The Runt vs The Techno
About a year ago, I found myself inexplicably in the throes of a need to buy knives. Over the years, especially those, when I was in the military or working in the gun industry, Id bought a few, some of them very nice by most standards. But Id never been hit with this out of the blue, passionate desire to collect.
I started, buying folders and moved through, ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco, Chris Reeve, and GEC. As a non-accumulator, buying a few and keeping the ones that prove themselves, is my way. I began to home in on certain choices, leaving the rest.
Wondering what else, I started looking at fixed blades. I spent hours pouring over websites focusing on a few, After studying Bark River, I was impressed with their selection, but noticed something was missing. These were tools, really good ones, but I was looking for something else - something visual, non rational - something that would provide a hit to the gut, like a piece of art, sculpture or, as we all know, other boys toys can do. Cruising the Knives Ship Free website, while wondering, what else? I stumbled onto Fiddleback Forge. Hmm I yakked with Tyler a bit, found the Forge section of Blade Forums, read a bunch, collected pictures into a file for organizing, and discovered I was sorta hooked. Inexplicable, but there it was.
I soon learned, buying Fiddleback Forge knives is not easy. Theres no convenient store, to visit, where one can look and handle. The web facilitates some knowing, but delivers something more akin to educated guessing rather than the informed choice that the ability to handle before purchasing, affords. Thanks to Comprehensivist, Thurin, Mistwalker, M4Super90, Joufuu, MAW and others, one can get an idea of the various models, where they fit functionally, and some notion of the ergonomics. With gratitude for the above, theres no substitute for experiencing the knife in hand. The take away has been, buy and try is the only way. At least were keeping the USPS busy. So far Im batting .500.
There is, to me a functional distinction to be made between fixed blade and folding knives. Folders In my limited experience, are preferred for daily carry and every day utility. As a Californian carrying a knife in a sheath is controversial. Even if this were not the case, my dress preference and urbanish" lifestyle do not facilitate carrying a fixed blade knife. The Recluse, Bushcrafter and even Monarch Ive managed to purchase make sense to me. These are large enough to do the tasks associated with outdoor recreation, bush crafting and hunting. They are gorgeous. But like many of you, my mind wanders. Whats next? Why need? A hundred Runts, 50 Bushcrafters? Practical, schmactical.
One of my favorite folders is the Spyderco Techno. Its smaller than the small Sebenza and nearly as perfectly executed. There are things about it I like better than the little 21. The blade and handle finish are more interesting. The stone washed/polished blade finish is elegant. The thing fits in my 501s watch pocket. But its the shape that wins. My granddaughter says it looks like a bird. Shes right. Funky, thuggish, birdlike, indeed. And the Spyder hole makes it a great TV watching flicker.
After applying my usual pragmatism, and landing on the above Fiddleback models, I began lusting for something more funner, something the size and utility of that Techno, but equally fun to look at.
Enter the Runt.
Looking at pictures on the web, it struck me that the Runt is the Fiddleback version of a Techno. While the Techno has that industrial, grey, Reeve-like austerity to it, the Runt takes a similar sinuous, funky, profile and adds a touch of artistry through the various handle materials and blade conformations.
A couple weeks back several Runts appeared on Fiddleback Friday, with 3/32 blades. In my mind, with head attempting to govern heart, and trying to rationalize the choices, I thought as a small pocketable, horizontal or cross draw carry, fixed blade the thinner lighter stock made sense. While everyone else was looking at the Starry Night option I starting humming along with Don McLean, and somehow managed to score the one in the Pigs in a Blanket Shadetree.
Warned by Keegans You Tube videos, The Runt is small, really small! I confess, even after reading its specs, I was not prepared for how diminutive the Runt really is. In a one hand operable folder, the Techno, is as small as seems workable for my size large, 10-10.5, gloved hands. But, the Runt is not a folder. It does not get manipulated. Its just there, just so. So a different perspective dawned.
Heres some specs:
[table="width: 50em"]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Techno[/td]
[td]Runt[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]overall length[/td]
[td]6[/td]
[td]5 3/16[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]blade to handle[/td]
[td]2 1/2[/td]
[td]2 1/16[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]cutting edge[/td]
[td]2 1/2[/td]
[td]2 1/8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]blade height[/td]
[td]1 1/16[/td]
[td]7/8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]b.h. @ spydey hole[/td]
[td]1 3/16[/td]
[td]N/A[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]handle length[/td]
[td]3 1/2[/td]
[td]3 1/8[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
On this particular example, the PIB Shadetree is cool. Theres something about the loose weave and coloration that works with the fun, curvaceous, Runt. Understanding Fiddlebacks are hand shaped and each has a unique feel and look within a model, I confess I prefer the lines on some of the other Runts Ive seen pictured here on the Forum, but still, this ones pretty cool. Clearly the 3/32 blade adds to the lightness and that compliments the functional role I imagined for this knife. Yet I now ask, as it is so light, do such small differences in weight mean anything? The almost clunky thick blade stock of the Techno adds to its visual character and detracts little in any practical way from how one would employ this size knife. That said and continuing with the way we evolve our tastes, the buying and trying, described above, I confess there are some edgewise views of Runts with thicker stock and tapered tangs I think, appeal more. Its a cool knife. I can see why a serious Fiddleback collector needs one or 2. Ahem
About a year ago, I found myself inexplicably in the throes of a need to buy knives. Over the years, especially those, when I was in the military or working in the gun industry, Id bought a few, some of them very nice by most standards. But Id never been hit with this out of the blue, passionate desire to collect.
I started, buying folders and moved through, ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco, Chris Reeve, and GEC. As a non-accumulator, buying a few and keeping the ones that prove themselves, is my way. I began to home in on certain choices, leaving the rest.
Wondering what else, I started looking at fixed blades. I spent hours pouring over websites focusing on a few, After studying Bark River, I was impressed with their selection, but noticed something was missing. These were tools, really good ones, but I was looking for something else - something visual, non rational - something that would provide a hit to the gut, like a piece of art, sculpture or, as we all know, other boys toys can do. Cruising the Knives Ship Free website, while wondering, what else? I stumbled onto Fiddleback Forge. Hmm I yakked with Tyler a bit, found the Forge section of Blade Forums, read a bunch, collected pictures into a file for organizing, and discovered I was sorta hooked. Inexplicable, but there it was.
I soon learned, buying Fiddleback Forge knives is not easy. Theres no convenient store, to visit, where one can look and handle. The web facilitates some knowing, but delivers something more akin to educated guessing rather than the informed choice that the ability to handle before purchasing, affords. Thanks to Comprehensivist, Thurin, Mistwalker, M4Super90, Joufuu, MAW and others, one can get an idea of the various models, where they fit functionally, and some notion of the ergonomics. With gratitude for the above, theres no substitute for experiencing the knife in hand. The take away has been, buy and try is the only way. At least were keeping the USPS busy. So far Im batting .500.
There is, to me a functional distinction to be made between fixed blade and folding knives. Folders In my limited experience, are preferred for daily carry and every day utility. As a Californian carrying a knife in a sheath is controversial. Even if this were not the case, my dress preference and urbanish" lifestyle do not facilitate carrying a fixed blade knife. The Recluse, Bushcrafter and even Monarch Ive managed to purchase make sense to me. These are large enough to do the tasks associated with outdoor recreation, bush crafting and hunting. They are gorgeous. But like many of you, my mind wanders. Whats next? Why need? A hundred Runts, 50 Bushcrafters? Practical, schmactical.
One of my favorite folders is the Spyderco Techno. Its smaller than the small Sebenza and nearly as perfectly executed. There are things about it I like better than the little 21. The blade and handle finish are more interesting. The stone washed/polished blade finish is elegant. The thing fits in my 501s watch pocket. But its the shape that wins. My granddaughter says it looks like a bird. Shes right. Funky, thuggish, birdlike, indeed. And the Spyder hole makes it a great TV watching flicker.
After applying my usual pragmatism, and landing on the above Fiddleback models, I began lusting for something more funner, something the size and utility of that Techno, but equally fun to look at.
Enter the Runt.
Looking at pictures on the web, it struck me that the Runt is the Fiddleback version of a Techno. While the Techno has that industrial, grey, Reeve-like austerity to it, the Runt takes a similar sinuous, funky, profile and adds a touch of artistry through the various handle materials and blade conformations.
A couple weeks back several Runts appeared on Fiddleback Friday, with 3/32 blades. In my mind, with head attempting to govern heart, and trying to rationalize the choices, I thought as a small pocketable, horizontal or cross draw carry, fixed blade the thinner lighter stock made sense. While everyone else was looking at the Starry Night option I starting humming along with Don McLean, and somehow managed to score the one in the Pigs in a Blanket Shadetree.
Warned by Keegans You Tube videos, The Runt is small, really small! I confess, even after reading its specs, I was not prepared for how diminutive the Runt really is. In a one hand operable folder, the Techno, is as small as seems workable for my size large, 10-10.5, gloved hands. But, the Runt is not a folder. It does not get manipulated. Its just there, just so. So a different perspective dawned.
Heres some specs:
[table="width: 50em"]
[tr]
[td][/td]
[td]Techno[/td]
[td]Runt[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]overall length[/td]
[td]6[/td]
[td]5 3/16[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]blade to handle[/td]
[td]2 1/2[/td]
[td]2 1/16[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]cutting edge[/td]
[td]2 1/2[/td]
[td]2 1/8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]blade height[/td]
[td]1 1/16[/td]
[td]7/8[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]b.h. @ spydey hole[/td]
[td]1 3/16[/td]
[td]N/A[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]handle length[/td]
[td]3 1/2[/td]
[td]3 1/8[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
On this particular example, the PIB Shadetree is cool. Theres something about the loose weave and coloration that works with the fun, curvaceous, Runt. Understanding Fiddlebacks are hand shaped and each has a unique feel and look within a model, I confess I prefer the lines on some of the other Runts Ive seen pictured here on the Forum, but still, this ones pretty cool. Clearly the 3/32 blade adds to the lightness and that compliments the functional role I imagined for this knife. Yet I now ask, as it is so light, do such small differences in weight mean anything? The almost clunky thick blade stock of the Techno adds to its visual character and detracts little in any practical way from how one would employ this size knife. That said and continuing with the way we evolve our tastes, the buying and trying, described above, I confess there are some edgewise views of Runts with thicker stock and tapered tangs I think, appeal more. Its a cool knife. I can see why a serious Fiddleback collector needs one or 2. Ahem
