Fiddleback Forge Hiking Buddy

[Mistwalker]

I got this knife back in June so I have had it for about 5 months or so. This one I was drawn to mainly because of the handle material, I thought the dyed-blue box elder burl was beautiful the day I bought it and I still do. That’s not to say I don’t also trust Andy’s knives to function as a knife should, I have put a few of his micarta handled knives through some pretty serious use. It’s just that with this one I wanted something a little nicer and a little classier. This is a scandi-grind version of Andy’s Hiking Buddy model.

The specs are:

Over-all length………………….7-1/2”
Blade length……………………..3-1/8”
Steel…………………………….....1/8” spalted 01 Tool Steel
Handle Material…………………Dyed-blue box elder burl with black micarta bolsters



I really like the fit and finish of Andy’s knives, he has always done a great job on fitting the bolsters on the ones I’ve handled.

The knife has Andy’s usual ergonomic magic going on, it fits the curves of my hand in pretty much every position I’ve used it in.

It also came with a nice edge.

I didn’t get this one with the intentions of it being a hard use survival knife so I’m not going to be beating it up just to see what it can take, but I did get it with bushcraft and field use in mine and it has done everything I have asked of it and done it well.

For the last five months it has been used a good bit in the bush, and though no pics it has been used to fix a few simple meals and slice quite a bit of cheese. It’s been carried a good bit, and has been tossed around in my shoulder bag and still looks great today.

Great job Andy, it’s a really sweet little knife!

.

 

[Mike157]

Great post mistwalker. Nice pictures, beautiful, well made knife, and some instructional/action shots. Enjoyed looking. One of Andy's knives is definitely on my list. Thanks. Mike

 

[rpn]

mmmm 1/8" HB.....mmmmm

Never realized that was on the skinnier side.

 

[Mistwalker]

Great post mistwalker. Nice pictures, beautiful, well made knife, and some instructional/action shots. Enjoyed looking. One of Andy's knives is definitely on my list. Thanks. Mike

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post. I think it is beautiful too, and Andy makes some really nice knives.

mmmm 1/8" HB.....mmmmm

Never realized that was on the skinnier side.

I actually wanted a 5/32 version with a high saber grind, and still do actually...but I fell in love with the handle on this one. I have put another one of Andy's 1/8 scandis through some pretty rough paces, so I don't have any worries there, I just happen to really like his saber grinds a lot.

 

[kgd]

That's a little beauty. In this case, the grind is perfectly suited to that sized knife. Perfect thing for pulling out of your pocket and carving or supplementing a bigger chopper for detail work.

 

[TheGame]

Great looking knife. The handles on all of them look great, and I especially like this one for the color. Thanks for the review Mist :thumbup:

 

[rpn]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the post. I think it is beautiful too, and Andy makes some really nice knives.




I actually wanted a 5/32 version with a high saber grind, and still do actually...but I fell in love with the handle on this one. I have put another one of Andy's 1/8 scandis through some pretty rough paces, so I don't have any worries there, I just happen to really like his saber grinds a lot.

A 1/8 saber ground would do it for me...someday..maybe with a proxy at the next Blade.

 

[Hawkeye5]

Another cool post Mistwalker. Always like your post.

Jeff

 

[NixKustoms]

That thing looks almost too nice to use.

I'm hoping that some day I can get me an FBF blade. Those things just look awesome.

 

[Woods Walker]

Nice knife and photos.

 

[Mistwalker]

That's a little beauty. In this case, the grind is perfectly suited to that sized knife. Perfect thing for pulling out of your pocket and carving or supplementing a bigger chopper for detail work.

I like the scandi grind on the 1/8 steel just fine, it is a great little carver. It actually does spend a lot of time riding in my pocket on hikes.

Great looking knife. The handles on all of them look great, and I especially like this one for the color. Thanks for the review Mist :thumbup:

Thanks TG, glad you liked the review. I really like the looks of this one a lot, I thought the colors were just amazing. I have yet to hold one of Andy's knives that I didn't like the handle of.

A 1/8 saber ground would do it for me...someday..maybe with a proxy at the next Blade.

A 1/8 blade with Andy's high saber grind would be one heck of a slicer! The Blade show is definitely the place to get the best choices. Andy's table was the first one I went to this year early on Friday before the show opened and will probably be the first one I head to next year as well. It's fun to see that many Fiddlebacks in one place to check out.

Another cool post Mistwalker. Always like your post.

Jeff

Thanks Hawkeye, glad you enjoyed it!

That thing looks almost too nice to use.

I'm hoping that some day I can get me an FBF blade. Those things just look awesome.

I sort of thought the same thing at first, and decided the best way to get it in use was to just have it as my only knife on a few hikes. Since then it has seen a lot of use and it's still looking nice.

Nice knife and photos.

Thanks WW, glad you enjoyed the post.

 

[Fiddleback]

I'm real glad you're happy with that knife bro. It was standout on the table wasn't it?

 

[Mistwalker]

Yes it was, and it wouldn't leave me alone!

 

[Don M]

What wood did you use for the spindle and the hearth?

 

[Mistwalker]

What wood did you use for the spindle and the hearth?

The softer, white, outer wood of a large downed cedar tree.