Mid-Tech Bushfinger Testing Images. Very Photo Heavy

Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

I have posted some shots from the tests in various areas already, so I thought maybe I should put several in one thread...about 80 I think are here.

I'm not going to do a lot of commentary here, I'll save that for the actual review. However I will say that I have enjoyed using the knife. The fit and finish is what I would expect, the grind is a great one for diverse capabilities, the assembly is very solid, no movement or loosening in use, and the heat treat and edge retention are pretty darn impressive. So impressive I had to get creative to come up with a field expedient method of degrading the edge, that still fell sort of within the realm of reasonable expectation (depending on who you ask), and constituted a real world test, so that I could actually re-sharpen the knife and check ease of field maintenance. You will know this part when you see it...it involves a fire steel. But field maintenance wasn't bad at all and the damage done was cleaned up in just a few minutes time out in the woods, and the knife was quickly back to sharp, and cutting with ease in no time.

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Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

One thing I would like to mention here, is that I really like the handle texturing. It was a nice touch when dealing with the handle coated in the grease and fat of the roasted meat. It made for a secure purchase the entire time, but never gave me any issues at all when carving and whittling. I think it will definitely be a plus when using the knife for game prep.

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Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

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Dcaggie06 · Mar 10, 2015

so gauging from these pictures you didnt really put this one through the works...

Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

Dcaggie06 said:
so gauging from these pictures you didnt really put this one through the works...

Well...no, I'm not through yet

That was just the first few sessions, still undergoing long term tests

Dcaggie06 · Mar 10, 2015

I was a little shocked that you used the blade and not the top of the knife to produce sparks, but i didnt realize that they rounded the spine similar to the customs. Really nice touch by Andy and co to do that. (granted on a so called "beater"/hard use knife i'd prefer a flat edge for the purpose of throwing some sparks.

Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

Dcaggie06 said:
I was a little shocked that you used the blade and not the top of the knife to produce sparks, but i didnt realize that they rounded the spine similar to the customs. Really nice touch by Andy and co to do that. (granted on a so called "beater"/hard use knife i'd prefer a flat edge for the purpose of throwing some sparks.

That gets into some iffy territory though. With differential heat treats some spines are too soft to throw good sparks from a harder LMF type rod. With a hardened spine, those sharp corners serve as a stress riser...they, when combined with the harmonic vibrations from and the diagonally lateral force that can be applied while batonning in stubborn wood can be a bad combination, but you may end up with two tools instead of one

In my classes I strongly advise match safes and ferro rods with a dedicated striker. Mainly in this case I wanted to degrade the edge quicker than it was occurring with use in order to see just how much damage would be done, and how hard it would be to resharpen. I was well pleased with the results in both instances

dhunley1 · Mar 10, 2015

Great pictures Mist! I've really been enjoying mine. Haven't used it nearly as much as you have, but I've been very impressed with the edge retention so far. I don't see myself putting mine through quite as hard of tasks as you've been with yours, but it's nice to know what it's capable of.

Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

dhunley1 said:
Great pictures Mist! I've really been enjoying mine. Haven't used it nearly as much as you have, but I've been very impressed with the edge retention so far. I don't see myself putting mine through quite as hard of tasks as you've been with yours, but it's nice to know what it's capable of.

Thanks man. Yeah, I think the edge retention is great. Really, there is no cause for anyone to be testing their's as hard as I am testing this one. I am testing it hard because I know Andy doesn't really have the time to do it himself and still get things done. With it being such a big step for him, I just wanted to see what it was made of and collect the data for him. Peters has a good rep and all, but it just pays to really check it out when it's not just their rep on the line.

Kirkwood · Mar 10, 2015

Brian, the pictures are amazing as always. Well done. And good to know about the edge retention. I wouldn't expect any less given the reputations of those involved here... but someone should put it to the test. Glad you did.

Mistwalker · Mar 10, 2015

Kirkwood said:
Brian, the pictures are amazing as always. Well done. And good to know about the edge retention. I wouldn't expect any less given the reputations of those involved here... but someone should put it to the test. Glad you did.

Thank you Kris. I know they all have good reputations and all, but in seeking shops to get some of my own designs produced, I know what an investment this has to be for Andy financially. Also it's an investment with his reputation, so I just wanted to really thoroughly test it. I was delayed more than I wanted to be in getting to test it, so the first day was a long day of intense and progressively harder tests in which I learned a lot about the knife, and actually by the end of the second day I knew enough to feel comfortable with it and trust it, not only to perform well in the field but also be quite durable in hard uses. After testing knives in the field for more than 30 years, I can still only say that about a handful of companies and makers, and I have gotten pretty picky over the yeas. Now it's on to more prolonged testing just because I know other models are already planned and one in the works. I want to collect all the data I can, and give all the feed back I can.

Mistwalker · Mar 11, 2015

One thing I had meant to mention, was that I like the handle texturing. It was a nice touch when dealing with the handle coated in the grease and fat of the roasted meat. It made for a secure purchase the entire time, but never gave me any issues at all when carving and whittling. I think it will definitely be a plus when using the knife for game prep.

FeralGentleman · Mar 11, 2015

Sometimes a photo tells you all you need to know (though looking forward to getting into the details of your review).

Great shots Mist. You clearly show that this is a very capable knife in an attractive package with the steel choice and included sheath. I think these scales were nicely done. After seeing the close up photos, these look to excellent for a hard user blade, and can only assume they would provide a nice secure texture.

Square up a small section of the spine and this knife is ready for business.

This mid-tech line is going to be something special for bringing a piece of Fiddleback Forge to the masses

hasco · Mar 11, 2015

Great shots Mist!!! Andy and crew are lucky to have you running that thing through the paces for them. Very cool!!

Mistwalker · Mar 11, 2015

Bush.Hacker said:
Sometimes a photo tells you all you need to know (though looking forward to getting into the details of your review).

Great shots Mist. You clearly show that this is a very capable knife in an attractive package with the steel choice and included sheath. I think these scales were nicely done. After seeing the close up photos, these look to excellent for a hard user blade, and can only assume they would provide a nice secure texture.

Square up a small section of the spine and this knife is ready for business.

This mid-tech line is going to be something special for bringing a piece of Fiddleback Forge to the masses

Thanks man, I keep striving for better images thinking the better the photos the less I have to type

I love the handle on this knife, and this it was a really nice touch since they were being milled anyway. I agree, and think it's also a great value with what you get for the money spent.

hasco said:
Great shots Mist!!! Andy and crew are lucky to have you running that thing through the paces for them. Very cool!!

Thanks man. It's one of those things lol, I got the pleasure of testing the very first Bushfinger, it's an honor to be be given the opportunity to test out the mid tech version year later.

VANCE · Mar 11, 2015

This is a pretty epic thread
Awesome mist

Uncle_P · Mar 11, 2015

mistwalker said:
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The reflection of the curls in the blade

. There were a few others that had this same effect.
Really diggin it. awesome job sir.

Mistwalker · Mar 11, 2015

VANCE said:
This is a pretty epic thread
Awesome mist

Thanks Vance!

Uncle_P said:
The reflection of the curls in the blade . There were a few others that had this same effect.
Really diggin it. awesome job sir.

Thank you Preston, glad you like the photos man.

Mistwalker · Mar 12, 2015

Uncle_P said:
The reflection of the curls in the blade . There were a few others that had this same effect.
Really diggin it. awesome job sir.

I was tired last night when I responded. I do really like the finish on this blade very much. The tumbled finish prevents it from showing the wear of use near as easily as a polished blade, but it's still nice and smooth to the touch and looks great.

catalystman80 · Mar 12, 2015

great photos as always mist! how do you like the texture/grip of the scales? they look similar to the bead blasted micarta that LT Wright and Dan Coppins' shops use, are they comparable in the feel? (mentioning them specifically as I'm familiar with those scales and I know you're from your prior working experience with them as well) Thanks!