Arizona Knife Show and BBQ

[thurin]

Phil and Phillip: Thanks for sharing this with us. It's very cool to see friendships that have developed over knives. What an incredible collection of Fiddlebacks! And good food to boot. Doesn't get much better.

 

[Comprehensivist]

The 3 B's of a good life: Buddies, BBQ and Blades (in no particular order)

I already commented on the fantastic assortment of Fiddlebacks, but the real gem is the budding friendship brought into light from a seemingly unlikely source. That is pretty cool.

You are so right Danny! Thanks for the reply.

Very cool again gents. This may not be the biggest community, but it's composed of mostly outstanding people.

A typical bushcrafter, $300, friendships that Fiddleback knives promote, priceless~:thumbup:

You are correct. I value the great friendships that I have developed here more than the nice knives I have acquired. (Sorry Andy )

Excellent posts gentlemen. That was an exceptional report of the experience Phil. I really like the added shots of the handles and sheaths. Thanks for sharing your fun experience with all of us. That is my kind of evening, good food, good friends and lots of knives. I can't wait to meet up with some of the fiddleback crew whether at blade someday, for dinner, or on a camp trip.

Thanks Tod! I truly value your feedback my friend. This series of posts has the most text of anything that I have ever done because I wanted to capture the story. You and I have talked about doing a similar get together with the CA folks. We need to start getting serious about making that happen.

Phil and Phillip: Thanks for sharing this with us. It's very cool to see friendships that have developed over knives. What an incredible collection of Fiddlebacks! And good food to boot. Doesn't get much better.

You and I are another example of a great friendship that started with the knives and expanded into areas well beyond that. As you said, it doesn't get much better than that.

 

[MajorD]

It's been one of those weeks and I have been tied up for most of it. I haven't been on the forum much except to peek at a thread or two. I've been waiting for this thread since Phil told me he and Phillip were getting together. I sat down with my coffee this morning and got absorbed in the pics. First and foremost the opportunity to get together as friends is priceless. These threads are some of my favorite when I see people able to get together and build a friendship that started over a post or picture on a forum. I have made many "internet" friends over the years through knives and forums. I value those relationships tremendously but it's very special when you can get together. This was obviously a great get together and start of many more I'm sure.

Ok... now to the knives. I am literally speechless. I knew it was going to be special when Phil told me about the BBQ and meeting with their collections but even knowing that I couldn't prepare for what I've seen here. I keep going through the conversation you both must have had. My gosh the topics are endless ... colors, the materials, the steel types, the blade thickness, tapred yes? Tapered no?, spalted, old style, new style, one of a kind and on and on. Simply great stuff guys!

Thanks Phil and Phillip for taking the time to post your experiences and the pics. I have been a big fan of Phil's posts for years and consider him one of the best. I am thankful for the ability of so many of our members here to bring to life their Fiddlebacks and collections. This was an outstanding read and even better opportunity for two families. Thanks guys!!

 

[M4Super90]

Glad everyone liked the posts. I am not as verbose as Phil but he certainly summed up the activities well. As always his photos always make me think about things in a different way, so I have taken a few more of the BCs that he commented on and I use the most, in the same format. Funny that with so many variations to handle we prefer the same ones. Left to right are the following:

Slate g10 over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe, Tapered Tang, Convex 5/32” 01
Blueback with OD Micarta over natural with white pinstripes, SFT Tang, convex 1/8” 01
Bocote over black w/orange pinstripes, Tapered Tang, convex 5/32" 01
Buckeye Burl over black g10 with orange pinstripes, Tapered Tang, convex 3/16” 01
Sr. with Ironwood burl over black g10 with white pinstripes, SFT Tang, convex 5/32” 01

Focus on the pommel

Focus on the palm swell

Detail of the swell

From above

I do seem to gravitate toward the 5/32 TT on most models, but there is something special about the 1/8 SFT and the 5/32 SFT Sr. The 1/8 SFT is very light and nimble. The Sr. in SFT 5/32 is very well balanced with the additional 1" of blade. I think the reason I like the slate BC so much (beyond the material) is that on all 19 other BCs I have the scale is swept back near the ricasso. If you look at the first pic, on the slate BC it's straight. Not sure if that was intentional or not, but I sure like it. When I choke up on the knife, that makes it more comfortable for me because my finger does not ride the edge of the scale. The 3/16 has thinner handle and I haven't been able to easily identify why it feels so good. The balance is a lot farther forward and it has some "heft". I think it might just be because it makes you do the Tim Allen monkey sound when you pick it up.

 

[necrolicious]

Glad everyone liked the posts. I am not as verbose as Phil but he certainly summed up the activities well. As always his photos always make me think about things in a different way, so I have taken a few more of the BCs that he commented on and I use the most, in the same format. Funny that with so many variations to handle we prefer the same ones. Left to right are the following:

Slate g10 over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe, Tapered Tang, Convex 5/32” 01
Blueback with OD Micarta over natural with white pinstripes, SFT Tang, convex 1/8” 01
Bocote over black w/orange pinstripes, Tapered Tang, convex 5/32" 01
Buckeye Burl over black g10 with orange pinstripes, Tapered Tang, convex 3/16” 01
Sr. with Ironwood burl over black g10 with white pinstripes, SFT Tang, convex 5/32” 01

Focus on the pommel

Focus on the palm swell

Detail of the swell

From above

I do seem to gravitate toward the 5/32 TT on most models, but there is something special about the 1/8 SFT and the 5/32 SFT Sr. The 1/8 SFT is very light and nimble. The Sr. in SFT 5/32 is very well balanced with the additional 1" of blade. I think the reason I like the slate BC so much (beyond the material) is that on all 19 other BCs I have the scale is swept back near the ricasso. If you look at the first pic, on the slate BC it's straight. Not sure if that was intentional or not, but I sure like it. When I choke up on the knife, that makes it more comfortable for me because my finger does not ride the edge of the scale. The 3/16 has thinner handle and I haven't been able to easily identify why it feels so good. The balance is a lot farther forward and it has some "heft". I think it might just be because it makes you do the Tim Allen monkey sound when you pick it up.

Great post!. The chance to handle so many versions of the same knife pattern is a golden one. With so much variation it can really pinpoint what you like the most in a handle. I just received a BC Sr in 5/32 w/TT (1st & only BC) from last weeks FB Friday and I really like the ergos. The balance is further forward, right at the 1st set of pins in the bolster. Very different from the other FB models I have. What are the biggest differences for you between the BC and BC Sr? Besides the obvious I mean I ask because I'm not sure the extra blade length is what I want so I'm hesitating to use it much.

 

[M4Super90]

Great post!. The chance to handle so many versions of the same knife pattern is a golden one. With so much variation it can really pinpoint what you like the most in a handle. I just received a BC Sr in 5/32 w/TT (1st & only BC) from last weeks FB Friday and I really like the ergos. The balance is further forward, right at the 1st set of pins in the bolster. Very different from the other FB models I have. What are the biggest differences for you between the BC and BC Sr? Besides the obvious I mean I ask because I'm not sure the extra blade length is what I want so I'm hesitating to use it much.

You have a little more leverage with the tip (which I try not to overuse). You also have extra surface for batoning when you are breaking down firewood/kindling. If you have a larger piece of wood the drop tip can glance off a bit with the standard BC. I notice a little difference in he length of the draw when slicing food. The configs really differ. I'd say the least favorite BC Sr. I have is the 3/16 TT - one has a very thing taper and a low grind line which puts the balance way far forward. So much so the tip will touch the table when you lay it down. My other 3/16 TT doesn't do that.

 

[MTURBO]

Wish I would have known about this.

 

[necrolicious]

You have a little more leverage with the tip (which I try not to overuse). You also have extra surface for batoning when you are breaking down firewood/kindling. If you have a larger piece of wood the drop tip can glance off a bit with the standard BC. I notice a little difference in he length of the draw when slicing food. The configs really differ. I'd say the least favorite BC Sr. I have is the 3/16 TT - one has a very thing taper and a low grind line which puts the balance way far forward. So much so the tip will touch the table when you lay it down. My other 3/16 TT doesn't do that.

Thanks for your thoughts on it. I'm thinking I may need add a regular BC still. Ohhh for the love of rationalization