Comparison Photos - Round Two

[thurin]

It's been a while since I did the comparison pics on the mat. You can find my initial comparison thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1135499-Comparison-Photos

And of course find maw's definitive comparison thread here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...rge-Comparison-Photos-Round-Three-(PIC-Heavy)

Note, that since each knife is hand made, there are going to be subtle differences in each knife. Handles will be thicker or thinner, grinds are different, and of course blade thickness all make each one unique. Andy has also updated some of the models over time.

Each knife has been lined up at the start of the cutting edge of the blade.

I've split this into two groups, with the 4" blades showing up in both groups as a reference point.

4" and Under

Runt
2 Finger Karda (new version)
Esquire
EDKarda
Hiking Buddy
Patch Knife
EDCII
Bushboot
Bushraptor
Carver
KE Bushie
Kephart
Bushcrafter
Bushfinger
Longfellow

4" and Over

KE Bushie
Kephart
Bushcrafter
Bushfinger
Longfellow
Bear Paw
Woodchuck
Camp Nessie
Hunter
Woodsman
Camp

I hope these comparisons are useful and help you pick out your first/next Fiddleback.

As always, Thank you Andy and the rest of the Fiddleback Forge crew for making these wonderful tools!

 

[M4Super90]

Nice pictures and a valuable resource. Thanks for spending the time on the photos. I'm really starting to like the looks of the Longfellow.

 

[Uncle_P]

Thanks for posting this up. Like seeing the handle length and blade length with the comparisons.

 

[hasco]

Great photos Nathan!!! Thanks for doing that. I have always loved your woodsman and camp nessie, but I forgot how nice that hunter is too!

 

[Mistwalker]

Very nice photos Nathan! Mainly they bring a few thoughts to mind...A) you still have my dream Bushcrafter B) I really need to try out a Patch Knife, and hopefully a Leuku as well, and just looking at the Esquire there I am assuming the Monarch is probably HB sized as well?

 

[VANCE]

The monarch is good bit longer....about 3/4" and wider
... Spine to belly.. Handle too

Iirc

 

[VANCE]

Mist
Look in this weeks pics and they have a monarch and esquire in the same pic

 

[Tim the Wizard]

This is great. I really like the tapered tang Camp Nessie.

 

[Mistwalker]

The monarch is good bit longer....about 3/4" and wider
... Spine to belly.. Handle too

Iirc

So, pretty close to HB size then, maybe a little shorter?

 

[Cdmayhem]

Thanks! It's really nice being able to see these together. I do love the looks of that Longfellow.

 

[Redbird777]

Wow I don't know which one I like the best...... The Carver or the Old School Bushfinger! That Handle is just Thick Awesome!

 

[hiredgun]

Thanks for the comparisons between all the FF knives. You've confirmed it for me--I must have an Esquire!

 

[+ulfberh+]

Extremely helpful in comparing models, thanks

 

[Pointshoot777]

Wow I don't know which one I like the best...... The Carver or the Old School Bushfinger! That Handle is just Thick Awesome!

I wondered about the Bushfinger when I first saw it. Is that an older model, or do they still offer them with thicker handles ? I much prefer a thicker handle on a general outdoors use knife. Better control with numb fingers & less tiresome in cold weather up in the high mountains and when wearing winter gloves.

Terrific photos Thurin - thanks for your time & effort

 

[thurin]

Nice pictures and a valuable resource. Thanks for spending the time on the photos. I'm really starting to like the looks of the Longfellow.

You're welcome M4. I've been spending most of my time with the Bear Paw lately, but the Longfellow is next. It's a great blade shape.

Thanks for posting this up. Like seeing the handle length and blade length with the comparisons.

You're welcome Uncle.

Great photos Nathan!!! Thanks for doing that. I have always loved your woodsman and camp nessie, but I forgot how nice that hunter is too!

Cool Tod. The Hunter is one of my favorites due to it all coming together. Great grind, amazing spalting, unique handle combo. If I were to count up the hours of use on each knife, the Hunter would come out on top by far.

Very nice photos Nathan! Mainly they bring a few thoughts to mind...A) you still have my dream Bushcrafter B) I really need to try out a Patch Knife, and hopefully a Leuku as well, and just looking at the Esquire there I am assuming the Monarch is probably HB sized as well?

Thanks Brian. I'm just keeping the Bushcrafter safe for you. Patch knife is one of me new favs for EDC. The Esquire I'm sure will be once i get pants. I'm needing both a Leuku and Monarch myself. Someday...

The monarch is good bit longer....about 3/4" and wider
... Spine to belly.. Handle too

Iirc

Thanks Vance for the info!

This is great. I really like the tapered tang Camp Nessie.

You picked out my favorite Fiddleback.

Thanks! It's really nice being able to see these together. I do love the looks of that Longfellow.

You're welcome Cd. See above about the Longfellow. I'm looking forward to spending more time with it.

Wow I don't know which one I like the best...... The Carver or the Old School Bushfinger! That Handle is just Thick Awesome!

The Bushfinger is my first. Definite old school thick handled awesomeness going on there. The Carver ain't too bad either.

Thanks for the comparisons between all the FF knives. You've confirmed it for me--I must have an Esquire!

You're welcome HG. I enjoy doing it, if for nothing else than to hear someone say "I must have ...". I'm just trying to spread the addiction.

Extremely helpful in comparing models, thanks

You're welcome +ulfberh+.

I wondered about the Bushfinger when I first saw it. Is that an older model, or do they still offer them with thicker handles ? I much prefer a thicker handle on a general outdoors use knife. Better control with numb fingers & less tiresome in cold weather up in the high mountains and when wearing winter gloves.

Terrific photos Thurin - thanks for your time & effort

PS777, that is an old school Bushfinger. You can occasionally find knives on a FF where Ken/Andy will describe it as having THICK handles. They are kinda rare. You can also try to score one in the flea market. The sister Bushfinger to mine sold on the Market about a month ago.



Thank you all for the comments!

 

[Comprehensivist]

Thank you Nathan for providing this excellent reference information.

I know the care and precision that you put into the organization and lay-out of the knives and the lighting for the photos. That care is why this thread will remain a great reference that people, new and old, will come to back to over and over to help make informed decisions. I appreciate the time and effort that you put into this.

Thanks again for sharing your collection and experience in a way that benefits us all. Great post!!

Phil

 

[NUTRAMAC]

I vote for a sticky!
This is a great thread Thurin with valuable information.
Thank you for your time educating the community.

 

[GooberBoober]

Awesome pics Thurin, thanks for taking the time to make & post these! :thumbup:

 

[Kirkwood]

Excellent comparison post Nathan! Job well done. :thumbup: Great to have comparisons showing some of the newer patterns that were not around when maw made his posts.

 

[thurin]

You're welcome guys. I'm glad you find them useful. Sorry I hadn't responded earlier.

Occasionally I'm asked to do some one off comparison shots. I thought I'd add them here as a reference in case it's useful to anyone else. I'm working on refining my top down comparison shots so they have a more consistent feel to them. Still have a ways to go, especially on color matching. And I need to do a better job aligning things for the camera's eye and not my own. And I could really use a light box. But I enjoy it, so what the hey.

Here's comparison of the Bushfinger, Esquire, Runt.

Aligned on the plunge:

DSC_0486.jpg by thurin_, on Flickr

Aligned on the pommel:



Aligned on the tip:



From underneath: