ASH1SFNOor sth. else?

The SFNO thumb groove is perfect for choking up. Feels natural as everything is lined up from choil to thumb rest on the spine. Rock solid blade that is uber strong. .22 - .25 thick is perfect for use in this size blade.

I could never warm up to any TAC handles. I found the forward angle at the front of the slabs uncomfortable in use. Have never owned anything like it since.

SHSH review with pics by a SFNO & ASH.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=623546&highlight=SHSH+ASH
 
PorcupineMtns66 said:
You cannot go wrong with the SFNO.
The SFNO is just a tad longer than the ASH but the rear of it's handle is open so you can take a rear grip for light chopping, making the knife feel longer and chop better. Open rear handle is more comfortable when using it to baton.
I found that the ASH handles trap your hand and limit your ability to adjust your grip for the task at hand.
Click to expand...

Thanks for detailed explanation. I think the point you emphasised is right, though I guess L-shape handle of ASH1 could hook my hand firmly to ensure a easy chopping. Maybe it is not easy for me to clarify which effect is predominant in this length range until I get one of them in my hand and do some chopping.
 
PorcupineMtns66 said:
The SFNO thumb groove is perfect for choking up. Feels natural as everything is lined up from choil to thumb rest on the spine. Rock solid blade that is uber strong. .22 - .25 thick is perfect for use in this size blade.

I could never warm up to any TAC handles. I found the forward angle at the front of the slabs uncomfortable in use. Have never owned anything like it since.

SHSH review with pics by a SFNO & ASH.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=623546&highlight=SHSH+ASH
Click to expand...

Thank you for sharing experience and leting me know that great thread. My friend also says 0.22" is the best.:)
 
Jaxx said:
I don't think that you'll ever have to worry about the SFNO's thumb groove weakening the structure...I don't believe that I've ever seen any Busse broken at the ricasso (outside of an intentional destruction test video). They're overbuilt for hard use and strong as heck!

SFNO is 1-13/16 wide (+/-)
ASH-1 is 1-7/8 wide (+/-)

SFNO is .220" thick at the spine
ASH-1 CG is .320" thick, ASH-1 LE is .250" thick, Skinny ASH-1 is .187" thick at the spine

Welcome to the Forum, and Good Hunting! :)
Click to expand...


I believe the ASH LEs are .220" thick. ;)
It's the original SH-1s that are .250" thick.


My vote goes to ASH LE... all the way!!! :thumbup:


.
 
Lil' Foo said:
I believe the ASH LEs are .220" thick. ;)
It's the original SH-1s that are .250" thick.


My vote goes to ASH LE... all the way!!! :thumbup:


.
Click to expand...

Crap... My bad, that's a typo. :o Thanxx for pointing it out! :thumbup: I'll edit the post. :)
 
I never even used my ASH1, because it didn't feel right in my hand. SFNO is much better, to me. One small problem with the SFNO, if you choke back on the grip for more chop, the point of the skull crusher can dig into your palm. Some people have ground that point down to improve comfort.

btw, have you looked at the Swamp Rat Ratweiler or Chopweiler? I think the Ratweiler compares very well to the SFNO, for less money.
 
ASH-1 - VERY uncomfortable handles for me, after about an hour of use, I was bleeding and had very painful blisters that did not heal for two weeks. I have large hands, and my hand was like 8 fat women crammed into a small car then whipped around in a parking lot. There's bound to be some chafing. See here -

busseblister2.jpg


busseblister1.jpg


Don't let that discourage you, with gloves it could have been a comfortable knife, or with normal sized hands it would be fine, it just did not fit me.

Pros -

Tremendously unbreakable. End of the world tough, this is why Busses are called "sharpened prybars".

Takes a good edge -

After convexing and polishing, it could easily make hair fuzzies. Not bad for a knife 1/3 inch thick!

hairsplit.jpg


Chopped GREAT for a knife its size. It's weight really helped matters, as did the thinned out edge. It's not a battle mistress, but it could hold its own in its size category!

safequeen4.jpg


As for the SFNO, I don't have any experience besides the NMSFNO. Good all around blade, the fusion style handles are more secure, but blistering was not a problem with the sfno. Good chopper, lousy stock edge (I don't know if the SFNOs are the same), good overall blade.

I think you'll be happy with either one, they're both EXTREMELY tough and will serve you well.
 
resinguy said:
I never even used my ASH1, because it didn't feel right in my hand. SFNO is much better, to me. One small problem with the SFNO, if you choke back on the grip for more chop, the point of the skull crusher can dig into your palm. Some people have ground that point down to improve comfort.

btw, have you looked at the Swamp Rat Ratweiler or Chopweiler? I think the Ratweiler compares very well to the SFNO, for less money.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing the experience. Maybe I could avod the problem for my middle size hands. From the side by side photos, on the balde/handle ratio, I prefer ASH1.

I have checked out Swamp Rat Ratweiler and Chopweiler and find its shape is less attractive than those Busses for me.
 
230grains said:
ASH-1 - VERY uncomfortable handles for me, after about an hour of use, I was bleeding and had very painful blisters that did not heal for two weeks. I have large hands, and my hand was like 8 fat women crammed into a small car then whipped around in a parking lot. There's bound to be some chafing. See here -

busseblister2.jpg


busseblister1.jpg


Don't let that discourage you, with gloves it could have been a comfortable knife, or with normal sized hands it would be fine, it just did not fit me.

Pros -

Tremendously unbreakable. End of the world tough, this is why Busses are called "sharpened prybars".

Takes a good edge -

After convexing and polishing, it could easily make hair fuzzies. Not bad for a knife 1/3 inch thick!

hairsplit.jpg


Chopped GREAT for a knife its size. It's weight really helped matters, as did the thinned out edge. It's not a battle mistress, but it could hold its own in its size category!

safequeen4.jpg


As for the SFNO, I don't have any experience besides the NMSFNO. Good all around blade, the fusion style handles are more secure, but blistering was not a problem with the sfno. Good chopper, lousy stock edge (I don't know if the SFNOs are the same), good overall blade.

I think you'll be happy with either one, they're both EXTREMELY tough and will serve you well.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing the experrience and the great shots and so sorry for the blisters. I think I could feel easy with that because I don't have huge hands which could compare with 8 FAT women:D but at the same time, I wonder if its handle is too big to grasp for me having 17.8cm(7") long hands measuring from the tip of the middle finger to the end of palm.

I notice the tip of the ASH1 in one picture is missing. What kind of job cause that tragedy?
 
liebealt said:
I notice the tip of the ASH1 in one picture is missing. What kind of job cause that tragedy?
Click to expand...

It looks like it isn't missing but instead is hidden after it cut thru that leaf.

I think your hand measurements would be fine on either the ASH or SFNO.
 
PorcupineMtns66 said:
It looks like it isn't missing but instead is hidden after it cut thru that leaf.

I think your hand measurements would be fine on either the ASH or SFNO.
Click to expand...


Exactly! I made a funny mistake:p. Thanks for pointing it out. I am glad to hear that good news, thanks again.
 
I have had both, still have my SFNO. I did end up missing my ASH enough to buy another, should be here next week. This time I went with standard scales on .32 instead of Mags. I have larger hands as well so it wasnt because of that, I just thought Id try it out and see which I liked better. The SFNO is more comfortable to me than the ASH with mags...but .32 has great force behind each swing for chopping. I'd say get both and sell the one you like least...it will be close though, they are both awesome knives.
 
I have a CG Ash1. At .32 or so thick it is a tank. I think the handle is comfy and have never gotten a blister from it. I have however had a bit of pinky pinch from extended chopping.

Now, when I talk about extended chopping, I am talking more along the lines of 20-30 minute chopping sessions. I have a FBMLE, so real heavy chopping usually goes to that.

For a mid sized knife it depends on what you are looking for.

If I was actually using the knife for combat, I would pick the Ash1 (the skinny's are lighter, and I would probably go that route if I was actually packing around a soldier's gear all day).

The Ash1 design is one of the most secure in the grip designs I have ever used. You can stab and hammer with it with no fear of loosing your grip.

That said, the downward steel on the back of the handle does limit grip options, You can't move your hand back on it to make for better chopping.

The CG version is not too heavy for me for hiking etc (but then again, I am not climbing mount everest).

The SFNO has a bit more belly on the blade and would make a better all arounder in that size range. (I am talking about the original SFNO). As a general use knife, this one has more going for it. Better for chopping, better for general purposes than the handle design on the Ash1. You can do all the stuff you want with the Ash1, but the SFNO, outside actual combat, I think is just a more versatile design.

There is a reason the prices on them went way higher for quite a while on the secondary market than the Ash1. The Saber ground are the best looking versions I think, but the full height would probably be a bit better at slicing etc.

The new Nuclear Meltdown verison of the SFNO is a great all arounder. It chops decent, and has a very versatile design, but it is longer by a whole inch that the original.


Which ever design you end up with, I think you will love.

I really don't care for the TAC handle looks, but once you take the TankBuster, and take off the choil, and see the flat but version it looks great.

IMG_1964.jpg

IMG_1970.jpg

IMG_1972.jpg



Hope that helps.
 
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liebealt said:
Thanks for the brilliant shots and suggestion. Would you like to talk about how don't they feel well in use in more details?

The informations about Tank Buster I have got show it is 10.75" overall with a 5.25" blade lengt, which seems not correspond to the comparison with SFNO through the shots. That puzzles me.
Click to expand...


the most recent run of tankbusters are 12 with a little more then 6 inch blade. sounds great for what you need it to do.
 
liebealt said:
Thanks for the brilliant shots and suggestion. Would you like to talk about how don't they feel well in use in more details?

The informations about Tank Buster I have got show it is 10.75" overall with a 5.25" blade lengt, which seems not correspond to the comparison with SFNO through the shots. That puzzles me.
Click to expand...

The Tank Buster is almost 12" long

I got a SFNO because everyone said it was the best all around Busse

But it did not feel good when using it.

Love the way it LOOKS--but did not chop Mesquite very well and was too big for other things I use a knife for.

I got a NMSFNO in Trade for it and like it a lot better than the SFNO

The Tank Buster(TO ME) feels a lot better in use cpmpared to the SFNO
Easier to control and it chops better than the SFNO and the ASH-1--at least it does to me.

You will have to try out different Busses before you find the PERFECT one for you,

here is another comparison photo

FROM TOP DOWN
NMSFNO.TANK BUSTER,ASH-1(CG) AND BATAC

Picture016.jpg
 
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