New Scandi from Fiddleback Forge

[Mistwalker]

Got another paper package from Andy Roy of Fiddleback Forge

The specs are

Over-all length....8 1/4 imches / 21cm
Blade length.......4 inches / 10cm
Handle material....Natural canvas micarta with black canvas micarta bolster
Blade Steel........ 1/8 inch / 3mm spalted O-1

Maker: Andy Roy of Fiddleback Forge

http://fiddlebackforge.com/




I love Andy's craftsmanship, his handle ergonomics are always sublime, and as usual this one has been comfortable in every grip I have used it in. The balance point, though not pictured, is pretty much right on the line of pins with the mosaic pin. This makes it a bit handle heavy which is fine for me in a knife I'll use for long term whittling and carving.

This one is my first custom with a scandi grind

end part 1 of 4

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[Mistwalker]

I really do love the way it handles

end part 2 of 4

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[Mistwalker]

Having a scandi grind on a knife thicker than a Mora is mostly a new experience for me. I have never really been a Mora fan, and never really new if it was the grind I didn't like or the thinness of the blades. I have learned that it was primarily the flexing of the thin blade I did not like. While I am more familiar and comfortable with flat grinds, V grinds, and have in recent years gotten used to convex grinds, I have noted a couple of things about this type of grind. For one putting a really sharp edge on them is easy to do. Secondly I like how this type of grind leaves a lot of strength in blades of 1/8 or 3mm thickness.

I used it for some cross-grain batoning or truncating some hard seasoned sycamore and it handled that quite well. First I used it to partially cut through a long limb so that I could easily break it into a manageable size.

and then to cut a piece of that down even further as if I were needing a piece for a hearth or the drier insides for tinder. The knife took the beating very well, with no harm done.

Then I proceeded to baton that with the grain, no troubles there either. I think the knife is definitely up to most tasks I would need to perform to achieve fire even here in the temperate rain forest I live in.

end part 3 of 4

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[Mistwalker]

It handled some tip work just fine as well.

So now my Bushfinger has a new friend to hang out with

 

[MikeyJ]

Beautiful knife. Great review. The more I see of Andy's work, the more I want one. One of his blades is officially on my short list of things to acquire!!

 

[Mistwalker]

Beautiful knife. Great review. The more I see of Andy's work, the more I want one. One of his blades is officially on my short list of things to acquire!!

Andy does some beautiful work. I got to check out several of his knives at Blade last year and if I had the money I would have bought one of each.

 

[TheGame]

I really like the way he packages his knives like that for some reason. I love it when a blade comes packaged different from the norm.

Great review, too. Andys stuff always catches my eye. May be my first custom full size Scandi.

 

[tonym]

I realy like that blade profile. What does Andy call that one?

Great work on the review Mist! `

 

[program_57]

That's disgusting. You should get rid of that thing. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it safely.

Ditto on tonym, though, what's this guy called? Is it straight custom? It looks kinda like the Arete, but slimmed down. I'm really digging it.

 

[Mistwalker]

I really like the way he packages his knives like that for some reason. I love it when a blade comes packaged different from the norm.

Great review, too. Andys stuff always catches my eye. May be my first custom full size Scandi.

Thanks man, glad you liked it.

I like the old time feel of how Andy packages his knives. Andy does awesome work, I am definitely pleased with it for my first custom scandi.

I realy like that blade profile. What does Andy call that one?

Great work on the review Mist! `

Thanks Tony, glad you enjoyed the review. This model is the Kevin Estella Bushie designed by Kevin. I tried to contact him to do a little interview on the design but got no response.

 

[Fiddleback]

Man, I love your pics Mist. Really know how to make a knife look good.

 

[Mistwalker]

That's disgusting. You should get rid of that thing. Send it to me and I'll dispose of it safely.

Ditto on tonym, though, what's this guy called? Is it straight custom? It looks kinda like the Arete, but slimmed down. I'm really digging it.

Yeah yeah, I think I'll be able to bear it

It's a bit different from the Arete, and I'm really digging it to :thumbup:

 

[Mistwalker]

Man, I love your pics Mist. Really know how to make a knife look good.

Thanks Andy, I'm glad you enjoy them.

It's easy to make your knives look good bro, they look good all on their own :thumbup:

 

[program_57]

It's a bit different from the Arete, and I'm really digging it to :thumbup:

Yeah, it looks a bit pointier at the tip, with a more gentle curve to the edge and spine. I dig it. :thumbup:

How do you feel the cutting performace compares to the bushfinger? Anything one does better than the other? I'm always debating the merits of convex vs. scandi in my head . . .

 

[Mistwalker]

Yeah, it looks a bit pointier at the tip, with a more gentle curve to the edge and spine. I dig it. :thumbup:

How do you feel the cutting performace compares to the bushfinger? Anything one does better than the other? I'm always debating the merits of convex vs. scandi in my head . . .

They both handle great, I'm not sure that I could really do anything with one that I could not do with the other, but I'll try to get them both out in the woods at the same time soon...do the same tasks with both knives and make mental notes. Typically when I am using any knife I just concentrate on how that knife is doing then and there, not so much comparing them with another one. There is definitely a learning curve involved with scandi grinds, at least for me anyway.

The main difference between the two in my opinion is in the sizes. The KEB has a fuller handle and smaller (shorter, narrower, and thinner) blade than the BF. To honestly access one grind compared to the other I'd rather have a convex KEB or a scandi BF to work with.

Another difference is that the scandi grind limits the thickness a blade can have and still be effective I think. I think 1/8 is about the max most makers will do a scandi on. Not sure, still studying the grind in use.

 

[chainring]

That is awesome. I love the spalting on the new one, and the way the Bushfinger is weathering darker with use. Beautiful and inspiring review/pics.

 

[program_57]

They both handle great, I'm not sure that I could really do anything with one that I could not do with the other, but I'll try to get them both out in the woods at the same time soon...do the same tasks with both knives and make mental notes. Typically when I am using any knife I just concentrate on how that knife is doing then and there, not so much comparing them with another one. There is definitely a learning curve involved with scandi grinds, at least for me anyway.

The main difference between the two in my opinion is in the sizes. The KEB has a fuller handle and smaller (shorter, narrower, and thinner) blade than the BF. To honestly access one grind compared to the other I'd rather have a convex KEB or a scandi BF to work with.

Another difference is that the scandi grind limits the thickness a blade can have and still be effective I think. I think 1/8 is about the max most makers will do a scandi on. Not sure, still studying the grind in use.

Cool, Mist. Report back if you have any more thoughts :thumbup:

The thickness thing is something I've noted before. I have seen and handled some thicker scandi grinds (I think the koster is 3.5 or so, and some others I've seen around 5/32), but they've always struck me as somehow being heavier in the hand than felt good to me. All that extra metal above the grind, or maybe I'm just imagining things

 

[Mistwalker]

That is awesome. I love the spalting on the new one, and the way the Bushfinger is weathering darker with use. Beautiful and inspiring review/pics.

Thanks Chain, glad you enjoyed the photos. I definitely love the spalting on this new one. The weathering on the BF has been so gradual I didn't even realize how much it had until I placed the two side by side the first time. I think it is aging quite nicely

 

[k_estela]

Excellent Review Mistwalker. Sorry for not replying sooner. I put a thread up in the W&SS forum about the workload I've been dealt lately along with an injury I'm finally recovered from. Your review show how great Andy's knives are. I am taking a different angle in mine and just need another hour or so to wrap it all up. Of the two protos Andy sent me, I am still torn. More to come soon. Please be patient, I will deliver.

 

[Mistwalker]

Excellent Review Mistwalker. Sorry for not replying sooner. I put a thread up in the W&SS forum about the workload I've been dealt lately along with an injury I'm finally recovered from. Your review show how great Andy's knives are. I am taking a different angle in mine and just need another hour or so to wrap it all up. Of the two protos Andy sent me, I am still torn. More to come soon. Please be patient, I will deliver.

I know you've busy Kev, I suppose I should have thrown that in there too . Glad you liked the post, Andy does make some fantastic knives. Now you have gone and gotten my curiosity up. I am curious as to the differences in the two protos as well as your thoughts on them. Looking forward to your post!

Edit: Glad you have recovered!