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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Survivors: other knives you like
- Thread starter Revolverrodger
- Start date
ncrockclimb
Gold Member
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I have owned over 30 Fiddleback Forge knives at one time or another. I have slimmed down my collection substantially, and currently have 11. A lot of people talk about this or that company's knives being "functional art," but I often find it to be a hollow boast. However, that is an incredibly accurate description of Andy's knives. Although he expertly blends beautiful woods and synthetic materials in his handles, Andy's knives are always hard working tools that will take whatever you dish out. If you do manage to damage one, Andy's will 100% stand behind his product. IMHO, FF is the top of the heap in design and customer service, and they are an American company that does EVERYTHING in house on their custom knives. Oh yeah, the company started in Andy's basement in 2009 when he was laid off from his job; I LOVE success stories like that!
The Duke is an awesome knife, and I love my production version. Similar to S!K, Andy grinds the blades thin (but not too thin) behind the edge bevel, so the production Duke slices like a dream. The handle ergos are great, and the knife is a superb single tool option. I am sure that 3V will take more abuse and that 20cv will hold an edge longer than s335v, but i have yet to damage my production Duke and have been very happy with both the edge retention and the ability to strop it back to life in the field.
TLDR - Duke is good knife.
Agree 100%. LT and the crew are good people that make very solid tools. I have three of their knives, and have never been disappointed with anything about them.
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- Feb 6, 2014
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Lee Lerman's Nessmuk is still my favorite fixed blade even though it's only D2. Flat grind with a convex secondary.
It's the size for a GSO5.1
It's the size for a GSO5.1
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- Nov 27, 2014
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I have it, and it is one of the best designed production knives I have. The handle reminds me of Nathan / Survive style contours. It is just an handy, slicy, tough built tool.
Well said, and I agree.
I have the bushcrafter, and I like it. But I like the Gunny Hunter better for me. Probably because I do more game prep then wood working most times in the woods. If I am camping, then the bushcrafter gets the nod.
Again well said, and I support these statements. The custom knives are worth the price, but I find the production knives to be closer to what I can pay, most of the time. Silver, I recommend trying one of those Duke's. Let us know how you like it.
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Thanks for all the insight, guys :thumbup:
That duke is looking great!
That duke is looking great!
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Nice, I'm more of a camper, backpacker, and fisherman, than a hunter. Haven't hunted in 15 years unfortunately. The Gunny Hunter is great and I gave one to a buddy of mine. He loves it and it's his primary for fishing and hunting or when he breaks down any kind of carcus. I usually bring the bushcrafter with me as my bushcraft knife, along with a 4.1, 5.1, or whatever knife I feel like bringing for slightly larger tasks. The problem I'm running into is I have only two hands and too many to choose from..lol. One knife I don't have yet is the Duke and I'll be watching for a used one on the secondary market.
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You probably already know this Brian, but Nathan produces the handle scales for Andy's production line, another reason to like the fiddlebacks :thumbup:
I think the next one of Andy's that I'm going to have to try is the production kephart. If it was 3V I would have pulled the trigger already, but I tried some S35VN early on from a different maker and really didn't care for it. After all the good things everyone is saying about that steel here lately, I feel like I should give it another chance. The kephart has a profile I like, and it's from a great maker, so maybe I'll give it a go.
If someone here is really hot for a duke, maybe shoot me a PM. I've got a very lightly used one that I might let go on if I could get enough to fund a kephart.
I think my favorite Barkie might be the Liten Bror. I've got one that I flat ground to make it more slicey, and man does that blade take a scary edge now. It's 3V so it holds up good, and is one of my favorite field blades for hunting. The Gunny Hunter fits my hand good, too, and is a close second. Someday I want a choilless boss jack from Jerry. Someone just said it, lots of knives, not enough hands, ha.
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PM sent 
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PM sent
You have mail Silver Needle!
Always like anything from Nathan
Same goes with Andy's designs
A good old Buck 110 always has a home :thumbup:
The Rats definitely have a special place in my heart
Can't forget the Barkies.
I kinda like GSO's and hats, too
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GS 06 my favorite knife
Sent from my SM-G930T
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Played around with a couple ScrapYards this morning.
The 1311 bites deeper than the 1111 when chopping but the difference in using them to split wood is heavily weighted to the 1111. The little bend in the 1311 came right out.
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The 1311 bites deeper than the 1111 when chopping but the difference in using them to split wood is heavily weighted to the 1111. The little bend in the 1311 came right out.
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Hey Grog I got an 1111 I'm looking to trade for a 1311. If you know anyone looking for a big bad user let me know.
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I'll keep my eye out. I think you might want to try a 1311 before you do that, my .02, before taxes. The 1111 is just barely behind the 1311 for chopping and much better for splitting wood, it's a better hatchet/axe replacement IMO. If you want to check one out before you commit to a trade like that let me know.
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I can certainly agree that it'll work as an axe/hatchet replacement. This thing split a vertical 2.5' 2x4 the other day in one shot.
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[emoji106]
1111 split.
1311 split
There's a knot where I was beating the 1311 in but it hadn't even started separating the top of the cut then.
Cannot wait to bash on some similarly sized S!K's
For pure chopping though it's hard to beat the 1311, that's for sure.
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Riz!
Platinum Member
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Out of all of the barkies I had the Aurora, Liten Bror, CanadianSpecial and Lil Canadians were my favorite.
Currently the only knives that have been catching my eye are the LT Wright knives. Stylistacally they are very different than GSOs so I dont mind buying them. Back when he was Blind horse, I had him make me a large Maverick Scout in A2. Loved it but it was too thick (by my design) and when my taste for thinner blades really grew I bought a regular Mav Scout and sold the custom. On thursday I should recieve an LT Wright Large. Northern Hunter.
This is the one. Bocote Handle, AEB-L steel. I plan on making it my game cleaning knife.
Currently the only knives that have been catching my eye are the LT Wright knives. Stylistacally they are very different than GSOs so I dont mind buying them. Back when he was Blind horse, I had him make me a large Maverick Scout in A2. Loved it but it was too thick (by my design) and when my taste for thinner blades really grew I bought a regular Mav Scout and sold the custom. On thursday I should recieve an LT Wright Large. Northern Hunter.
This is the one. Bocote Handle, AEB-L steel. I plan on making it my game cleaning knife.
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GS 06 my favorite knife
Sent from my SM-G930T
This may be my favorite knife too! What type of wood ? Also did you smooth out the jimping?