I know this is sacrilege and...

that's my only complaint with bark river. I'm not a huge fan of the zero-grind convex, and they put that thing on every blade. 100 odd some models of knives...same damn grind on all of them.

I like Andy's micro-bevel. I like Andy's steel choice (sharpening 3V is like trying to open your front door by yelling at it). I REALLY like some of the Bark River models, I just wish I had a choice on the grind. But I get that's how they have to do it..to run the outfit they do.
 
I have quite a few Barkies in the shop, They make a good knife though they are no different then any other mass produced knife other than they generally come with a much better edge. The thing I dislike most about them is the slick handles on every last stinking one of them.

Buying a custom knife like a Fiddleback is buying a knife with a soul. These are hand built from start to finish not run through a cnc factory. If that's not something you can appreciate then pretty much any knife will do you, Mora's are 12 bucks.

You have the same problem pretty much everyone else has at first: What I can't just login and buy whatever I want right now???? Once you get over the instant gratification feature standard on all humans these days you will find that the hunt for the perfect Fiddleback is 1/2 of the appeal. Trading and sales in between individuals here is an everyday thing. Everyone has something someone else wants. You will also be hard pressed to find a better group of knife people to be around. Once you've built up a reputation and a bit of trust quite a few people are happy to lend you something to see if it works for you. The shark tank on fridays can be overwhelming at first. Relax, watch, read the rules and see how it works and you won't be nearly as frustrated with the process. Everybody misses out on their knife at times. I've tried to get a Runt for over a year and am always 5 minutes late.

There are a good many people here on fridays and only 15-20 knives, things go quick.

Welcome aboard.
 
Hi MYT1, welcome to the forum. I am a geezer that has recently (past few years) gotten back into knives. I had started back in buying folders, then some of the better folders. I did this because I have always carried a folding knife. It became clear to me that even with all of the technology and improvements of folding knives over the years, the very strongest ones were incredibly weak when compared to a similar size or even significantly smaller fixed blade knife. I then got into seeking out quality small fixed blade knives for EDC purposes. Specifically, I was looking for pocket carry options. I found BRKs. During the time that I found BRK, they were predominantly A2 steel, but they were venturing off into other steels as well. Specifically in some of their smaller knife offerings. I got several of their small to medium sized knives, and the large knife niche was being served by a local (Gettysburg, PA) startup maker. I have found that some of the BRKs were fine, and I would consider them a good production knife. Some examples I own have some flaws or problems, but they are mainly minor ones that have been pointed out by Phil and others here.

At any rate, all of my examples of both small and large fixed blade knives left me wanting, so I decided that it was time to explore some of the hand made and custom makers. I started reading a bunch on the topic in BladeForums, asked a bunch of questions and even contacted several makers. But you see, I have a character defect. I need instant (or nearly so) gratification, and I am not big on having to wait months for a knife. Soon after I found Fiddleback Forge. I will second everything that has been said about Fiddleback Forge here. Andy provides many different models from the small to the large. I have found that I am no longer wanting, except for the next Fiddleback Forge knife model that I have yet to shark. C'mon in, the water is fine. The water is a little shark infested on Fridays, but Saturday through Thursday is fine.
 
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I have a number of Bark Rivers - many in 3V. Functionally, Fiddlebacks tend to be thinner, more slicey blades. I would be more comfortable doing stupid things with my Bark Rivers (price and 3V steel also play into that).

But I don't think anyone buys Fiddlebacks on purely function vs cost criteria. They buy them because they are unique and perfectly finished. Some Bark Rivers are pretty, but they're not really in the same league.
 
- people may enjoy competition game
you may see millions in las vegas spending time and money for fun
this shark thing is a cool game for some people

- why somebody have to have one knife in front of the other?
I have several favorite knives from different companies

- I saw photo of fiddleback knife ( as least one) that Mike Stuart is owning
you may have somebodies else knife producer knife but if you put his picture in your post I think it means you like it

- the finish of bark river is generally very poor to the point that it visible uneven scratches on the blade
My husband does not want me to by bark river because he believes that if you pay 150-350$ you at least have to have some quality control

- I tried 7 bark river knives from which 2 is fit me good
I tried 2 fiddleback knives both of them fit me good
 
I need to get up to one of Mike's weekend events sometime. He said he'd show me how to improve my sharpening. I'd be excited to see the new facility too. I'd like to see the remains of the old one also. Mike created an American manufacturing facility and a successfully sold American product while every American manufacturer was jumping ship. I was always impressed with this. BRKT, and Busse and Himilayan Imports were the three businesses that scrambled my business plan together from. Sharking of course came from the HI days. Bill Martino was very sucessful using this forum to make money. Jerry Busse is a marketing genious, and I learned some very important things from him. This included naming everything you do, and working the forums to keep the enthusiasm at a peak. Mike's success came from knowing where the money was to be made. From him I learned which market to attack and what the expectations of this market were.
 
Fiddleback said:
I need to get up to one of Mike's weekend events sometime. He said he'd show me how to improve my sharpening. I'd be excited to see the new facility too. I'd like to see the remains of the old one also. Mike created an American manufacturing facility and a successfully sold American product while every American manufacturer was jumping ship. I was always impressed with this. BRKT, and Busse and Himilayan Imports were the three businesses that scrambled my business plan together from. Sharking of course came from the HI days. Bill Martino was very sucessful using this forum to make money. Jerry Busse is a marketing genious, and I learned some very important things from him. This included naming everything you do, and working the forums to keep the enthusiasm at a peak. Mike's success came from knowing where the money was to be made. From him I learned which market to attack and what the expectations of this market were.
Click to expand...

This is cool to hear. I would go ahead and label yourself a marketing genius as well. The FBF thing is unbelievable. Whether I even want or need a knife I find myself participating just to compete and try to "win" something. Then, somehow, you created a style and function of blade that attracts totally diverse, yet somehow, like minded and fantastic people. This helps your knives retain value in the secondary market, thus allowing people to buy and trade more, which makes your product even more accessible. It's really an impressive thing you've done.
 
Mike can grind a wicked thin convex. He ground a couple of special orders for me after I returned a few his employers had ground that weren't acceptable.

After seeing some of Andy's later knives I'm not sure who will be teaching whom :D
 
Andy, you market "mystery" and "sexiness" far better than anyone else right now. Even more so than Jerry, you keep your customers on their toes and have us regularly drooling for more. I know you'll disagree but that is also part of your success. :thumbup:
 
If you go to the Blade Show website their header is a picture of a few of the booths from last year. Plain as day is Fiddleback Forge in the mid ground and Shadetree in the background. Did you work out the table position so near Shadetree or just coincidence? I thought it was pretty neat to spot your table in the one picture that everyone will see that visits their website!
 
I have a Custom BRKT. the Sahara. Custom built ground etc by Mike himself. Its up there. I wont put it on the same level as any FB but its a good dependable knife. BRKT to me, is pretty much the end of the production line and the gateway drug to Full Customs.

Here is the Sahara (she's a beast!):
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Dcaggie06 said:
I have a Custom BRKT. the Sahara. Custom built ground etc by Mike himself. Its up there. I wont put it on the same level as any FB but its a good dependable knife. BRKT to me, is pretty much the end of the production line and the gateway drug to Full Customs.

Here is the Sahara (she's a beast)
Click to expand...

LOL, BRK was my gateway drug.
 
MYT1 said:
...I know I'm probably just experiencing "sour grapes", the result of getting shut out on my first attempt at "Fiddleback Friday", dang I wanted that Duke, but what will a Fiddleback knife do for you that a Bark River knife won't do, equally well, or better?

Bark River does seem to offer a better selection of blade materials and grinds and, incidentally, you don't have to stay riveted to your computer to get one. The quality seems the same, or better, as well.

I hope I'm not being out of line here. Maybe I just haven't drank enough Kool-Aid yet.
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Well,......shoot. I have been purposely avoiding this thread because I don't know how to word my answer.



I have two BRKTs. I am a big fan of Virtuovice on YouTube and he hunts way more deer than I ever will. But, I respect his opinion and appreciate his experience. I have learned a great deal about sharpening from all of his videos. Currently, I have a BRKT Gunny in nat can A2 and a Bravo Necker in 12c27. Both are knives I may not let go any time soon. I'm really impressed with both.

BUT, they are nothing like the Fiddlebacks I have presently and have had in the past. I am a working man and have the scars to prove it. I am a union carpenter who specializes in resilient flooring, flash cove sheet vinyl/linoleum, heat welding and porcelain tile. My living is made by working with my hands and it takes plenty of patience.

I know a handmade product from a machined one. It's very obvious. Although I REALLY like my Gunny (it's been a great deer knife) it's just not the same. I've called the "Fiddleback hotline" and talked to Andy, more than once. I've asked about my typical uses of a knife and got the makers opinion. There is something special about Fiddleback Forge.

The blanks are not CND'd. The handles are not pre cut. There haven't been corby bolts on Fiddlebacks for 5 years. I for one, really like the micarta pins that Andy selects. I find it special that each knife stands on it's own merit. There aren't dozens or hundreds of the same thing out there.

Many features cause Fiddlebacks to stand out on there own. Other makers have tried to mimic what Andy has started, but a copy is never in the same league.

In the end, there is something natural and personal about Fiddleback Forge that keeps me coming back week after week, year after year....
 
Imrahil said:
If you go to the Blade Show website their header is a picture of a few of the booths from last year. Plain as day is Fiddleback Forge in the mid ground and Shadetree in the background. Did you work out the table position so near Shadetree or just coincidence? I thought it was pretty neat to spot your table in the one picture that everyone will see that visits their website!
Click to expand...


Just a coincidence, but cool nonetheless!

Great find!
 
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