- Joined
- Nov 5, 2013
- Messages
- 1,356
I don't post all that much and I haven't ever started a thread but this morning I was wondering how you guys found out about Fiddleback Forge. It was a bit of a journey for me so I figured I'd tell the story. My apologies in advance for the wordiness. 
So, during a brief discussion with Mist this morning about blade grinds I found myself thinking about my history and progression with knives. Being the youngest of 6 boys and the son of 2 teachers, both of whom grew up in NYC during the 40's, I found myself camping every summer. My father enjoyed the outdoors and my mother enjoyed traveling. Since they both had summers off we found ourselves driving around the US and camping for at least 2 weeks every summer. This was my earliest exposure to just how useful a knife can be. I was also during one of these trips that I was given my first knife. It was a boy scout style camping knife that I still own today.
Since then I've always carried a knife of one type or another. Everything from SAKs to tactical folders and fixed blades. However, they were all production blades. About 5 years ago I started to explore the custom knife market. It was a bit of an intimidating experience for me. Seeing all the wait lists and seeing the prices on some of these knives made me a little gun shy as far as getting involved was concerned. Finally I got in touch with a knife maker named Brian Andrews of Off the Map Knives. I realized that what I wanted was a more outdoor/bushcraft oriented knife that could be EDC'd. My job was giving me more time off and I was spending a lot of that time in the woods. Unfortunately, Brian's wait list was a long one and he told me that upfront. He also told me about a knife maker named Andy Roy and Fiddleback Forge. He recommended Andy's knives to me in case I wasn't willing to wait the year for one of his. I placed my order with Brian anyway but my interest in Andy's work was sparked. A couple of months later I was browsing through Skyler's eBay store for a sheath when I saw that he was selling a scandi grind Hiking Buddy. I remembered the Fiddleback Forge name from my conversations with Brian and I hit the buy it now button.
It's the top knife in the pic
That's where it all started. After owning and using the knife for about a week I was hooked. It was comfortable. It was really well made. The attention to detail was outstanding. I really wanted another one.
To the internet!!
With the help of the Google machine I found the Fiddleback Forge website. Through that site I found out about Fiddleback Fridays. aI finally took the dive and claimed and paid for a Bushfinger in white ash. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of how Friday's worked and I claimed and paid for a knife that was already claimed. Imagine my surprise when a few emails with Andy (I honestly couldn't believe that Andy took the time to instantly respond to my email) and Ken straightened everything out and I ended up with a beautiful Osage Ladyfinger.
The time spent and manner in which they handled a situation, which was caused solely by my ignorance, was what really impressed me about the people at The Forge. I knew then that I had found a knife maker that I wanted to be involved with. A knife maker that I wanted to watch grow and to grow with. There aren't many companies that I can remember how I got involved with let alone the entire story of that discovery and involvement and I'm honestly super glad and honored to be able to watch, and with quite a close eye mind you, all that comes out of The Forge each week.
So, how did you guys find out about Andy and all the other great folks at the Forge?
jim
So, during a brief discussion with Mist this morning about blade grinds I found myself thinking about my history and progression with knives. Being the youngest of 6 boys and the son of 2 teachers, both of whom grew up in NYC during the 40's, I found myself camping every summer. My father enjoyed the outdoors and my mother enjoyed traveling. Since they both had summers off we found ourselves driving around the US and camping for at least 2 weeks every summer. This was my earliest exposure to just how useful a knife can be. I was also during one of these trips that I was given my first knife. It was a boy scout style camping knife that I still own today.
Since then I've always carried a knife of one type or another. Everything from SAKs to tactical folders and fixed blades. However, they were all production blades. About 5 years ago I started to explore the custom knife market. It was a bit of an intimidating experience for me. Seeing all the wait lists and seeing the prices on some of these knives made me a little gun shy as far as getting involved was concerned. Finally I got in touch with a knife maker named Brian Andrews of Off the Map Knives. I realized that what I wanted was a more outdoor/bushcraft oriented knife that could be EDC'd. My job was giving me more time off and I was spending a lot of that time in the woods. Unfortunately, Brian's wait list was a long one and he told me that upfront. He also told me about a knife maker named Andy Roy and Fiddleback Forge. He recommended Andy's knives to me in case I wasn't willing to wait the year for one of his. I placed my order with Brian anyway but my interest in Andy's work was sparked. A couple of months later I was browsing through Skyler's eBay store for a sheath when I saw that he was selling a scandi grind Hiking Buddy. I remembered the Fiddleback Forge name from my conversations with Brian and I hit the buy it now button.
It's the top knife in the pic
That's where it all started. After owning and using the knife for about a week I was hooked. It was comfortable. It was really well made. The attention to detail was outstanding. I really wanted another one.
To the internet!!
With the help of the Google machine I found the Fiddleback Forge website. Through that site I found out about Fiddleback Fridays. aI finally took the dive and claimed and paid for a Bushfinger in white ash. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of how Friday's worked and I claimed and paid for a knife that was already claimed. Imagine my surprise when a few emails with Andy (I honestly couldn't believe that Andy took the time to instantly respond to my email) and Ken straightened everything out and I ended up with a beautiful Osage Ladyfinger.
The time spent and manner in which they handled a situation, which was caused solely by my ignorance, was what really impressed me about the people at The Forge. I knew then that I had found a knife maker that I wanted to be involved with. A knife maker that I wanted to watch grow and to grow with. There aren't many companies that I can remember how I got involved with let alone the entire story of that discovery and involvement and I'm honestly super glad and honored to be able to watch, and with quite a close eye mind you, all that comes out of The Forge each week.
So, how did you guys find out about Andy and all the other great folks at the Forge?
jim
I must have tried for three months to get a hiking buddy. I can't believe how much the availability has changed even in that short amount of time. It has been a great ride for sure.
