ASH and TRASH

Hooker · Nov 20, 2015

The beginnings of my ASH collecting. Picking things up when they seem to be a deal I can't refuse. Been wanting an ASH for some time and love the feel of these, but believe the saber grind is not the classic ASH. Can anyone give some insight as to when, in the ASH's history, that the grind was Full Flat grind vs. Saber. Which do you prefer and what would be their advantages?
I think it's interesting to note that on my scale the Battle Grade ASH at .260t is 18.2oz., BIG ASH at .220t is 16.6 oz. and the TRASH at .264t is 14.3 oz. The TRASH just feels wonderful in hand with a blade heavy balance. Denny did a very good job with the sharpening and for once I don't feel the need to thin the edge. At 14.3 OZ. The TRASH is the same weight as my B8, so it won't be replacing it in my hunting pack any time soon.
ETA: all the blades are the same OAL, but the ricasso on the TRASH is longer. Handle to beginning of edge is 1 5/16" vs 3/4". Handle to tip is 6 3/4" vs 6 7/16"
One of my better fitting homemade sheaths

cricketdave · Nov 21, 2015

Nice set and your home made sheath looks good. My Trash should be here tuesday, probably gonna have to fondle it for a minute an then straight to the exchange. Over spent with all the great deals lately lol.

jazub · Nov 21, 2015

Awesome comparison pics, dude. Thanks! Can't believe a ResC ASH has happened. Stoked :thumbup:

RLB · Nov 21, 2015

Thanks for the post. I REALLY like the comparison pictures. I SHOULD have my TRASH Tuesday and am stoked. I also think your ASH sheath is great, but want a two piece for my TRASH so I can lash it to a MOLLE vest when I (Need ?) to "Gear Up". I have a vest for my "Grab and Go" set up. It has (Or will have) 4-6 double mag pouches, a Hi Cap handgun a knife and water bladder.

AKA SkunkHunter in the Yard

RLB · Nov 21, 2015

You know, after looking at the pictures closely I realized that the top (spine side) is kinda sorta one continuous curve from butt to tip. Also the handle has a slight downward angle from the "Choil" to the butt of the knife not straight like the ASH. This might well lend itself more toward the chopping/bushcraft usage than as a "Fighter". Just a couple things I noticed after looking at the comparison pictures.

Again, thanks for the pics and write up.

AKA SkunkHunter in the Yard.

Icky Thump · Nov 21, 2015

cricketdave said:
Nice set and your home made sheath looks good. My Trash should be here tuesday, probably gonna have to fondle it for a minute an then straight to the exchange. Over spent with all the great deals lately lol.

Same boat..

Arrived Fri, listed Fri, sold Fri..

..just bailing water at the moment.

Nice collection and pics OP.

breavis5694 · Nov 21, 2015

I have owned a fat ASH, and a .22" custom shop ash. Both were full flat grind and both, to me, are more visually appealing than the sabre grind. The battle grade ASH was a great price but the sabre grind through me off. However, when the trash1 came out it was full flat. I'm expecting a ups notification soon on it.
This is only my opinion...

Icky Thump · Nov 21, 2015

breavis5694 said:
I have owned a fat ASH, and a .22" custom shop ash. Both were full flat grind and both, to me, are more visually appealing than the sabre grind. The battle grade ASH was a great price but the sabre grind through me off. However, when the trash1 came out it was full flat. I'm expecting a ups notification soon on it.
This is only my opinion...

Trash 1 is a saber grind.

I feel the very same way as to saber vs. FFG or full convex.

Prefer the FFG and full convex, I have a HHFSH Im considering selling/trading because it is a saber grind. If the Trash had a FFG, I might have kept it..

I have no practical experience as far as performance,,purely speaking aesthetics..

Icky Thump · Nov 21, 2015

Ickythump said:
Trash 1 is a saber grind.

I feel the very same way as to saber vs. FFG or full convex.

Prefer the FFG and full convex, I have a HHFSH Im considering selling/trading because it is a saber grind. If the Trash had a FFG, I might have kept it..

I have no practical experience as far as performance,,purely speaking aesthetics..

Edit to state, (I just checked SY site) the Trash is listed as Flat Saber grind..I would have preferred a full height grind.

Hooker · Nov 21, 2015

RLB said:
Thanks for the post. I REALLY like the comparison pictures. I SHOULD have my TRASH Tuesday and am stoked. I also think your ASH sheath is great, but want a two piece for my TRASH so I can lash it to a MOLLE vest when I (Need ?) to "Gear Up". I have a vest for my "Grab and Go" set up. It has (Or will have) 4-6 double mag pouches, a Hi Cap handgun a knife and water bladder.

AKA SkunkHunter in the Yard

Thanks Randy, I made the sheath, sort of a hybrid of a taco and pancake in hopes that I could attach it to molle webbing if desired, but prefer the opening on a "taco sheath".

Hooker · Nov 21, 2015

Quote Originally Posted by cricketdave View Post

Nice set and your home made sheath looks good. My Trash should be here tuesday, probably gonna have to fondle it for a minute an then straight to the exchange. Over spent with all the great deals lately lol.

Ickythump said:
Same boat..

Arrived Fri, listed Fri, sold Fri..

..just bailing water at the moment.

Nice collection and pics OP.

Understand completely. Always wanted a BATAC, but have spent way too much lately, and is too similar to the RMD and SOB to justify, even to this addicts mind.

breavis5694 · Nov 21, 2015

I apologize in the pictures I saw it was difficult to tell. Either way it will be fine, I noticed what it said on the website but there are crazy things written there sometimes, typos happen when the Johnny gets flowing.

I will love it like it's my own

MattinLA · Nov 21, 2015

My TRASH came in at 12.5 ounces...I love it I have one more on the way and they will both be keepers. I don't have a regular ASH1, but the Res-c is sooo comfy I don't wanna change it.

saniterra · Nov 23, 2015

I have two "fatty" ASH-1s, one which has magnum g-10 scales with black blade coating and one which has the flat scales in tan micarta with the satin finish blade. As I obtained both - in as-new condition from the "Buy, Sale Trade" portion of the Busse section of BladeForums.com. Both blades have the full flat grind and to all appearances are identical save the blade coating and scales. But for some reason the blade with the flat micarta scales seems to be the older of the two. I also purchased one of the BIG ASH-1 that had the thinner blade, paper micarta scales and the saber grind. For some reason I was not at all satisfied with the feel and heft of the BIG ASH and traded it off immediately. I don't believe that it was the saber grind that threw me, but I have a TRASH inbound so time may tell.

DTOM 1776 · Nov 24, 2015

Ickythump said:
Trash 1 is a saber grind.

I feel the very same way as to saber vs. FFG or full convex.

Prefer the FFG and full convex, I have a HHFSH Im considering selling/trading because it is a saber grind. If the Trash had a FFG, I might have kept it..

I have no practical experience as far as performance,,purely speaking aesthetics..

Another fan of FFG or Full Convex here.

The ASH-2 is interesting, but that "High Saber" is almost a deal killer for me. I've been using Busse and Kin knives for camping, hiking and testing since 2007 and can say FFG / FC is a superior performer in the field.

DTOM 1776 · Nov 24, 2015

Hooker said:
Can anyone give some insight as to when, in the ASH's history, that the grind was Full Flat grind vs. Saber. Which do you prefer and what would be their advantages?

I don't have any definitive dates on when the design changed, as they turn out all sorts of variants for Blade / Knob Creek / Ganzas. However, it SEEMS like the Saber ground ASHs came about with the Shop's re-release. All of the "earlier" or "original" ASHs I've owned (I think I've had close to a dozen) have been full flat. I've owned 0.1875 (Coated); 0.22 (Coated) and 0.31 (Coated, Double Cut and Satin).

Personally, I much prefer Full Flat or Full Convex blades. I've beat quite a few Busse and Kin through firewood (for week long camping trips and for testing). The finish wear you typically see at the "saber line" on a ...saber ground... knife is an indication that they "stick" at the line. FFG doesn't seem to do this. I also prefer FFG or FC for actual cutting because they seem to be more "fluid" while shaving fuzzy sticks or whatever.