What kind of Steel Heart for under 3 bills?

adrock1978

adrock1978

Joined
May 30, 2009
Messages
2,538
So I own a SR M6. The only way I can justify and rationalize getting another totally awesome expensive fixed knife is if I tell myself I now need a Busse. I've been fighting the urge and browsing around here for a few weeks now...

I keep seeing more and more SH's and ASH's's and skinnies ASH's and BASH and Cash...and all the other Steel Hearts. I dont think I've wrapped my head around what each specific model consists of.

What kind of SH (or skinny) can I focus on thats 12" or less, has a satin blade or just unfinished (is unfinished always called satin?) and can usually be found for under $300. Grip type and color doesnt matter.
 
Aint gonna happen unless it's extremely well used. You should be able to get an ASH of some sort for just over 3 bills though.
 
Assuming that you mean 12" OAL, then you're looking at an ASH-1, Anniversary Steel Heart 1. You might be able to find a Combat Grade (coated) user for $300 and then strip it and use sandpaper or ScotchBrite to clean it up.
 
Soulrack223 said:
Aint gonna happen unless it's extremely well used. You should be able to get an ASH of some sort for just over 3 bills though.
Click to expand...

Ok, so the price range is off, but what would I be looking for with those details... satin blade etc. Of course pictures are welcome! :)
 
resinguy said:
Assuming that you mean 12" OAL, then you're looking at an ASH-1, Anniversary Steel Heart 1. You might be able to find a Combat Grade (coated) user for $300 and then strip it and use sandpaper or ScotchBrite to clean it up.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Interesting. The blade finish is of less concern than the size, so that could work. Yeah, I'm talking OAL. Is the skinny ASH in that price range? I wouldnt mind a knife lighter than my M6. The ASH is pretty damn thick, right?
 
The Skinny ASH is an AWESOME blade. I love it. It will have to be coated, as the LE's are the only satin ones directly from Busse and they were $497 plus shipping originally, so they'll be out of your price range. (The ASH-1 LE's were skinny compared to the CG's which were too thick for practical use IMO, the skinny ASH-1's were a Company Store offerring for like $327 plus shipping IIRC).
 
Ok, so depending on price it sounds like a skinny ASH-1 is what I'm looking for. Coated and combat grade aren't the same thing, correct? What makes CG thicker? Just physical blade thickness?
 
why are you looking for a steel heart compared to everything else that is avil? Why are you looking for a knife based on a dollar value and not what your preference is? The ASH1 came in .32", .22" and .195" Maybe you should figure out what you like first... what are you going to use it for?
 
Here are 2 ASH's. The top is a CG and the bottom is a Skinny. They're right at 12" in length, the Fusion Steel Heart and the Ergo Steel Heart are both over 1 foot. The thickness can be seen in the second picture. CGs are usually coated but sometimes they are offered with Satin or Double Cut finishes. The CG ASH was only offerred in a coated blade or Double Cut.

ash1.jpg

ash2w.jpg
 
Liu Kang said:
why are you looking for a steel heart compared to everything else that is avil? Why are you looking for a knife based on a dollar value and not what your preference is? The ASH1 came in .32", .22" and .195" Maybe you should figure out what you like first... what are you going to use it for?
Click to expand...

I know what I'm looking for based on my criteria above. I didnt base anything solely on price. I've narrowed it down to a few designs, and the ASH fits as far as looks and size. I know I like my M6 which has a .235 blade and weighs in around 16oz. A good all round tough knife. Now I want a Busse, but it would be dumb to spend another $300 on virtually the same knife.

I think choosing an ASH or Skinny shows my preference. Now I'm trying to find one model that fits an acceptable price range. Lets face it, just about any 12" Busse/SRKW is going to handle anything I throw at it, so what I'm going to use it for is almost a moot point. I just want something lighter and more manageable than the M6.

Sorry, not trying to come off as a douche. Considering there's a couple hundred variations of Busses in different configurations, knowing I want an ASH is at least a start. Its not like I said "what Busse should I get with my $200?"

...now back to my pork, egg and pork and cheese breakfast sandwich. :D
 
Soulrack223 said:
Here are 2 ASH's. The top is a CG and the bottom is a Skinny. They're right at 12" in length, the Fusion Steel Heart and the Ergo Steel Heart are both over 1 foot. The thickness can be seen in the second picture. CGs are usually coated but sometimes they are offered with Satin or Double Cut finishes. The CG ASH was only offerred in a coated blade or Double Cut.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. I think you sold me on a Skinny ASH. Now I just have to find one.
 
Soulrack223 said:
The Skinny ASH is an AWESOME blade. I love it. It will have to be coated, as the LE's are the only satin ones directly from Busse and they were $497 plus shipping originally, so they'll be out of your price range. (The ASH-1 LE's were skinny compared to the CG's which were too thick for practical use IMO, the skinny ASH-1's were a Company Store offerring for like $327 plus shipping IIRC).
Click to expand...

This may be quibbling, but Skinny ASHs with Micarta handles sold for $302.00 + S&H from the company store; NMSFNOs with machined Micarta handles were well priced at $327.00 + S&H though. The difference wasn't much though, and I "cheated" by looking at my old email receipts.
 
steelnut said:
Why waste time with skinny ASH?:confused::confused:
Click to expand...

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!! Hahaha... Those are sexy as hell. Different ASH-1's? What would one of those go for roughly? Those black or gray handled ones. I can see it now, I'm just going to buy an ASH-1, price be damned and have to hear it from my wife for weeks... ah whatever!
 
I think the ASH-1 was $297 when You could order them from Busse.
The options were +80 for double cut and +55 for black and tan G10...

Never tell the Wife how much a knife costs:cool::cool:

Picture249-1.jpg
 
jnphares said:
This may be quibbling, but Skinny ASHs with Micarta handles sold for $302.00 + S&H from the company store; NMSFNOs with machined Micarta handles were well priced at $327.00 + S&H though. The difference wasn't much though, and I "cheated" by looking at my old email receipts.
Click to expand...

I didn't recall correctly. :rolleyes: I traded into my Skinny ASH and I am very happy I did. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top