Andy Roy of Fiddleback Forge

[Mistwalker]

Blade Forums is a regular hang out for a lot of great people, and a lot of great knife makers. I have been fortunate enough to get to know several of both makers and enthusiasts, and look forward to meeting more in the coming years. I first became aware of Andy Roy of Fiddleback Forge about four years ago, and started watching his work closely. I really liked what I saw, and liked his philosophies on knife making, so I bought my first one, a prototype of his Bushfinger model, three years ago. My initial impressions of that first one were that the aesthetics were great, the fit and finish was wonderful, the ergonomics were sublime, and the grinds were really sweet.

Over the course of the next year I put that knife through a lot of testing and usage in various applications, both practical...and in some people's opinions I'm sure, some not so practical. That knife has seen uses that cover a wide range of tasks from the kitchen to the camp. It has cut, sliced, whittled, chopped, scraped, bored, has been batonned, and has even done some light prying here and there along the way. Most of these tasks have been repeated multiple times over the last three years, and the knife is still going strong today.

I'm really not one for collecting knives, or anything else, per say...but I do tend to like having multiples of things that I really do like. Over the last three years I have picked up a few more of Andy's knives of various styles for different applications. I have used Andy's knives recreationally, in the kitchen, and in professional capacities in wilderness skills instruction, and have always been pleased with the looks, feel, and performance of them. I have watched as Andy's craftsmanship has grown and his knife making skills advanced. It is always a pleasure to be around to watch him step up his game. Andy has his own unique flare for combining form with function to produce works of art that work.

The following is a small gallery of the photos I have taken of my Fiddleback Forge knives over the last three years.



Bushfinger

K.E. Bushie

Hunter

Hiking Buddy

.

 

[Mistwalker]

Kephart

Bushboot

Camp Knife

Top to bottom

Camp Knife:... O1 Steel Black on black micarta with a blue pinstripe
Hunter:......... O1 Steel, Natural canvas, with black canvas bolsters
Kephart:.........O1 Steel, Natural G10 over natural canvas
Bushfinger:.....O1 Steel, Natural canvas, with black canvas bolsters
Ladyfinger:.....CPM 154 Steel, stabilized paduk, black linen micarta bolsters
Hiking Buddy:.O1 steel, stabilized dyed blue box elder burl, black canvas bolsters
Bushboot:......O1 steel, Bloodwood

.

 

[maw]

Hi Mistwalker,

What a superb thread. You captured Andy's talents in knife making and clearly have shown that although his work is outstanding in every sense (design, fit and finish, and ergonomics), they were designed to be used and when used is when they really shine. I want a tool that works very well, but it has to be visually attractive to me as well. In this quest, Andy hits the mark on both.

Mark

 

[tjswarbrick]

Very nice writeup, and collection, Mist. That Camp Knife is beast!
Works of art that work - should be Andy's slogan.
You're absolutely right about design, fit, finish, and ergos - I frankly don't see how they could be improved.
Now, go get your bushboot dirty.

 

[maw]

Hello Folks,

I thought I would add some more photos. I hope you enjoy.

Mark

Fiddleback Forge Comparison Photos Round Three (PIC Heavy) Tread
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...rge-Comparison-Photos-Round-Three-(PIC-Heavy)


The Lot

A few knives at hand and in their element...

The Bushfinger

The Terrassaur

The Arete

 

[JDieseljoe69]

Wow guys, some excellent pics! Fiddleback knives are really excellent knives for the price. I have been lucky to have a few come through my hands, all have been nice, but I did not use them like they deserved so I passed them on to folks who would.

 

[Philip L]

In dealing with knife makers and the knives they produce I always look at the experience in two contexts; first, the quality of the knife, and second, the quality of the customer service.

The quality of Fiddleback Forge knives is ideal for me. The knives' contouring is excellent in that I have yet to work with one that does not feel very comfortable even after extended usage time. The steel for the Fiddlebacks I have is all O1, and I really appreciate how easy they are to sharpen and the edge durability. Aside from the comfort and steel quality, Fiddleback Forge knives consistently look outstanding. The handle and spacer materials, as well as the proprietary spalted steel, are all hand selected, matched, formed, and finished. They are of such consistently outstanding quality, I really view them more as "tools that are also art."

As far as customer service goes, in all my dealings with Andy Roy, he has only shown himself to be the kind of guy with whom I'd always want to do business. He's an exceptional craftsman, yet very humble, and dedicated to improving his craftsmanship and product experience for all his customers. He's a straight up nice guy, and a top shelf gentleman who is laser focused on improving his skills as a knife maker and providing the best customer service possible.

As a source for knives I will buy, none rank higher than Andy Roy's Fiddleback Forge knives. Thanks for reading my thoughts, and here is a pic of my little group of Fiddlebacks:

 

[Mistwalker]

Hi Mistwalker,

What a superb thread. You captured Andy's talents in knife making and clearly have shown that although his work is outstanding in every sense (design, fit and finish, and ergonomics), they were designed to be used and when used is when they really shine. I want a tool that works very well, but it has to be visually attractive to me as well. In this quest, Andy hits the mark on both.

Mark

Thanks Mark, on this you and I think a lot alike.

Thanks for posting the pics also. You are going to have me trying out an Arete yet!

Very nice writeup, and collection, Mist. That Camp Knife is beast!
Works of art that work - should be Andy's slogan.
You're absolutely right about design, fit, finish, and ergos - I frankly don't see how they could be improved.
Now, go get your bushboot dirty.

Thanks TJ, and I agree. Yes, the Camp Knife is definitely a beast of a knife, but man I love the way it handles, the balance is perfect for me being pretty much dead on where the blade meats the handle. Oh, I'm in the process of getting it dirty daily, but I didn't get this one to beat on, it's my pocket knife

Wow guys, some excellent pics! Fiddleback knives are really excellent knives for the price. I have been lucky to have a few come through my hands, all have been nice, but I did not use them like they deserved so I passed them on to folks who would.

Thanks Joe, glad you enjoyed the pics. I know what you mean. I didn't use the KE Bushie as much as I did the others, so I gifted it to a friend in the UK who really helped me with a couple of projects. He is a former army medic and nurse. He spends a lot of time teaching bushcraft and emergency field medical treatment, but nurses in the UK don't make the kind of money the nurses here do, so I sent him a knife I felt better about him carrying than the one he had.

In dealing with knife makers and the knives they produce I always look at the experience in two contexts; first, the quality of the knife, and second, the quality of the customer service.

The quality of Fiddleback Forge knives is ideal for me. The knives' contouring is excellent in that I have yet to work with one that does not feel very comfortable even after extended usage time. The steel for the Fiddlebacks I have is all O1, and I really appreciate how easy they are to sharpen and the edge durability. Aside from the comfort and steel quality, Fiddleback Forge knives consistently look outstanding. The handle and spacer materials, as well as the proprietary spalted steel, are all hand selected, matched, formed, and finished. They are of such consistently outstanding quality, I really view them more as "tools that are also art."

As far as customer service goes, in all my dealings with Andy Roy, he has only shown himself to be the kind of guy with whom I'd always want to do business. He's an exceptional craftsman, yet very humble, and dedicated to improving his craftsmanship and product experience for all his customers. He's a straight up nice guy, and a top shelf gentleman who is laser focused on improving his skills as a knife maker and providing the best customer service possible.

As a source for knives I will buy, none rank higher than Andy Roy's Fiddleback Forge knives. Thanks for reading my thoughts, and here is a pic of my little group of Fiddlebacks:

View attachment 335130

Nice post Philip, my experiences have been the same. Andy is a great guy to deal with.

Man, that curly q Bushfinger is something else!

 

[schmittie]

I'm really not one for collecting knives, or anything else, per say...but I do tend to like having multiples of things that I really do like. Andy has his own unique flare for combining form with function to produce works of art that work.

Very nicely said Mr Griffin.

I came across bladeforums and Fiddleback Forge in '09. My first knife was a Hunter I got off the exchange.

This was my very first custom knife. I have to confess that although I had always been a 'knife lover' from my youth on, I had never heard of a custom, hand made knife. Since I happen to be a craftsman myslef, (union carpenter who specializes in floor installation, example-tile setter) I appreciate the effort and skill that goes into a hand made product. I would never criticize the cost of an item produced by hand over a factory made one. Too much of what we Are familiar with has not been made by hand as far as I'm concerned.

I was absolutely amazed at the difference my Fiddleback over a production knife! I was hooked from the beginning. This became my primarily hunting/camp knife for a while.

When the Bushfinger came out, I was intrigued. Although I loved my hunter, the BF seemed more my size. Eventually, in March of '12, I was able to get one.

This knife, has hands down, become my favorite of all time. I've used it with bushcrafting tasks and extensively this last deer season, field dressing and butchering several deer with it. It's a hard working knife with outstanding ergonomics.

As much as I appreciate the Fiddleback knives I've had, the man behind the steel is even more impressive. Andy Roy is a true craftsman. He is not only a skilled business owner, but is a gentleman as well. He is not too busy to answer a ringing phone, even if means stopping work for a few minutes. How many others can say they have talked to the man who has made their knife? I seriously doubt many can.

I honestly am proud to say that Andy Roy is at the top of my list of custom makers.

 

[Mistwalker]

Wow! Great post Scmittie, and now I am wanting to dig into the venison in the freezer!

 

[Fiddleback]

Wow. I just saw this. You guys make my work so much fun. Thank you all.

 

[Shamr0ck]

@Mist - great write up!

One of the things I really like about your perspective is that as a user of knives, you ask them to do what many of us need them to do so your review has a long-term perspective rather than the 'i carried it for a week' and liked it feel to it -- thanks for sharing.

Andy's knives are truly practical works of art - They are comfortable in the hand, well balanced and visually appealing so they not only do a good job, but look good doing it -- I've several makers in my collection, and find myself carrying a FF more frequently now than the others who used to ride along on my hip.

Thanks again for sharing your pictures and experience

 

[Mistwalker]

Wow. I just saw this. You guys make my work so much fun. Thank you all.

You make knives that are really a pleasure to use as much as look at. I just wanted to show some appreciation for that. Looks like I wasn't alone in my thoughts

@Mist - great write up!

One of the things I really like about your perspective is that as a user of knives, you ask them to do what many of us need them to do so your review has a long-term perspective rather than the 'i carried it for a week' and liked it feel to it -- thanks for sharing.

Andy's knives are truly practical works of art - They are comfortable in the hand, well balanced and visually appealing so they not only do a good job, but look good doing it -- I've several makers in my collection, and find myself carrying a FF more frequently now than the others who used to ride along on my hip.

Thanks again for sharing your pictures and experience

Thanks Shamrock, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I fell in love with the knife as a tool when I got my first one at age six. My father was a Marine who grew up in the great depression and sort of got stuck there, so when I was young most of what we ate came from the river, the woods, or the garden. I have spent a lot of time with a knife in my hand since then, and I have had to improvise a lot of times... so pretty much any sharpened piece of steel with a point and a handle will work for me as a survival tool in the woods. But Andy's knives are so much more than just sharpened pieces of steel with handles. I am continually amazed and impressed with his immaculate fit and finish, and his excellent ergonomics make the knives comfortable to use even for extended periods of time. And they are well made and durable tools that are made to be worked with. Plus his grinds just keep getting better, and they were really nice years ago when I got the first one. Also, all hand made knives have a different feel to them than factory knives...sort of a soul if you will. To my view the makers always leave some of themselves and their energies within the pieces they create. All of the Fiddleback knives I have handled have felt great ergonomically, but I also like the energy and vibes I pick up on from Andy's knives, and that just really makes the whole experience complete for me.

 

[thurin]

Awesome Post Mist.

My introduction to Andy's knives came a month or two ago when I started looking for a Bushcrafting knife to supplement my camp kit. I had been tinkering with some production fixed blades for a few months but they just didn't really fit in my large hands. I saw a picture of a Fiddleback Forge knife in the exchange and started looking into them. I posted a question on the hosted knifemaker's forum wondering which blade would be good for my large paws. Got a ton of good feedback from the community, and one of the users offered to sell me one of his knives that would be a good fit for me. I ended up with my first Fiddleback: a Bushfinger in 3/16" with extra-wide handles. A perfect knife for me.

The fit and finish is perfect. It's gorgeous. It's a beast that I don't mind using hard because I know it can take it. Once I started using it, I had to have more.

I picked up a Hunter as my second knife. A little larger than the Bushfinger, but due to the thinner stock and handles, it's lighter. It's already been put to work too.

I'm already planning my 3rd purchase.

Andy makes incredible knives. Pieces of art that work hard. And the community around the knives has been instrumental in my wanting to dive in.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I've been a fan of Andy and his knives for a long time, back in the old WSS days. I managed to grab his EDC on the exchange. It turned out to be the exact knife used on his website. I liked it a lot, and because his knives introduced me to lacewood, I followed that up with the quintessential Fiddleback knife in my mind- a lacewood Nessmuk! Then of course I had to get a lacewood Bow legged Joe, for more detailed work. And I need a fiddleback chopper, but no bow legged choppers with lacewood, so I had to get a Fiddleback Machete and of course put lacewood scales on it.

My lacewood trio:

And the EDC

I haven't been acquiring new knives in a while and thus am not following people as much as I used to (resisting temptation), but really like the bushboot and camp knife, and the blood wood with pinstripes looks great!!

 

[Mistwalker]

Awesome Post Mist.

Thanks Thurin, nice shots. Man, your hand makes that Bushfinger look small, I can see why you needed 3/16.

I've been a fan of Andy and his knives for a long time, back in the old WSS days. I managed to grab his EDC on the exchange. It turned out to be the exact knife used on his website. I liked it a lot, and because his knives introduced me to lacewood, I followed that up with the quintessential Fiddleback knife in my mind- a lacewood Nessmuk! Then of course I had to get a lacewood Bow legged Joe, for more detailed work. And I need a fiddleback chopper, but no bow legged choppers with lacewood, so I had to get a Fiddleback Machete and of course put lacewood scales on it.

I haven't been acquiring new knives in a while and thus am not following people as much as I used to (resisting temptation), but really like the bushboot and camp knife, and the blood wood with pinstripes looks great!!

Yep, the definitive Fiddleback collection would have to contain one of his Nessmuks, considering Andy's fondness of making and using them.

Andy has doing a lot of new things lately, you should stop in the forum one Friday. The bloodwood is really nice, it has a deep rich color to it.

 

[Mistwalker]

Very nice writeup, and collection, Mist. That Camp Knife is beast!
Works of art that work - should be Andy's slogan.
You're absolutely right about design, fit, finish, and ergos - I frankly don't see how they could be improved.
Now, go get your bushboot dirty.

Well...I never really got the chance to get that particular Bushboot good and dirty. A friend here on the forums bought one very similar but in blackwood rather than bloodwood, and in tapered tang 1/8” O-1. Then he wished he had gotten 5/32 instead as he wanted a bit more heft to it, so I traded with him because the 1/8” stock was fine for my needs. After that I ended up picking up a matching Woodsman at Blade which is cool, and has turned out to be one of my most used knives since I often use it in the kitchen. Once we moved and relocated almost a thousand miles north to rural farm country I decided I was going to start hunting more, so I picked up a Recluse because it has a bit more belly than my other more “bushcrafty” type Fiddlebacks. We're out in the middle of nowhere now, so I just edc the Recluse. My wife caught onto this and snagged the Bushboot, which is pretty cool, because even though they are two different handle materials, we sort of have a matching set of his and her's Fiddlebacks now, and in doing so she is cool with me snagging another one that I really want. That Bushboot did get nice and dirty











I picked up a Hiking Buddy for my daughter. I love the that it has a skeletonized full tang to reduce handle weight and still have the full handle, and it fits her hand well still giving her room to grow into it, but I think I am going to get her one with a synthetic handle in a somewhat more girly color. My thinking being she will like it more, it will survive her learning knife use better, and no future boyfriend will want to carry it









.

 

[Klarktx]

You guys are spot on. Fiddlebacks quality is superb.
Andy being amazing is a bonus !!

 

[Bmurray]

bringing this thread back from the grave. love it

 

[ncrockclimb]

Andy and his crew are good folks that make great knives and provide excellent customer service.