Fiddlebacks for Ladies

[Warrior108]

Hey Andy and Fiddleback Forge Folk,

Please know that this thread is being created in good nature, with recognition that we're all knife fanatics and that likely all of us would hope to spread knife passion to others. Often included in that population are the Ladies in our lives; wives, girlfriends, daughters, etc.

Man, what a great story. It makes my day when ladies like my work. Very few ladies, as you stated, care a lick for knives. Finding one is a blessing for sure. Thanks for sharing the story! Pics! I also love pics of ladies using my knives!

Andy's recent comment got me thinking; If we want to see more ladies using Fiddlebacks and get more pics of ladies with Fiddlebacks, let's make some designed for them or with them more in mind. The knives would probably need to be some of the smaller models and employ more feminine colors and color schemes.


What are ladies most likely to carry? Runt, Pipsqueak, Sylvrfalcen, Esquire, Bushboot, Pocket Kephart, Hiking Buddy, Handyman, Bushnub/Bushnub II, and such.


What steels??? Given that ladies may or may not be up on A2 vs O1 maintenance vs stainless steels, a stainless steel would likely prove to be more lady-friendly / less rust-prone. While on the topic, are they going to be batoning with them? Perhaps but probably not the majority if focused on a smaller EDC. So odds would lean towards 3/32" or 1/8" TT.


What colors? Pinks, purples, blues, reds ...
Now, I'm not asking for the Forge to start vomiting PINK like the knife and gun world has seemed to do the past few years but a couple now and then wouldn't hurt. Do we have the materials available? Yes!! Let's consider two (recently) available at DLT; a Bushcrafter in Cotton Candy and a Bear Paw with burl handles and a Pink liner. Maybe a bit larger than most ladies would prefer for EDC but the color opportunities are there.

Imagine with Christmas coming up and having an auction knife each week with the gents vying for that special gift ...
2016 1118 06 [model] Cotton candy over pink liners and white stripes, SFT, Convex on spalted 3/32" CPM154

Or if Valentine's Day is coming up, the heck with chocolate, roses and a fancy schmancy dinner ...
2017 0203 06 [model] w/ dyed giraffe bone over blue liners & white pinstripes, SFT, Convex on spalted 3/32" CPM154
re: Giraffe bone shown on the Hiking Buddy below


Just another example but there have been 4 knives that Nutramac and I were both focused on (his significant other wanted them and I wanted them for my oldest daughter). So it doesn't have to be pink, ladies do like blues and other color schemes. Here are those four (yes, including 1 OKT) ..

In any event, I appreciate you taking the time to read this and hope that you give it some consideration. In closing, please help me replace the Pink Spyderco Delica (sprint run for Breast Cancer Awareness) with a more deserving Fiddleback.

If this doesn't work, why not ask Leah to poll the Women of Fiddleback and come up with their input?

Thanks a bunch,
Jerry

 

[Mistwalker]

I can't speak for everyone else's ladies, but my wife has handled most of the Fiddleback models, and she loves the Bushbboot. She says it fits her hand best of all of them and she loves the overall shape. Now I just need to get her an XCarry sheath for it so I can have my APS back that she snagged while we were in the Smokies...The Earl is a bit too deep for her liking anyway....thank goodness

 

[crazyfingers]

This is very cool!

 

[lmalterna]

My wife likes the Monarch and LOVES the blue Cloud Magma with a burl wood.

Bill

 

[Bmurray]

just a sneak peak of my wife's new 3/32" blue pinecone Bear Cub. I will get some good pics this weekend in-use. I'll also post up a pic of a beautiful matching RLO sheath.

 

[Warrior108]

just a sneak peak of my wife's new 3/32" blue pinecone Bear Cub. I will get some good pics this weekend in-use. I'll also post up a pic of a beautiful matching RLO sheath.

That's a nice one! I've been looking at too many models I think so before I guess wrong, can I ask what those models are top to bottom? I thought the Bear Cub model would be bigger but that looks like a great EDC size too.

Thanks for sharing and posting those.

 

[schmittie]

How are the pinecone/gum ball handles?

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Spruce cone is submerged in liquid alumilite. A catalyst is added, and the material sets. The blocks are cut and ground to size, then pinned and epoxied to the knife

 

[schmittie]

I understand that silly. I guess I'm curious about the texture? Is it like polished g10?

 

[VANCE]

That's a nice one! I've been looking at too many models I think so before I guess wrong, can I ask what those models are top to bottom? I thought the Bear Cub model would be bigger but that looks like a great EDC size too.

Thanks for sharing and posting those.

looks like
bear cub
bear cub
F2
patch

 

[VANCE]

I understand that silly. I guess I'm curious about the texture? Is it like polished g10?

very smooove

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Man, it is like holding a racquetball. Compared to G10, they are warm and have a little give.

 

[schmittie]

Man, it is like holding a racquetball. Compared to G10, they are warm and have a little give.

Seriously?? I typically avoid g10 because it feels too plasticy to me. But if it's like a racquetball, I'm interested.

Apologies for derailing things. Where is my wife's pink Ladyfinger...?

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Very much more like a rubber or gelatin to me, but I'm only one animal.

 

[Fiddleback]

Loving this thread, but I'd love it more with pics.

 

[Bmurray]

 

[Warrior108]

Loving this thread, but I'd love it more with pics.

Hey Andy,

We need more examples to buy and then we can add more pics for you.

That's where the original post was suggesting something like a Hiking Buddy, Bushnub II, Esqurie, etc. in the following config ...
[model] Cotton candy over pink liners and white stripes, SFT, Convex on spalted 3/32" CPM154

I didn't want to place a specific request since you guys do so well with your creativity and craftsmanship. Just asking for you to consider the Lady-focused part a bit more and what attributes (for smaller hands, more forgiving steel, thinner stock, etc)) would go into that.


Thanks!

 

[Mistwalker]

Hey Andy,

We need more examples to buy and then we can add more pics for you.

That's where the original post was suggesting something like a Hiking Buddy, Bushnub II, Esqurie, etc. in the following config ...
[model] Cotton candy over pink liners and white stripes, SFT, Convex on spalted 3/32" CPM154

I didn't want to place a specific request since you guys do so well with your creativity and craftsmanship. Just asking for you to consider the Lady-focused part a bit more and what attributes (for smaller hands, more forgiving steel, thinner stock, etc)) would go into that.


Thanks!

My wife's hands are smaller than mine, but because her fingers are thinner they reach further around a knife handle. She likes the handle of my Handyman better than any of the Hiking Buddies I've had so far.

 

[Warrior108]

After Brian's comments and input from a few others, I decided to get input from 2 accessible women; my wife and mother in law. Keep in mind that they both had just worked a full day (part of a kitchen remodel) cutting and laying out tile for a counter top and back splash so they were a bit on the crabby / testy side. But, I wanted to post some feedback here and took my life in my hands. I laid out 6 knives and got daggers from the wife since she hadn't seen most of these before lol (get it? knives .. daggers)

The wife really wasn't in the mood for a knife survey so she didn't do any talking until the end and only handled each knife one time. The mother in law was more thorough and went through a process of elimination going back and forth several times and ranked them. When I say "favorite" I'm referring to handle size, handle comfort and blade size/shape rather than color schemes. The favorite got a pleasant "that's nice" on the Handyman and the 2nd favorite was the Hiking Buddy and got a "that's ok too". These were really the only 2 "approved" where the others were deemed to be too small; either the handle was too short or the blade was too small. From the mother in law, there was a firm "no" when she picked up the Bushboot, and a "oh hell no" on the Bushnub II. I did not want to push my luck but think it was due to the handle being taller/thinner as opposed to the taller/rounder Handyman. The Bobcat and Esquire were simply set aside without a word. When finished, the wife's only comment was "You didn't need to ask her, I could have told you that."

btw, the mother in law is about 6'1" and the wife is 5'9" and I'd have to describe their hands/fingers as long and slender.

The bottom line when it came to these 2 ladies is that I was wrong in my assumptions of what models they might prefer. I thought they would like the Handyman mostly for its color scheme and that it was a bit on the larger side of the scale. I was certain that the Bushboot, Bobcat and Esquire would have been hits.

Invitation out of curiosity: Please share any knife models that struck an agreeable cord with a lady - or that they didn't like for some reason.

Thanks


R-L Handyman, Hiking Buddy, Bushnub II, Bushboot, Bobcat, Esquire

 

[Tim the Wizard]

My wife hates girly knives.

Her favorite Fiddleback:

Bog Oak Kephart, 1/8" A2

Other knives she has picked:

Swamp Rat Ratmandu, INFI (shown with Fiddleback Leuku for comparison)

ESEE Junglas, 1095

SamuraiStuart/S. Davenport Hocho Kitchen Knife

Fleming Itty Bitty Wharnclife, CPM D2 (shown with Runt for comparison... this one is her favorite knife right now)

More than anything she is interested in the feel of a knife. In general she likes heavier, thicker blades that want to work.

Perhaps this is an application of the Jungian concept of anima/animus in knife choices across sexes. Our unconscious perception of feminine and masculine attributes of a tool become a point of expression that we often have trouble communicating as constructs of active identity in the conscious mind.