Finally!!

Mistwalker · Sep 21, 2015

Well...I have been hanging out in Andy's forum enjoying the show for most of the last seven years. I remember the very first curly cue handles and how they came to be. I remember the first time I saw a Curly Cue Kephart, that day that model became a grail for me. I can't remember now just how long I have searched and waited for the right one, but today the searching and waiting came to an end. I do not believe I will wait till Saturday to have my Fiddleback on tap, for I will celebrate this one tonight. Crappy phone pics for now, better ones when I have more time this weekend

abrasion · Sep 21, 2015

Congrats!!! That's a beauty!!!

Gusbuster · Sep 21, 2015

:thumbup: Nice! Congrats Brian.

Tekton · Sep 21, 2015

Good for you man! That one didn't take too long to get there

Volfather · Sep 21, 2015

Nice score!!

hasco · Sep 21, 2015

Nice score Brian! I love Andy's kepharts, probably my favorite of his designs. I have always wanted to know if anyone uses the curly q to strike a firesteel, open a beer, etc.

VANCE · Sep 21, 2015

hasco said:
. I have always wanted to know if anyone uses the curly q to strike a ...., open a beer, etc.

Thanks Tod
Now I have to get a curly Q

VANCE · Sep 21, 2015

I guess with track rock coming up this weekend I can make that happen
I'm thinking Leuku though

And
Congrats to you Brian

Mistwalker · Sep 21, 2015

hasco said:
Nice score Brian! I love Andy's kepharts, probably my favorite of his designs. I have always wanted to know if anyone uses the curly q to strike a firesteel, open a beer, etc.

Thanks, me too and I think the Kephart was made for the curly cue. I can't answer all of that yet...but it opens beer just fine

VANCE said:
I guess with track rock coming up this weekend I can make that happen
I'm thinking Leuku though

And
Congrats to you Brian

I think the Leuku looks awesome with the curly cue too, and thanks man.

Kymedic45 · Sep 21, 2015

Congrats

Uncle_P · Sep 21, 2015

Looks good Brian. Good things come to those who wait. Congrats.

Preston

Gevonovich · Sep 22, 2015

That sure is a beauty, Brian!!! That's two curly cues now...i think. The Kephart is a favorite of mine as well

Scotcha · Sep 22, 2015

Very nice Brian :thumbup:

bonafide · Sep 22, 2015

hasco said:
Nice score Brian! I love Andy's kepharts, probably my favorite of his designs. I have always wanted to know if anyone uses the curly q to strike a firesteel, open a beer, etc.

I wouldn't - sometimes they can get a bit thin. BUT! .. one with an extended tang? That would be perfect and more so if the edges were kept and not rounded. :thumbup:

willic · Sep 22, 2015

Guys, I have a maroon micarta Kephart with a curly... She gets a fair amount of use at home and in the woods, but I use my Fiddlebacks for knifely chores, I have a bottle opener for bottle opening.

willic · Sep 22, 2015

In all seriousness, Brian, that is a mighty fine example, you have there!!!

Mistwalker · Sep 22, 2015

Kymedic45 said:
Congrats

Thanks man.

Uncle_P said:
Looks good Brian. Good things come to those who wait. Congrats.

Preston

Thanks Preston, some things are worth waiting on.

Gevonovich said:
That sure is a beauty, Brian!!! That's two curly cues now...i think. The Kephart is a favorite of mine as well

Thanks I think so too. Yes, two for now anyway. I got the Bushboot because it was very nice but really wanted a curly Kephart more. A friend in the UK really wants the Bushboot, so he will end up with it. The Kephart is an awesome Bushcraft knife. I really dig the curly cue version. Just played around LITTLE so far, but I am loving it in use.

Scotcha said:
Very nice Brian :thumbup:

Thanks Abe, I'm really looking forward to that Esquire as well!

bonafide said:
I wouldn't - sometimes they can get a bit thin. BUT! .. one with an extended tang? That would be perfect and more so if the edges were kept and not rounded. :thumbup:

I won't even try a ferro rod with this one, the forged edges have the corners broken, though I might try flint and steel in a pinch to see if it was hard enough. Better than using the spine if I could avoid it. But the thicker end of the curly worked fine for opening a couple of Guinness (es?)...not sure on the plural there

.

But you bring up an interesting point, and one of the reasons I have wanted this knife since I saw one. I had an extended tang on the first Bushfinger, and liked for things like scraping fibers and scraping out spoons when I burned the hollow out. Andy apparently only digs extended tangs if they are fancy ones, because there were only a few of those made. I would love the have a KE Bushie or Bushcrafter with part of the rounded pommel tang exposed or extended.

willic said:
Guys, I have a maroon micarta Kephart with a curly... She gets a fair amount of use at home and in the woods, but I use my Fiddlebacks for knifely chores, I have a bottle opener for bottle opening.

Thanks man, I am really liking it. This one will definitely see plenty of use. Now I need to find the right sheath for it. This one I'd like to have a sheath with an oak cluster tooled into it.

Oh, and you can't hold me responsible for the beer opening thing...it was someone wearing a Fiddleback shirt at Blade who showed me how well these, as well as w few other random objects, would open a beer

Kal-El · Sep 22, 2015

Brian, somehow I think I missed these pics before now. Simply amazing man!! The rugged, yet sleek lines of that Bushfinger sucked me in to the realm of Fiddlback Forge way back when.
Thanks for the memories.

mistwalker said:

Eric@DLT · Sep 22, 2015

Great looking pair of knives. I'm happy to see them being put to good use.

We sell plenty of other knives that look half this good that never get used, nice to see these pictures for a change.

Mistwalker · Sep 22, 2015

Kal-El said:
Brian, somehow I think I missed these pics before now. Simply amazing man!! The rugged, yet sleek lines of that Bushfinger sucked me in to the realm of Fiddlback Forge way back when.
Thanks for the memories.

With as much as I used that knife for countless experiments, and as many pics as were posted in different places, lol, I'm not surprised by some people missing some of them lol. Wherever that Bushfinger is hiding out these days, it definitely earned it's retirement

Eric@DLT said:
Great looking pair of knives. I'm happy to see them being put to good use.

We sell plenty of other knives that look half this good that never get used, nice to see these pictures for a change.

Eh, some collect knives because they love them, other use them, and some do both. I've always had the philosophy that I'll do as I please with what I buy and respect the same of other people. It was collectors who first expanded my knowledge and love of knives, so I get fussed at now and then for using some that my friends think I should stash back. I make attempts at collecting sometimes with especially nice models, but I usually can't resist using them for long. If I hang on to one unused long enough it usually gets sold o someone else and I'll try out another model. That Bushfinger pictured above was my very first Fiddleback, and man did I ever put that one through the wringer. I worked that one hard for the better part of three years. It began a long term relationship with Fiddleback Forge, and it was the beginning of the faith I have in Andy's knives now. I will head into the deepest woods I can find with a Fiddleback on my belt and never have any doubts in the tool I carry.

Finally!!

Leather Sheathmaker, JouFuu Leathers