Fiddleback Forge Knives, Really Not As Fragile As You May Think. (Photo Hvy)

[varga49]

Brian, What everybody said plus Thanks! That said, make no mistake, I never once doubted the tenacity and durability of these knives. My "fear and loathing statement that may have inspired this thread, was about taking brand new knives and making them users. I live in what has been called the high hill country that is the gateway to the desert southwest. Thanks to historical circumstance [the origins of cattle country] there is not much by way of land,[all fenced and privately owned] much less forested land to wander in. Luckily I do live on substantial acreage here. Our dominant trees for bush crafting use are the Juniperous Ashei [aka mountain cedar] and the Mesquite. This thread in particular has inspired me, interested me to see to what extent bush crafting skills could be practiced on the land I live on. And lastly I'm taking my BC blade out today and see if I can get rid of some of that newness!! If there ever was a patron saint of Fiddleback Forge knives,...it might be you. Thanks again

 

[Bmurray]

Awesome thread - I just started with Fiddleback got their production camp knife and a Bushfinger for upcoming camp trips. They're really beautiful pieces of cutlery, I've been curious to see what they can do - this thread definitely will have me using them with confidence. Thanks for posting!~

~Merry Christmas & Happy 2017~

Congrats, the midtech FB line is the standard in which I measure about every knife I own. I have these mid techs in my collection, and love everyone of them. Kephart being my favorite EDU knife

kephart (2x)
Camp
Duke
Hiking buddy
Bushcraft Puukko

 

[Mistwalker]

Great thread and wonderful pictorial insight into your bushcraft skills ! Thanks for taking the time to post this. I have looked at it both yesterday and today and am squirreling away the ideas :thumbup:

Thanks man, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I guess it's as much insight into my childhood and teenage years as anything else. I just enjoyed it enough to keep studying and keep practicing over the years

Brian, What everybody said plus Thanks! That said, make no mistake, I never once doubted the tenacity and durability of these knives. My "fear and loathing statement that may have inspired this thread, was about taking brand new knives and making them users. I live in what has been called the high hill country that is the gateway to the desert southwest. Thanks to historical circumstance [the origins of cattle country] there is not much by way of land,[all fenced and privately owned] much less forested land to wander in. Luckily I do live on substantial acreage here. Our dominant trees for bush crafting use are the Juniperous Ashei [aka mountain cedar] and the Mesquite. This thread in particular has inspired me, interested me to see to what extent bush crafting skills could be practiced on the land I live on. And lastly I'm taking my BC blade out today and see if I can get rid of some of that newness!! If there ever was a patron saint of Fiddleback Forge knives,...it might be you. Thanks again

Thanks Douglas. I may be lucky in the fact that I was asked to do just that with my first one, and assured any damage for reasonable uses would get sorted out. Over time I probably took them beyond reason in some peoples' opinions, but they've always done fine. I'd say there are actually several of us who have been here since the earliest days. I may just be the one who, thanks to my work, spends the most time with a camera handy

 

[Mistwalker]

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing and putting this together!!

Merry Christmas

I almost added pics from two other knives...a Kephart and a Bushcrafter...but I was afraid people might start falling asleep near the end and didn't want to get fussed at by anyone for messing them up on a Friday post

 

[M4Super90]

I almost added pics from two other knives...a Kephart and a Bushcrafter...but I was afraid people might start falling asleep near the end and didn't want to get fussed at by anyone for messing them up on a Friday post

I would not fall asleep with the BC!! I keep coming back to this tread to study the pics. Fantastic as usual, Brian. Merry Christmas!

 

[Mistwalker]

I would not fall asleep with the BC!! I keep coming back to this tread to study the pics. Fantastic as usual, Brian. Merry Christmas!

Thanks man, I'm glad you enjoyed it and Merry Christmas!! The issue with the Buscrafter was that in this case it was essentially the same photo shoot as with the 1/8 convex KEB. Some slight differences, but with the same exact materials, taken from the same exact trees, using the same exact methods. It was tapered 5/32. I did it first and then I conducted the same exact experiment with the 1/8 KEB two days later. In the line of photos it just started looking way too redundant to me, and I felt the 1/8 spoke more to the durability of the knives with me already having two other 5/32 knives in the thread...so I went with that one...

 

[Onedog]

Thanks man, I'm glad you enjoyed it and Merry Christmas!! The issue with the Buscrafter was that in this case it was essentially the same photo shoot as with the 1/8 convex KEB. Some slight differences, but with the same exact materials, taken from the same exact trees, using the same exact methods. It was tapered 5/32. I did it first and then I conducted the same exact experiment with the 1/8 KEB two days later. In the line of photos it just started looking way too redundant to me, and I felt the 1/8 spoke more to the durability of the knives with me already having two other 5/32 knives in the thread...so I went with that one...

So, this being said, I'm curious to know if you have a preference between the BC and the KEB.

 

[Mistwalker]

So, this being said, I'm curious to know if you have a preference between the BC and the KEB.

Hmmm...well, I like them both, but prefer pointy if I can get it. A grail for me is a KEB in tapered 5/32...but I also tend to like a speed bump between my hand and the edge when working while cold and fatigued, so I guess it would depend more on the climate I am working in between those two, In a warmer climate I'd likely take a tapered 1/8 KEB. In a colder climate, I think I'd feel more comfortable with a tapered 5/32 Bushcrafter. I really hated parting with this one, but we desperately needed propane in the -49F windchill at night and -14F day time temps, and they were seriously gouging on the price of propane that winter and my business partner had bailed on me.

 

[Tekton]

Great pics and write up Brian. I never tire of them.

I love the way 01 takes a patina. All beautiful knives especially that Hunter. I need to try a Hunter sometime. These threads are always inspiration for me. Thank you.

And...now let's see that Kephart you referred to!

 

[Mistwalker]

Great pics and write up Brian. I never tire of them.

I love the way 01 takes a patina. All beautiful knives especially that Hunter. I need to try a Hunter sometime. These threads are always inspiration for me. Thank you.

And...now let's see that Kephart you referred to!

Thanks man, glad you enjoy them. I really want to try a Hunter now too. He has tweaked the handle some on the newer ones to be more like the Bushfinger and Duke. The Duke may be a little big for me actually, but I really do like the size of the Hunter. I would love one in tapered 5/32 like my Bushfinger and wouldn't complain about tapered 3/16 O-1 really does patina very nicely.

Lol, I'll see what all I have of the Kephart. I didn't do a lot of batoning or truncating with it, mostly a lot of carving and whittling.

 

[Onedog]

Hmmm...well, I like them both, but prefer pointy if I can get it. A grail for me is a KEB in tapered 5/32...but I also tend to like a speed bump between my hand and the edge when working while cold and fatigued, so I guess it would depend more on the climate I am working in between those two, In a warmer climate I'd likely take a tapered 1/8 KEB. In a colder climate, I think I'd feel more comfortable with a tapered 5/32 Bushcrafter. I really hated parting with this one, but we desperately needed propane in the -49F windchill at night and -14F day time temps, and they were seriously gouging on the price of propane that winter and my business partner had bailed on me.]

Thanks man. I always appreciate your insights. Especially since you seem to have tested nearly every knife in every configuration, at lest the ones that I have interest in. [emoji16] As you probably know, my preference leans towards the KEB and Terasaur. The only problem I have with them is having to remove my glove in the winter. I usually wear thin liners or convertible mitts as the winters in Massachusetts get rather cold so it's not a huge problem but still an annoyance. I would imagine that, now living in Georgia, I won't be wearing such thick gloves or mitts but I'll still wear something. Perhaps the larger handle on the BC, as well as the guard, would allow me to keep gloves on and still have confidence in my grip. Although, since my opinion on the Bushfinger is changing, I would lean towards that as my winter/cold weather knife as opposed to the BC. First world problem I'm sure but still something I'll think about. [emoji3]

 

[VANCE]

Duke
Hunter
Bushfinger

 

[Mistwalker]

Thanks man. I always appreciate your insights. Especially since you seem to have tested nearly every knife in every configuration, at lest the ones that I have interest in. [emoji16] As you probably know, my preference leans towards the KEB and Terasaur. The only problem I have with them is having to remove my glove in the winter. I usually wear thin liners or convertible mitts as the winters in Massachusetts get rather cold so it's not a huge problem but still an annoyance. I would imagine that, now living in Georgia, I won't be wearing such thick gloves or mitts but I'll still wear something. Perhaps the larger handle on the BC, as well as the guard, would allow me to keep gloves on and still have confidence in my grip. Although, since my opinion on the Bushfinger is changing, I would lean towards that as my winter/cold weather knife as opposed to the BC. First world problem I'm sure but still something I'll think about. [emoji3]

I have some thoughts to add here concerning the Bushfinger in this, now that I have one. You make a good point, but to say all I want to say about how it may just solve my pointy and speed bump issues will need to wait till I get back....

Duke
Hunter
Bushfinger

Yeah, I'm guessing the old school Hunter handle is one that did not pass Andy's poop test

 

[Mistwalker]

Although, since my opinion on the Bushfinger is changing, I would lean towards that as my winter/cold weather knife as opposed to the BC. First world problem I'm sure but still something I'll think about. [emoji3]

Since I am just now getting around to the hand made newer version of the Bushfinger my opinions on it have been limited. I knew after testing the first one that I wanted my final version to be one that spoke to me personally on all levels and a keeper. Since I have that now, I have been trying to make up for lost time in getting acquainted with it. It dawns on me, and one would think that would have happened with the Kephart before now and I must just be dense at times..., but the main reason I like the rounded pommel of the KEB is during boring divots etc., because of the way I hold it. I don't like choking up on the KEB for boring due to the lack of guard and fear of slipping with too much force. That's a hold-over from a bad injury with an Old Hickory knife, where the handle is designed for pull cuts and NOT designed for thrusts. With the Kephart and the Bushfinger that is a non point. On these I tend to choke up on the handle and use the guard area for leverage while boring and the shape of the pommel isn't a factor at all. The pommel on the Bushfinger feels fine in light chopping eeven with a three-finger grip. Plus the can't and upper angle on the pommel of the Bushfinger appeals to me if I ever have to use a pommel to the side of a head again. Sadly the lid on Pandora's box on that side of things was opened 35 years ago, and I doubt it will ever close again, so I tend to evaluate things with those thoughts too. So all things considered, the Kephart and Bushfinger are definitely my favorite two Bushcrafting models so far

 

[Uncle_P]

Brian,
Great post. Always like seeing your pics, that patina is certainly not forced.
Thanks for posting.
Preston

 

[Mistwalker]

Brian,
Great post. Always like seeing your pics, that patina is certainly not forced.
Thanks for posting.
Preston

Thank you Preston. Yeah, I seldom force them per se. It's more that I just don't do anything to resist it, and I will help them along by leaving the knife just laying covered in juices and sauces that cause the patina. In the case of steak sauce, which has vinegar in it, I will often use a bite of the steak like a paint brush to spread the sauce around on the surface of the steel to help the patina along in more even development

.

 

[Mistwalker]

And...now let's see that Kephart you referred to!

Hmmm... I feared redundancy, but then maybe I should edit in more models and then they could just make this a sticky as a reference lol

 

[Mistwalker]

And...now let's see that Kephart you referred to!

As it turns out, I don't have any of serious abuse with the hand made Kephart I tested, I was mostly delighted about how well it handled with whittling and carving type tasks. I will work on remedying that, or I could use pics from the midtech Kephart tests.

 

[Tekton]

Hmmm... I feared redundancy, but then maybe I should edit in more models and then they could just make this a sticky as a reference lol

Sorry for the delayed response, finding time to get on the forum has been difficult this week. I definitely wouldn't find more pictures redundant. A sticky would be cool!

I always enjoy your posts and pictures.

 

[Mistwalker]

Sorry for the delayed response, finding time to get on the forum has been difficult this week. I definitely wouldn't find more pictures redundant. A sticky would be cool!

I always enjoy your posts and pictures.

I will dig through and isolate what I have on my external hard drives into a folder on my PC and add then as I can. Trying to play catch up after the holidays now, so definitely understand the delayed response, no worries