Gerber A.S.E.K. Aircrew-Survival-Egress-Knife
specs:
blade: 4.84"
steel: 12C27 stainless
Overall Length: 10.59"
Weight: 11.39 oz.
Summary of test:
Cutting: The Gerber ASEK Peeled an apple easy enough for a survival knife of this type. I then sliced the apple getting some nice thin slices.
Plexiglass breaker: The Knife was used to break a 1/4" thick section of Plexiglass.
One solid blow is all it took.
Cutting Sheet metal: The Gerber ASEK knife is designed and advertised to saw through sheet metal or an aircraft fuselage using the serrations . I placed an old oil drip pan made of medium gauge mild steel sheet metal in a holder. Then stabbed a hole and cut out a square section. the serrations did the job. It took some effort but it did work. No damage occurred to the serrations other then dulling. I was still able to cut 2 pieces of 10,000 lb webbing using the serrated portion with some effort.
Sheath Sharpener: The sheath has a built in sharpener. I used it once cut webbing then sharpened then cut. I repeated this several times. I was able to put a working edge back on the blade easily with the sharpener. A nice feature.
Batoning: I was able to split a 4x4 with ease. the ASEK is a very solid ridged knife.
Chopping: The blade is only 4.84 inches long so chopping is not it's strength but you can do some light work with it if needed.
Tip Work: I dug a hole all the way through a 2x6. The tip on the ASEK is very strong and no tip breakage occurred.
Concrete: Only denting occurred during chopping. 12C27 steel is very chip resistant. I hammered the tip into concrete breaking it apart. No tip damage occurred other then slight blunting.
Hammer impacts: I placed the edge on to wood and hit the spine hard with a 3lb steel mallet. No blade breakage occurred on very minor denting was visible on the spine.
Concrete again: I hammered the edge through the concrete splitting the block. No blade failure.
Metal on metal: I hammered the edge into a 1/8" x 1.25" flat mild steel flat stock. I hit it hard many times. The blade broke in half failing to cut through the steel unlike the GI Tanto and the A1.
Tang side impacts: I placed the remaining portion of the blade in the vice and hit the handle with the lb mallet. It took some very heavy blows before the handle snapped off. Most are easy to break at this location. The K-Bar Heavy Bowie and the RTAKII
did not break during this test.
Overall: The knife did well. It's both tough and functional. 12C27 Stainless Steel is very chip resistant. The grip on the ASEK is very secure and comfortable.
