Handle Requests & Suggestions

Bamboo said:
Yes, we are in the process of trying to sort out a mid tech line. What that would mean is we would have a company laser/water jet cut the blanks, do the rough grinds, and the heat treat. Handle scales would be very basic (tuxedo or commando style) and pre-shaped by a cnc machine. We would put everything together here in the shop, sharpen, etc. They would sell for a lower price point of course. The thought is to start with 2-3 designs (hiking buddy, bushfinger, &...?) and see how it goes.

As you know, the knives we make now are all etched "Fiddleback by AR." Even though myself and the rest of the crew do a lot of the grunt work, Andy does all the grinding and still considers these to be 'his' knives, so he wants his personal initials on them. When we start the mid tech line they would be marked simply as a "Fiddleback." So there will be a very clear distinction between the handmade and the production line - the difference would be obvious to you guys anyway.

Our hope with the mid tech's is also to free us up some shop time to allow us to take the hand made knives a step farther. We still, and always will, want to make user knives. But that doesn't mean we can't hand polish a few blades or venture into hidden tang knives or what have you. Our desire is to keep pushing our own limits and see where it takes us.

I hope that helps.

Thanks,
Ken
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That sounds cool! Sounds like a step in the right direction IMO. Looking forward to seeing the mid tech line. Really looking forward to seeing what comes out of your hand made stuff when you guys have more time on your hands. The future looks bright. It's nice to see the Fiddleback brand growing.

Thanks for the fast and detailed answer Ken.:thumbup:

Josiah.
 
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Purple and more blue dyed woods and synthetics for the 3" series of knives. Both primary handle material and pinstripes. Now that I have a few FF knives and my wife has seen them in person, she has show interest in having one herself :) I don't think I've seen very many Fiddlebacks in purple.

Also, just throwing this out there for fun, it would be cool to do color combinations that match NFL/NHL teams right before the start of their respective seasons. Would be great for gifts, i.e. my wife getting them for me for a gift!
 
More black liners / pins paired with the shadetree burlaps and pretty woods … seems like the vast majority are "xxx over natural liners" … give us some contrast - show off dem pins!

Thanks for the opportunity to provide input.

~ Edge
 
I don't know if you guys have the time or desire to design something new, but I have an idea/desire! I've been carrying my OD Green Runt and my 2 Finger Karda since they arrived in Bolivia. I love them! They slide in my pocket and nobody knows I've got an awesome knife in there. I fully intended to retire my Bark River Little Creek and exclusively use my Fiddlebacks . . . there's only one problem . . . my Sunday pants! When I dress for church and preaching, the typical dress pants pockets are too small and my knife with its sheath and my tiny wallet just don't fit! I've taken to using my Little Creek in its tiny Sharpshooter sheath since that combo fits in my pocket.

I haven't even got an idea what design would work, but a "Preacher's" knife or a "Sunday" knife that would fit better in a pair of dress pants would be awesome. I'd love to carry what I have, but I just don't think it would go over too well with the Pastor wearing a knife on his belt ;) It would be awesome to carry a Fiddleback everyday of the week!
 
I am thinking the the correct pocket sheath would work for dress pants. Especially for the runt. Perhaps right rear, assuming you're right handed, might be ideal.
 
McVeyMac said:
I am thinking the the correct pocket sheath would work for dress pants. Especially for the runt. Perhaps right rear, assuming you're right handed, might be ideal.
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It would definitely have to be just perfect. Theft is bad here, so for the last 6 ½ years I've taken to carrying everything in my front 2 pockets.
 
Yes, understood. What if you could carry the wallet on one side (front) and knife on the other (front)? You could carry the knife in the hip pocket while in front of the pulpit. Switch it back to the front when services are over? But you need to have the right pocket sheath.
 
lmari55 said:
A "Preacher's" knife or a "Sunday" knife that would fit better in a pair of dress pants would be awesome. I'd love to carry what I have, but I just don't think it would go over too well with the Pastor wearing a knife on his belt ;) It would be awesome to carry a Fiddleback everyday of the week!
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It works in Kansas! ;) All kidding aside, I remember you saying knives in public are a no no there. I like MVM's idea of a special pocket sheath. What if you turned a pair of pants inside out and traced/sketched the size of your average dress slack pocket. Maybe even make a mock-up of what dimensions you'd need using some cardboard and your FB knives (tape the blade). I gotta imagine one of the leather benders around here would be happy to take on your project. If I had a runt, I know I'd buy a dress-slack-sized runt pocket sheath.


Now to get back to our regularly scheduled programming.... I want to see more of that coconut that was on the Leuku this past week. If I had money this week, that is what I would have been angling for, for sure.

Michael
 
Not a biggie but thought I would mention thread has been hijacked!
 
RRaconteur said:
Now to get back to our regularly scheduled programming.... I want to see more of that coconut that was on the Leuku this past week. If I had money this week, that is what I would have been angling for, for sure.
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KephaC said:
Not a biggie but thought I would mention thread has been hijacked!
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Working to get it back on track. I'd also add that I am ga ga for blue pinstripes right now, but don't want any made until I can afford more Fiddlebacks! :D


Michael
 
lmari55 said:
Well . . . a new knife would need a new handle, so that's a handle request :D
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And the Preacher Knife should be offered mainly in Ironwood burl. I would definitely buy one, but then I would have to go to Seminary. In fact, I would love to see more offerings in Ironwood burl as I am not sure that I am being called to Seminary.
 
McVeyMac said:
And the Preacher Knife should be offered mainly in Ironwood burl. I would definitely buy one, but then I would have to go to Seminary. In fact, I would love to see more offerings in Ironwood burl as I am not sure that I am being called to Seminary.
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Ironwood with blue or lime green liners would be sweet! The Runt is 1" at its widest, so a slimmed down Preacher's knife could use a handle around ⅝" at its widest so it's slender figure could disappear in the pocket!
 
Maybe a bit of reiteration, but I wanna see more old school style bolsters with the contrasting pins ("domino") Combine that with the blue dyed woods and we have a winner.
I fill with desire every time I see the "domino" bolstered knives.
 
Any chance of seeing some rarer handle materials? I would love to see some English & Bastogne Walnut, silver wire inlay if you are really wanting to fancy it up, or Mammoth and Giraffe bone.
 
RRaconteur said:
It works in Kansas! ;) All kidding aside, I remember you saying knives in public are a no no there. I like MVM's idea of a special pocket sheath. What if you turned a pair of pants inside out and traced/sketched the size of your average dress slack pocket. Maybe even make a mock-up of what dimensions you'd need using some cardboard and your FB knives (tape the blade). I gotta imagine one of the leather benders around here would be happy to take on your project. If I had a runt, I know I'd buy a dress-slack-sized runt pocket sheath.


Now to get back to our regularly scheduled programming.... I want to see more of that coconut that was on the Leuku this past week. If I had money this week, that is what I would have been angling for, for sure.

Michael
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Sorry to add to the off-topic, but wouldn't it be easier (and cheaper) to simply alter the pockets of the pants? It's a fairly simple job to add a little fabric to make them larger.
 
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