US Army ASEK Aircrew Survival Egress Knives

[@andrewtate5568]

thanks again for showing me something i haven't seen anywhere else.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching Andrew! These are a couple of neat knives. I hope you get a chance to get your hands on them.

[@lancedooley7558]

The Gerber looks modern and not 50yrs outdated. Been thinking about getting it for my plate carrier as a do all survival knife. Great review.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I have to say that I like the Gerber a lot and it has proven itself in the real world.

[@lancedooley7558]

@@FreeAmericaChannel appreciate the response. I think I'm sold on it. Not sure if I should get the ASEK or the Cheaper one.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@lancedooley7558 I've seen the "Strongarm" going for about $80 and the LMF going for around $90 and up. If you shop around you can probably get the LMF for a pretty good price.

[@lancedooley7558]

@@FreeAmericaChannel thanks for the advice. Yeah the LMF is also on the radar. Appreciate everything man.

[@varnellhopkinsiii6863]

Great video. I used both of these knives and I have had several of them over the years. I was not an aircrewman nor a pilot unfortunately. I used them mainly as field knives for field training exercises. You are so correct in that they are designed for airmen not camp work. That said, they work as descent field knives, but for regular guys, I think the original pilot survival knives, the Ka-Bar, or the Glock knives are a much better choice.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for your comment. I agree they are decent field knives. They will accomplish most field tasks pretty well. I kinda like the Glock knife as well.

[@supporterofsanity]

On my first deployment I was given an ASEK by my counterpart doing right seat left seat. That thing was invaluable. Cut a lot of things and dug a lot of things out of the ground with it. Beat a lot of things with it and opened cans with it. The only knife I own that I will have until I die.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thank you for sharing that outstanding, first hand experience. There's always a ton of speculation, but real experience is invaluable.

[@brodyjeremiah9848]

i know Im randomly asking but does anyone know a way to log back into an instagram account..? I stupidly lost my password. I would love any tricks you can offer me!

[@zanerafael4168]

@Brody Jeremiah instablaster ;)

[@brodyjeremiah9848]

@Zane Rafael i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@brodyjeremiah9848]

@Zane Rafael it worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thanks so much, you saved my ass !

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

The Survival Knife you said was "cheaper" was the issued survival knife to air crews until they retired it for the ASEK.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching, Joseph! The one I describe as the lesser expensive version of the pilot's is just that - a cheaper version of the issue knife. It is NOT the issued knife. The issued knife has a fuller in the blade, this one does not. The Issue knife comes with a similar sheath, but the cheap sheath is made in China, not the USA. It does look very similar and I do talk more about it in a separate video.

[@JosephAnthonyJosefius]

@@FreeAmericaChannel Ah right, the cheaper one doesn't have the Fuller (groove) and the Chinese shealth is definitely substandard. Thanks for clarifying :) I believe they sell these cheaper knives in Walmart in plastic, the original one is still made but comes in a black OKC box and is 20 to 30 dollars more expensive.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@JosephAnthonyJosefius Exactly right. If you buy the knife in the plastic blister, you can save some cash, but the Ontario in the box is the issued knife. For what its worth, the cheap knife will take an edge but it needs some work. Whether or not the work is worth the money is a question for each buyer.

[@NathansFerroceriumrods1]

Both are nice knives. I like the Ontario.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

The Ontario is way more reminiscent of the Air Force Survival Knife. I never thought much about the Gerber blade because of all the hype around it, but it turns out I really like it.

[@2thewilderness]

Good information, Free America. Educational for me.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching, American Republic!

[@mattalvarez548]

I love my lmf ii. My friend was issued the knife and he also raves about it. I don’t have the new asek from ontario, but the classic one serves me just fine for my purposes. Thanks for the thorough review and God bless.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Oorah! Thanks for watching Devil Dog.

[@mattalvarez548]

@@FreeAmericaChannel Oohrah!

[@mrsmel269]

Free America great video!!!! i have the gerber and like it.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching and for subbing! I prefer the Gerber between these two knives as well.

[@outdoorsaddiction1085]

What did you oils the leather with?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Neatsfoot oil, available in most craft stores or online.

[@outdoorsaddiction1085]

Thanks! Appreciate it!

[@afmo500]

Never actually seen the Gerber issued.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I'm not sure either, frankly, although I have seen them around. Just like the folding Gerber Applegate knives, they are available through the GSA catalog and units can buy them for issuing.

[@Bearpilot_01]

Isn't strapping the knife to the outside of your calf an entanglement hazard?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Seems like it would be to me, and once you are on the ground running with gear strapped to your legs it will flop around and beat the crap out of you. But it sure looks cool!

[@Bearpilot_01]

@@FreeAmericaChannel It sure does. I learned the hard way not to strap a knife that way while diving... We then carried it on the inside calf (within field of view and accessible with both hands), and shortly after traded it for a small sheepsfoot cut out of a serrated steak knife, carried in an old Mag Lite sheath, zip tied to the harness. Cheers! Thanks for your work!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@Bearpilot_01 My favorite quote from Michael Kalashnikov is, "Everything necessary is not complex."

[@Bearpilot_01]

@@FreeAmericaChannel I'm using that one! Hope its not copyrighted!

[@richarddevos6076]

@@FreeAmericaChannel 1944 most all 101 Airborne troops strapped M2 knives to their legs prior to and after jumps.

[@danieloshea3326]

Hey how do you keep the blade from getting scratched by the rivets in the sheath?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

There are no rivets in the sheath that contact the blade. Maybe I don't fully understand your question.

[@danieloshea3326]

@@FreeAmericaChannel I think there are some different versions of the sheath but in the ones that I've owned behind the pocket of the sharpening stone there's two rivets that put really nasty gouges on the blade. I'm talking about the 499 and it's sheath

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@danieloshea3326 Oh, I understand. Yes, the two small rivets on the flap that snaps the stone pouch do go through the sheath and can contact the blade. I have seen the same scratches on a couple of my Ontarios and since you asked I looked at some alongside sheaths made by Camillus. I have a new-in-wraper US military issue Camillus dated 1984 and it has the same rivets as the Ontario - BUT - major difference is the Camillus sheath has small leather covers on the rivets inside the sheath. The Ontario sheath does not. Another reason I believe the Ontario knives are inferior to the Camillus knives. There are a number of after-market sheaths available or you may try to glue a small piece of this leather or felt inside the sheath to cover the rivets. On my knives the rivets have not caused significant scratches so I never really noticed (or cared) but if they are damaging the knife you may want to contact Ontario and see if you can get a replacement sheath. Good question! You made me go look at it to see what you meant and I learned something. Thanks!

[@danieloshea3326]

@@FreeAmericaChannel well the Ontario sheaths are made in china even though the knife is made in USA. Also I’ve had three of the 499 and they all come duller than a butter knife

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@danieloshea3326 Why am I not surprised to see cheap, crappy copies coming from China? I have a few knives made in Japan with rather flimsy sheaths but they don't scratch my knives.

[@Jeremy102]

Will the Gerber fit in the Ontario sheath?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

I honestly don't know the answer to that. I'll have to dig them both out and check. I would guess the answer is yes, but I have not tried it.

[@afmo500]

Ex-army aviator here, was issued the Ontario. Wasn't a fan.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for your comment, afmo500. What would you have preferred?

[@cargoshorts731]

"Welcome to off the ranch"

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

?

[@Diebulfrog79]

Thanks for the share, Free America. Good review. One is Chinese , the other in America . Quality control problems on both ,kid.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks Uncle Al! Wait, wut?! Which one is Chinese? The USG is forbidden by law from buying foreign made gear for the US military.

[@pcolvario]

@@FreeAmericaChannel neither. Both are USA made. Ontario in NY and Gerber in Portland OR.