Can someone tell me about the ash-1?

clich

clich

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
6,901
Hey guys,

My first busse post, and its probably been asked and discussed but my search function doesn't want to work properly, or my question is too deep in the archives (since all my search function returns in for sale threads).

Anyway, I never really took a look at busse before, mainly for lack of funds, but something caught my eye and now I am obsessing about it. The ASH-1. like I said I don't frequent the busse forum or the busse exchange, but someone had one of these beauties in another thread on the regular exchange. Id like to know more about it, and what the community thinks about it. Do you like the thick or the thin version? What's the story on this blade? What does ASH stand for? What are other variations since each seems a little different from the last? Etc etc etc. I just like to know everything about it so I can obsess some more while I put together the funds to get one.

Btw, im sure this info is SOMEWHERE I just don't know where to look, so if you have a link to it or can point me in the right direction, please post it for me so I can do the learning on my own and stop cluttering up your forum :D Thanks guys

EDIT: also since im new to busse, what should I know about owning one? Care? Warranty? Etc. Thanks again
 
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If I'm not mistaken ASH-1 stands for Anniversary Steel Heart One. One of the very first Busse knives was the Steel Heart and it was pretty much if not exactly made to the specs of the ASH-1 with the exception that it was more than likely .25" thick and probably made of A2. So it's just a remake of the original model from way back but this time out of INFI and this time in crazy thicknesses.

I myself just purchased an ASH-1 this week. You won't regret it. I have a Battle Mistress, Game Warden, Boss Street, Badger-E, and some of their swords, but I was missing something in the middle... something big enough to do light chopping but still reasonably sized so I could carry it on my belt no matter what activity I was doing. That ASH-1 did the trick. It's probably the perfect sized general purpose knife. The only two things it doesn't do well is small delicate cutting chores (like fine slicing and delicate carving) but I have little thin pack knives for that. And it doesn't conceal well if you ever wanted too... it's kind of a chunky pig LOL. Now of course the limiting factor in both of those could always be me.

Things you wanna know about Busse... the warranty is bullet proof. Pretty much unless you intentionally destroy the knife Jerry will back up his product. If it fails you... he'll make it right. You can see some of the abuse they can take online if you do a search for busse torture test. So if you actually put the knife towards actual knife type chores... it will last 100 lifetimes. Care is pretty minimal. Just keep it clean and maybe put a light coat of mineral oil on the blade. INFI doesn't rust easily. You really have to neglect it before it rusts. Though I admit I've never exposed my Busses to Salt Water as I don't live near the ocean. But I have exposed them to millions of gallons of lake and river water without issue. I hear lot's of folks talk about INFI. Some folks say "It's no better than this steel" or "It's just like that steel". Here is what I know, it holds its edge as long or longer than any premium steel I've ever used... this includes A2, D2, 1095, 5160, M2, M4, CPM 3V, S30V, S60V, S90V and S110V and others I'm sure I'm forgetting. BUT (and this is huge) some how it's easy to sharpen. I swear it's as easy as cheap 440C or AUS 8A to sharpen. But it stays sharp forever... which blows my mind. Given that... somehow it's super tough as well. Usually blades that hold their edges really well are super hard and can easily chip or crack. You can beat on INFI all day long and it's more apt to ding, dent, or bend than chip, crack, or break. And it doesn't readily rust, so you get the performance of carbon steel with the rust resistance of some stainless steels. And I swear it feels lighter than other steels. My .32" thick Gladius is a pig but it doesn't feel as heavy as it should. Even my new ASH-1 feels lighter than it should and it's a pig as well. I don't know how Jerry does it but he got it right on INFI. I don't care if it's made of Pop-tart crumbs and baby seal tears... it's the best steel I've ever used.
 
Awesome reply infi-del. Thank you. My favorite knives that I own now are the bk2 and an esee 5 since I love thick chunks of steel. .32 is gonna be a dream come true for me I think. Is the ash-1 regularly produced that I can get one straight from jerry, or do I have to get one out of the exchange? How does ordering go? I imagine a long wait list
 
They are not offered from Busse directly, per se, as you cannot call them up and order one, but you can find Busse selling them at shows they visit. With that said if you really REALLY want one exactly to your specs and have some cash, you can commission the Busse Custom Shop to make you one to your liking, but I think it runs about $100 per inch.

Youre best bet is the exchange and you will easily find one - there are a few for sale right now, one with sweet Okuden pants. They arent too badly marked up and prepare to pay around $400 +/- $25.

The Combat Grade ASH1 was too thick for me at .32" - the Skinny ASH at .19" was much much nicer and there are a bunch of .22" out there as well - a lot of the newer Combat Grades that are at shows seem to be this .22" thickness. If you love them thick, you will love the .32" ASH1 - there really is nothing else like it.

My only gripe and the reason I sold my Skinny was that I would get pretty bad "pinky pinch" from the end of the handle when chopping... I prefer large Busses that dont have the curved butt for this reason like the TankBuster, SARQ or NMSFNO.

Enjoy and welcome to the madness and forthcoming debt :D

EDIT: Here is an older pic of my muddy Skinny ASH - to give you an idea on similarly sized Busses, thats a Tankbuster (.25") on the left and a SARSquatch (.19") on the right and then a NMSFNO (.25") to the right of the SARQ. I still have the SARQ and NMSFNO - love them both to death. Sold my Skinny and Tankbuster - regret selling the TB and am looking to buy another. If the Skinny had a straighter handle with no pinky pincher it would be perfection.

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Clich, Welcome to the forum:) The ASH1 is Anniversary Steel Heart 1 (they make a steel heart 2 also) The .320 version is closest to your BK2, but Bigger:) The ASH1 feels like a hand ax:) and is an awsome stabber. They were available for quite a while in 2008, and now they show up at shows in different variations. Watch the exchange or post a "want to buy" in the wanted to buy area.

The LE is my all around favorite, but the .320 fatty feels great in the hand.
Al


clich said:
Awesome reply infi-del. Thank you. My favorite knives that I own now are the bk2 and an esee 5 since I love thick chunks of steel. .32 is gonna be a dream come true for me I think. Is the ash-1 regularly produced that I can get one straight from jerry, or do I have to get one out of the exchange? How does ordering go? I imagine a long wait list
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azwelke said:
Clich, Welcome to the forum:) The ASH1 is Anniversary Steel Heart 1 (they make a steel heart 2 also) The .320 version is closest to your BK2, but Bigger:) The ASH1 feels like a hand ax:) and is an awsome stabber. They were available for quite a while in 2008, and now they show up at shows in different variations. Watch the exchange or post a "want to buy" in the wanted to buy area.

The LE is my all around favorite, but the .320 fatty feels great in the hand.
Al
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Does that mean you have one to make a sheath for me when I can finally pull the trigger? :D. Def going with the. 32 version. Now its time to wrangle up the stragglers in the collection, get em to the exchange to fund this. Im pumped. I really think this can be my go to blade. Thanks to everyone for their responses. What different types of colors do they come in? Anyone have a pic of the different variations?
 
Yes! I sure do! :D Mine all have magnum handles.
I have an LE, a CG .320, and a HOG ASH .328:eek: and Jerry signed my HOG ASH too!
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clich said:
Does that mean you have one to make a sheath for me when I can finally pull the trigger? :D. Def going with the. 32 version. Now its time to wrangle up the stragglers in the collection, get em to the exchange to fund this. Im pumped. I really think this can be my go to blade. Thanks to everyone for their responses. What different types of colors do they come in? Anyone have a pic of the different variations?
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What's a magnum handle? There are different handles? This is more in depth than I thought. Anything else that varies?
 
clich said:
What's a magnum handle? There are different handles? This is more in depth than I thought. Anything else that varies?
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The Magnums have the swells, the standards are flat. Mine are machined as well, some may come smooth.
Al
 
Click HERE for the original offer. (Brought to you by the Wayback Machine.)

The Skinny ASH was offered a little later at the Company Store.
 
JohnTheTexican said:
Click HERE for the original offer. (Brought to you by the Wayback Machine.)

The Skinny ASH was offered a little later at the Company Store.
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Thanks for the link man. I think I really want the black blade with tan micarta magnum handles .32 version. I hear that ya guys like the skinny, but like I said I love thick steel. I wanna feel like I ain't gonna break it with use (not that it would its just a comfort thing) I see a couple for sale with tan and green blades, but for my first one I think im going to look hard for the exact one (or very similar) I want.

Another question, how's the coating hold up to use?
 
clich said:
Does that mean you have one to make a sheath for me when I can finally pull the trigger? :D. Def going with the. 32 version.
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azwelke just made me a sheath for my ASH-1. Really nice work, and super fast turn around time. That's the way to go. I chose the pancake style but fold over (taco) style is also available.
 
I'm waiting on my Buy Brown sheath to arrive for my Skinny Ash any day now.
The reason why I chose the Skinny over the thicker steels is because…..well,… It's INFI. The Skinny is still going to be MUCH MORE stronger than any other knife out there that is much thicker. I still want the knife to be a good slice while being brutally strong. Hence the reason why I got the Skinny Ash.
 
clich said:
yeh i saw that, and its the thick one, but he doesnt take paypal :( I dont send untraceable money orders anywhere even for a $20 knife let alone a $400 one. Thanks tho, i appreciate it. I may end up going witha .22 version to. saw a guy (dealer?) having an infi sell off and he had 4 .22's.
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I understand. he does have good feedback though.
 
clich said:
yeh i saw that, and its the thick one, but he doesnt take paypal :( I dont send untraceable money orders anywhere even for a $20 knife let alone a $400 one. Thanks tho, i appreciate it. I may end up going witha .22 version to. saw a guy (dealer?) having an infi sell off and he had 4 .22's.
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You could always send it in a Priority letter envelope with a D/C or Sig/C. This way would allow you to trace it. Might cost more, but still probably cheaper than PP. ;)
Both lunde & knife hunter are good fellas. You can't go wrong dealing with either. :thumbup:

Good Hunting! Any version of the ASH-1 is a great knife. I kinda like 'em, myself...

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:D
 
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