Skinny ash or SAR6

high desert

high desert

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May 20, 2009
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Looking for a camp knife. I want to be able to butch deer and elk and use it for food prep and it must have a handle that is comfortable for long periods of use. I like the blade shape of the ash, but there are a lot of comments about the grip. I were a large glove no problem, so I would say I have med to large hands. Chopping is not high on my list as I will have my B-11. The only thing I see these two knives have in common is about a 6+ inch blade. Would one offer an advantage to the other as a woods knife?
 
Well, the good news is if you buy the wrong one, it's still a great knife. ;)
 
Of those two, I would go SAR6. But since you already have a B11, I would suggest a Boss Jack instead. I think it is a better general purpose blade as it is a little thinner and lighter. The other two are heavier so they can handle chopping too but ya got that covered already with the B11.
 
high desert said:
I want to be able to butch deer and elk and use it for food prep and it must have a handle that is comfortable for long periods of use. (...) Chopping is not high on my list (...)
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For the intended use I'd prefer a dc or satin finish. The SAR-6 comes with a satin finish out of the box - the skinny ASH doesn't. So you'd have to strip it yourself or have it made. Alternatively you could go for a ASH-1 LE which is only slightly thicker than the skinny, but the price difference is noticable.

If you don't chop alot I wouldn't worry about the ASH handle. I also have glove "L" hands and the handle fits nicely with or without gloves.

I think the standard satin finish on the SAR-6 would convince me to to prefer it over the skinny ASH. However, if money doesn't count, the ASH-1 LE is a worthy substitute.
 
I dont own a SAR6 but had a SAR4 and Skinny ASH.

For camp work and butchering I would definitely go for a SAR over the Skinny ASH - the handle on the SKinny was always a little limiting when I needed to switch grips for finer work - the height of the blade was also not my favorite for lighter work and food prep.

I would definitely go SAR6 and absolutely go for a BJ LE like Bill mentioned - you get satin and a nice and thin and light blade for more detail and better control. Look at Ratmandeux LE also.
 
sar-6,,,,it has a zero edge,very nice thin sharp point and no coating:thumbup:
 
Al-Sheikh said:
For the intended use I'd prefer a dc or satin finish. The SAR-6 comes with a satin finish out of the box - the skinny ASH doesn't. So you'd have to strip it yourself or have it made. Alternatively you could go for a ASH-1 LE which is only slightly thicker than the skinny, but the price difference is noticable.

If you don't chop alot I wouldn't worry about the ASH handle. I also have glove "L" hands and the handle fits nicely with or without gloves.

I think the standard satin finish on the SAR-6 would convince me to to prefer it over the skinny ASH. However, if money doesn't count, the ASH-1 LE is a worthy substitute.
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Both great but definitely agree with going satin on a blade you're going to use on animals. I own ASH-1 .32" in satin, SAR-6, ASH-1 Skinny and ASH-1 LE. +1 on the ASH-1 LE. It's the one I'd grab if I were only to take one knife to a hunting camp to use for both camp chores and processing animals. Hypothetical of course as when I head to the hunting camp gear bag is never filled with less than 5-6 good blades :)
 
Bill Siegle said:
Of those two, I would go SAR6. But since you already have a B11, I would suggest a Boss Jack instead. I think it is a better general purpose blade as it is a little thinner and lighter. The other two are heavier so they can handle chopping too but ya got that covered already with the B11.
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For some reason I have overlooked the boss jack. I think in my mind I classified it more of a fighter. I like the fact that it's lighter and the handle shape looks great.

Lots of good feedback so far. Thanks
 
I owned a skinny I stripped and ghetto satined myself and sold it for a SAR6. The 6 as similar as it is seamed to lend itself to a more versatile knife. The skinny was great but the grip was very task specific. If you weren't using it for the few things it did well, it was awkward. The 6 is a more relaxed design. Smoother lines and transitions. Closer to a woods shape but every bit of a do all (including chop) tough knife. I love my pumpkin SAR6. Its the last knife of its size and weight that i'll buy...

And then I got a pumpkin cg boss jack. Whoa! Yes. It is more of a fighter but its definitely a light all round perfect camp knife like the 6 but minus the weight. I again stripped it to find it was a practically satin zero convex blade underneath. Its quikc and light and still more stout than a smaller knife. The only thing the sar6 has over the BJ is its chopability.

Choose wisely.
 
adrock1978 said:
I owned a skinny I stripped and ghetto satined myself and sold it for a SAR6. The 6 as similar as it is seamed to lend itself to a more versatile knife. The skinny was great but the grip was very task specific. If you weren't using it for the few things it did well, it was awkward. The 6 is a more relaxed design. Smoother lines and transitions. Closer to a woods shape but every bit of a do all (including chop) tough knife. I love my pumpkin SAR6. Its the last knife of its size and weight that i'll buy...

And then I got a pumpkin cg boss jack. Whoa! Yes. It is more of a fighter but its definitely a light all round perfect camp knife like the 6 but minus the weight. I again stripped it to find it was a practically satin zero convex blade underneath. Its quikc and light and still more stout than a smaller knife. The only thing the sar6 has over the BJ is its chopability.

Choose wisely.
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I appreciate the comparison. I want a lighter belt knife and have the b-11 for chopping. It appears the boss jack fits my needs the best. How about tip strength in the boss jack?
 
I have both. the skinny ash is cheaper not to mention, I think better feeling in the hand. a classic. but get the .22 thick
 
you can't go wrong with either the ash-1 or sar-6. both are top notch and in the same class.:thumbup:




.
 
I much prefer any ASH-1 (CG, LE, Skinny) to the SAR-6, but that's only because the Fusion handle is comfortable for me and the SAR handle is not. As you can tell from the posts above, many love Busse's SAR knives.

There's nothing like holding both in your hands -- you'd know which you prefer in an instant. For me, there is only one way to hold the ASH-1's Fusion handle, but that way is solid, secure, and comfortable for my relatively small hands. Even though the LE is my favorite ASH-1 due to its balance of feel and utility, the feel of the thick and hefty CG in hand is unique and very satisfying.

With the SAR, I don't know quite where to grab it since it's a simpler, less sculpted design. The advantage of the SAR is that you can hold it many different ways (front, back, middle). One thing I do like about the SAR handle is that you can easily grip it in the back (with your palm almost on the top rear corner) if you need some extension of the blade. The Fusion handle, by contrast, locks you in.

John
 
I have held all three.

I owned the CGAsh1, and have butchered an elk with it, and used it hiking and camping.

The grip is fantastic for combat. In the sense that you can stab and pound with a very secure feeling. It is less ideal for extended chopping and other tasts.

The Sar6 has a giant handle, with room to move your hand forward or backward as the need strikes you. The handle is weighty. It would make a great general camp knife.

Don't discount the Boss Jack either. They are awesome in the hand. Shorter blade height from edge to spine may make for a better design for getting up in the elk etc.

What you will give up with the Boss Jack is overall chopping ability when compared to the SAR6. Still an awesome knife, and is indeed a great general purpose knife from a camp chore stand point. You can get the .22 CG or the LE with the skinny blade.

Either will be an instant classic! I love the original, but I have to say that the new Boss version is actually better! The grip is better, with a bit more height in the handle where the pointer finger goes. The CG, especially can't be beat from a price point consideration.

Not mentioned in your list, is the SarQ. A great general camp knife. Not too thick, not too thin, chops great for it's size. It may be a bit long for actually gutting, But I think it is manageable. One of my favorite mid size Busse. The only thing I could ask for to improve on it, would be a slightly taller blade height (just so the talon hole was not below the edge for use on the cutting board.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I have held all three.

I owned the CGAsh1, and have butchered an elk with it, and used it hiking and camping.

The grip is fantastic for combat. In the sense that you can stab and pound with a very secure feeling. It is less ideal for extended chopping and other tasts.

The Sar6 has a giant handle, with room to move your hand forward or backward as the need strikes you. The handle is weighty. It would make a great general camp knife.

Don't discount the Boss Jack either. They are awesome in the hand. Shorter blade height from edge to spine may make for a better design for getting up in the elk etc.

What you will give up with the Boss Jack is overall chopping ability when compared to the SAR6. Still an awesome knife, and is indeed a great general purpose knife from a camp chore stand point. You can get the .22 CG or the LE with the skinny blade.

Either will be an instant classic! I love the original, but I have to say that the new Boss version is actually better! The grip is better, with a bit more height in the handle where the pointer finger goes. The CG, especially can't be beat from a price point consideration.

Not mentioned in your list, is the SarQ. A great general camp knife. Not too thick, not too thin, chops great for it's size. It may be a bit long for actually gutting, But I think it is manageable. One of my favorite mid size Busse. The only thing I could ask for to improve on it, would be a slightly taller blade height (just so the talon hole was not below the edge for use on the cutting board.
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I had a comp finish Sarsquatch and could not get used to the handle. Other than that I like it. Then I thought I would buy a beater then rehandle it and now they are selling for a premium.
 
Skinny ASH if combined with a good chopper.

SAR 6 if only one. ;)
 
Today I ordered a boss jack (jungle green blade) to go with my B-11 (jungle green blade).
I am thinking I've got it covered. The boss jack will be light to belt carry and the b-11 will be around for heavy work. I guess I looked past the boss jack in the past, but now it makes sense to me to have a lighter/finer knife on my belt instead of somewhat of a chopper since I already have an awesome chopper(b-11). Maybe thats why I have never held on to my 7 - 9 inch knives because they were a compromise of a slicer/chopper. Like a jack of all trades and a master of none. From a hunters point of view(my experience). I can see where someone in the military or law enforcement or sar field might carry a 7-9 inch heavy duty knife as their small one.
 
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Sweet, that will be a very good combo. Both are easy to carry weight wise. :thumbup:
 
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