first fiddleback suggestions...

M

morvlorv

Joined
Apr 3, 2014
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587
well, I have recently been lured into fixed blade knives, and more specifically, handmade and customs.
Naturally, I started checking out fiddlebacks, and those crazy fridays.

No matter how hard I try, I always come back to these darn fiddlebacks, I cant stay away.
I have decided I must have one.

Can you folks make me some suggestions for what I should be on the lookout for as my first fiddleback?

It will be a user, and it will be used for hunting and various camping chores/prep and such outdoors.
Heck, it might even be used for dinner prep at home.

I dont see users come up for sale often, but I keep looking as I think that would be a great way to check one of these out and get the feel for them and save a little moola for the eventual new one.

Thanks y'all.
 
You'll get a ton of good advice from a ton of great people here. I have two Fiddlebacks, the Hiking Buddy and a Bushfinger. IMHO the Bushfinger is outstanding for what you mention. Although many are beautiful, Mr. Roy has stated repeatedly his knives are meant for using. So, I consider them all users.

I've spent more $ than I care to admit looking for an all around outdoor user blade. I have a drawer full of Falkniven, Busse, Bark River, Chris Reeve, Lone Wolf etc etc. I haven't touched any of them since I got the Bushfinger. Balance- just right - fast in the hand and substantial in feel - love the tapered tang. Grind - excellent - batons well, carves well, feather sticks are effortless - I sound like a fan boy - I'm not- this design just works really well at everything. Equally at home in the kitchen and the woods. And most importantly- looks simultaneously bad ass and artful. I highly recommend the Shadetree Burlap as well.

Best of luck in your search and welcome to the Fiddleback addiction.
:)
 
For the tasks mentioned you can not go wrong with a fiddleback forge Recluse!
 
I would agree with the guys here, Bushfinger or Recluse would be my choice for a first Fiddleback! It all started for me with a used Bushfinger from fleaBay. Be careful, they are addictive! I had to get a couple more after that amazing first Bushfinger!

Thinking more about this... The production Bushfinger would be puurrrfffeect!
 
I remember trying to narrow down my first Fiddleback. It was a tough decision, but I ended up with a variety of profiles in the end. There is an abundance of information on this forum to walk you through a lot of finer details on most all of the models offered. Aside from all the great individual reviews here is some light reading to get a lot of detail for a majority of the models:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...dels-Tang-Types-Steel-Thicknesses-amp-Weights

I don't think you could go wrong with a recluse as already suggested. I am excited to get more use of my recent Leukku purchase, which is essentially the same profile but slightly larger.

Andy's Nessmuk pattern is a favorite of mine, and the Camp Nessie looks very promising and has many fantastic reviews. I have a similar sized muk from WAS Knives and it exceeded my expectations, but I am excited for my FB Camp Nessie to arrive.

If you are looking to use something in the kitchen as well, I would opt for 1/8" stock as a personal preference, but I have found that I generally prefer slightly thicker 5/32nds for more outdoor/backpacking oriented blades.

Don't forget to check out the new production models coming out. The available Bushfinger production blades look to be a great overall package in stainless with a sheath included. This may be a great introduction into the custom line if you are on the fence with purchasing.

Good luck brother
 
Welcome Morvlorv! We consider all of our knives to be user knives, regardless of how fancy they may or may not be.

You might consider our new production Bushfinger model. It is $225 w/ a sheath, and built for hard work. You'll see reviews and such in the forum here, and can also look at them here -

http://www.fiddlebackforge.com/inde...making-the-first-fiddleback-production-knife/


No doubt you'll get lots of good advice on here.

Thanks,
Ken
 
Thanks for the input so far guys!

Sorry for any confusion, but when I said user, I meant finding something that is already used and is looking for a new home, and can continue to be used. hah
I think every knife ever made was made to be a user, so I have no doubt these are made with the intention of being used.

I was saying im looking for a user becasue seems like a ton of y'all sell them all as new and never used is all.

My initial inkling was for a bushfinger, it really stuck out to me when I first started looking.

Seems like it would be an awesome first one, so Ill keep my eyes peeled for a used one or maybe just splurge on a new one. hah.

Thanks again guys!
 
So what i've noticed in my collection and the collection of many others (maybe its a guy thing, i dunno) but the general idea is to start with a 4"; however once you obtain a 4" youre going to immediately want to go bigger.

For that, i recommend you start with the Hunter. its a tad longer than the Bushfinger, but has more belly. I havent found a task it cant handle in and out of the field. If you like the recluse and want a larger option of that theres also the leuku (i havent tried that one yet).

Either way, you cant go wrong with any FB IMHO.

Good Luck and have fun
 
Bamboo said:
Welcome Morvlorv! We consider all of our knives to be user knives, regardless of how fancy they may or may not be.

You might consider our new production Bushfinger model. It is $225 w/ a sheath, and built for hard work. You'll see reviews and such in the forum here, and can also look at them here -

http://www.fiddlebackforge.com/inde...making-the-first-fiddleback-production-knife/


No doubt you'll get lots of good advice on here.

Thanks,
Ken
Click to expand...

I second Ken's recommendation. Last I checked, KnivesShipFree and USA Made Blade had the production Bushfinger in stock. There's also good deals to be had in the Fiddleback Flea Market thread, it's a sticky at the top of the forum.
 
morvlorv said:
Thanks for the input so far guys!

Sorry for any confusion, but when I said user, I meant finding something that is already used and is looking for a new home, and can continue to be used. hah
I think every knife ever made was made to be a user, so I have no doubt these are made with the intention of being used.

I was saying im looking for a user becasue seems like a ton of y'all sell them all as new and never used is all.
Click to expand...

The Flea Market is pretty crazy right now with available knives, many new at a significant discount. Do yourself a solid and browse the sticky and go a few pages back, so much good stuff available right now.
 
Check the Fiddleback Flea Market thread and you will find used and new! Some at great prices. Good luck:thumbup:


Chris D. :D
 
Thanks guys.
Ive been watching the flea market quite a bit.
Its all overwhelming at first. hah.

And thanks for the Hunter suggestion. I really like that one a lot.

Ill be on the lookout for a bushfinger or a hunter.

Thanks again guys!
 
I'll also add, that I was one of the people who responded to your original thread regarding fixed bladed. One thing to note is, at the price point you were looking at, its going to be difficult to find something even on the Flea Market that falls near the brand new production Bushfinger. While the Flea Market does post some user/beater blades, they are few and far between. The majority are new and unused.

That being said, the production Bushfinger might be the perfect compromise if you want something now, and dont want to wait and save the cash for a full custom.

**BIG CAVEAT** get to know some of the guys, and sometimes if you just PM someone they might have a user theyre willing to part with at a reasonable price ;)
 
Dcaggie06 said:
I'll also add, that I was one of the people who responded to your original thread regarding fixed bladed. One thing to note is, at the price point you were looking at, its going to be difficult to find something even on the Flea Market that falls near the brand new production Bushfinger. While the Flea Market does post some user/beater blades, they are few and far between. The majority are new and unused.

That being said, the production Bushfinger might be the perfect compromise if you want something now, and dont want to wait and save the cash for a full custom.

**BIG CAVEAT** get to know some of the guys, and sometimes if you just PM someone they might have a user theyre willing to part with at a reasonable price ;)
Click to expand...



Thanks, Ill be around a while. Of everything I have looked at, fiddlebacks keep calling me back, besides, budgets are subjective arent they? hah
 
In all honesty, I wouldn't go for a production Bushfinger as your first Fiddleback. Even if your budget is rather low, I'd save and scrape my pennies and buy a true fiddleback hand made blade. That way you get to feel what quality craftsmanship, fit and finish and beauty really is on your first go round. Not that the production run isn't great quality, I'm sure they are. Are they the same quality as a the handmade blades? I'm sure they're not. Remember, you can always release your handmade blade in the flea market and pick up a production BF later.

See what the buzz is all about man, pick up one of Andy's hand made jobs.
 
If you're only using it for food and game prep 3/32" or 1/8" stock would be good choices.
 
Dcaggie06 said:
Tell that to my wife :D!
Click to expand...

When I truly convince my wife, ill give it a shot. :P






Joe Duder said:
In all honesty, I wouldn't go for a production Bushfinger as your first Fiddleback. Even if your budget is rather low, I'd save and scrape my pennies and buy a true fiddleback hand made blade. That way you get to feel what quality craftsmanship, fit and finish and beauty really is on your first go round. Not that the production run isn't great quality, I'm sure they are. Are the the same quality as a the handmade blades? I'm sure they're not. Remember, you can always release your handmade blade in the flea market and pick up a production BF later.

See what the buzz is all about man, pick up one of Andy's hand made jobs.
Click to expand...




thats exactly how I was feeling myself. makes sense to me
 
maybe Willic will catch and release that bushfinger he just picked up today ;). haha.

I was just a tad too late checking the flea market today on that one.
 
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