How have your collections changed?

Pics -- I'm right handed and this is the left, but sizes of each are basically the same.

1st Pic. With a Bushfinger for size reference.



2nd Pic. I'm holding the BF this way to show how well the butt end provides room for my pinky and how the handle extends all the way to the edge of my palm. This BF's handle length is 4.940". It's butt end is actually about 5/16" longer along the top of the handle than the Woodsman's and about 1/8" longer along the underside. (See 3rd Pic.) So of all the knives I've tried, my pinky seats best on the BF, but then my thumb hangs out over the blade, meaning that I don't actually hold it this way when I'm using it. With Bear Paws (tried 3 of them) it was just the opposite: fantastic fit for thumb and the location and shape of the palm swell was really nice. But the part of the handle after the palm swell wasn't long enough, ending about 3/8" from the edge of my palm. Plus, I've found that the hook at the BF's underside butt end really gives my pinky a good place to get secure. The Bear Paw pommel shape didn't have that hook. Neither did the Camp Nessmuk's.



3rd Pic. Here's the BF spine-to-spine with the Woodsman. They're aligned with narrow part of underside aft indentations.



4 and 5. Here's holding a Woodsman. Thumb fits where it should, and pinky squeezes on. The Woodsman handle also provides great torque control palm swell is 1.276" tall). This handle is also the only model of the all the knives tried where my fingernails don't touch my palms in some grips. I use this knife a lot!





Summary: The 5.314" handle on this Woodsman gets an A grade for my hands. (Thank you again, Phil, [Comprehensivist] for suggesting I try one.) Add the BF's butt end to it, giving it an extra 1/4 -5/16" or so on top and extra 1/8" on underside for pinky space, and it would be A++. Put it together with a 3.5 - 4" blade profiled like a Monarch or BF or maybe Bush Hermit -- of course haven't used one of those, but they look good -- and call it a stretch Monarch or BF or BH.

No time for tracing now.

Fiddleback said:
Can you post pics and measurements of your hand. I'm in a drawing mood. I'll make a 6" handled damn knife if I have to....
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Can you show me a ruler measurement across your palm.
 
Warrior108 said:
Multi-layer question for you being a Kephart aficionado: Most of your sales have them being 5/32" Is that because most of them are 5/32 or because you just preferred 5/32 when you bought them and do they occur in all 3 flavors 5/32, 1/8 and 3/32?

Thanks
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I have yet to see one in 3/32 myself, but it has probably happened. I have seen a lot of 3/32 lately. I have personally used them in 3/16, 5/32, and 1/8. The nicest one was 1/8 tapered, but the 3/16 tapered was my favorite, much like the tapered 3/16 tapered recluse I have is my fav Recluse so far. But I am the exception rather than the rule :)
 
Like CanukMike, this time last year I had none but this is what my FB collection looks like now. I also have a Bog Oak Arowana but it's with Mark Condos getting some leather.

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Nbrackett said:
Like CanukMike, this time last year I had none but this is what my FB collection looks like now. I also have a Bog Oak Arowana but it's with Mark Condos getting some leather.

fad8bffaa4888cb806b6988a70bc832a.jpg
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thats a heck of a year


thanks!
 
Nbrackett said:
Like CanukMike, this time last year I had none but this is what my FB collection looks like now. I also have a Bog Oak Arowana but it's with Mark Condos getting some leather.

fad8bffaa4888cb806b6988a70bc832a.jpg
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I have to step my game up I see! Really nice collection there, love the runts
 
My collection was up to 13 Fiddlebacks in 2013. Then that winter I had to sell most of my knives just to survive it, including some very sentimental favorites. Now I am back up to 8. I guess the one huge difference is that some of them are mid-techs, most of the ones that aren't mid-techs have wooden handle scales, and a couple are models that didn't exist yet in 2013.
 
I bought my 1st Fiddleback in 2009 which I ended up trading to a dear friend for an Upland Special (a model I had been after for a while). Fast forward to this March and a stop in to DLT's shop ended with getting bit by the Fiddleback bug pretty good. Minus the Fletcher (which is my brother's) pictured below, this is where my collection stands since March.

One thing I have noticed is prior to starting in on Fiddlebacks, micartas were way, way down on my priority list. Highly figured woods and naturals dominate my collection prior to these. Funny how tastes change over time.

 
Here was my collection as of March 2015:

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Here is my current/still changing/ growing collection:

7763d389c3e242e67c5b04cd2fbbb34e.jpg


And here is the collection including my WA Surls and OK&T :

4418c641d9b43c271229238eedd53d3a.jpg


It's been a great year of trying new models, repeating favorite models and releasing ones that just weren't quite right in an effort to find the ones that suit me best.
 
I would say that my collection has slowly changed, and at a minimum I'm much more intentional about what I choose to shark. When I started I had little clue what was right for me other than my preference for natural wood scales. I was pretty quick to grab at anything that came along. Now I've settled into a set of blades that I really like - primarily Andy's Bushcrafter, Arete, KEBushie, Handyman, and my favorite Karda pictured at the bottom. I don't currently own a Handyman, and I forgot to add my Bushboot and Runt to this pic. I keep the Runt as a utility blade, and the Bushboot is special. Thanks Rick.

On the Surls side, I'm a big fan of the Arowana, Huntsman, Inlander, and Patch. And that Bison!

Started obsessed with Ironwood. Then Bog Oak. Now, Osage. And Koa!

My "Never Sell" group (pending financial ruin)
Left side:
Koa Arowana
Ironwood Bushcrafter (my first Fiddleback)
Bog Oak Huntsman
Osage Patch (Phillip, I really owe you for this one)

Right Side:
Bison
Asp (maybe)
Bog Oak Inlander

And...on the bottom, my Ironwood Karda


My regular carry/use blades in this pic are the:
Arowana
Bushcrafter
Osage Huntsman
Osage Patch
Ironwood Karda
Bison
and...if opportunity arises, the Machete!

Most of the others get moved around a lot, but not always carried or used.


 
Tony, your collection is looking awesome! Can't wait till Trackrock and I can check them all out. I'll tote mine up as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Man, so fun to look at the different collections! You guys have chosen some great knives!!
 
Luca917 said:
I would say that my collection has slowly changed, and at a minimum I'm much more intentional about what I choose to shark. When I started I had little clue what was right for me other than my preference for natural wood scales. I was pretty quick to grab at anything that came along. Now I've settled into a set of blades that I really like - primarily Andy's Bushcrafter, Arete, KEBushie, Handyman, and my favorite Karda pictured at the bottom. I don't currently own a Handyman, and I forgot to add my Bushboot and Runt to this pic. I keep the Runt as a utility blade, and the Bushboot is special. Thanks Rick.

Most of the others get moved around a lot, but not always carried or used.

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Looks like you have a very nice collection!... :thumbup:

Who is the maker of those two sheaths in your photo?
 
Rick Lowe. RLO Leather...for his website. He's a real artist at the craft. And a genuinely good man. Will make you anything you want.
 
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