My First Fiddleback (Bushfinger)

[Pàdruig]

Happy New Year, everyone!

I hope you do not mind me posting about my very first Fiddleback in its own thread here. I wasn't sure if there was a more appropriate thread and if there is I am happy to have it moved there.

Otherwise, I wanted to show off this beauty some, I am rather pleased to have been able to acquire it. I even got to "test-drive" it a bit before having it become mine. Us Beckerheads have a Gathering twice a year and several of the local "Heads" happen to be quite the Fiddleback enthusiasts as well, with quite an assortment between the lot of them. My first exposure to Fiddlebacks was spring of what is now last year and I remember being quite impressed with the ones I got to handle. Though I cannot recall precisely what models I experienced, I do remember being thrilled with the designs in general.

When you go from the rugged, "larger-than-life" toughness of a Ka-Bar made Becker to the smooth contours of a Fiddleback, the difference is striking and quite worthy of remembrance. It is hard to describe how comfortable some of the handles are on these knives, they simply melt into your hand, which (as I understand it) is part of the genius behind the designs.

Last fall, at our most recent Gathering, I was given the opportunity to carry and use this particular Bushfinger over the course of the weekend. I used it for everything from preparing food, to some basic whittling, to accompanying me on an impromptu mushroom hunt. It was simply a pleasure to use. Unfortunately due to the inclement weather we had the joy of enduring, I managed to not take a single picture of the knife in action. I will have to remedy that with my excursions in the not so distant future.

Not too big, not too small, it is just right for an everyday knife, particularly when it comes to the outdoors. I have rather large hands, not gigantic by any means, but large enough for me to be a bit picky when it comes to knife handles. The Bushfinger is a remarkably excellent fit and I suspect that even with harder use than I have already subjected it to, it will still remain comfortable and pleasant in hand.

I am looking forward to experiencing more with this knife in the coming weeks, months, etc. I also am looking forward to becoming a home for other Fiddlebacks as well. I think it will be awfully hard of me to just stick with one...

Thank you, @Jonny1280, for making this available to me and thank you, Fiddleback , for making such an excellent knife and creating something rather special with your business and those you mentor.

Now for some specs and pictures!

• Fiddleback Forge Bushfinger
• 1/8" A2 Steel (I think I have that right)
• Amboyna Burl covers with Black Canvas Micarta bolsters, liners, and pins. (Pretty sure I got that wood right, please correct me if I am wrong)
• No sheath yet, I am currently working on one.

Here with a buddy.

And here with a libation.

 

[varga49]

Welcome! And even though I don’t yet have one yet, that is one sweet Bushfinger.

 

[Wurrwulf]

That is a beautiful 'Fanger, Pàdruig ! Congrats! Love that dyed Amboyna Burl.

I owned a Pro-Bushfinger for most of 2017, and I loved the blade shape and size. As I don't get an opportunity to do much in the way of bushcrafting, I passed along the 5/32" blade stock recently. I'd love to try one in 3/32" steel, but 4" models are very rarely made in anything less than 1/8".

Now that you've got your first: which are you buying next?

 

[Bmurray]

Congrats on a sweet knife. I’m hoping to make to the next gathering and I’ll bring a few to try out. Todd Hunt asked me to go to the next one and I’m going to try.

 

[Mistwalker]

Very nice Busghfinger! I'm still needing to pick up something in an edc size in Amboyna Burl

 

[DJC72]

They are great knives! The blade geometry makes slicing anything an enjoyable experience.

 

[Fiddleback]

Well, thank you for your post. I have some good friends that are Beckerheads. I've been fortunate, like yourself, to get to hang out with Ethan Becker a few times. Amazing amount of knowledge and personality.

I'm glad you like that Bushfinger. It was the first design that I got right and it changed the way I drew knives. After I made the first Bushfinger, I re drew the Bushcrafter, the Woodsman and the Hunter, and made them into much better designs.

Thanks for your support!

 

[Pàdruig]

That is a beautiful 'Fanger, Pàdruig ! Congrats! Love that dyed Amboyna Burl.

I owned a Pro-Bushfinger for most of 2017, and I loved the blade shape and size. As I don't get an opportunity to do much in the way of bushcrafting, I passed along the 5/32" blade stock recently. I'd love to try one in 3/32" steel, but 4" models are very rarely made in anything less than 1/8".

Now that you've got your first: which are you buying next?

Thanks, Shawn! I spend as much time outside as I can. Sometimes that can be a challenge amidst the busy hustle of life but I do my best. I hike a lot, hunt live critters when it is the season to do so, hunt various mushrooms, and camp as much as possible with the family. So lots of opportunities to utilize a good fixed blade knife. I am looking forward to having the Bushfinger as a more constant companion in my outdoor ventures.

In terms of my next Fiddleback... That is a good question. Since I got my Fletcher (and seeing many of the pocketable fixies here), I've developed more of an interest in smaller fixed blade knives that are suitable for pocket carry. I am still familiarizing myself with the various patterns but some of the Fiddlebacks that have caught my eye are the Sgian Dubh, Pocket Kephart, Hiking Buddy, Handyman, and probably others that I have to go back and remind myself what they are called. I tend to prefer woods as cover materials but am certainly not too greatly biased, micarta is exceptional for working knives in general.

Congrats on a sweet knife. I’m hoping to make to the next gathering and I’ll bring a few to try out. Todd Hunt asked me to go to the next one and I’m going to try.

Thank you! I probably should clarify that I reside in the Pacific Northwest so the Gatherings I've attended have been the Becker West Gatherings. I have not had the pleasure of attending the retreat at Mr. Becker's abode yet, though a trip there is on the short bucket list, for sure.

Welcome! And even though I don’t yet have one yet, that is one sweet Bushfinger.

Thanks a bunch for the welcome and compliments. Though my experience is still rather limited compared to most here, I can still heartily recommend the Bushfinger. You should get yourself a late Christmas present.

Very nice Busghfinger! I'm still needing to pick up something in an edc size in Amboyna Burl

Thank you! If you manage to land a small blade in this burl, I cannot wait to see it. Though I am still familiarizing myself with this little corner, I haven't seen any other knives with the Amboyna Burl yet.

Well, thank you for your post. I have some good friends that are Beckerheads. I've been fortunate, like yourself, to get to hang out with Ethan Becker a few times. Amazing amount of knowledge and personality.

I'm glad you like that Bushfinger. It was the first design that I got right and it changed the way I drew knives. After I made the first Bushfinger, I re drew the Bushcrafter, the Woodsman and the Hunter, and made them into much better designs.

Thanks for your support!

Ethan has made it to the Becker West Gathering a couple of times in the past and hopefully he will make the journey again sometime soon. As I have not had the pleasure yet myself, I would greatly welcome the opportunity to visit with Ethan who, by all accounts, is quite an impressive man.

I'd say you nailed the Bushfinger design, it is the one Fiddleback that a few of my fellow Beckerheads were insistent that I start with and I can't say that I disagree. I am rather honored to have this knife of yours and I really look forward to having it with me whenever I venture out.

Thank you!

 

[Mistwalker]

Thank you! If you manage to land a small blade in this burl, I cannot wait to see it. Though I am still familiarizing myself with this little corner, I haven't seen any other knives with the Amboyna Burl yet.

It's not the most common handle material they use to be sure, but it pops up now and then. It's one I like the looks of very much.

 

[pertinux]

Great stuff, Pàdruig !

Fantastic knife, too!

Except, maybe it's the angle, or me, but the blade looks long for a Bushfinger.

Is that an early rendition?

~ P.

 

[Zardo]

Welcome! Very nice pictures!! I really struggle with the photography part... My personal favorite model is the Bushfinger, I have 7 or 8. I really like the color combination you have with the died burl and the black bolsters...very nice. Quick warning it's an addictive habit.

 

[Pàdruig]

Great stuff, Pàdruig !

Fantastic knife, too!

Except, maybe it's the angle, or me, but the blade looks long for a Bushfinger.

Is that an early rendition?

~ P.

Thank you!

You pose a good question and it is quite possible that the angle of my pictures have altered perceptions of its size. As far as when this knife was made, I am afraid I am quite ignorant...

Roughly measuring with the only measuring device on hand at the moment (a Victorinox SwissTool), the blade comes to around 4" in length and the handle is perhaps just shy of 5".

I took a picture using my phone at a direct top/down angle, hopefully there are no exaggerated dimensions. (Apologies for the office lighting....)

Welcome! Very nice pictures!! I really struggle with the photography part... My personal favorite model is the Bushfinger, I have 7 or 8. I really like the color combination you have with the died burl and the black bolsters...very nice. Quick warning it's an addictive habit.

Thank you so much for the welcome and the compliments. You have quite a collection! I would love to see them sometime.

And I hear you on the slippery slope thing... This forum has done me wonders in terms of expanding my knife collection in the relatively short time I've been here, but it has not done me any good in regards to my wallet....