Camp knife advice

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+ulfberh+

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Apr 11, 2014
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77
The camp knife is one appealing beast. Has there been a review of this knife? If so could you post the link, if not, would anyone care to share their thoughts and pics. I am trying to decide between a Randall made camp knife and a FF camp knife. Thanks
 
It is brilliant; Chops great, batons well, good for food prep and the handle is very comfortable.

Great paired with something slim for detailed work.

Goes well with your brew of choice as well.
 
I was able to get LightGuy to sell me that knife in the review . . .still have it plus two others. The camp knife is one of my favorite knives. I have bought and sold way over 1000 custom knives and currently have a collection larger than I would like to admit. The Fiddleback camp knife is in my top five list of all the knives that have gone through my hands and in my collection. The one piece of advice I will give you is if you are going to get one get it in 3/16 thick steel with a full width tang and saber grind. I had one made from 5/32 and full flat grind and I felt that it was too lite for a camp knife.
 
I had one made from 5/32 and full flat grind and I felt that it was too lite for a camp knife.
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I can attest to this. Once upon a time I had a very nice camp knife and sheath combo. It was really a grail looking knife and definitely the most I had ever spent on a single fiddleback. Even at 3/16" with a tapered tang it was just too lite for its size. I swore up and down that blade was hollow. I guess it really all boils down to preference and tasks that you intend to perform with the Camp Knife.

Good luck in your quest.
 
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I would never say anything against a Randall knife. You will have a very long wait for it if you go that way, or you will pay quite a premium over a FF if you find a dealer that has one. Andy is pretty prolific in the knife making. Fiddleback Friday and the Flea Market has satisfied me over the past year. I have not counted lately, but I think I am around 85 FF knives. Had I ordered a Randall a year ago, I would not have it yet probably.

Andy's camp is a formidable camp knife capable of any hard chore in the bush that you might have. Chops and batons with ease and serves very well with felling small stuff. I cannot imagine from a performance standpoint that anything that Randall makes would perform any better. But if you want a Randall, get one. Andy's knives do pretty good from a re-sell standpoint based on what I have seen in the Flea Market. However, the Randall might do better from this standpoint. I have only ever sold one Fiddleback, and that was to a friend at cost. It was unused when I sold it.
 
Joe Duder said:
I can attest to this. Once upon a time I had a very nice camp knife and sheath combo. It was really a grail looking knife and definitely the most I had ever spent on a single fiddleback. Even at 3/16" with a tapered tang it was just too lite for its size. I swore up and down that blade was hollow. I guess it really all boils down to preference and tasks that you intend to perform with the Camp Knife.

Good luck in your quest.
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The actual weight doesn't Really bother me, if it's strong enough not to break I would rather it be light.
I have 2 camps right now, one with a half height grind and one with a 3/4 grind. The point on the half height is noticeably more robust, which I do like
 
For me, the camp knife has always been a grail profile -- big enough to beat on, but surprisingly agile and capable of doing some pretty detailed work. Its a pretty amazing profile and I would highly recommend trying one if given the opportunity. After being through several examples (5/32" SFT, 5/32" TT, 3/16" SFT, 3/16" TT), I have ultimately reached the conclusion that 3/16" SFT is best suited for the knife, in that there is plenty of heft in the tip, however there's enough steel in your hand to yield neutral balance at the first set of pins. YMMV, but in my humblest of opinions, it is a bad @$$ knife and worthy of the work required to hunt one down / shark one.

IMG_20150208_160514962_HDR_zpsd88df95c.jpg
 
I didn't think I needed a camp knife until this thread. You guys are killin me!!
 
I'd take a Fiddleback Camp knife over the Randall personally. I also agree that 3/16" SFT is the way to go. That is what I now have and though I have not held thinner profiles or tapered tang Camps, I can't imagine anything feeling better for this size and profile of this knife!
 
MMatt said:
I'd take a Fiddleback Camp knife over the Randall personally. I also agree that 3/16" SFT is the way to go. That is what I now have and though I have not held thinner profiles or tapered tang Camps, I can't imagine anything feeling better for this size and profile of this knife!
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Yes, but this is part of the mystery of Fiddleback Forge. You hold one and think, "This can't get any better." And then comes the opportunity to handle one with some tweak, and you think, "Ooh! I need this!" And then Andy starts using some new handle material, or a new bolster style, and then you need that too. The really strange think is how often you the different thing actually IS better, at least in one way or another. The only thing you can do is turn away now. Log off, and walk away.

Yeah right, like we could do that! 😄 See you next Friday. 😉


Michael
 
I do love the Camp Knife! I use one every time I am in the woods and not backpacking. I also love the Duke for an all purpose knife! Early this winter, I only carried a Camp Knife on a camping/fishing trip. I cleared limbs to hang my hammock and fly, I prepared fire wood, I dressed trout, I even filleted a trout, just to see if I could, I prepared and cooked dinner, I turned my trout on the open flame, heck, I even used the back edge to pop the top on a beer bottle!

In regard to thicknesses.... I have and use 5/32" tapered and SFT and 3/16" tapered and SFT. All the knives are VERY capable... VERY. Unless you use is as a pry bar, 5/32" would do just about whatever you wanted it for! I do like weight forward in a knife I plan to need power in my swing/chop, so I have to say my favorite is either thickness in tapered. I think I have shavingsharp's flat grind 5/32" Camp Knife, and it is SUPER light, but it is a FANTASTIC knife! As a matter of fact, I think I have used that Camp Knife more then any of my others!

-Will
 
RRaconteur said:
Yes, but this is part of the mystery of Fiddleback Forge. You hold one and think, "This can't get any better." And then comes the opportunity to handle one with some tweak, and you think, "Ooh! I need this!" And then Andy starts using some new handle material, or a new bolster style, and then you need that too. The really strange think is how often you the different thing actually IS better, at least in one way or another. The only thing you can do is turn away now. Log off, and walk away.

Yeah right, like we could do that! 😄 See you next Friday. 😉


Michael
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I can't deny this is true. I tend to like thicker handles because I have larger hands and find that models with a SFT tend to be thicker in general. In regards to 3/16", the camp knife feels like you could go to work on some pretty heavy logs and also puts plenty of the weight forward for chopping though I'm sure 5/32" would work as well. Also when I get the chance to actually take mine camping I will have another Fiddleback in 1/8" or 5/32" on my belt ;)
 
+ulfberh+ said:
Thanks all for input really appreciated. To you camp users how is sharpening such a big blade?
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EASY Peesy

At home I use a Flex Strop, the big mama one mounted on wood. Scott at usamadeblade keeps them in stock! No matter what I have put my Camp Knives through, a little stop has maintained the edge. The convex edge is VERY strong! It's a little thicker "behind the edge" which helps support and add strength. A little grey compound, then a good polishing on green and the big beast is ready for the next adventure.

I have been recently using a bludback Camp Knife, I really enjoy the super grippyness of the micarta!

-Will
 
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