Bushfinger by Andy Roy

[Mistwalker]

I have been following Andy's work for the better part of two years now. Having seen several threads and lots of pictures I knew that he makes some beautiful knives, but getting to see them in person and handle them at Blade just took it to a whole new level for me. A couple of months back I talked to Andy about a smallish knife for bushcraft...but bushcraft from my personal perspective...we talked about prefs and hand size and thus a couple of weeks ago came the Bushfinger. He apparently understands my favorite activities because he did a fantastic job on the knife, not only aesthetically but in function. I really just don't think I could be happier with a knife for all around general use.




This was how the knife arrived and I have to say that Andy Roy definitely has style.

And this is the beauty I found waiting inside the package. This is the knife design Andy has dubbed the Bushfinger.

Specs:

Steel...................Spalted O-1 Tool steel 5/32in / 4mm
Grind...................Hi Sabre Convex
Balde length............4.3in / 11cm
Handle Length...........4.5in / 11.4cm
Over-all length.........8.8in / 22.4cm
Handle Scales...........Natural Canvas Micarta
Liners and Bolsters.....Black Canvas Micarta
Pins....................Natural Canvas Micarta/Carbon Fiber
Bullseye Lanyard Hole...Stainless Steel/Carbon Fiber

Maker: Andy Roy of FiddlebackForge.com




I love this sheath Andy made too, it works great for me both on my belt or in my pocket... where my knife often rides on hikes through the woods. He did an absolutely a fantastic job on this thing, I love his craftsmanship. While I normally don't care much for metal belt clips I have found this one to be well made, very well located and comfortable, plus I do love the ability to quickly relocate the knife when I wish.

Andy did a super job on the little details that make this knife a work of art. I love how he mated the scales and bolsters together at an angle. His plunge line is just super, and the symmetry, which is a big thing with me, is simply fantastic.

 

[Mistwalker]

This knife is very comfortable in every grip I have used it in over the course of the last two weeks.

I do a lot of cooking so naturally it is something a use a knife for a lot. The Bushfinger is perfect for me because it works great for food prep, it is a perfect size for great controlability. It did great with the veggies

 

[Mistwalker]

It sliced through the tenderloin like it wasn't even there.

The line of the edge being just below the lowest line of the handle lets me use the entire edge by holding the handle in a pinch grip and rocking the edge on the cutting board to slice and chop things like fresh garlic or fresh herbs. Yep, the Bushfinger does a great job at food prep without looking like a kitchen knife in the process (which I like VERY MUCH!).

Finally getting the knife out in the woods I found it has a great working edge.

 

[Mistwalker]

I used a hawk to rough out a shape of a spoon, and then used the Bushfinger to clean it up some. I have no clue what type of wood it is but by damn it's hard. I whittled on it for about an hour and a half with with no hotspots at all, only a little tenderness in my thumb from pushing on the squared spine, which by the way throws great sparks from a firesteel. The knife is really a pleasure to work with.

Then I did a little batoning with it making some notches in an adjustable pot hanger. The knife handles really well. Andy's hi sabre grind is more user-friendly than some of the thinner knives I have used while still giving me the strong spine I like a knife to have.

 

[Mistwalker]

I decided to use a piece of the hard wood split off from roughing out the spoon to give the tip a work out. It was about 3/4 of an inch thick and the tip handled boring a hole in it very well.

 

[Mistwalker]

I also whittled/notched a couple of trap triggers out of a wood that reminds me of Cherry, not really sure if it is or not but very simlar in looks and density. The knife really is a pleasure to work with.

After all I have done with it the original edge will still whittle some nice feather sticks. Having put it through its paces for the last couple of weeks I think this is the perfect bushcraft knife for me personally. Thank you Andy, job very well done, this is exactly what I wanted and I don't recall ever being happier with a knife purchase.

It is also aging quite nicely too

.

 

[rpn]

nice write up and photos! one great looking blade!

 

[Tostig]

Nice review Mistwalker !

That is one sweet knife. I think the blade makes it the perfect woods 'chore' knife , I love that pointy tip. Yea he did do a great job on the overall package, the handle contrasts are quite nice.
The extended tang is a nice custom touch to boot. The sheath seems a bit overkill as far as thickness but it does look very well made and tough.

Nice looking new pal you got there , I'm sure it will serve you fine for the rest of your life.


Tostig

 

[A.L.]

Always enjoying your reviews mistwalker, and great job again!
Knife looks really good, and I like the clipped sheath quite a bit. Very good for more casual use (such as not hiking or walking much etc) I bet.
A bit too long knife for EDC though no?

 

[Mistwalker]

nice write up and photos! one great looking blade!

Thanks, Andy did a great job on this knife.

Nice review Mistwalker !

That is one sweet knife. I think the blade makes it the perfect woods 'chore' knife , I love that pointy tip. Yea he did do a great job on the overall package, the handle contrasts are quite nice.
The extended tang is a nice custom touch to boot. The sheath seems a bit overkill as far as thickness but it does look very well made and tough.

Nice looking new pal you got there , I'm sure it will serve you fine for the rest of your life.


Tostig

Thanks T, glad you enjoyed it. The design is perfect for my uses, I love the size and shape of the blade.

The sheath is very well made, I don't think it's too thick...but maybe that's just me, I'd take overly thick over overly thin any day

Always enjoying your reviews mistwalker, and great job again!
Knife looks really good, and I like the clipped sheath quite a bit. Very good for more casual use (such as not hiking or walking much etc) I bet.
A bit too long knife for EDC though no?

Thanks A.L. glad you liked it.

Yeah, I love the aesthetics very much, artistically done yet not overly ornate.

Maybe a little big in some places, depending on where you live. I'm looking into one of Andy's Karda models or maybe a Bushboot for more edc friendliness down town here.

 

[TheGame]

Another great review, bro.

The handle looks very comfy :thumbup:

But you made me hungry now...

 

[Mistwalker]

Another great review, bro.

The handle looks very comfy :thumbup:

But you made me hungry now...

Thanks TG, glad you enjoyed it.

The handle is very comfortable!

Darn it...and I intentionally left out the finished product pics

.

 

[mtnfolk mike]

oh my.. that is a great looking knife.. awesome review and pics too, Brian..:thumbup:
i love Andy's work, and have enjoyed watching his knives/style evolve over the past couple years... i actually own the the very first knife Andy ever sold...

 

[Mr.Blade]

Fantastic knife! I want one. Thanks for this great review. A question for you Mistwalker, which knife do prefer for bushcrafting? Many of your reviews is more about "tactical", black coating/military style-knives, at least of what I´ve seen. Which one do you think is most suitable for bushcraft?

 

[Mistwalker]

oh my.. that is a great looking knife.. awesome review and pics too, Brian..:thumbup:
i love Andy's work, and have enjoyed watching his knives/style evolve over the past couple years... i actually own the the very first knife Andy ever sold...

Thanks Mike, I'm glad you liked the post. Those are basically the same words I said when I opened the package.

I love his work too and have been watching it develop for some time now.

WOW, I'd definitely be hanging on to that knife! Got any pictures of it?

Fantastic knife! I want one. Thanks for this great review. A question for you Mistwalker, which knife do prefer for bushcrafting? Many of your reviews is more about "tactical", black coating/military style-knives, at least of what I´ve seen. Which one do you think is most suitable for bushcraft?

Thanks MB, glad you enjoyed the review, and yes it is a fantastic knife!

I practice a lot of "bushcraft" with tactical knives just to take them out of their primary design element because of a mind set permanently burned into my way of thinking from past experiences. Watching the current global situation and the disposition of the urban environment I live in further reinforces the desire to practice that. In the event of a disaster, either natural (which is unlikely) or man made (likely), the first environment I'll be dealing with will be urban and from my previous experiences I like a heavier blade in an urban environment. I practice bushcraft with these heavier knives because my goal will be to, at the very least least temporarily reach the wilderness environment with my family... away from the predators of the streets. I need to know how well the heavier knives I keep just for survival in such situations will fare in a natural environment.

In an attempt at answering your question....For bushcraft for the sake of bushcraft...for the relaxing recreational/wilderness living aspect of it I prefer a knife like the Bushfinger, it really is perfect for me in this aspect...uncoated blade for less drag (though I do like the scale left on the flats or a bead blast finish for grip when holding the blade in a pinch grip), hi convex grind but with a strong spine combined with a wicked point, edge only slightly lower than the handle, and a very user-friendly, comfortable handle to work with. Hence my turning to Andy after getting to handle his work in person at Blade. When I saw his work I knew he could easily make the knife I needed.

Ideally I'd have what I have drawn out as a "tactical-bushcraft" knife that I intend to talk to Andy about at some point in the future when he is more open to taking custom orders again and I have more money to work with. It is drawn from the perspective of buschcraft knife first... has many similarities to this knife only slightly larger with some additional features. I'd want it made out of something like 3/16, 7/32 or so S-7 for toughness in very abusive situations.

 

[HikingMano]

Thanks for the review Brian :thumbup:

This one is second on my list from Andy...I'm still stuck on the Hunter model for its handle.

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks for the review Brian :thumbup:

This one is second on my list from Andy...I'm still stuck on the Hunter model for its handle.

Thanks Russell, the Hunter is a sweet design too, I check it out at Blade also.

If I had had the money to do so I would have made a lot of open spaces on his table

 

[HikingMano]

Ah! Since you handled both, what do you think about the Hunter vs. the Bushfinger? We can take it to PM if you'd like

 

[Mistwalker]

I like them both, pm coming.

 

[knarfeng]

I always appreciate your excellent working reviews. You put a knife through its paces with real world tough work. And the comments you make about the knife are always well stated and well illustrated with clear photos.

O yeah, and the knife is to die for.