Need a Big(ger) Boy

[Bartlax4]

Hey guys,

I am looking for your input on one of the larger models. Basically I am looking for something that will do as well in a campsite as it will in the kitchen. Will most likely always have a combo of some sort when backpacking/camping. Probably a HG/Runt always and right now, my biggest co-pilot would be my BC. Was thinking a good combo would also be one of the big dogs and a HB/Runt. I know Mist loves his Woodsman for woods and kitchen, but I like a little less point. I know the camp knives are hot right now and a chopping master and I definitely want one, but unsure how that baby would go over in the kitchen. Honestly, I am leaning towards a Duke. Don't seem to get much love lately. Looks solid and big enough for most outdoor chores, but also appears like it would do well inside. I was wondering if you guys could toss in some suggestions and let me know your experience using some of these big guys and perhaps make a suggestion if you think something might work better than a Duke or your thoughts on the Duke itself.

Thoughts appreciated.

Jared

 

[thurin]

Hey Jared,

Don't forget the Camp Nessie too. I use it as my all around camp knife. Fire Prep, camp kitchen, etc. Reason it excels in my opinion is it's tough enough for the rough work, but being guardless and the high grind it's a good kitchen blade as well.

Not as long a blade as the Duke, and I don't have a Duke to compare to. So here it is with the Woodsman for general size comparison.

 

[bonafide]

My vote is The Duke - easier to find/own than a Camp Nessie .. and I dont own a Leuku or Big Sneaky but those might be options as well.

 

[solid4ever]

As someone who's going through exactly what you are going through, I'll tell you what I've learned:

Wait for a camp knife

It's the king. I've owned a woodman, I've owned the camp nessie and the camp nessie one off chopper. I've owned a duke. I kept trading up.

Camp knife.

 

[Bartlax4]

Hey Jared,

Don't forget the Camp Nessie too. I use it as my all around camp knife. Fire Prep, camp kitchen, etc. Reason it excels in my opinion is it's tough enough for the rough work, but being guardless and the high grind it's a good kitchen blade as well.

Not as long a blade as the Duke, and I don't have a Duke to compare to. So here it is with the Woodsman for general size comparison.

Thanks Thurin for the comp pic. Yes, I had that guy in mind and then when I wrote the email, forgot to mention. It does look pretty stellar. Are you taking it this weekend? Saw your other post with everything on the table!

My vote is The Duke - easier to find/own than a Camp Nessie .. and I dont own a Leuku or Big Sneaky but those might be options as well.

This is a great point, much easier to find and I like the blade style better than the Leuku or Big Sneaky, but the big sneaky is growing on me. Thanks.

As someone who's going through exactly what you are going through, I'll tell you what I've learned:

Wait for a camp knife

It's the king. I've owned a woodman, I've owned the camp nessie and the camp nessie one off chopper. I've owned a duke. I kept trading up.

Camp knife.

Well your opinion definitely carries weight then solid! thanks. so tell me, i know you can't go wrong outside with that baby, but have you used at all in your kitchen? not camp kitchen to be clear.

Man that was such a stellar pickup you had that week, think that was the week i got my runt, and i was debating which i wanted to go for, the camp or the runt and the runt won. good choice as you beat me to the punch, so i was happy you got it as a combo, awesome.

 

[Dcaggie06]

Get a Duke. Cant say anything ill about it.

That being said, don't underestimate the versatility, and size of the Hunter. The way Andy and co grind the blades make these excellent performers. I feel like the hunter is a very over looked model that Andy has to offer. Get a tapered tang Hunter and you wont notice the difference from a BF in hand. The blade slices excellently, and the extra length and depth of the blade aches for use. Hunters are the FB knives imo that are the best for a beating. You take this one out and through the wringer and it keeps asking for more.

 

[thurin]

Thanks Thurin for the comp pic. Yes, I had that guy in mind and then when I wrote the email, forgot to mention. It does look pretty stellar. Are you taking it this weekend? Saw your other post with everything on the table!

Yes. Planning on using it as my main camp blade this weekend. I had out out a few weeks ago in Missouri as well. To tell you how much I like this one, for the first outing in a long time my Bushfinger is staying at home.

 

[thurin]

Get a Duke. Cant say anything ill about it.

That being said, don't underestimate the versatility, and size of the Hunter. The way Andy and co grind the blades make these excellent performers. I feel like the hunter is a very over looked model that Andy has to offer. Get a tapered tang Hunter and you wont notice the difference from a BF in hand. The blade slices excellently, and the extra length and depth of the blade aches for use. Hunters are the FB knives imo that are the best for a beating. You take this one out and through the wringer and it keeps asking for more.

Hunter is a good one as well. Here's a shot of the big(ger) boys that I have for size/shape comparison.

Woodsman, Camp Nessie, Hunter, Bear Paw, Woodchuck.

 

[schmittie]

Wait, Thurin, you have an orange burlap Camp Nessie?!?




Not fair....

 

[hasco]

I just got my camp nessie! It is my biggest fiddleback yet. I would also like to try a camp knife. So many choices! I have found that is really hard to tell the size of all of these until you hold them in your hand. I don't have a duke so I can't say how it compares.

I love fiddlebacks!!!

 

[thurin]

Wait, Thurin, you have an orange burlap Camp Nessie?!?




Not fair....

HAH. I do show it too much don't I. Can't help but be an evangelist for it.

 

[Joe Duder]

Basically I am looking for something that will do as well in a campsite as it will in the kitchen

That's not asking for a whole lot. What exactly is your idea of camp tasks? Do you baton, chop, or do things like that with your knife a lot in camp? If you do, the problem your gonna have, is not the variants themselves, but more the thickness of the variants. A stock like 3/32" rocks in the kitchen, and if you just carve, do feather sticks and light kindling batoning, you're golden. But if you do heavy chopping, batoning, etc, unless you're real good, 3/32" will fail you. Your gonna want something like 5/32" or larger.

Now 5/32" will do okay in the kitchen, but when it comes to starchy veggies, hold on to them well. 5/32" tends to split potatos and carrots more than slice them. On the other hand 5/32" is a good all around batoning, chopping and heavy wood work stock. There's many plus and minuses to be considered...

Assuming you do all of the above, a good combo would be 5/32" camp knife and a 3/32" bushfinger.

 

[Bartlax4]

Dcaggie, ah yes, the hunter...I had not ruled it out, I was just thinking a little more length, but you are right, probably a good go to as well. I will have to go back and see as I think there was some pics of a hunter vs bushfinger as I have a 5/32 BF and wondering how differently the hunter would handle. Thanks Dcaggie, will keep in mind.

Mr. Duder, you also make a great point. I was cutting up carrots and sweet potato's with my 5/32 BF and exactly as you said, it was splitting and not so much slicing. Most of the time I have a gransfors small axe with me, but I was thinking this could kind of replace it for a lot of what I do with it. I think this would be more for rough carving, light kindling, light chopping...probably not halving logs, although it is nice to have the option. Could do a 5/32 camp knife and my 1/8 BC (since i don't have a 3/32 anything as i recall). Yikes, that means I would leave a HB or runt home. Damn. But you're right, a 5/32 camp to beat on is always going to be tough in the kitchen.. I might just be being kind of stupid because I want to use all my fiddlebacks for everything and all of them aren't made for everything. Thanks for mentioning Duder.

Thurin and Hasco, thanks for the pics...I think I am even more confused now than before I posted!

 

[solid4ever]

so tell me, i know you can't go wrong outside with that baby, but have you used at all in your kitchen? not camp kitchen to be clear.

As a cleaver. It certainly has a beefy front blade profile, enough to slice well enough on large things (shoulders, large potatoes). It can do those tasks but I would not say it is well suited to them.

If you are looking for straight kitchen duty, I'd lean woodsman. It can filet, cut fine, cut thick, it's got no guard so you can pivot chop really well. Very fine tip on it, so you can do small prep work if necessary (prying nuts, cleaning shrimp).

 

[Dcaggie06]

Bartlax,

Sorry for the crappy pictures (taken just for you!) but I hope they help
Here is a 5/32 BF with a TT vs a 5/32 Hunter with TT. BF is cocobolo while Hunter is in my favorite, African Blackwood

 

[Bartlax4]

Got ya, thanks solid! Again, probably more confused now than before. But this is great, everyone is so quick to help which is awesome.

Still have that Duke in the back of my mind, but you all have provided some terrific food for thought. More opinions welcome, but thanks everyone so far.

 

[Bartlax4]

Dcaggie, thanks brother! Those pics work great. You are right, that is a workhorse. I have a 5/32 BF too so this is great for helping me envision it. Thanks man!

 

[xxwjtxx]

As someone who's going through exactly what you are going through, I'll tell you what I've learned:

Wait for a camp knife

It's the king. I've owned a woodman, I've owned the camp nessie and the camp nessie one off chopper. I've owned a duke. I kept trading up.

Camp knife.

This ... A man after my own heart. I've had every big fiddleback and for me the end all be all functional combo has to be the camp + BC karda. A close second would be a duke/woodsman and HB but for me the camp knife is in a league if its own...and Ive owned a comp cutter. Just saying

 

[MajorD]

A Duke is my largest Fiddleback. I had a Woodsman but prefer the Duke for all around camp chores. The Duke does everything "I" need at camp. The Hunter is my 2nd choice but I don't know if a Hunter is large enough for your needs.

My Duke and Hunter

 

[Bartlax4]

I pee my pants a little with excitement every time I see that photo wjt. Thanks. Going to change my shorts.