- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
- Messages
- 11,783

Safe to say that there is something for everyone in the Fiddleback lineup.
I'll say! Something for everyone, and always more to explore through times of changing preferences and applications.

I have always enjoyed the Runt, especially for a pocketable carry every day style knife.
Absolutely! I agree with your observations on the Runt here, across the board. I didn't 'get it' at all, until having one in hand. I mean, its color of course helps(!), but eI thought I'd just be humoring Jerry by taking a look at it. Uhm, no. What a freakin' cool little knife!
Handyman (succeeding a Hiking Buddy) and a Runt and call me done on models in this size range for most practical uses. I've tried others, but if I had to narrow it down... There are some really tough contenders with the likes of the Bushboot, Karda family, Esquire and more task oriented Bow Legged varieties.
Right! I'm still surprised (and kinda disappointed) that the Hiking Buddy doesn't do it for me, but I'm glad I realized that straight up (thanks again, @Nbrackett, for that early borry!). I don't care for the Handyman's visuals quite as much as the Hiking Buddy's, but that's a quibble-- especially once putting a Handyman to use.
The Pocket Kephart never jumped out at me and with it next to the Sgian Dubh it probably never will. The seemingly more symmetrical handle geometry and lack of a guard appeal to me more in that style of knife. A nice dagger grind, with some "spalted" steel down the center line like a middle finger sticking up to tell you this knife may be small but not one to 'F with.
Whoa, that'd be something! I still love the looks of Pocket Kepharts, and if I were not determined to maintain a winnowed selection of knives I'd likely jump on one. (And can't rule out that happening, still.) The Sgian Dubh is just so much MORE in my hands...
I said to someone the other day how I may need to revisit the Esquire. I acquired one, fondled it, fed it mineral oil and microfiber, took it on a few outings... It never bit me or anything, but I could never quite get the affection right for it of a proper parent. Still, it constantly looked at me for attention I wasn't ready to give so my first Esquire went up for adoption. However, the size it good. Handle ergos also done well. Maybe filing off some of that guard and a sexy swedge would be more enticing.
Possibly so? As I've mentioned before, my two Esquires feel astonishingly different in hand. The 3/32" blue is very, very fine, but it doesn't evoke the Wow reaction that the 1/8" oreo does whenever I pick it up.

And I cannot BELIEVE that precious stubby muk did not photobomb any of these pics...50 shades of gray and all
Well.... I'm trying to see how I feel living without it, to determine whether or not I am willing to live without it.

From the get-go, I have been determined to maintain a manageable, use-able selection of knives. I think my initial goal was three total Fiddlebacks, little, medium, larger? That stretched to five, which stretched to... more'n that.

Here are my smaller fixed blades, sans the Sgian Dubh which was already hieing itself ho to Jerry, hitchhiking with his returnees so he can conduct his own wee compare:

Esquire, Esquire, Stubby Muk, Runt, Pocket Muk (@freemanforge)
Sgian Dubh & Stubby Muk:

Stubby Muk and Pocket Muk:

I'm very taken by the wee Pocket Muk, and especially like its more pronounced point:

... I love the Stubby Muk (and its oreo duds!), but it's proving to be a tweener-- bigger than can be as readily pocketed as some of the other choices, yet without the versatility of blades slightly larger. I pick up the Stubby Muk and handle it and want it to stay Forever; I move through my weeks and, day after day, discover it's not the knife that gets the nod.
~ P.