Preduction models versus regular?

kyhunt

kyhunt

Basic Member
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Mar 20, 2007
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What is the difference between production models and regular Fiddle Back forge? Are the production models made by a different company? I remember several years ago Bark River made the production recluse. Is this a similar setup?
 
The production models are S35VN, that's the first big difference. I think Andy worked with Rowen Industries to machine the blades based on one that he hand ground. The handle scales are done by Nathan the Machinist. I think Peters does the heat treat. All this is done to Andy's specs and then the product is assembled, tweaked and finished at the Forge. There's also the semi-custom route where they put different handles on the production knife blades.

The Bark River Recluse is a little different as it has more of a bark river type grind on a recluse blade profile. What I'm trying to say is the BR Recluse is more Bark River than FBF, but the production models are totally true to the FBF family.

The only thing is they don't have a choil, but don't worry, it's easy to add one on your own.

Choils-X2.jpg


Don't worry, I only added the choil with Photoshop, no knives were hurt in making this post.
 
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Thank you. I just was browsing a dealer and noticed the Hiking Buddy. I noticed a big price difference in the production versus regular FBF and wondered what the difference was.
 
Bmurray said:
No, make everything with a flat grind.
Click to expand...

I think Andy's nearly-but-not-quite-flat convex grind appeal to a lot of people, I know they do to several of us here. With the micro bevel it works out for almost everyone. Easily made into a secondary bevel over time, and easily made into a zero degree grind also. Best of both worlds.

More on the production models here in these posts

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/fiddleback-forges-mid-tech-line.1291001/

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/fiddleback-forge-mid-tech-duke.1363778/

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads...cpm-s35vn-done-very-well-photo-heavy.1432152/

Now I want a Lonestar or a Gnome in CPM 4V :)

.
 
kyhunt said:
Thanks for the links. They were great. Gives me a lot to think about.
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I like the production models. I have a Kephart that I use a lot. Ideally I want to replace it with a custom shop version with permanent scales some day, but mainly I'm just glad to have access to Fiddlebacks I'm not afraid to carry on my salt water fishing and swimming excursions and explorations in the coastal plains of the gulf coast. I spent three months in south Florida in 2012. I had two Fiddleback knives with me, two of my favs a Kephart and a Bushboot. Both were O-1 s either only ever left the hotel long enough to go to dinner, have a drink, and hang out with my dad. They never went to the field with me while I was working. Which was sad to me because that Kephart had my favorite ergos to date at the time.
 
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