on one, and I’ve carried it daily for a week now, mostly with no other backup knife or multitool. I’m not even traditionally a fan of slipjoints or this style of pocket knife, but I can’t put it down! The action is very nice, and it feels comfortable in hand. It’s lightweight (2.5 oz), yet the stout construction makes me believe it could handle reasonably hard use.

(if you want to dive in a bit more, I’ve got more pics and a link to an unboxing on IG @ adventureswithmedfords)

 

[afishhunter]

$240 for one of the four base models

ouch. I'm out.

Question: Is S45V suitable for tools that will be used for twisting and prying?

Another question:
With S45V for the blade, how is the "lucky" grunt who has one going to be able to sharpen it when out in the field?
The standard smooth rock isn't going to do much. I don't know. Would a ceramic rod or the bottom of a coffee mug do anything besides burnish the edge?

 

[A.L.]

Edit: nevermind

 

[AdventuresWithMedfords]

ouch. I'm out.

Question: Is S45V suitable for tools that will be used for twisting and prying?

Another question:
With S45V for the blade, how is the "lucky" grunt who has one going to be able to sharpen it when out in the field?
The standard smooth rock isn't going to do much. I don't know. Would a ceramic rod or the bottom of a coffee mug do anything besides burnish the edge?

Good questions. Tbh I don’t know. Everything after the first limited run (500-1000 units), though, will be Magnacut.

 

[JTB_5]

Has anyone else had any experience with these ASK? I watched a review video and they are highly customizable and appear easy to take down and put together again--like the AR15 of pocket knives.

 

[Triton]

Has anyone else had any experience with these ASK? I watched a review video and they are highly customizable and appear easy to take down and put together again--like the AR15 of pocket knives.

I've got a post around here about my impressions of it post badeshow. At the risk of being repetitive, I will say that I think it's a great idea that was very poorly executed. The one model they were selling at the blade show was painfully hard to open with some of the tools getting in the way of the nail nicks for the other tools and the springs being too tight. The tools themselves seemed the next thing to useless with weird less effective shapes than you would find on a Swiss army knife. That includes the weirdly shaped main blade. Two bad I was excited about it. In my opinion you would be better off buying a half dozen or more saks....

 

[Jolipapa]

Maybe they'll do a Paine at a more egalitarian price

My purse whispered : wait until the Lafayette!

 

[Quiet]

I've got a post around here about my impressions of it post badeshow. At the risk of being repetitive, I will say that I think it's a great idea that was very poorly executed. The one model they were selling at the blade show was painfully hard to open with some of the tools getting in the way of the nail nicks for the other tools and the springs being too tight. The tools themselves seemed the next thing to useless with weird less effective shapes than you would find on a Swiss army knife. That includes the weirdly shaped main blade. Two bad I was excited about it. In my opinion you would be better off buying a half dozen or more saks....

This was pretty much my takeaway as well. Also, I presume the wonky tool shapes were due to Medford having to (or wanting to) avoid looking like he just copied the tools from Victorinox knives*, despite the fact that in virtually all cases, the design on the Victorinox tools are better. Of course, it's doubtful that you'll ever find an AR bolt-cleaner tool on a SAK.




* Generally something that everyone who comes out with a "SAK" analogue has to contend with.

 

[yablanowitz]

If it ends up being a 500 dollar Victorinox I think it might not find a wide market.

But a modular “Swiss army” knife, which Victorinox had refused to do, and upgraded blade steel, which Victorinox has refused to do, at a reasonable price would be very popular.

The price tag on rhese should make it very clear why Victorinox has refused to do those things.

 

[Wharn]

Nice effort but I’ll stick to my SAKs. It’s hard to compete with something that has been perfected over 125 years.

 

[Side O'Beef]

Would anyone know if the Atlas could be taken on a plane? It has no blade, but the chisel might scare a TSA agent, I suppose.

 

[Triton]

The price tag on rhese should make it very clear why Victorinox has refused to do those things.

I would honestly be okay with the price tag if the knife were of victorinox quality but with readily available and relatively inexpensive tool exchange options that could easily be switched out. I love the idea, just not this product.

 

[The Zieg]

It is clearly no accident they went with an anagram of SAK. These are just silly, in my worthless opinion.

Then again, I have been known to buy silly things, but not these.

Zieg

 

[tmd_87]

I was able to get an ASK and have been carrying it for over a week. I actually really like it. The walk and talk is pretty nice and kind of addictive. Tools and main blade have half stops. My knife came super sharp. I’ve used the lifter and scraper tool and they are effective. I’m excited to get the seax blade shape, it looks like a lambsfoot profiled blade. Also looking forward to getting some different covers as well. I think the clear ones are cool and something different. I think it’s gonna be in my EDC for a while.

 

[Alpha556]

I'll end up buying one eventually. If I can find a used one under $200 then I'll for sure pick one up to try out.

 

[Jolipapa]

I was able to get an ASK and have been carrying it for over a week. I actually really like it. The walk and talk is pretty nice and kind of addictive. Tools and main blade have half stops. My knife came super sharp. I’ve used the lifter and scraper tool and they are effective. I’m excited to get the seax blade shape, it looks like a lambsfoot profiled blade. Also looking forward to getting some different covers as well. I think the clear ones are cool and something different. I think it’s gonna be in my EDC for a while.

Changing covers can be very nice, though I noticed a few that are quite upsetting to say the least... Unfortunately I'll have to wait for Victorinox to move to modern steels... or not!

 

[tmd_87]

Changing covers can be very nice, though I noticed a few that are quite upsetting to say the least... Unfortunately I'll have to wait for Victorinox to move to modern steels... or not!

I haven’t seen anything upsetting about cover choices... If I did I would just ignore it.