R4 from 3/27 DOTD

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Fiddleback

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Oct 19, 2005
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I was suprised to find when I got home from work on Monday that you guys had failed to shark up one of the new knives.(R4) I think it was due to the blade shape. I happily snapped it up. One of a kind and all. The blade shape didn't call out to me, but I really liked the handle.

It arrived today. Wow. This has the prettiest wood I've ever gotten from HI. It is a VERY curly piece of chandan. Probably the curliest piece of wood I own. Additionally the blade is calling like crazy now. In fact the blade shape is quite like the ever popular Sharade looking one (R7) except it has a bevel down the spine, an extra spot to push with your thumb, and a little less upcurve.

Fit and finish on this knife is on par with any knife I own. The scales mate up to the tang perfectly. The engraving is very well done (Kumar duh). And the shape of the handle is just to die for (another Kumar standard). Kumar Kumar Kumar. My favorite HI kami. Thanks for this offering Yangdu I plan to use this knife a lot.
 
NIce recurve too...bet it will cut like a monster once properly sharpened and honed.
 
hollowdweller said:
I really love the Chandan wood. Also the stag on that pocket knife:thumbup:
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Thanks both of you. HD thats a Bulldog Brand Cattle knife. Bulldog makes what I consider to be the finest folders in the world right there in Solingen Germany.:thumbup:
 
thanks for the pics,
i hope that this one will not be the one of a kind! more, please more!

Alex
 
Huh.

I think I like it better, now that i can see it better.

Good one, Andy! :thumbup:
 
Me too. I was kinda taking a chance. Like I said, the blade just wasn't singing to me at first. Now I think it'll be one of my favorites. That handle just snuggles up in your fist. Sheath sucks though. I'll be making a new one for sure.
 
Looks great Andy! I snagged the R5, but haven't seen it yet. I hope it looks nearly this good up close, although I don't think it has that figure in the wood. The things I look for that you highlighted as well are the fit of the handles to the tang and other small details. I hate gaps, mismatched slabs, tool marks, etc.

I picked it simply because the handle shape looked like it would fit me best.

Thanks for sharing.

Norm
 
Andy - can you take a pic "in the hand"?
 
Daniel Koster said:
Andy - can you take a pic "in the hand"?
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I'll do that for you in the morning Dan. Never can tell about the figure Norm. I was suprised to see it too.
 
aproy1101 said:
Me too. I was kinda taking a chance. Like I said, the blade just wasn't singing to me at first. Now I think it'll be one of my favorites. That handle just snuggles up in your fist.
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Some knives (and khuks) tend to grow on people over time. Thanks for the pics and first impressions.

Bob
 
As promised. I've shown several comfortable hand positions. Sweet knife. The tang is very thick, but tapers from the back of the tang to the tip of the blade, so the blade is not overly thick. My caliper says 0.165" where the handle joins the blade. :thumbup:
 
Very nice.

I think I might prefer if the bottom of the blade protruded a little more, to provide an integral guard.

J
 
Spectre said:
Very nice.

I think I might prefer if the bottom of the blade protruded a little more, to provide an integral guard.

J
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Yes a little guard is sensible and functional. As a smallish knife is required to be moved more to do the job and lots of times in a wet/slippery situation, like skinning. Like the original Sarge knife.
 
I almost bought that one, was torn between it and the R3, seeing all these nice pictures now I wonder if I made the right choice. Of course I didn't I should have sharked them both up. Anxiously waiting for the R3 to arrive.

Gord
 
Grob said:
I almost bought that one, was torn between it and the R3, seeing all these nice pictures now I wonder if I made the right choice. Of course I didn't I should have sharked them both up. Anxiously waiting for the R3 to arrive.

Gord
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Yea that R3 is pretty. Actually at first look I liked the one I got the least. But at this point I really like this knife. There is an integral guard/choil-like recess of sorts, but it could be more pronounced. I'm not sure how necessary that would be because the curving rear portion of the handle provides excellent traction when gripping. I can't wait to hear reviews of the others, and closer pics. I'm dying to know if the others have this beautifully curly grain.
 
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