- Joined
- Apr 14, 2014
- Messages
- 220
I know; I know...everyone has more than just one Grail knife in spite of the implications of the word Grail.
Contrary to the implication there can be more than one, but it should also be attainable.
On the flip side, I also consider the ultimate knife, which is describable but not necessarily attainable.
Which pattern, steel, blade thickness, grind profile, handle configuration, handle material make up the ultimate Fiddleback for usage and for your collection.
For me, I like drop points with some belly (Bushcrafter, Arete), but I like a bit more blade length. Hmmm....Bushcrafter Senior mebbe?
I have been infatuated with high-end stainless for years, but Andy's work and Mistwalker's articles have really pulled me in on O1 tool steel. I have also learned that it's more about the heat treat than anything else. Andy does a great job with both O1 and CPM 154. So the steel is basically a wash, but when both are available, CMP154 has a slight edge.
Blade Thickness: For general use, in a 4" by 1/1.25" blade, I prefer 5/32. This of course is dependent on the blade height and grind profile. The higher the grind, the thicker the material needs to be. So for a full convex with a 1.25" blade height, I may want 3/16". Same blade with a 3/4 sabre/convex then 5/32. For a Scandi, 1/8" will do (although I generally prefer convex to Scandi).
I like a thicker handle so a Skeletonized Full Tang is my preference. I really like the beefy handles that were prevalent in 2011/2012. For scales, I see collections with ruby and emerald and corn flower and PIB, and they're amazing, but I really prefer muted micartas (natural, Westinghouse, black, OD, python). Same with wood, I like Desert Ironwood and Bloodwood, but I love curly Oak, Maple and good stabilized Osage.
So, my Grail is a BC Senior with a 3/4 convex grind in 5/32 CPM 154 with a SFT Osage scales black G10 liner and pins and a white, natural or blue pinstripe. (Problem: Andy stepped back from Osage before he began making the BC Senior, so default to curly oak or antique natural micarta.)
My ultimate user: an Arete stretched to 5.25" with a full convex 5/32 CPM 154 blade, SFT, sand blasted black or OD micarta with black or natural liner and pins and anything but orange or lime pinstripe.
What's your's?
Contrary to the implication there can be more than one, but it should also be attainable.
On the flip side, I also consider the ultimate knife, which is describable but not necessarily attainable.
Which pattern, steel, blade thickness, grind profile, handle configuration, handle material make up the ultimate Fiddleback for usage and for your collection.
For me, I like drop points with some belly (Bushcrafter, Arete), but I like a bit more blade length. Hmmm....Bushcrafter Senior mebbe?
I have been infatuated with high-end stainless for years, but Andy's work and Mistwalker's articles have really pulled me in on O1 tool steel. I have also learned that it's more about the heat treat than anything else. Andy does a great job with both O1 and CPM 154. So the steel is basically a wash, but when both are available, CMP154 has a slight edge.
Blade Thickness: For general use, in a 4" by 1/1.25" blade, I prefer 5/32. This of course is dependent on the blade height and grind profile. The higher the grind, the thicker the material needs to be. So for a full convex with a 1.25" blade height, I may want 3/16". Same blade with a 3/4 sabre/convex then 5/32. For a Scandi, 1/8" will do (although I generally prefer convex to Scandi).
I like a thicker handle so a Skeletonized Full Tang is my preference. I really like the beefy handles that were prevalent in 2011/2012. For scales, I see collections with ruby and emerald and corn flower and PIB, and they're amazing, but I really prefer muted micartas (natural, Westinghouse, black, OD, python). Same with wood, I like Desert Ironwood and Bloodwood, but I love curly Oak, Maple and good stabilized Osage.
So, my Grail is a BC Senior with a 3/4 convex grind in 5/32 CPM 154 with a SFT Osage scales black G10 liner and pins and a white, natural or blue pinstripe. (Problem: Andy stepped back from Osage before he began making the BC Senior, so default to curly oak or antique natural micarta.)
My ultimate user: an Arete stretched to 5.25" with a full convex 5/32 CPM 154 blade, SFT, sand blasted black or OD micarta with black or natural liner and pins and anything but orange or lime pinstripe.
What's your's?
). Maple Burl, 1/8th grind, SFT. Nothing paticularly special about it.... But my mama bought it for me, and I'm never selling it even if i really needed to.
