Bushcraft Knife Challenge results!!!

Gone for a week and I miss all of this :eek:

Congrats, Bruce Great job to all the makers and testers here, also, without them it could have never happened.

Thanks to Ken, too, for the graphs.. although I don't actually understand them :p
 
Thanks to all involved, knife makers and testers, for an entertaining challenge. I'll be honest here. Based on pics and a 'love at first sight' aesthetic test, I liked the Fiddleback, turley, culberson, and AA forge. I thought the wrapped handle on the marchand would be damaged during testing. I guess I will have to 'familiarize' myself with a nice wrapped handle sometime in the near future. I think seeing and handling the knives in person may yield a different result.

I would like to pass along a congrats to Bruce C, and wish him the best moving forward. I have been a fan of his style for some time I hope all the makers willing to subject their knives to testing scrutiny benefit from this. Thanks again to all involved.
 
killstrees said:
Thanks to all involved, knife makers and testers, for an entertaining challenge. I'll be honest here. Based on pics and a 'love at first sight' aesthetic test, I liked the Fiddleback, turley, culberson, and AA forge. I thought the wrapped handle on the marchand would be damaged during testing. I guess I will have to 'familiarize' myself with a nice wrapped handle sometime in the near future. I think seeing and handling the knives in person may yield a different result.
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After you handled and used all of these knives your oppinion may or not change on your preference. The only thing that would change is your fear that the wrapped handle of the R. Marchand would not hold up. I had the same concern till I got familiar with it and beat on it. Yes I beat on the handle pretty good.. I can honestly say, that his Epoxied Hemp is harder than many woods used in knife handles.
 
On the same tact as the above entry- I was wondering which knives folks here liked and if people have been moved to make some buys. For me, my favs were (in no particular order):

Fiddleback Bushfinger- I have a ladyfinger and it's just a sweet woods blade...would love one in 1/8"
Donavon Philips- love that handle and looks slicy! I did email and would have loved to have just bought the test knife
Ban Tang- slicy is the word and that looks like a comfy handle

Even though I had a big itch for Donavon's knife I love Koyote knives and then the small handle version hit the exchange...had to put in an order for one. His ergos are 2nd to none and I love the scandivex grind!
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...fter-quot-guardless-quot-ipe-hourglass-handle

So, what did other folks like? Make anyone else buyers?
 
I have a few I liked...ok, more than a few. I wound up buying Donavon Phillips' knife. There are more I'd like to get as funds allow.
 
rpn said:
On the same tact as the above entry- I was wondering which knives folks here liked and if people have been moved to make some buys.

So, what did other folks like? Make anyone else buyers?
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I'd been eyeing his blades for a while, but the contest pushed me over the edge. I ordered a Graywolf #5. It's in the mail to me now, hopefully it'll get here next week. I really should throw some money at Bruce Culberson soon too. Support the local economy ya know? I loved his camp knife challenge entry as well, so perhaps something that's a bit of a combo of the two.
 
rpn said:
So, what did other folks like? Make anyone else buyers?
Click to expand...

I've always liked Ray Laconicos' work so I was more than stoked to be able to grab a 4" version of his challenge knife.

IMG_6304.jpg
 
I have a Marchand bushcrafter, put an order in with Scout knives, and am on the list for Culberson and Pinault. couldnt decide on just one, so...looks like they will be spaced out in arrival , so
guess I'll do my own mini-test with these when they all get here
 
rpn said:
Donavon Philips- love that handle and looks slicy!

So, what did other folks like? Make anyone else buyers?
Click to expand...

Actually I had been working with Donavon for a while prior to the start of this thread. However, this thread made me wish my knife would get to me more quickly:)

Hoping to take delivery next week (fingers crossed).

I have handled a few of his knives including one of his competition blades. They all look fantastic.
 
I have had the opportunity to sample a lot of the makers (but not the same knives) stuff in this thread. Always thought they had some great stuff. There are a few makers I avoid like the plague after handling their stuff, but none of them are W&SS challenge makers. I think what it all boils down is whether or not a given knife has captured your imagination.

I'll get another Marchand one day, when I'm not eyeballing a grand worth of other gear.....Good god this liking the outdoors stuff is expensive!
 
I am proud of my two Bantang BT4s. Both are hollow ground with the top one being .27 A2 and the bottom one is 3/16ths A2. I would make a horrible crook,notice that finger print. Yes they are the sharpest knives i own by far.

IMG_1731.jpg
 
Donavon is a hell of a guy, I work with and have known him for 4+ years... If there's one thing he knows and knows damn well it's knives!
I've met a lot of folks in many different industries and walks of life...Donavons knives come from personal experiences, the man builds, uses and tests his knives...He also listens well to what folks need when it comes to a blade they want. If he can build it, you can rest assured, it won't fail.
I've always been a folder kinna guy...but those fixed blades he makes sure has an effect on me.
 
I bought Ban and NWA's challenge knives. :D They just appeled to me long before results came. And they didnt let me down :thumbup: :cool:
 
Man, we are buying some nice knives ought of this challenge!

Can't wait to get a hold of the Koyote!
 
Wow! I had missed the results. Congratulations Bruce. This is the kind of contest I like the most. Making a pretty knife is a great skill. Its always neat to swell with pride when you complete a piece. But to make one thats really a good tool is what it is all about.

Thanks for all your hard work guys.
 
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