Mid-Tech Bushfinger Pass-Around Review #1

[thurin]

Part 1

The Bushfinger is the quintessential bushcrafting blade from Fiddleback Forge. It's often the answer to the "what Fiddleback should I get first" question. As a matter of fact, it was the first Fiddleback I purchased as well.

Towards the end of 2014, Fiddleback Forge announced that they would be coming out with a mid-tech line, with the Bushfinger as the first model. Andy Roy (the knife maker behind Fiddleback Forge) stated that the knife would have the following details:

• CPM S35VN with a tumbled finish
• Heat treat would be done by Peters
• CNC'd handle shapes based on a hand made example that Andy carved. CNC machine work would be done by Nathan the Machinist
• Handles would be available in Natural Canvas or Black Canvas
• Sheaths would be made by JRE Industries

The mid-tech knives are assembled at Fiddleback Forge by the crew and then Andy cleans up the spines and shapes and finishes the guard area. This means that each one of these knives gets a personal once over for fit and finish that distinguishes it from some other companies production knives. The mid-tech Bushfingers started showing up at dealers in February.

Fiddleback Forge started a pass-around with one of the mid-tech Bushfingers and I'm fortunate enough to be the first recipient of the pass-around. Here is my review after being able to use the knife for the last week.



As you can see above, the packaging of the mid-tech Bushfinger is a little different than what we're used to for the hand made models that arrive in butcher paper and twine wrappings. The Fiddleback Forge crew and their partners have put together a complete package for the mid-tech line that's first rate. The box contains a sticker that's the same as the one on the box, a Certificate of Authenticity card, a Warranty card, Knife, Sheath.







The sheath, made by JRE Industries, fits the knife like a glove and comes with a firesteel loop. It should be very easy to attach a dangler, but all of the D-rings I had were too small to fit the belt loop.





For even more packaging pictures, see my unboxing post at: Production Bushfinger Unboxing (Picture Heavy)

Some specs on the knife itself:

• Overall Length: 8.75"
• Blade Length (cutting edge): 4"
• Blade Height (at ricasso): 1.35"
• Blade Width: 5/32"
• Handle Length: 4.5"
• Handle Height (tallest point): 1.15"
• Handle Width: (thickest point): .75"
• Weight: 6.3oz

The specs match a typical hand made Bushfinger. Of course the hand made versions will vary from knife to knife, especially in blade thickness and handle thickness. My current Bushfinger is an older one, and has an extremely fat handle and a 3/16" blade so it's hard to do a one to one comparison. Regardless, I think there is value is seeing them side by side on a grid so you can see the similarities. Note that the grind height on the mid-tech almost perfectly matches that on my hand made.

 

[thurin]

Part 2

Enough of the formalities, it's time to put the knife to use. Unfortunately, my week of having the knife on the pass around started out with lots of snow and temps in the teens and an abundance of work to be caught up on, so my initial usage of the knife was sitting at the desk. One quick and dirty test I always do is to determine how easy is it to make shavings/feathers. This helps me rate the sharpness of the knife, and gets me used to how the profile of the blade will bite into wood.


This pass-around knife was plenty sharp and made effortless curls.

Next, since I had plenty of time sitting at my desk, I started working on a spoon. This gave me a lot of time holding the knife, using it in different grips, and testing it for hot spots and comfort. There had been questions leading up to the release of the knife around the handle with its CNC finish and if it would be comfortable. Here you can see a closeup and a macro of the finish.





The grooves didn't bother me at all. They seem to add some nice texture and grip. As a matter of fact, after a while I forgot they were even there. I did have some hot spots, mainly in the palm at the base of the thumb, after long usage working on the spoon, but that's more due to the thickness of the handle, or more appropriately attributed to the larger size of my hands, rather than something inherent in the knife itself. Any knife with a handle that is not thick would cause me problems after a while of continuous usage. I feel that the handle shape and thickness on the mid-tech will serve those of average hand size well.



Both the weather and work let up enough over the weekend that I was able to get outside and use the knife. While I was hoping to get away to the mountains, the best I could do was some backyard work. I was trying to come up with an idea for a project, and I remembered that last year I had done a split wood fire with my Fiddleback Forge Camp Nessie. The Camp Nessie is a better knife for me to compare to this mid-tech Bushfinger than my other Bushfinger due to the CN being the same blade width and it doesn't have the monster thick handle. You can find my original review of the Camp Nessie here: Fiddleback Forge Camp Nessie Video Review and the video is here: Camp Nessie Video

Having decided on the project, I now needed to come up with some wood for the test. I had some Aspen come down in the fall that I had sawed up and stored. It was now under a snow drift in a couple feet of snow. What better way to practice a split wood fire than with a real example where I need to get to the dry wood at the center. So I grabbed a chunk of Aspen, the Bushfinger, the Emberlit UL Titanium, my Stanley Adventure Camp Cook set, and some Starbucks Via.



I tried to capture most of the types of work I put the Bushfinger through in the below video. This included batoning down the 3.5" thick Aspen log, cross-batoning the split up pieces so they'd fit in the Emberlit, splitting the thicker pieces into various smaller sizes, and making shavings that could be lit with a stormproof match.

[video=youtube_share;jb6awVSpolc]http://youtu.be/jb6awVSpolc[/video]

The knife held up very well to this usage. I could not see any issues with the edge, even when looking at it through a macro lens. The flats and spine showed some usage marks, but those cleaned up, leaving the knife looking as good as new.





After cleaning up, the only marks remaining that I could see were from my attempts to use the spine as a striker with a ferro rod. The spine on the mid-tech Bushfingers are chamfered, similar to the hand made models, and will not work well with a ferro rod. I was able to get some sparks, but not enough to be useful. I would prefer a squared off spine.

It was still able to slice paper with ease after the spoon work, batoning, splitting and shavings.



Comparing using the mid-tech Bushfinger to the hand made Bushfinger or Camp Nessie shows that Fiddleback has done a great job with this one. The knife performed very well. I would have liked to put the knife through some harder use, but I'll have to leave that to other users in the pass-around.

The fit and finish on the knife, from the chamfered spine, the hand shaped and rounded guard area, to the fit of the scales (which are removable btw - I'd expect to see custom scales in the future) are all that you'd expect from a shop like Fiddleback Forge. The steel held up great and retained its edge in the use that I could put it through, which is also what I'd expect from S35VN. The packaging and marketing of the mid-tech line looks great, even down to details like the spider in the middle of the QR code, the Certificate of Authenticity and Warranty cards. My only nits would be personal preference items like the chamfered spine (which I'm sure most would prefer anyway) and the handle being too thin for my big hands (but again, it's sized for the majority or users, not those of us with bear paws for hands).

I feel the mid-tech line is a great introduction to Fiddleback Forge. Either way you go, with a mid-tech picked up from one of Fiddleback's dealers, or sharking a hand made Bushfinger or other Fiddleback in the Fiddleback Friday sales thread, you're going to have a good bushcrafting blade.

 

[Mistwalker]

Nicely done Nathan. Looks like you had fun with it. Your thoughts on the heat treat mirror my own. I had to get a little creative to figure out a way to quickly degrade the edge and still stay for the most part in the realm of reasonable expectations of the knife in order to check re-sharpening and field maintenance. After the last little while of putting the one I have through some hard use, I think this little mid tech project came together very well.

 

[Tech-1]

Thank you for taking so much time and effort for a great write up.

 

[Bamboo]

Awesome review Nathan! Thank you!! I'm ready for a cup of coffee now...

 

[Dcaggie06]

Between you and Mist, yall are gonna sell these knives out!

 

[trestle]

Well done! Great images and thoughts on a quality package. Thanks for posting and making me want one in natural. :thumbup:

 

[Kirkwood]

Nathan, great job man! Very well thought out and documented review.

 

[catalystman80]

Great review Nathan, the video was a great touch (though I gotta say it looked more like a hiking buddy in your hands ). And of course it wouldn't be a Thurin review without some mug shots over cutting mats I think at this price point, a production version of a great design along with a popular and high performing CPM steel (heat treated at Peters of course, representing PA ) is a very attractive option (especially knowing Andy doesn't like to work with them for the handmade models for obvious reasons). I do agree myself that it'd be nice if it comes with a sharp spine (though I myself encourage others to carry a dedicated striker, a sharp spine can do a lot of other things besides throwing sparks off ferrocerium rods), but I understand the decision to not include that feature as it would add another production variable (and potential issues) on its own (especially considering that it's tumble finished). Plus, it's not something the customers expect from a FB knife anyways.

 

[thurin]

Nicely done Nathan. Looks like you had fun with it. Your thoughts on the heat treat mirror my own. I had to get a little creative to figure out a way to quickly degrade the edge and still stay for the most part in the realm of reasonable expectations of the knife in order to check re-sharpening and field maintenance. After the last little while of putting the one I have through some hard use, I think this little mid tech project came together very well.

I haven't had near the usage that you've been able to put yours through, but what I saw of it while I had it was good to go.

Thank you for taking so much time and effort for a great write up.

You're welcome Tech. It was a fun opportunity and got me outside using a knife.

Awesome review Nathan! Thank you!! I'm ready for a cup of coffee now...

You're welcome Ken. Coffee tastes so good when you have to work for it.

Between you and Mist, yall are gonna sell these knives out!

I hope to be able to snag one before they're gone, although I assume there will be more batches. My daughter really likes her Mora, but I think this might be a good transition away from it and towards a hand made knife.

Well done! Great images and thoughts on a quality package. Thanks for posting and making me want one in natural. :thumbup:

You're welcome bro. I'll have to see what the black looks like at some point, maybe in the form of a Hiking Buddy like in the Instagram thread.

Nathan, great job man! Very well thought out and documented review.

Thanks Kris! It was fun to work on.

Great review Nathan, the video was a great touch (though I gotta say it looked more like a hiking buddy in your hands ). And of course it wouldn't be a Thurin review without some mug shots over cutting mats I think at this price point, a production version of a great design along with a popular and high performing CPM steel (heat treated at Peters of course, representing PA ) is a very attractive option (especially knowing Andy doesn't like to work with them for the handmade models for obvious reasons). I do agree myself that it'd be nice if it comes with a sharp spine (though I myself encourage others to carry a dedicated striker, a sharp spine can do a lot of other things besides throwing sparks off ferrocerium rods), but I understand the decision to not include that feature as it would add another production variable (and potential issues) on its own (especially considering that it's tumble finished). Plus, it's not something the customers expect from a FB knife anyways.

Hey Josh, it's great seeing you around these parts again! I should have included my standard disclaimer: "do not judge knife size base on my in hand shots."

I agree, I wasn't expecting a squared off spine, but wanted to voice my preference for them on a Bushcrafting blade. A squared spine is a useful tool in it's own rights, from the first thing the normally comes to mind like as a striker, but also for things like making scrapings for tinder. The blade edge can be used for those types of things, but I'd rather save the edge. As far as comfort goes in using a knife with a squared spine, my thumbs are callused from always being on the spine for a couple reason. First, my hands are too big to normally have the thumb fit on the handle in a normal grip, so for me, normal means my right thumb is on the spine. And I do a lot of push cuts, using my left thumb on the spine too. All that to say, I don't experience discomfort from the spine, but that's just me.

 

[Comprehensivist]

This is another amazing review Nathan! I think it is your best work so far. I am always blown away by the quality of your photos. They have a three dimensional quality and crisp focus that I wish I could achieve. I have seen many professional magazine photos that don't look that good. Incorporating the video really adds an extra dimension to your review. Beyond the visual media, I appreciate your observations and comments on the handle texture, durability of the stone washed blade finish, and edge retention of the steel.

You have set a very high standard for what a good review should be. Well done my friend!

Phil

 

[hasco]

I agree with everything Phil just said. Very, very well done Nathan!!! The pictures are great and the video is superb. Top notch review of a great looking knife. I am even more excited to try one out myself.

 

[calc]

Fantastic write-up, I can't wait to get my hands on it. The grooves in the scales look very interesting, I didn't see them at first glance but I'm very curious as to how they feel in the hand. My Ratmandu has similar grooves - albeit much larger and fewer in number - and I'm a big fan. It's a nice touch that adds a lot the knife.

 

[D.H.]

I wasn't expecting a squared off spine, but wanted to voice my preference for them on a Bushcrafting blade. A squared spine is a useful tool in it's own rights, from the first thing the normally comes to mind like as a striker, but also for things like making scrapings for tinder. The blade edge can be used for those types of things, but I'd rather save the edge. As far as comfort goes in using a knife with a squared spine, my thumbs are callused from always being on the spine for a couple reason. First, my hands are too big to normally have the thumb fit on the handle in a normal grip, so for me, normal means my right thumb is on the spine. And I do a lot of push cuts, using my left thumb on the spine too. All that to say, I don't experience discomfort from the spine, but that's just me.

It's not just you, Thurin. I agree with all that. 100%

I don't think there's much you could do to improve a Fiddleback, but I'd like it if the shop started squaring the spines on some of their knives.

 

[thurin]

This is another amazing review Nathan! I think it is your best work so far. I am always blown away by the quality of your photos. They have a three dimensional quality and crisp focus that I wish I could achieve. I have seen many professional magazine photos that don't look that good. Incorporating the video really adds an extra dimension to your review. Beyond the visual media, I appreciate your observations and comments on the handle texture, durability of the stone washed blade finish, and edge retention of the steel.

You have set a very high standard for what a good review should be. Well done my friend!

Phil

Thanks Phil! It means a ton to hear that from you, as I'm always trying to live up to the review standard you've created. Regarding the photos, maybe it's just the thinner air up here.

I agree with everything Phil just said. Very, very well done Nathan!!! The pictures are great and the video is superb. Top notch review of a great looking knife. I am even more excited to try one out myself.

Thanks Tod. Appreciate the comments bro! I'm hoping a lot of new folks will try them out as well. It would make a great blade for anyone.

Fantastic write-up, I can't wait to get my hands on it. The grooves in the scales look very interesting, I didn't see them at first glance but I'm very curious as to how they feel in the hand. My Ratmandu has similar grooves - albeit much larger and fewer in number - and I'm a big fan. It's a nice touch that adds a lot the knife.

I look forward to your opinion when you get the pass around, especially compared to the Ratmandu.

It's not just you, Thurin. I agree with all that. 100%

I don't think there's much you could do to improve a Fiddleback, but I'd like it if the shop started squaring the spines on some of their knives.

I have a couple of Fiddlebacks where the spine is square. Andy's discussed the subject before, saying that the added the chamfer to give the knives a more polished look and to be more comfortable on the thumbs. I'll have to see if I can find where he said it for reference.

 

[D.H.]

I have a couple of Fiddlebacks where the spine is square. Andy's discussed the subject before, saying that the added the chamfer to give the knives a more polished look and to be more comfortable on the thumbs. I'll have to see if I can find where he said it for reference.

Huh. Who knew? I certainly didn't. Thanks for the info.

I guess it's not a big deal. You could "sharpen" the spine and square it up if you wanted. Might damage the engraved Fiddleback stamping though.

I don't know... I have a Skookum Bush Tool that I like a lot. One of its cool little details is the squared off spine. I use it quite a bit and I'm sure it ends up saving wear and tear on my edge.

In any case, thanks for posting the review and photos.

 

[xxwjtxx]

Fantastic work Nathan -- you've set the bar VERY high for us remaining pass-around participants! Job well done (as always!):thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Joe Duder]

Nice review Nathan. Great shots, nice video, and honesty. Well done.

Looks like you had fun in the making of this review.

Has your boss ever walked in on you shaving down a piece of wood?

 

[willic]

Nathan... Fantastic review! Great pics as well! Thanks for your time and efforts!!!

 

[thurin]

Fantastic work Nathan -- you've set the bar VERY high for us remaining pass-around participants! Job well done (as always!):thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Thanks Will! I'm looking forward to the rest of the reviews of the pass-around. I always learn a ton from seeing what other folks do.

Nice review Nathan. Great shots, nice video, and honesty. Well done.

Looks like you had fun in the making of this review.

Has your boss ever walked in on you shaving down a piece of wood?

I work from home, so my "boss" in that case is my wife. I believe her response when she came in the office while I was working on the spoon as along the lines of "ah crap, not again." Cuz then we find little wood chips all over the house for a month.

Nathan... Fantastic review! Great pics as well! Thanks for your time and efforts!!!

You're welcome Will. It was my pleasure to be able to do it.