-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Models, Tang-Types, Steel Thicknesses, & Weights
- Thread starter Mistwalker
- Start date
Comprehensivist
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2008
- Messages
- 3,197
I have finally taken the time to document the specs on my collection of ten knives. I have included a few additional points of information that are meaningful to me and possibly to you. I added a few extra handle & blade measurements for reference. I also added a field called FF Lot Info. That is the reference to the Fiddleback Friday where the knife was originally offered. That way you know the vintage and where to search if you want see any of Andys comments that may apply to that particular knife.
Since Will (wwwjtxx) did such a nice job with the in-hand photos in his post, I decided go a different way and include photos of each knife that shows the balance point.
Balance is a big deal to me. It is just one element of the whole package, but it is the one factor that endears me to one knife over another similar sized one. Some knives just feel better than others. I acknowledge that knife balance is a personal preference and somewhat subjective to your hand size, grip style, and intended use. The reason that I have included the balance point photos is to provide an objective reference so that you can determine if it meets the subjective criteria for what you like.
I personally like my field knives to have a neutral balance, meaning between the index finger and thumb at forward end of the grip. Using the front pair of pins on Andys knives as a reference point, I put a premium on knives that balance at or forward of the front pins. Four of my ten fall into this category. The absolute best are the Big Sneaky and Camp Knife, followed closely by the Duke and Ruby Bushcrafter. Two are tapered 5/32 01 and two are SFT 3/16 01. All things being equal, I will lean toward tapered tangs on future acquisitions to improve my chances of getting the balance point that I prefer.
I want to emphasize that I am not disappointed with the other six knives at all. They are all good. All of these knives are handmade, so balance from one to another will vary. Handle materials will have a significant effect on weight and balance also.
Here is a group shot of the knives listed below.
(L to R: Duke, Leuku, Bushcrafter, Arete, Hiking Buddy, Sneaky Pete, Bushcrafter, Kephart, Big Sneaky, Camp Knife)
Duke:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0221 026
OAL: 10-1/2"
Blade Length: 5-3/8"
Handle Length: 5-1/8"
Steel & Thickness: 3/16" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Forest Green Burlap from Shadetree over natural canvas with a lime green G10 pinstripe and Trinity pinout
Weight (oz.): 9.2
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.490"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .850"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.230"
Balance Point: 1/4" Ahead of Front Pins
Leuku:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0328 015
OAL: 9-1/2"
Blade Length: 4-7/8"
Handle Length: 4-5/8"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Ruby Burlap from the best !Shadetree Phenolics! Over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 7.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.130"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .860"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.175"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Bushcrafter (Emerald):
FF Lot Info: 2014 0110 015
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Emerald Burlap on natural canvas with a lime green g10 pinstripe, Thick in the grip
Weight (oz.): 6.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.250"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .875"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.200"
Balance Point: 3/8" Behind Front Pins
Arete:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0307 010
OAL: 8-3/8"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-3/8"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: OD Canvas on natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 4.5
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.075"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .675"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.095"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Hiking Buddy:
FF Lot Info: 2013 1025 03
OAL: 7-3/8"
Blade Length: 3-3/8"
Handle Length: 4"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Maroon Linen over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 3.7
Blade Height @ Ricasso: .950"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .675"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: .890"
Balance Point: 5/8" Behind Front Pins
Sneaky Pete:
FF Lot Info: 2013 1101 018
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel (Note: This was originally advertised as 5/32" thick O1.)
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Cofeebag Burlap from Shadetree over black g10 with a lime green g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 6.1
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.200"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .775"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.250"
Balance Point: 3/8" Behind Front Pins
Bushcrafter (Ruby):
FF Lot Info: 2014 0411 07
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Red burlap from Shadetree over black g10 with a white pinstripe, trinity pinout
Weight (oz.): 5.8
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.250"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .800"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.190"
Balance Point: Right at Front Pins
Kephart:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0117 019
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Sapphire Blue g10 from Shadetree over black with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 5.1
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.170"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .825"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.050"
Balance Point: 7/16" Behind Front Pins
Big Sneaky:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0228 021
OAL: 9-3/4"
Blade Length: 5-1/8"
Handle Length: 4-5/8"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Ruby Burlap from Shadetree on black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe, Trinity Pinout
Weight (oz.): 6.9
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.300"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .750"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.250"
Balance Point: 3/8" Ahead of Front Pins
Camp Knife:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0314 019
OAL: 12-5/8"
Blade Length: 6-1/2"
Handle Length: 6-1/8"
Steel & Thickness: 3/16" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Drunken Burlap from Shadetree (The Very Best) over natural canvas with an orange g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 15.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.325"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .960"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.775"
Balance Point: 3/8" Ahead of Front Pins
That is all that I have for you right now. I have a Toothpik coming this week. I will post photos and specs on that one over the weekend.
I hope that some of this information is useful on Fridays when the ad pops up and you are leisurely reading all the descriptions before you decide what you want to buy.
Thanks for looking.
Phil
Since Will (wwwjtxx) did such a nice job with the in-hand photos in his post, I decided go a different way and include photos of each knife that shows the balance point.
Balance is a big deal to me. It is just one element of the whole package, but it is the one factor that endears me to one knife over another similar sized one. Some knives just feel better than others. I acknowledge that knife balance is a personal preference and somewhat subjective to your hand size, grip style, and intended use. The reason that I have included the balance point photos is to provide an objective reference so that you can determine if it meets the subjective criteria for what you like.
I personally like my field knives to have a neutral balance, meaning between the index finger and thumb at forward end of the grip. Using the front pair of pins on Andys knives as a reference point, I put a premium on knives that balance at or forward of the front pins. Four of my ten fall into this category. The absolute best are the Big Sneaky and Camp Knife, followed closely by the Duke and Ruby Bushcrafter. Two are tapered 5/32 01 and two are SFT 3/16 01. All things being equal, I will lean toward tapered tangs on future acquisitions to improve my chances of getting the balance point that I prefer.
I want to emphasize that I am not disappointed with the other six knives at all. They are all good. All of these knives are handmade, so balance from one to another will vary. Handle materials will have a significant effect on weight and balance also.
Here is a group shot of the knives listed below.
(L to R: Duke, Leuku, Bushcrafter, Arete, Hiking Buddy, Sneaky Pete, Bushcrafter, Kephart, Big Sneaky, Camp Knife)
Duke:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0221 026
OAL: 10-1/2"
Blade Length: 5-3/8"
Handle Length: 5-1/8"
Steel & Thickness: 3/16" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Forest Green Burlap from Shadetree over natural canvas with a lime green G10 pinstripe and Trinity pinout
Weight (oz.): 9.2
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.490"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .850"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.230"
Balance Point: 1/4" Ahead of Front Pins
Leuku:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0328 015
OAL: 9-1/2"
Blade Length: 4-7/8"
Handle Length: 4-5/8"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Ruby Burlap from the best !Shadetree Phenolics! Over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 7.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.130"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .860"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.175"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Bushcrafter (Emerald):
FF Lot Info: 2014 0110 015
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Emerald Burlap on natural canvas with a lime green g10 pinstripe, Thick in the grip
Weight (oz.): 6.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.250"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .875"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.200"
Balance Point: 3/8" Behind Front Pins
Arete:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0307 010
OAL: 8-3/8"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-3/8"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: OD Canvas on natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 4.5
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.075"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .675"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.095"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Hiking Buddy:
FF Lot Info: 2013 1025 03
OAL: 7-3/8"
Blade Length: 3-3/8"
Handle Length: 4"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Maroon Linen over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 3.7
Blade Height @ Ricasso: .950"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .675"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: .890"
Balance Point: 5/8" Behind Front Pins
Sneaky Pete:
FF Lot Info: 2013 1101 018
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel (Note: This was originally advertised as 5/32" thick O1.)
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Cofeebag Burlap from Shadetree over black g10 with a lime green g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 6.1
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.200"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .775"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.250"
Balance Point: 3/8" Behind Front Pins
Bushcrafter (Ruby):
FF Lot Info: 2014 0411 07
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Red burlap from Shadetree over black g10 with a white pinstripe, trinity pinout
Weight (oz.): 5.8
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.250"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .800"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.190"
Balance Point: Right at Front Pins
Kephart:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0117 019
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Sapphire Blue g10 from Shadetree over black with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 5.1
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.170"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .825"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.050"
Balance Point: 7/16" Behind Front Pins
Big Sneaky:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0228 021
OAL: 9-3/4"
Blade Length: 5-1/8"
Handle Length: 4-5/8"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Ruby Burlap from Shadetree on black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe, Trinity Pinout
Weight (oz.): 6.9
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.300"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .750"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.250"
Balance Point: 3/8" Ahead of Front Pins
Camp Knife:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0314 019
OAL: 12-5/8"
Blade Length: 6-1/2"
Handle Length: 6-1/8"
Steel & Thickness: 3/16" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Drunken Burlap from Shadetree (The Very Best) over natural canvas with an orange g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 15.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.325"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .960"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.775"
Balance Point: 3/8" Ahead of Front Pins
That is all that I have for you right now. I have a Toothpik coming this week. I will post photos and specs on that one over the weekend.
I hope that some of this information is useful on Fridays when the ad pops up and you are leisurely reading all the descriptions before you decide what you want to buy.
Thanks for looking.
Phil
Last edited:
Comprehensivist
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2008
- Messages
- 3,197
Thanks Will. You set a high standard with your post. I am just trying to keep up.
Phil
:thumbup:
FeralGentleman
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,166
Great addition Phil. That camp knife is awesome and I really dig the kephart. The balance point visual is helpful.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
- Messages
- 3,006
Double-Post but the second one has updated info.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
- Messages
- 3,006
I finally brought calipers to the TT KEB and took some measurements. They're all documented in photos, but the camera battery died. So I'll follow up when I can.
In the meantime, it tapped out the calipers (8.40") in OAL, with just a tiny smidge leftover. So I'm calling it 8.5" long.
It's 5/32 O1.
I don't have a scale, so I did some comparisons. Way heavier than my micarta-scaled Para2 or non-scaled BK24; much lighter than my micarta BK16 or stabilized buckeye EnZo Trapper. By hand, it was a toss-up with my CF-scaled ZT 0551. I built a teeter-totter balance contraption, and the 0551 came out ahead by the slightest margin. So I'm going to call it 5.5oz.
Just like the PM2, it balances right at the downward slope of the forward-most finger groove. Which makes it 1/4" behind the front pins. Which makes ever so slightly handle-heavy, and perfect, to me.
More to follow...
K Estella Bushie:
FF Lot Info: 2012 1116 002
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 3.74" to ricasso
Handle Length: 4.65"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O1 Tool Steel .155" thk @ ricasso
Tang Type: TT (tapered tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Stabilized curly maple dyed flamey gold over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 5.5
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.09"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .79"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.14"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Hanlde is .74" wide at forward finger grove, and .67 at rearward one.
In the meantime, it tapped out the calipers (8.40") in OAL, with just a tiny smidge leftover. So I'm calling it 8.5" long.
It's 5/32 O1.
I don't have a scale, so I did some comparisons. Way heavier than my micarta-scaled Para2 or non-scaled BK24; much lighter than my micarta BK16 or stabilized buckeye EnZo Trapper. By hand, it was a toss-up with my CF-scaled ZT 0551. I built a teeter-totter balance contraption, and the 0551 came out ahead by the slightest margin. So I'm going to call it 5.5oz.
Just like the PM2, it balances right at the downward slope of the forward-most finger groove. Which makes it 1/4" behind the front pins. Which makes ever so slightly handle-heavy, and perfect, to me.
More to follow...
K Estella Bushie:
FF Lot Info: 2012 1116 002
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 3.74" to ricasso
Handle Length: 4.65"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O1 Tool Steel .155" thk @ ricasso
Tang Type: TT (tapered tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Stabilized curly maple dyed flamey gold over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 5.5
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.09"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .79"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.14"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Hanlde is .74" wide at forward finger grove, and .67 at rearward one.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2011
- Messages
- 3,006
This double-post thing is killing me.
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2013
- Messages
- 914
This thread needs more small knives. 😄
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2006
- Messages
- 2,069
Camp, 3/16", O1,full thickness (might be skeletonized) tang, maroon linen micarta: 478g
Ladyfinger, 1/8", S35VN, full thickness (might be skeletonized) tang, maroon linen micarta: 132g
Recluse, 5/32", S35VN, full thickness (might be skeletonized) tang, Maple burl: 165g
Bushfinger, 5/32", S35VN, full thickness tang, canvas micarta, fat handle: 207g
Hunter, 3/16", O1, full thickness tang, osage, fat handle: 264g
I don't really do small fixed blades (I have a caper, but skinning animals isn't something I normally do without planning for it..)
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2012
- Messages
- 691
Awesome thread gents, really helpful to someone that's new to the Fiddlebacks in particular.
Mucho thanks to everyone that participates
Would someone care to do a Bushboot perhaps? I'm particularity curious about the differences in weight between the different blade thicknesses & tapered/regular tangs. Also, I understand they come with 3,2" blades well as with 3,5" blades?
Hmmm, perhaps I should've posted these questions in a dedicated Bushboot thread..
Mucho thanks to everyone that participates
Would someone care to do a Bushboot perhaps? I'm particularity curious about the differences in weight between the different blade thicknesses & tapered/regular tangs. Also, I understand they come with 3,2" blades well as with 3,5" blades?
Hmmm, perhaps I should've posted these questions in a dedicated Bushboot thread..
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2012
- Messages
- 73
Hiking Buddy:
Overall..................7.25 in / 18.4 cm
Blade length.........3.25 in / 8.3 cm
Steel.....................3/32 / 2.4mm O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type.............Tapered
Grind.....................Full-height convex
Handle material....Tuxedo: Black canvas micarta over natural micarta with white G10 pinstripe
Weight.................3.1 oz / 87.9 g
With a Bushfinger and Recluse
The Bark River Bushcraft D sheath is a perfect fit with very good to great retention with no additional fitting done.
KP-
I'm sure you know what you're talking about... I just want to confirm. Is this hiking buddy 3/32 for sure? How recently did you pick it up. To the best of my knowledge there were only two hiking budding in 3/32 with a TT.
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2011
- Messages
- 2,589
I'm sure. Here's the link for the Fiddleback Friday when I bought it. I also had a 1/8" Fiddleback at the time and it was noticeably thinnner. I think what you might be thinking of are the guardless Hiking Buddies. IIRC, there were only two of those and they were also in 3/32" but I believe there have been other Hiking Buddies with the standard guard in 3/32" in addition to this one.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2013
- Messages
- 2,394
Bump!!
Synthetics
Bushfinger
Overall.............. 9"
Blade length....... 4"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Emerald Shadetree burlap over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.75oz
Bushraptor
Overall.............. 7.5"
Blade length........3.5"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................Full height-saber convex
Handle material... Shadetree drunk burlap over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 3.25oz
Camp Knife:
Overall.............. 12.5"
Blade length.......6.5"
Steel................ 3/16" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Shadetree drunk burlap over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 15.75oz
Leuku:
Overall.............. 9.5"
Blade length....... 5."
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ruby Shadetree burlap over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 6.95oz
Recluse
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length........4"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Bone Linen Micarta natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.15oz
Naturals
Asp
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length.......4"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight..............4.7 5oz.
Bushcrafter
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length....... 4"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.45oz.
Bushcrafter Sr.
Overall.............. 9.5"
Blade length....... 5"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................Mid-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood burl black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 7.75oz
Camp Nessmuk
Overall.............. 9.5"
Blade length....... 4.5"
Steel................ 3/16" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................Mid-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood black canvas with black bolsters
Weight.............. 8.05oz
Hiking Buddy
Overall.............. 7.25"
Blade length....... 3.125"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 3.65oz
Kephart
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length....... 4"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.1oz
Woodchuck
Overall.............. 9"
Blade length....... 4.5"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Bocote over black g10 with a lime green g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 6.2oz
Woodsman
Overall.............. 10.5"
Blade length....... 5.5"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 8.6oz
Cheers! :thumbup:
Synthetics
Bushfinger
Overall.............. 9"
Blade length....... 4"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Emerald Shadetree burlap over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.75oz
Bushraptor
Overall.............. 7.5"
Blade length........3.5"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................Full height-saber convex
Handle material... Shadetree drunk burlap over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 3.25oz
Camp Knife:
Overall.............. 12.5"
Blade length.......6.5"
Steel................ 3/16" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Shadetree drunk burlap over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 15.75oz
Leuku:
Overall.............. 9.5"
Blade length....... 5."
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ruby Shadetree burlap over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 6.95oz
Recluse
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length........4"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Bone Linen Micarta natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.15oz
Naturals
Asp
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length.......4"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight..............4.7 5oz.
Bushcrafter
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length....... 4"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.45oz.
Bushcrafter Sr.
Overall.............. 9.5"
Blade length....... 5"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................Mid-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood burl black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 7.75oz
Camp Nessmuk
Overall.............. 9.5"
Blade length....... 4.5"
Steel................ 3/16" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................Mid-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood black canvas with black bolsters
Weight.............. 8.05oz
Hiking Buddy
Overall.............. 7.25"
Blade length....... 3.125"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 3.65oz
Kephart
Overall.............. 8.5"
Blade length....... 4"
Steel................ 1/8" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 5.1oz
Woodchuck
Overall.............. 9"
Blade length....... 4.5"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... Tapered
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Bocote over black g10 with a lime green g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 6.2oz
Woodsman
Overall.............. 10.5"
Blade length....... 5.5"
Steel................ 5/32" 01
Tang Type......... SFT
Grind.................High-saber convex
Handle material... Ironwood over natural canvas with a blue g10 pinstripe
Weight.............. 8.6oz
Cheers! :thumbup:
I have finally taken the time to document the specs on my collection of ten knives. I have included a few additional points of information that are meaningful to me and possibly to you. I added a few extra handle & blade measurements for reference. I also added a field called FF Lot Info. That is the reference to the Fiddleback Friday where the knife was originally offered. That way you know the vintage and where to search if you want see any of Andys comments that may apply to that particular knife.
Since Will (wwwjtxx) did such a nice job with the in-hand photos in his post, I decided go a different way and include photos of each knife that shows the balance point.
Balance is a big deal to me. It is just one element of the whole package, but it is the one factor that endears me to one knife over another similar sized one. Some knives just feel better than others. I acknowledge that knife balance is a personal preference and somewhat subjective to your hand size, grip style, and intended use. The reason that I have included the balance point photos is to provide an objective reference so that you can determine if it meets the subjective criteria for what you like.
I personally like my field knives to have a neutral balance, meaning between the index finger and thumb at forward end of the grip. Using the front pair of pins on Andys knives as a reference point, I put a premium on knives that balance at or forward of the front pins. Four of my ten fall into this category. The absolute best are the Big Sneaky and Camp Knife, followed closely by the Duke and Ruby Bushcrafter. Two are tapered 5/32 01 and two are SFT 3/16 01. All things being equal, I will lean toward tapered tangs on future acquisitions to improve my chances of getting the balance point that I prefer.
I want to emphasize that I am not disappointed with the other six knives at all. They are all good. All of these knives are handmade, so balance from one to another will vary. Handle materials will have a significant effect on weight and balance also.
Here is a group shot of the knives listed below.
(L to R: Duke, Leuku, Bushcrafter, Arete, Hiking Buddy, Sneaky Pete, Bushcrafter, Kephart, Big Sneaky, Camp Knife)
Duke:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0221 026
OAL: 10-1/2"
Blade Length: 5-3/8"
Handle Length: 5-1/8"
Steel & Thickness: 3/16" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Forest Green Burlap from Shadetree over natural canvas with a lime green G10 pinstripe and Trinity pinout
Weight (oz.): 9.2
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.490"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .850"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.230"
Balance Point: 1/4" Ahead of Front Pins
Leuku:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0328 015
OAL: 9-1/2"
Blade Length: 4-7/8"
Handle Length: 4-5/8"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Ruby Burlap from the best !Shadetree Phenolics! Over black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 7.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.130"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .860"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.175"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Bushcrafter (Emerald):
FF Lot Info: 2014 0110 015
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Emerald Burlap on natural canvas with a lime green g10 pinstripe, Thick in the grip
Weight (oz.): 6.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.250"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .875"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.200"
Balance Point: 3/8" Behind Front Pins
Arete:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0307 010
OAL: 8-3/8"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-3/8"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: OD Canvas on natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 4.5
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.075"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .675"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.095"
Balance Point: 1/4" Behind Front Pins
Hiking Buddy:
FF Lot Info: 2013 1025 03
OAL: 7-3/8"
Blade Length: 3-3/8"
Handle Length: 4"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Maroon Linen over natural canvas with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 3.7
Blade Height @ Ricasso: .950"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .675"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: .890"
Balance Point: 5/8" Behind Front Pins
Sneaky Pete:
FF Lot Info: 2013 1101 018
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Cofeebag Burlap from Shadetree over black g10 with a lime green g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 6.1
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.200"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .775"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.250"
Balance Point: 3/8" Behind Front Pins
Bushcrafter (Ruby):
FF Lot Info: 2014 0411 07
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Red burlap from Shadetree over black g10 with a white pinstripe, trinity pinout
Weight (oz.): 5.8
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.250"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .800"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.190"
Balance Point: Right at Front Pins
Kephart:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0117 019
OAL: 8-1/2"
Blade Length: 4"
Handle Length: 4-1/2"
Steel & Thickness: 1/8" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Saffire Blue g10 from Shadetree over black with a white g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 5.1
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.170"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .825"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.050"
Balance Point: 7/16" Behind Front Pins
Big Sneaky:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0228 021
OAL: 9-3/4"
Blade Length: 5-1/8"
Handle Length: 4-5/8"
Steel & Thickness: 5/32" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: Tapered
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Ruby Burlap from Shadetree on black g10 with a white g10 pinstripe, Trinity Pinout
Weight (oz.): 6.9
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.300"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .750"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.250"
Balance Point: 3/8" Ahead of Front Pins
Camp Knife:
FF Lot Info: 2014 0314 019
OAL: 12-5/8"
Blade Length: 6-1/2"
Handle Length: 6-1/8"
Steel & Thickness: 3/16" O-1 Tool Steel
Tang Type: SFT (skeletonized full tang)
Grind: Convex
Handle Material: Drunken Burlap from Shadetree (The Very Best) over natural canvas with an orange g10 pinstripe
Weight (oz.): 15.0
Blade Height @ Ricasso: 1.325"
Handle Width @ Palmswell: .960"
Handle Height @ Palmswell: 1.775"
Balance Point: 3/8" Ahead of Front Pins
That is all that I have for you right now. I have a Toothpik coming this week. I will post photos and specs on that one over the weekend.
I hope that some of this information is useful on Fridays when the ad pops up and you are leisurely reading all the descriptions before you decide what you want to buy.
Thanks for looking.
Phil
- Any more updates on models you have found with a neutral balance or balance at the first pin?