Fiddleback Collections

I don't really care what anyone does with his/her knife. Stick in a safe, baton it through a rock*, wrap it up in a Snuggie and sing sweet lullabies to it. Doesn't matter to me.




*This may void your warranty due to stupidity.
 
crazyfingers said:
I totally agree on all three comment from Joe Duder, xxwjtxx, emoney2277, mistwalker I wasn't trying to up set or offend anyone. Its just a bummer when you see all of them just sitting around not being used is all I was trying to say. Sorry
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Naw man, no upsetness going on here, just hard to put a tone into text I guess :)

It was a man who never used ANY of his knives, and wouldn't have known what to do with any in the woods if he found himself there (really not sure he knew how to use one in a kitchen either :) ) that really launched my love and passion for knives about forty years ago. His name was Ralph something-or-other and I can still remember his face. He was a friend of my mother. He had some used knives...old military pieces...about a dozen British Commando knives, a few V-42s, even some old relic daggers, he reeeeally liked daggers. He had lots of folders that had never been used wrapped in oil cloth, and I have no idea how many fixed blades including several unused Randalls. I understand the passion behind collecting art from other aspects, and I love knives so I totally understand the passion of knife collecting. I have just never been able to do it. I just can not have a knife, and not know how it performs and feels in use. But I can't knock anyone who can. To each his own, and what have you. I tend to have a lot more knives around than I need, though this past winter solved that problem for me... But all of them are used to some degree.


RRaconteur said:
I'm just slow, I guess. ��
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It's just not something you notice so much until you find yourself immersed within the culture yourself. I always knew there were a lot of collectors out there. But you don't realize just how many till you start going to the shows like the international Blade Show in Atlanta and hanging out for the entire show for a few years in a row.


emoney2277 said:
I didn't want to upset anyone either. If I had more $$$$$$$ I would collect more!!
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You and me both man. If I suddenly found myself with infinite wealth I'd see to it that Andy Roy, the Martins, Dylan, and a couple of others out there never ran out of places to sell knives :)
 
I guess I fall into both camps somewhat. I'm thankful that I've been able to build up a pretty good collection of Fiddlebacks. And all of them get used to some extent.

I EDC a fixed blade everyday. 4 Fiddlebacks go through that rotation:
Runt
EDK
Hiking Buddy
EDCII

A few see a lot of Kitchen use:
Hunter
Woodsman
EDCII

A few are my "sit on the front porch and drink coffee and play with wood" knives:
Arete
Kephart
Carver

Some go camping and hiking with me, or get used in the backyard when I'm feeling the call but can't answer it:
Bushfinger
Bushcrafter
Big Paw
Camp Nessie
Arete
Woodsman

Do I need that many. No way. I could get by with one, or two, or...

When I started buying Fiddlebacks I made a commitment that I wouldn't have any Safe Queens. I don't have any issues with those that do. They buy the knives the same as I do and can do whatever they want with them. I don't want to hear anybody tell me "Don't hit your knife with a stick" so I shouldn't tell anyone "Don't stick that knife in a safe." I'm grateful for what I've been able to acquire. I hope I can continue. I wish I could collect like I see some do. I thankful that they do, as it keeps Andy and crew in business. I just wish a few more would slip through the cracks more often so I could grab them :)

I've already kinda broken my own rule. I have two Woodsman (Woodsmen?), one of which I don't use much at all, as it's just too pretty in my eyes. I'm continually torn between wanting to keep it as it's IMO one of the finest Woodsman I've seen and a feeling I should sell it due to my no queens commitment.

Sorry for the disjointed ramblings. Been typing this up over the last while in between meetings and being locked in an office downtown wishing I was home and could get a break to go cut up some wood with a Fiddleback.
 
I wish my problem was having too many fiddlebacks

While collectors put a limit on available knives to knife 'users', not having collectors will just further limit the amount of knives Andy puts out there for sale in the long run. This has already been stated as much, but there are quite a few of Andy's knives that I want to try out so keep on collecting please.
 
Andy's knives are works of art that just happen to also be useful. Skipping the fact that I have a horde of other knives that will never get used for anything but sheath making I only have an actual use for a couple FF models, others like Wasps and Scorpions I keep simply because of their beauty or in case the need arises to shank or de limb someone. It's in human nature to collect, some people collect stamps. I have always liked knives as far back as my memory can go. I especially like Fiddlebacks.
I have no limit set on how many I can have but I figure a nice even 100 should give me a good variety of grinds and handle materials to pick from. When I retire I imagine I will have a lot more time to use them or maybe I'll just sell all but one along with everything else and move to some sandy beach with a good supply of margaritas.
 
Here is my humble collection... I like the more traditional look of Browns and woods. I'll get a few more to branch out though I am sure!

Fiddleback040314_1a.jpg


Fiddleback040314_2a.jpg


Fiddleback040314_3a.jpg


Fiddleback040314_4a.jpg
 
Sweet collection! Man I love that Woodchuck, is it tapered 1/8 or 5/32? I want a guardless one when I get the chance.
 
Tha Baron said:
Here is my humble collection... I like the more traditional look of Browns and woods. I'll get a few more to branch out though I am sure!

Fiddleback040314_1a.jpg



Baron,

Very nice collection you have there. I appreciate anyone having a theme to his or her collection. You have done very well.

My favorite out of your collection is the Big Sneaky Pete. That model does not get the love and appreciation that it should around here.

Thanks for sharing your photos.

Phil
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Missing a few knives (drunk burlap hunter, sapphire burlap sneaky, box burl sneaky, comp cutter, bocote nessmuk) -- all out for one reason or another, but here's everything else! I'll get some better pics up when its not raining out, the lighting is better, and the rest of my fiddlebacks return home!

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Thanks man; I let one go and regretted it, but as luck would have it another came across my path!
 
Wow! What a variety of handles. Stunning collection mate. I especially like the Bushcrafter.
Thanks for posting them.


Cheers Mick
 
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