Fiddleback Camp Knife - Quest for the Ultimate Camp Knife = Success!!

LightGuy

LightGuy

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Sep 12, 2010
Messages
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So I love camping and the outdoors in general, and a large camp knife is a must for me. I've had some very nice knives in the past to use as my main camp knife, but was always left looking for more. I even had a rare large 0.25" thick, 6" O1 one-of-a-kind Laconico which I thought was "the one", but after I saw a picture of Andy's camp knife, I had to try it.

All I can say is that for it's intended purpose - it is perfection. The handle - the contour and thickness fills your hand and gives you secure purchase on the knife. The handle gives you the option of gripping up close for finer work, or further back for light chopping. I roughed up the handle just a bit with a scotch brite pad, and it has even better purchase now. For a larger blade (7"), it is light and quick in the hand - I don't feel like it is too heavy or could potentially go flying out as I'm swinging it. Yet at the same time, it has plenty of forward weight for light chopping tasks. The saber grind with the full thickness of the spine partway down the blade helps with this.

The thickness of the blade isn't overkill like a lot of medium choppers at 1/4" or thicker, but at 3/16" thick it is plenty robust for hard use. It looks to me like a lot of thought was put into the edge geometry on this knife. The edge is plenty robust for hard use such as chopping and batonning, but is still keen enough to bite into wood well. I don't have the slightest bit of concern when swinging this knife with abandon into hardwood. I've done it plenty as well as LOTS of batonning, and the edge is perfect.

On to the asthetics - nothing wrong with having a purty knife! This thing is just a beauty and plain fun to use! The shadetree burlap and orange G10 liners look amazing. Andy's 3D spaulting simply looks incredible on this saber ground convex blade. Everything from the blade shape and handle lines flow to make what is essentially the ultimate camp knife!

I had to take some pics of it before I got it all dirty again on my last camping trip. If you don't already have one of these, what are you waiting for??!

Sorry this post is so PIC HEAVY. I couldn't decide on which ones to include, so you got 'em all... :o

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Nice pics! Thanks for writing that!!!
 
Looks like a good size and a really good design. I guess it's obvious but they forgot to sand the flats.

I should also point out that the fun is in the quest itself, not in the finding. You may think you have the ultimate and that knife might be very close, but you don't think it could be improved on? You don't think that as you use it you will find ways that you wish it was different? You don't think that someone will wave an even better blade under your nose somewhere down the line?

But I should also point out that if you think this is perfection and you have reached the end of the quest and don't intend to buy another, stop looking at other similar knives. As long as you think this one is perfection, it will be. Once you see other knives you will start looking at them and start questioning your choice. So immediately wipe out all other knife photos from your computer, delete links to knife sites, and have someone hypnotize you and erase bladeforums.com from your memory.
 
Good pictures, thanks for sharing them with us. The Camp knife is a Beast isn't it? Not only do they handle splitting and light chopping, they also work well in the kitchen. I used mine this morning to dice onions for an omelet. Pair it with a smaller knife for slicing/delicate work and you have it made! Mine gets paired with a Hidden Tang KPH or a really old Western Hunter.
 
bdmicarta said:
Looks like a good size and a really good design. I guess it's obvious but they forgot to sand the flats.

I should also point out that the fun is in the quest itself, not in the finding. You may think you have the ultimate and that knife might be very close, but you don't think it could be improved on? You don't think that as you use it you will find ways that you wish it was different? You don't think that someone will wave an even better blade under your nose somewhere down the line?

But I should also point out that if you think this is perfection and you have reached the end of the quest and don't intend to buy another, stop looking at other similar knives. As long as you think this one is perfection, it will be. Once you see other knives you will start looking at them and start questioning your choice. So immediately wipe out all other knife photos from your computer, delete links to knife sites, and have someone hypnotize you and erase bladeforums.com from your memory.
Click to expand...

Actually, for me the fun is in the using! I'll never say never to purchasing another knife of any kind (that would be ludicrous), but this knife does not leave me wanting or wishing something (anything) was different about it. That said, the quest continues for many other blades to serve many other purposes, and back-ups to those blades as well as a variety to choose from so I don't get bored. Oh yeah, I'll be a regular on Bladeforums for many years to come...

It just so happens that 90% of the time I keep coming back to the Fiddleback sub forum to meet those needs. Not only do you get incredible variety with Andy's work, but it seems like his blades just fit me and suite my needs better than anything else I seem to find.
 
Andy's camp knife looks and feels fantastic. One day when I have more money I want one of those or maybe one of his comp cutters, both are really sweet!
 
Hi LG,

Very informative write up and wow...outstanding photos! What a beautiful blade! Thank you for taking the time to post.

Mark
 
Never apologize for "Pic Heavy" especially when it come to pics of fiddlebacks!

That's my thought at least

Great looking knife; great pics too!
I too, wish to some day try a fiddleback camp knife...
 
That thing looks awesome. I have been trying to score a fiddleback for some time but I always seem to late on friday to get one I want. Thanks for the write up. Looks like it stands up under good solid use. That's good to know.
 
I have two of them with different grinds. They are both great knives.
 
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LightGuy, that is one outstanding knife. Perfect does seem to be a good descriptor. I love the thick orange liner and burlap handle. My favorite combo so far.
 
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