Hiking Buddy vs. F2 as a Bird & Trout Knife

[FrostyPA]

I picked up a Hiking Buddy awhile back as my first Fiddleback and I love this thing! I use it in the kitchen, feathersticks, opening mail, the list goes on. It has become my go to fixed blade and is starting to be used more than my folders.

The one thing I don't have in my knife collection is a purpose built bird and trout style knife (I was shocked too). I typically use another one of my knives depending on whether I'm fly fishing or upland/waterfowl hunting.

I've been looking hard at the F2 to fill this gap, but I'm hesitant because I know it was born from a HB accident and I'm afraid it won't be much different than my beloved HB that I already have.

So, other than the obvious choice of "get the F2 because it's a Fiddleback", what are the pros and cons of filling my bird and trout gap with an F2 or just sticking with my HB?

 

[Fiddleback]

I'd like to hear the consensus on this as well. They seem similar, but they do handle differently.

 

[troutfisher13111]

I have never held a F2, but I do have a Hiking Buddy that I bought to use as a bird and trout knife. I personally think its blade style is perfect for what I bought it for. I really think both would work fine, it will basically come down to personal preference. Cleaning both trout and game birds is pretty simple.

I think either one in a brook trout color scheme would be awesome. Thick dark green liners, followed by thin pale yellow ones, with dark green handle slabs and a combination of yellow and light blue pins would be cool.

Already posted these in the user pics thread

 

[FrostyPA]

Andy,

That's the information I'm looking for in terms of how they handle differently.

Troutfisher - I saw your pics in the user thread and that's what gave me pause about the F2.

 

[TPVT]

i love the idea of the F2 as a dedicated B&T knife. I have been eyeing one for quite some time now. i am looking forward to seeing the feedback from those that may own(ed) both. thanks for the thread Frosty.

 

[BBQ BOY]

I have the Hiking Buddy but have been eyeing the F2. Just waiting on Andy to make some. I was hoping to been able to pick one up from BLADE.

 

[solid4ever]

Knivesshipfree has like 4 F2s right now

 

[troutfisher13111]

Knivesshipfree has like 4 F2s right now

The ATS34 version would make a good b&tk

 

[HWF]

I see someone snagged the OD one. Nice!

 

[FrostyPA]

Well since we couldn't reach a consensus and it appears that no one has both, you all have left me no choice except to buy an F2 and do the comparison myself when it arrives. It was a tough decision and when yet another knife arrives at my house, I'm telling my wife this forum is to blame.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[HWF]

Ha! Well played indeed. :thumbup:

 

[TPVT]

Well since we couldn't reach a consensus and it appears that no one has both, you all have left me no choice except to buy an F2 and do the comparison myself when it arrives. It was a tough decision and when yet another knife arrives at my house, I'm telling my wife this forum is to blame.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

atta boy. i would be interested to hear a comparison when yet a chance. thanks.

 

[icybluesmile]

I have both and will post some comparison pics and thoughts in a little bit...

 

[FrostyPA]

I'm looking forward to that review.

 

[schmittie]

Looking forward to your impressions. I've never used the F2 but it is reminiscent of a sharp finger design, I'm sure it will do well.


I use my hiking buddy as my trout knife and love it!

 

[Raining]

Schmittie, that's a gorgeous HB!

 

[schmittie]

Schmittie, that's a gorgeous HB!

Thanks. That's an old pic from our 10th anniversary a few years ago. The mrs picked trout fishing as the trip she wanted to take. How cool is that?!

 

[FrostyPA]

Schmittee, that sounds like a great trip. The best things I ever did were to get my wife into fly fishing, bourbon, and single malt scotch. Still working on the knives though...

 

[troutfisher13111]

That's awesome!

 

[icybluesmile]

My Hiking Buddy and F2 really feel like almost different knives. I'm not sure if it comes across well in the photos but the two I have have a pretty different thickness. The Hiking Buddy is one of Andy's extra fat handle models and feels much thicker in the hand than the F2. The F2 has a thinner blade stock and the handle is more oval shaped and thinner. I've only really used my Hiking Buddy for small camp stuff like making tent pegs and carving on wood so I'm not sure I can really give a fair comparison with the F2 in regards to using it on game. I've used to F2 to breast out some ducks and to clean a turkey earlier this year. It worked very well and is a really great little slicer. The only thing I would change on my F2 would be for it to have a tapered tang like on the newer models. Mine was the first one made from the reground Hiking Buddy so it feels a bit handle heavy but it doesn't really affect it's use at all. The two for me, at least from my two, basically come down to my Hiking Buddy being way better for wood work and the F2 being way better for food prep/game processing duties. I do think that there is enough of a variation in Andy's handles and blade thicknesses that if I were going to only have one, I would get a thinner Hiking Buddy since it would seem more versatile and would be awesome for both duties. There's my scattered 2 cents!

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