I was talking with a nice Fiddleback newbie tonight for about an hour. He's very excited about getting some fiddlebacks to his collection. He just bought his first, a custom bushcrafter, and was asking for suggestions. I said everyone needs a bushfinger, hiking buddy or handyman. I know there are many others but you have to start somewhere. I explained the Friday sale, sent links to the quality dealers and to check out the flea market. Most important to check out the review thread to detetmine some likes and dislikes. Was my suggestions on target?
Given the host of patterns and variations available, this relative newbie thinks you did a first-rate job. :thumbup:
As you said above,
you have to start somewhere, and your suggestions provide a helpful, not-too-idiosyncratic overview of what the brand/maker has to offer-- and maybe The One(s), right out of the gate.
I favor the Kephart over the BC but they exist in the same space.
Oooh.
I did explain my fondness of the production models especially the Kephart.
Good job! Did you show him your picture of yours under water? That's one of my favorites.
I'd say you gave great advice. Especially by informing him about this forum and the comparison threads he can find here. [emoji106]
Personally, I don't think there is an all around knife. I mean, in the same way that I wouldn't use an Esquire to baton wood, I wouldn't use a Woodsman to open an envelope. Can you imagine using a Camp Knife to open one of those annoying plastic packages or to filet a fish? [emoji3] A Runt to carve a Turkey?
Anyway, judging by his first purchase, a BC, I'd add BCjr, KEB and Arete to the list you already gave him. However, as I said before, letting him know about the forums and all that goes on here as well as the links to the dealers was right on target. The poor guy is doomed.......[emoji23]
I'd recommend he look at as many pictures as possible, write down whatever patterns catch his eye, then search specifically for those patterns through various threads and learn as much as he can about their relative sizes, others' impressions, etc. While each of the knives can only be truly understood in hand, it's important (at least to me!) that a pattern appeals visually as well.
As Andy has mentioned in other threads, he doesn't design a "One knife to rule them all" and careful consideration of the tasks performed, hand size, preference of handle thickness, hand positioning, aesthetics, etc are all in play when selecting a model. Of course, this does not bring into consideration blade type, thickness, SFT vs TT, or handle materials. Contributors like Phil and now Sarah who take the time to thoughtfully detail out the set characteristics of a knife and why it does or doesn't work for them is a great asset to everyone on the forums because it can help narrow down the field to take the plunge for your first Fiddleback or just figure out what the next one on the list may be.
Thanks for the kind words.
I loved Roger Ebert's movie reviews: regardless of whether or not he himself liked a certain film, I could often make a good guess on my own behalf based on his words-- so well did he present his thoughts. ... I am heartened (and relieved!) if someone can draw a bead on a knife/attribute I don't care for, almost more than when someone finds something he likes based on my positive responses.
To circle back to Bob's original question of "Did I make the right recommendation" I would say your response was great in that all of those models are right in the middle of the road as far as size and versatility goes. I'm fortunate to own a few models of different sizes and patterns and held many hundreds more do to my proximity to the shop and the guys tolerance for my visits. I don't usually throw out too much opinion since the right knife can be determined by so many factors, of which only some are listed above. But, in the spirit of keeping with this thread and if Bob's Newbie happens to be dialed in I would make the below recommendations for Fiddlebacks based off of my personal use and knife preferences.
In no particular order and limiting myself to only 3 in each very broad category:
EDC
Minimuk
Sylverfalcen
Esquire
Field/Bush
Handyman
Bushfinger
Bush Hermit
You only get one Knife
Duke
Woodsman
Leuku
I, too, tend to think of "size families."
As any of us narrow down what we're looking for, it's good to ask, "Am I looking for a knife to carry and use every day? If so, what does my 'every day' typically look like, what are my needs and what environment will I find myself in?" As one broad example that is the beginning of determining which patterns to look more closely at. Because some of us can EDC a much larger knife than others.
To the criteria of potential/identified uses, I'll add again: pay attention to what moves you visually, to what makes you look closer, to what keeps you returning for further information. If you like the lines of a given pattern very much but discover it's too large or small for you, that's one thing, but don't get stuck on a pattern anyone else thinks you "should" have or like, if it means justifying the dismissal of one that continues to beckon.
At least, that's how
I go about this.
[As one example, the Hiking Buddy
should be perfect for me in just about every way, including that I like the way it looks. But, I just don't want one.* Which baffles me, but which I do well to heed.
* yet.
This is about the best summary I think I've seen...
A great post among many. I love thinking about stuff like this.
Tang and handle materials are mentioned above and I'd add that you should be cautioned to not be turned off by a model if the first one or five don't feel right to you. I've now had or held about 5 to 6 Bushfingers, only kept 2 and of those 2, only 1 feels "just perfect" to me. This one works because it ends up being a sum of the handle width and handle contours and material and also the steel width and being tapered tang, and overall weight and balance. I'll refrain from the details because I don't want to sway the OP and the details are purely a personal preference. Another model where some worked and some didn't work for me was the Handyman. However, any Hiking Buddy or Sylvrfalcen I've picked up, no matter the composition, all worked for me. Funny how that works and it makes me wonder if others have the same conclusions or not.
Really good thoughts, Jerry. Thanks.
Sylverfalcen to Handyman to Woodsman (Duke works here too) to 12" machete.
Choice depends on intended use but the two smaller knives listed above would be my advice with a preference for the Handyman. "All around" can mean a lot of things and in my mind something like that would be in the 4" size range of knives.
Have I mentioned recently how much I want the right Sylvrfalcen?
Oh, that's right: yes, yes I have.
I'll also add, I'm fairly fluent at "Bladeforums," and have invested a lot of time sifting through the archives here, but can still find it really (really) challenging to find specific information about patterns. Bladeforums' Search function is often limited (if not failing outright) due to poor site indexing, and Fiddleback Forge's own site is terribly out of date. [The New For 2014! Patch knife isn't even there, for example], and lack of Overall lenghts (OALs) on the patterns. I know the latter can vary from knife to knife, but a ballpark would be way helpful.
This subforum, and others' extraordinary contributions, provide a wealth of visual and descriptive information, but it can still prove difficult to distill that information into straightforward measurements, relative sizing, and so forth.
(Vance et al, what about a Sticked thread with one post for each pattern, in rough size order...? As a starting point? I'd also recommend including OALs in the Friday Sales Thread, especially for newcomers. Many do not have time or resources to research listed patterns between when they read the Preview and the thread is unlocked....)
Quick quiz: how long is a Sylvrfalcen?! And how many people can spell it, and how many have listed really helpful information about the pattern using a different (if well-meant) spelling, rendering their contributions search-resistant?
I wonder.
~ P.
