SFNO or ASH

I like the blade shape of the SFNO more than any Busse, but the handle should drive your decision -- the ASH-1 and SFNO feel pretty different in-hand.

If I had to choose, I'd go with the ASH-1 because the handle is more comfortable ... for me. Tough to say which you'll prefer. The only thing I can say is my hands aren't big and the SFNO is a pretty big-handled knife. Comfortable, yes, but not quite as comfortable and secure as the ASH-1 is in my hand.

The CG-ASH-1 is rock solid in-hand, but you've got to have a use for that thick .32" blade. The ASH-1 LE feels almost as good and may be my favorite Busse period. The Skinny ASH-1 is a great user, but the handle is a touch ... skinny.

The NMSFNO is another knife to consider. It has a longer blade and may not quite rival the SFNO in looks, but the length is versatile and the handle and blade balance really well.


John
 
I own a BATAC LE, two .320 thick ASH knives, and a SFNO LE. Best comfort and all around knife SFNO. BUT! if you really want to get a knife that will take you anywhere in the world and back that is not too big get a HH FSH I also have one of those and it is an incredible knife. I would pick that knife even over my FBM knives.
 
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I had a sfno, skinny ash and cg ash - sold em all.

My Tankbuster, NMSFNO and SARsquatch all feel better to me.

It doesn't get more comfy than the Tankbusters versatile handle IMHO...
 
I recently bought a SFNO and ASH LE. I have small hands and the ASH is a better feeling knife to me in the hand. I also like how my hand is more secure. I have a SAR 6 that I don't like very much because of my hand slipping around on it.
 
smccabe17 said:
I recently bought a SFNO and ASH LE. I have small hands and the ASH is a better feeling knife to me in the hand. I also like how my hand is more secure. I have a SAR 6 that I don't like very much because of my hand slipping around on it.
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Funny you should mention that. I think the SAR6 is a viable option for someone looking at an SFNO and an ASH-1. (My hands are barely on the large side of medium.) The other night I was comparing the feel and balance of a few Busses in that size family I recently obtained and I rank them this way:

SAR6 > SFNO recurve w/ G10 mags > ASH-1 handshaped G10 0.220".

I agree that hand size is going to make a difference. Maybe people should always provide hand/finger specifications when recommending preferences like this :D. I like all three and, obviously, they each have quite a different feel. The SAR6 is looking like a "steel" of a deal to me.
 
LightGuy, since you specifically asked about comfort of handles and not performance I enlisted my fiancee to help out with this.

First, you did not mention whether your BATac was standard or mags and whether it was thin .187 or thick .27 but both of us prefer the feel of standard handles on the thinner blade in that handle shape so maybe that may help you a bit.

Next, I took almost all of my midsized blades and had her rate them with her small hands and then I rated them with my XXL hands strictly by the feel of the handles and not by user preference. We don't have access to any medium size hands here or I would have included that info. Here are also a couple of size comparison shots for you to get an idea of hand size differences followed by handle preference.

Hers vs mine on standard 8 1/2 x 11" printer paper:
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Hers vs mine holding a 1911 (something you could easily do at a gun shop if you don't have one):
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Her hand on a BOSS Jack vs mine (something you said you have):
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Her order of preference vs mine:
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What I have deduced from this little test is that a mag handled ASH1 will feel better across the board then a SFNO of either standard or mag handles, but a hand smoothed mag SFNO may feel just as good. A hand smoothed mag ASH1 should feel the best of all. You can always sand down your handles a bit to make them fit your hand better as you see with the hell razor in the middle which made it feel better than the machined mag SFNO to both of our hands. Neither one of us liked the feel of standard handles on the two flat ground SFNO's I have previously sold.

I hope this helps with your question about the handles a bit, but you may actually have to hold both to know for sure. I have never had a problem with pinky bite on an ASH, just with a standard handled snake cgfbm. You can sand sharp spots down if you need to.
 
Ash1 for me :) The handle is the most comfortable out of all Busse's I have/had :)
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Here another comparison shot, just because I like taking pictures and it fits the topic :D

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I used the ASH-1 LE much more (just because I got it first) and I'm extremely happy with it. No pinky whatsoever, maybe because I would rather take a 8 inch+ blade with me if I expected extended chopping sessions. If you need that, the NMSFNO is a winner. The handle of the (NM)SFNO is more comfortable to me than the ASH, but the ASH-1 LE is the lightest and overall shortest out of those three which makes it more comfortable to carry on your belt. I cannot speak for the ASH-1 CG and the flat ground SFNO. They must feel very different from the knives I have. Meaning: You actually have to compare 5 knives:

1. ASH-1 skinny
2. ASH-1 LE
3. ASH-1 CG
4. SFNO saber
5. SFNO flat

If you take the NMSFNO into consideration you enter a different category (HHFSH, FSH, TG, ...)

Cheers,

A-S
 
I love my ASHes!! I would have to say having never held a SFNO I would still get an ASH but I would go middle ground and get the LE .I have a skinny(mags) and a CG (standard) and they are both comfortable enought to sleep in :) The only real issues are Skinny, CG or LE and what handle type and color , do you need to travel light(skinny) do you need to hang a car from it (CG) do you want all around strength and utility (LE) but really you can hang a car from all three just the CG can be heavy to carry but not to use OMHO.
 
I have/had the ASH LE, Skinny ASH, and SFNO LE.
I kept the Skinny, and the SFNO.
there is the common comment about the SFNO "it's too much handle for the given blade lenght..." etc, etc...BUT I've found that there is a reason behind. if you choke up the blade the relatively meaty handle balances PERFECTLY the blade for working with the blade without any fatique. Just try it. the ASH is less comfortable (for me) when I do finer tasks close to the choil.
For a "one knife"- I would go for the SFNO. (maybe the skull crusher sanded down...)

I keep my ASH in the car as a "just in case" user. for military utility or whatnot, the ASH might be the better choice.
 
Having handled most of the ASH's and a sabre- and flat-ground SFNO, the clear choice for me was the Skinny ASH and then a little sanding to make it perfect. I have a size 9.5 hand or a Medium/Large.

The biggest drawback to the SFNO design is how long the ricasso is. The edge of the blade is a long way from your index finger unless you use the choil and then your hand is spread out and you fight the thumb scoop on the spine. With the ASH, the edge of the blade is much closer to your index finger w/o choking up and is much easier to use for a variety of tasks. If you use the choil with the ASH, the palm of your hand folds smoothly over the spine with no humps/scoops to create hot spots and your fingers stay closer together, allowing a stronger and more secure grip.

Neither are a true chopper but at least the ASH has a round butt, the skull crusher on the SFNO bites into the palm of your hand when you slide back on the handle. IMO, the SFNO is one of the most overrated knives in the Busse line but let me be clear, it is still an AMAZING knife. I just think there's a lot of hype around it.

Here's my ASH, on it's way to becoming more (??) perfect:
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and then with a little more elbow grease:

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I have been working on this knife for a few years, on and off, as my skills improve and confidence grows. My goal is a SHASH, inspired by knives I can never afford such as the old A2 SHs. Then the Bushwhacker Steel Heart Protos came out and it's like Jerry read my mind......will never afford one of those either so I keep sanding. I certainly mean no offense to those who designed and built this knife and want to thank the entire Busse crew for making such an amazing product. Please don't lump me in with others who have openly disdained the crew by modding knives and talking junk.

Silverdragon started the mods on the bird's beak but I took over from there. Stripped the coating, sanded off the bird's beak, rounded the butt, reduced the palm swell, sanded down the mags by hand, and am working up a killer convex edge. It's seen a lot of sanding on the blade since these were taken so it's not so fugly anymore. I probably need to replace the tube fasteners with screws and standoffs since they have been sanded down so far. Funny, I had always read the skinny ASHes were fully convexed and part of why I chose one but I don't think that's the case for all of them.

I love this knife.
 
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