Handle Comfort - FSH, SFNO, ASH1

LightGuy

LightGuy

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Sep 12, 2010
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So for someone looking for a Busse medium chopper who is concerned about ergonomics, which handle would you say based on your own experience feels the best to you in the hand?

Also for each knife, do you prefer mags or no mags?

  • FSH
  • SFNO
  • ASH1

Now I know a common reaction is it is all personal preference and each person just needs to make their own determination, but in the lack of a brick and mortar store where you can handle the knives, your personal experience is the next best thing!
 
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The ASH gave me pinkey burn...

FSH and NMSFNO chop like you would expect a Busse to chop...


Can't go wrong with either. Pick the one you like best.
 
I think you need to be more specific with the ASH1, you have to say how thick the blade you are talking about, the CG are .32", (SE, LE, CS) are .22" and the skinny is about .187"
There are also different thickness in the FSH, like the HOGFSH, HHFSH, and standard FSH. The SFNO is usually .22" but there are fat ones out there too...
 
SFNO
FSH











ASH


In that order.

Whether or not I prefer mags depends on the thickness of the knife in question.
 
i dont like the ash that much.but i have a hogfsh [.32in thick]with standard handles and love it.also have a nmsfno,the nmsfno came standard with mags and it feels the best to me out of those 3.
 
For a chopper,

I'd go with the FSH because of the fusion handle.

Then the SFNO

Then the Ash-1
 
I'd look no further than a sabre-grind SFNO or NM SFNO with machined mags. The rear of the handle is open allowing you to slip your hand back on the handle allowing better bite into wood. They both carry light.
The NM SFNO is my favorite do-all Busse.

The FSH is a heavy blade for it's size and chops well but it doesn't belt carry too well if your out hiking. You'll get pinky-finger blisters from the fusion handle.

The ASH handle is tight for large hands. Add gloves and even more so. Your limited to handle grips because your hand is sandwiched between guard and talon holes. It doesn't chop well either.

Just my personal opinions after having and selling many models.

If I were to have one Busse, it's the NM SFNO.
 
FSH with handshaped mags or standard machined. Machined mags are a little too much however the beauty of them is you can always sand down but you can't add to. ;)

The SF handles can be really comfy to many people, but not without extensive sanding for me.

The ASH is not much of a chopper unless you hook your middle finger where everyone complains about pinky bite and do the rock & chop or wrist snap. The handles are very comfortable though if your hand is big enough to fill it so it can't move. The thinner ash's are my favorite of the ASH line, especially ones with skinny handles like the SE or 3B2. VERY comfy.
 
LightGuy - I was the previous owner of that BATACLE that you had and I agreed with all your comments on it so we might have similar preferences in handle comfort.

I have handled some FSH but have not chopped with one and don't own one so I cannot comment on it.

I would not recommend the ASH as a chopper. It has a comfortable handle for general use but it is too small to be a decent chopper. But I only have a Skinny, a LE and a .22, not the CG which is thicker & heavier so I cannot comment on the CG.

The NMSFNO is a decent chopper and comfortable. The LE has smooth scales which is more comfortable for bare hands.

For me however, by far the most comfortable medium sized Busse that is also a reasonable chopper is one that you did not ask about - the SAR-8 (especially with a forward lanyard - makes a huge difference in comfort because you don't have to constantly maintain such a tight grip and because of the handle shape you can grip it as far forward or back as you want without it flying out of your hand).

Another very comfortable, great mid-size is the Chopweiler.

I just got a CF SARSquatch a few days ago. It is also very comfortable but I have not used it yet. I will let you know how it does.
 
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I'll start off with the fact that I like thin handles. I have big hands but they are meaty, so mags just take up too much room for me. I have made my living using hand tools for the better part of my life and I would have to say the Fusion design is one of the best out there. I keep a grip on my tools, so I really don't have the issue with "pinky burn" that I read so much about. The ASH 1 handle design fits like a glove, but doesn't give versatility for as much multi grip as I would want. The SFNO was a grail for me, that was until I got one. It is one of the sexiest looking knives I've ever seen, but is just plain uncomfortable to me. It has been quite some time since I owned one and can't remember the specifics, but I remember selling fast after using them.

Personally I like the EU, Fusion, TAC and the newer handles on the DSSF and BOSS Jacks the best.
So out of the choices, I would recommend:
FSH
ASH 1
SFNO
 
Thanks for all the insights and opinions! This really helps. I've been drooling over an ASH1 I've had as my wallpaper for a year now. I've heard a lot of issues with pinky bite, but there have also been plenty that have said the handle is comfortable to them.

I've been eyeing the SFNO/NMSFNO as well, but for some reason just never pulled the trigger. I've had the BATAC and wasn't at all happy with the feel of that handle and ended up selling it. My Boss Jack was too skinny, but the liners made it perfect now.

So I've had a few "ergo" issues with the Busses, and want one I can feel confident with and enjoy using for the chopping they are meant to do.

I never seriously considered the FSH due to the higher cost for a nice mint one in satin and mags, but I found one within my price range and...pulled the trigger!!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=831263

I'm seriously stoked about getting this blade. Based on your responses, I should be pleased with the handle. The good news is it has mags, and if they need sanded down then that will be an option. But, they may be fine as is.

Point is - I got my chopper!!
 
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