- Joined
- Jan 30, 2014
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- 1,639
I invite those of you who have more than a couple of fiddlebacks to post a picture or several pics of your favorite three. At least your favorite three at the time of posting.
Here are my current top three from top to bottom:
1) Bushcrafter in 5/32" full tang with glow in the dark emerald shadetree burlap in 01 tool steel.
I love this one for many reasons. Shadetree burlap is incredibly functional and this is hands down my favorite color for a synthetic handle. I'm almost glad they don't make it anymore because I don't think I could resist any model with this material. The glow in the dark aspect is cool but has no influence on me.
The spalting on this knife is divine. Although, I would not say the bushcrafter model is one of my favorites, it is a great working knife. When I made a small bow for my son or numerous bow drill fires, it just disappears in your hand. The handle is extremely comfortable. Andy ground this one to perfection and I think 5/32" for the convex knives is usually my favorite. I love this one for the aesthetic looks, but it also could possibly close to the perfect "one knife" in a survival situation for me.
2) Scandi ground Arete in 1/8" full tang 01 tool steel with natural micarta.
So far this is my favorite knife to use while doing bushcraft type skills. The Arete profile is very functional and in my opinion a great knife for the scandi grind. Andy's scandi grinds carve into wood so easily. It is hard for me to use anything else especially in the smaller models after using the scandis. They definitely have their limitations and you have to treat them carefully as the edge is so thin, but the sharpness is outstanding. One of the tests I do when I first get a knife is to see how easily and quickly it can cut a notch for fire by friction. I just love how the scandis carve a notch like you were cutting into butter. This arete in particular has beautiful 3d spalting that I just love. I am not crazy about the color but I really do love the synthetic handles for use and durability. The arete is also very comfortable to hold. I recently got a newly made scandi kephart in black micarta that might give this one a run for the money.
3) Kephart in 1/8" skeletonized full tang 01 tool steel with bocote.
The kephart was not one of the models I had originally planned to buy. I was not drawn to the extreme point. I just happened to check knives ship free when they posted a new shipment. I saw this kephart and the bocote handle drew me in like a siren of the sea. I couldn't resist. When I started using the kephart, I fell in love. The point is awesome for bushcrafting. It is probably my favorite profile that Andy makes. Like the scandi grinds, I feel like you do have to be careful with it, but the function is phenomenal. The handle shape on kepharts is also very nice.
You will notice all three of my current favorites have 4 inch blades. So far I find the 4" fiddlebacks to be the perfect size for me. That was a surprise, as prior to this I generally preferred knives in the 3" range.
Here are my current top three from top to bottom:
1) Bushcrafter in 5/32" full tang with glow in the dark emerald shadetree burlap in 01 tool steel.
I love this one for many reasons. Shadetree burlap is incredibly functional and this is hands down my favorite color for a synthetic handle. I'm almost glad they don't make it anymore because I don't think I could resist any model with this material. The glow in the dark aspect is cool but has no influence on me.
The spalting on this knife is divine. Although, I would not say the bushcrafter model is one of my favorites, it is a great working knife. When I made a small bow for my son or numerous bow drill fires, it just disappears in your hand. The handle is extremely comfortable. Andy ground this one to perfection and I think 5/32" for the convex knives is usually my favorite. I love this one for the aesthetic looks, but it also could possibly close to the perfect "one knife" in a survival situation for me.
2) Scandi ground Arete in 1/8" full tang 01 tool steel with natural micarta.
So far this is my favorite knife to use while doing bushcraft type skills. The Arete profile is very functional and in my opinion a great knife for the scandi grind. Andy's scandi grinds carve into wood so easily. It is hard for me to use anything else especially in the smaller models after using the scandis. They definitely have their limitations and you have to treat them carefully as the edge is so thin, but the sharpness is outstanding. One of the tests I do when I first get a knife is to see how easily and quickly it can cut a notch for fire by friction. I just love how the scandis carve a notch like you were cutting into butter. This arete in particular has beautiful 3d spalting that I just love. I am not crazy about the color but I really do love the synthetic handles for use and durability. The arete is also very comfortable to hold. I recently got a newly made scandi kephart in black micarta that might give this one a run for the money.
3) Kephart in 1/8" skeletonized full tang 01 tool steel with bocote.
The kephart was not one of the models I had originally planned to buy. I was not drawn to the extreme point. I just happened to check knives ship free when they posted a new shipment. I saw this kephart and the bocote handle drew me in like a siren of the sea. I couldn't resist. When I started using the kephart, I fell in love. The point is awesome for bushcrafting. It is probably my favorite profile that Andy makes. Like the scandi grinds, I feel like you do have to be careful with it, but the function is phenomenal. The handle shape on kepharts is also very nice.
You will notice all three of my current favorites have 4 inch blades. So far I find the 4" fiddlebacks to be the perfect size for me. That was a surprise, as prior to this I generally preferred knives in the 3" range.
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