The Perfect Fiddleback

[Dcaggie06]

So i've been collecting FBs for a little over a year. The initial attraction was based on price and the numerous handle materials combined with a great hand ground blade. After using many just around the house and in the kitchen I started taking them outside and using them for their true intents. This is where I feel FBs truly shine. Like many say, they are usable pieces of art. That being said, after the many different models i have handled, I believe i've found the perfect FB.

The BushCRAFTER.

This knife is absolutely perfect in every way possible. Period. Don't Argue. You cant win. The Bushcrafter won't let you.
Let's start from the bottom up: The Handle: The best filling handle of the standard models. The extra girth (tee hee) of this handle fills your hand and leaves zero room for slip. That being said, there are absolutely zero hot spots even with a few straight hours of use with zero blistering. I'll put it this way, if Andy took custom orders I'd have every model available made with this handle.

Blade: Its a typical bushcrafting blade right? Wrong. Its called the Bushcrafter. We get it, we know what its built to do; I'm not even going to go over the splitting ability, feather sticking ability, batoning ability this blade was born for. Let's talk about how THIS KNIFE over the BF, Hunter, KPH is the perfect hunting knife. The blade has the perfect amount of belly for skinning and field dressing tasks. Since this blade can split wood well, imagine what it does when quartering a deer. The somewhat blunter tip (compared to a hunter, BF, etc...) pops joints like you wouldn't believe. Maybe its just mine, but the convex grind on mine was a little thicker than my other FBs, so It just separates meat from bone like a knife through cheese. The ergonomics of the handle along with the blade makes this an extremely nimble blade.

Bottom Line: Change the name from the Bushcrafter to "The One"

 

[schmittie]

I love the enthusiasm. Thanks for posting bud.

 

[RRaconteur]

I wish I had a dog in this fight (9 pounds to go!). As it is, I can't wait for the lively banter to follow. 😄

Michael

 

[aZhu]

Isn't the Bushcrafter basically just the Bushfinger but with a spear point instead of a drop point?

 

[Dcaggie06]

Isn't the Bushcrafter basically just the Bushfinger but with a spear point instead of a drop point?

Both are considered drop points. The BF is a little taller and pointier, while the BC has a fatter blade (more belly) and is a little shorter. If I can ever figure out how to post pics I'll stack them and take pics

 

[solid4ever]

Isn't the Bushcrafter basically just the Bushfinger but with a spear point instead of a drop point?

Not at all. To me those are the two respective 'patriarchs' of the two different handle families in Fiddleback Forge

Family A:
Bushfinger
Kephart
Woodsman
Hunter
Recluse

Family B:
Bushcrafter
Arete
KE Bushie
Hiking Buddy
F2
Bushraptor

 

[RRaconteur]

Not at all. To me those are the two respective 'patriarchs' of the two different handle families in Fiddleback Forge

Family A:
Bushfinger
Kephart
Woodsman
Hunter
Recluse

Family B:
Bushcrafter
Arete
KE Bushie
Hiking Buddy
F2
Bushraptor

That list just made so much make sense.

Michael

 

[solid4ever]

That list just made so much make sense.

Michael

Happy to help!

Have you thought about the one you want yet? I'm a huge fan of 'Family B'. For a whole year, the Bushcrafter was my favorite blade. I then got an Arete and that one overtook the bushcrafter. My hiking buddy probably get's the most use of all though. Such an easy blade to carry and use.

 

[RRaconteur]

As a rule, I try not to make up my mind until it is decision time. Drives the Frau crazy in restaurants, because I don't actually make the decision until the server is taking my order. I just continue to gather and information so I'm ready to make the best decision when the time arrives. For me, this process has contributed to some good decision making for when that unexpected opportunity presents itself. I don't expect others understand my system, but it works for me.

I also realize it is kind of impossible to "pick" your favorite of the types when you haven't actually handled either. But I don't expect my first FB will be my last, either--just probably the one I'll be sentimental about. All that said, the kephart has still captured my attention. Maybe in a brownish burlap (drunken, coffee bag, I'm not sure I fully understand the difference between the browns) and an orange pinstripe. I'm a sucker for orange. 😄

But who knows? I'm not there yet. Thanks for the thought.

Michael

 

[VANCE]

since its not the kph + split wood knife...not what kph was designed for

you may call it the best do everyrhing at deer camp knife

if i wanted a do it all " at camp knife" id go a diffrent route

one of these prolly

 

[willic]

This may sound really hokie (I am a Hokie), but... the perfect Fiddleback is the one you have in your hand, in the middle of the woods... beautiful... balanced... just plain fun to use... you have to look at it before you use it... you have to look at it after you use it... I have a quite a few perfect Fiddlebacks!

Now, if you are asking my current favorite... it's the new Asp in cpm, wearing box elder burl. I can't stop looking at the knife! It'll get some use really soon!

-Will

 

[thurin]

Not at all. To me those are the two respective 'patriarchs' of the two different handle families in Fiddleback Forge

Family A:
Bushfinger
Kephart
Woodsman
Hunter
Recluse

Family B:
Bushcrafter
Arete
KE Bushie
Hiking Buddy
F2
Bushraptor

Good break down S4E!

This may sound really hokie (I am a Hokie), but... the perfect Fiddleback is the one you have in your hand, in the middle of the woods... beautiful... balanced... just plain fun to use... you have to look at it before you use it... you have to look at it after you use it... I have a quite a few perfect Fiddlebacks!

Now, if you are asking my current favorite... it's the new Asp in cpm, wearing box elder burl. I can't stop looking at the knife! It'll get some use really soon!

-Will

^This (I've been saying that too much lately - sorry)

I've never gone to grab my knife and thought "oh crap, I brought the wrong Fiddleback today. If only I brought..."

Of course some are better fitted for some tasks over others. If I had a choice, I wouldn't use my Runt as my Camp knife or whittle with my Woodsman. But both situations could be accomplished I suppose.

Regarding the Bushcrafter. It is a pretty sweet knife that I don't think gets enough attention. The handle is superbly comfortable. It'll take a beating. Sure, it's not as sexy as the Bushfinger maybe, but I think it's still a really good looking knife.

My current favorite would have to be the Camp Nessie. That'll change in a day or two I'm sure.

 

[thurin]

Isn't the Bushcrafter basically just the Bushfinger but with a spear point instead of a drop point?

btw, here's an old pic with a BF and BC. As has already been stated, the biggest difference is in the handle, not the blade. I'll try to do some more shots tomorrow comparing the two when I have daylight.

 

[Mistwalker]

This may sound really hokie (I am a Hokie), but... the perfect Fiddleback is the one you have in your hand, in the middle of the woods... beautiful... balanced... just plain fun to use... you have to look at it before you use it... you have to look at it after you use it... I have a quite a few perfect Fiddlebacks!

Now, if you are asking my current favorite... it's the new Asp in cpm, wearing box elder burl. I can't stop looking at the knife! It'll get some use really soon!

-Will

While this is close, I'm still going to have to disagree with all of you and say THIS is the perfect Fiddleback, All bases covered

 

[McVeyMac]

Right now I think that I would have to vote like willic, the one in my hand, or on my hip. Honestly, I have not had any opportunity to do much with any of my recent acquisitions except oil them, put pants on and off of them, and fondle them lovingly. I have a couple that I have relegated to specific duties as far as EDC goes. My 3/32 Bushraptor and my 5/32 EDC and 1/8 and 5/32 EDCIIs will rotate as an EDC cutter on my person at all times. My Sneaky Pete will serve general defensive duty, and double as a survive knife if I have a SHTF incident on my way to or from work. My Kephart and my Bushfingers will likely be with me when I trek to the woods in a month or so once firewood making season begins again, but until I put them into actual use, I clearly can not decide on a favorite. Except to say that I love my Wasp. I have to figure out where that one is going to fit in, and the Recluse, and the Big Sneaky, and the Hunter and the ones I do not yet own. Like the Bushcrafter, the Woodsman, the Camp, the Camp Nessie and the Competition Cutter. Of course there are various other that I do not own that are probably just the ticket for some task that I have yet to think of.

 

[Mistwalker]

If I could only pick one, I'd probably go with the Woodsman, but I haven't tried a Duke out yet, or a Shank so that may change later.

 

[Dcaggie06]

If I could only pick one, I'd probably go with the Woodsman, but I haven't tried a Duke out yet, or a Shank so that may change later.

The Duke is amazing. While the Woodsman is supposed to be more "pointy" than the Duke I still find that the Duke has plenty of point along with the extra belly (just like me!). If you check out the collection thread i posted theres a link to my dropbox and I have two Dukes on there lined up with a multitude of others for comp. The Duke is easily my second favorite FB

 

[Joe Duder]

Kephart is my perfect Fiddleback. It's stabby, pointy, not too big, not too small, and come on, it looks cool. It also throws great. Every time Andy offers one I have to remind myself that both my wife and I already have one. I want to try it's bigger brother the big paw Bushcrafter in CPM154.

 

[McVeyMac]

Kephart is my perfect Fiddleback. It's stabby, pointy, not too big, not too small, and come on, it looks cool. It also throws great. Every time Andy offers one I have to remind myself that both my wife and I already have one. I want to try it's bigger brother the big paw Bushcrafter in CPM154.

I have to admit that I clearly do love Andy's interpretation of the Kephart. I think I am going to have to write a program to keep all of this straight.

 

[thurin]

Kephart is my perfect Fiddleback. It's stabby, pointy, not too big, not too small, and come on, it looks cool. It also throws great. Every time Andy offers one I have to remind myself that both my wife and I already have one. I want to try it's bigger brother the big paw Bushcrafter in CPM154.

I think you'll like the Big Paw.

I have to admit that I clearly do love Andy's interpretation of the Kephart. I think I am going to have to write a program to keep all of this straight.

I have a spreadsheet that lists all the models with all the specs and pricing, etc. Includes my rankings and notes so I can sort on what I want to hunt for next.

It's a lot of work preparing for sharking.