new apprentice in the fiddleback family

Congrats Dan, you've definitely scored a dream job. I'm partial to 4" hunting and bushcrafting style knives and also "suffer" with big mitts. When I came across Andy's work it was a "Wow look at that!" moment. The handles jump out at you and scream "You've found me take me home." My first Andy Roy creation was a production Recluse and now I'm anxiously awaiting my Hunter to arrive in the mail. Not only are his handles ergonomicly functional their just darn great to look at. Then he went and spalted the blades, man after that if one wasn't hooked on the handle designs alone then I'm sure they were powerless to resist the temptation of owning one. Got my eye on a Terrasaur in the future but my eye alone won't pay for it so it's back to work on the old knife fund! I kind of consider Andy's work like Lay's potato chips - No one can have just one! I'm sure you're going to do great work with Andy so have fun, learn a lot and keep on making great knives! Best of luck to ya!
 
I bought another more infamous knifemaker's bushcraft knife and just wasn't happy with it. Saw Andy's knives and they just "work" better for me. Handles could be fuller but I've never got one of Andy's fat handles to check for sure. Always have had not problems with orders from Andy. Things have been done when he said they would be which is a perpetual problem with some other people I won't make anymore comments about.

Andy has always been a stand up guy and stands behind his stuff 100%, very few questions if any asked.
 
Handles, contours and ESPECIALLY the length. I hate getting a nice knife and the handle ends up being too thin or too short.
 
y'all have ben both kind and helpful so I will share a point on the apprentice learning curve. If one is going to finish the temper on some 1080 blades in the kitchen oven they should mention that to there wife no wait! they should have it finished before it is time to make dinner, because no matter how logical it seem to you, your wife may not under stand why she cant open the oven for another 45 minuets.

hope all have a good week end and thanks
Dan
 
Welcome and I look forward to a nice big batch of Bushfingers! ;) :)
 
Add to Dan's oven tip......if oil quenched, better clean that buggar real good before putting in the Missus' oven (or you'll be resigned to eating dry cereal for dinner!). A second heat indicator is a good thing as well - most ovens are generally off by several degrees since they cycle-heat to maintain an average temp. A reinsulated toaster oven is more consistent if set up right.
 
dogwood dan said:
Hello all my name is Dan and I am an apprentice with Andy at Fiddleback. Working with Andy I have learned a lot of the theory behind why he makes his blades and handles the way he does, and that alone has been priceless knowledge. Now that I am starting to work on my own designs in Andy's shop, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to learn from those of you at (if you will forgive a bad pun) " the pointy end". I was wondering what one thing made you choose a fiddleback over other knives? and in what way do you use them?

Thank you for your time, and with y'alls help the next time Andy looks over my shoulder he will say great idea

Dan
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I first met Andy at Blade, prior to his full-time commitment to bladesmithing.

I just enjoyed talking with him. He has a good personality, he's very earnest and very intelligent. It was a lot of fun ... just hanging out a bit.

Then he began making knives. The grips first attracted me -- tremendous ergos. Then the quality of the edges and his focus on practical knives.

Over time, it's become a bit of an addiction.
 
dogwood dan said:
Thank all of you for your input and advice, andy told me that if I asked honest questions I would get grate advice. As a follow up question regarding Andy's handles I like them because I have some what big hands and they are some of the few that fit me. Is that the case with y'all?
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I have thought about your question here for a while. This is a very popular question and may be somewhat of a debate among some. I hope it is ok if I throw out my two cents-
I'll begin by saying I have medium to medium-large sized hands. If logical and quality handle contours only appealed/applied to those with large hands, I would be a bit puzzled. Let me explain: if someone with large hands picked up a blade with poor thought into the handle design, and found it uncomfortable, would that then mean that someone with smaller hands would find the same poor design appropriate for them?? I sincerely doubt it. I say that because with both of my FBs that I own have been held, closely examined and fondled by hunters and outdoorsman alike. To my knowledge, all commented on how comfortable the handle contours are. Everyone was impressed at the design of the knives, how the handle 'seemed' to be made just for them, no matter what their hand size was. I really feel that when something has as much thought and logic put into it, as Andy's knives, then the appeal will not be to just the crowd with a certain hand size. Mr. Roy's success speaks for itself. EVERYONE wants a Fiddleback!




FIDDLEBACK RULES!!
 
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Schmittie is pretty much correct. An uncomfortable handle is just that. Like any other tool if it's awkward or painful to use it won't get much use nor do as good a job as one that "fits". It's a very important feature on a user knife and Andy takes a lot of time getting that right for each model he makes.
I've picked up more than a few knives in my life and used them hard.....some makers just don't get it. Hard corners and sharp angles are for looks not real work. Pick up any well worn, time in the trenches hand tool - be it knife, hammer, screwdriver, whatever - look closely at the subtle wear patterns and you'll get a clue where the comfort work zone and shape is for that tool. Copy it and experiment with enhancing that feel.
 
I don't know. Some of the knives I make special for the large handed guys aren't for me. These fellas are big. My med-large hand likes a 3/8" thick scale on each side to start with. Thats thicker than most makers use right there. The big handed guy handles start at 5/8" thick. It looks rediculous all glued up with this giant block handle. It takes a lot more shaping too, to find the right curves. In the end, IMO, the handle is clunky, and I think its just plain too big for my hand. Don't fit in a sheath right either, gotta be custom. But those giant guys eat them up, and thank me, and nobody really makes knives for them either. I need to do a batch of them soon. Its been a while.
 
I can see what you mean. But in my mind, and maybe I misunderstood, it sounded lime Dan was referring to your typical handles. Not the ones you make especially thick. There is a definite demand for those big ones though with all those banana hands out there!
 
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Good for you Dan. You have a good teacher. Andy has an eye for design and ergononmics. Pay close attention and you will reap the benefits.
Have fun learning the knifemaking craft.
Scott
 
can't really help with the pointy end, but the other end might be another matter . . .


Anyone who can quote Kipling and put up with Andy, I'd happily buy a beer.
 
In the end it all boils down to the old business addage - "The customer is always right" (even when he's not correct).
Personally, I like a handle that tells me (without looking) where the point and the edge are with any grip or hold, balanced slightly forward of the guard in the choil area. Just works best for me.
 
I like FB knives because I feel like I've been there from near the beginning, learning who Andy was through WSS forum first, then knowing the knives are made by somebody who dirties his own, and lastly the handles (FB knives introduced me to lacewood). That is why I have as many FB knives as any other custom maker.

Welcome aboard and never stop having fun making!
 
Gossman Knives said:
Good for you Dan. You have a good teacher. Andy has an eye for design and ergononmics. Pay close attention and you will reap the benefits.
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Nah. This is total bullshit. Andy couldn't teach a turd how how stink.

HAHAHA. Andy definitely taught me a lot and still does from time to time. I'm glad to see that someone else is getting to take advantage of the knowledge Andy has to pass along, and for how good a job he does at that. One thing I think is very cool is that Andy wants you to keep your own style. He doesn't want to teach another Andy. A lot of the people out there that teach other how to perform their trade want you to do it exactly the same way they do. That's not his deal. He teaches you how to make your own stuff the best you can. Dan has very much his own style and I can't wait to see how it all shapes up. I've gotten to check out his first few knives and the future is definitely looking bright.
 
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