This Fiddleback is special to me because.....

VANCE said:
this one now belongs to a little fella that is way more deserving
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Dammit, Phillip!
 
This Bull Frog Bowie is special to me because I won it in a raffle to benefit Ben.:thumbup::)

 
Great thread.

Every Fiddleback I've owned and used seems to have some special attachment for me. Each has spent some time on my belt. Each has some story, however trivial. I don't have any specific story to match some of the great stories already posted. However, when I read the title of this thread, one knife did jump to mind: my Bushboot.

This is a little odd in a way. I took this Bushboot on a hiking trip several summers ago. The weather was hot and I was sweating a lot. Somehow, sweat collected inside the sheath and I didn't recognize that right away. The blade and edge rusted. Bad. There was slight surface pitting. It took less than 24 hours. I was shocked and upset with myself for not making sure the blade was clean and dry at day's end. In addition to the rust, a small piece of grit had gotten into the sheath, and every time I pulled the knife out or put it back into the sheath, the blade got a small scratch. It looked like someone had been rubbing a dremel over the front portion of the blade. These things happen, but that's not a very nice way to treat a Fiddleback.

Despite the rust, the knife continued to function well. I had a small stone with me and was able to clean up the edge. When I got home, I put a lot of effort into cleaning up the rust and scratches. The knife ended up with a convex edge and still has a few faint spots and rubs from the trip. Some stories come with scars.

It's the knife that taught me to keep an eye on where I mount my sheath and watch for sweat and water condensing on a blade. It's the knife that taught me to check over my gear at the end of the day. It's a knife that taught me how forgiving a knife can be, at least with a little attention and care. It's not my favorite knife, not my favorite Fiddleback. It hasn't served a heroic function. But through misadventure and constancy, neglect and restoration, experience and education, it has somehow become 'special'.

 
Rotte said:
Great thread.

Every Fiddleback I've owned and used seems to have some special attachment for me. Each has spent some time on my belt. Each has some story, however trivial. I don't have any specific story to match some of the great stories already posted. However, when I read the title of this thread, one knife did jump to mind: my Bushboot.

This is a little odd in a way. I took this Bushboot on a hiking trip several summers ago. The weather was hot and I was sweating a lot. Somehow, sweat collected inside the sheath and I didn't recognize that right away. The blade and edge rusted. Bad. There was slight surface pitting. It took less than 24 hours. I was shocked and upset with myself for not making sure the blade was clean and dry at day's end. In addition to the rust, a small piece of grit had gotten into the sheath, and every time I pulled the knife out or put it back into the sheath, the blade got a small scratch. It looked like someone had been rubbing a dremel over the front portion of the blade. These things happen, but that's not a very nice way to treat a Fiddleback.

Despite the rust, the knife continued to function well. I had a small stone with me and was able to clean up the edge. When I got home, I put a lot of effort into cleaning up the rust and scratches. The knife ended up with a convex edge and still has a few faint spots and rubs from the trip. Some stories come with scars.

It's the knife that taught me to keep an eye on where I mount my sheath and watch for sweat and water condensing on a blade. It's the knife that taught me to check over my gear at the end of the day. It's a knife that taught me how forgiving a knife can be, at least with a little attention and care. It's not my favorite knife, not my favorite Fiddleback. It hasn't served a heroic function. But through misadventure and constancy, neglect and restoration, experience and education, it has somehow become 'special'.
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I understand that. I had a similar learning experience with a special hunting knife when I first moved to Florida as a kid, carbon steel and the new paradigm of salt water combined to bite me on the ass and teach me a big lesson on knife care one weekend. Even ruined, had I known then all I know now, it wouldn't have been ruined... that knife was special to me for what I learned from it.
 
Like others have said, it's really difficult to designate only one knife as special. Many are special in their own way, for different reasons.

My very first Fiddleback will always have a special place in my collection. A Kephart, Natural Canvas w/ fiddletextured CPM-154 steel:

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The first knife that Andy offered for sale in support of Super Ben on June 3, 2014, an Arete, Black Ash Burl w/ 01 steel:

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Our thoughts & prayers remain with you Ben:

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And finally, a very special Duke, Electric Orange w/ 01 steel that was gifted to me at Blade Show this year by a dear Forum Friend:

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Each of these knives hold special meaning and will be treasured for the spirit of what they represent, along with the fine craftsmanship that went into making them........Thanks Andy & Crew !

Peter
 
The Fiddleback knife that is most special to me may not be the most beautiful one in my collection compared to some others. Fancy looks aside, it is the most used Fiddleback knife I own. It is a 3/32” CPM 154 Fiddle-textured Gaucho with a burgundy & black burlap handle. I have used it outside for notching wood, making feather sticks, and even some light baton work. It main role though has been food prep as an XL size paring knife that holds its edge well and is easy to clean and maintain.

Here is my Gaucho shown between a W.A. Surls Moray and an Osprey Raptor.




This Gaucho was one of the many Fiddleback knives I reviewed with my best buddy Jessie “J-Dog” at my side.




She vibrated with excitement every time I used the Gaucho to cut up some meat from the barbecue.




For admittedly selfish reasons, the Gaucho was J-Dog’s favorite Fiddleback to see in my hand.



I’ll confess that I have seriously struggled to find the motivation to do any more knife reviews since I had to put her down last March. She had a tremendous curiosity that made the whole experience fun for me. It’s just not the same without her at my side. I miss her dearly to this day. I think of her every time I use the Gaucho. That is why this knife is very special to me.

Phil
 
Comprehensivist said:
For admittedly selfish reasons, the Gaucho was J-Dog’s favorite Fiddleback to see in my hand.



I’ll confess that I have seriously struggled to find the motivation to do any more knife reviews since I had to put her down last March. She had a tremendous curiosity that made the whole experience fun for me. It’s just not the same without her at my side. I miss her dearly to this day. I think of her every time I use the Gaucho. That is why this knife is very special to me.
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I have recently been devouring your reviews and comparisons of Fiddleback Forge knives (they've been invaluable in learning about the various patterns and distinctives from afar), and have greatly enjoyed J-dog's contributions and endorsements throughout.


I had no idea she was gone.


I am so, so sorry.

~ P.
 
J-dog was a good lookin' hound. Sorry she passed. We only get to enjoy these guys for a short while.
 
pertinux said:
I have recently been devouring your reviews and comparisons of Fiddleback Forge knives (they've been invaluable in learning about the various patterns and distinctives from afar), and have greatly enjoyed J-dog's contributions and endorsements throughout.


I had no idea she was gone.


I am so, so sorry.

~ P.
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Rotte said:
J-dog was a good lookin' hound. Sorry she passed. We only get to enjoy these guys for a short while.
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Thanks for the nice comments about J-Jog. I posted a tribute to her on the forum here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...t-J-Dog-quot-has-passed-away?highlight=Jessie

My wife wants me to look for a new dog now. I am still not ready yet to fill that void in my heart...

Thanks,

Phil
 
Comprehensivist said:
My wife wants me to look for a new dog now. I am still not ready yet to fill that void in my heart...

Thanks,

Phil
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Good luck with that endeavor Phil. It seems to be different for everyone. I parted ways with my best friend in the world, my Lab Thor, in 1984 when I was getting ready to head out for basic training. I got him as a small puppy when I was 12, but from 16 to 19 he had been left with my father...and my stepmother whom I could not stand at the time and father developed a similar opinion in time. When I cam home to visit dad for a while before I shipped out I gave Thor to a friend who had four kids who had played with Thor off and on for 5 years and had always tried to talk me out of him. The last time I saw him, he was in the back of Sarge's truck with the kids just as happy as he could be, as they were headed home to get ready for Sarge's relocation from Fort Benning GA to some base in Alaska. Thirty two years later, I am just now entertaining the idea of getting another dog. But parting with Thor, him being my best and only real friend for those years, left a void no-one or nothing could ever fill.
 
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This fiddleback is special to me because it is my grail knife. I waited for the dream configuration and then on a friday it landed. And I wasn't fast enough. Fortunately, down the line, I contacted dsarps (Michael) about the knife and he was kind enough to pass it my way. For that, I am very grateful. I carry this knife all the time, and it doesn't look quite as pretty as it did in this original photograph. It is 3/32 and slices like a laser. I contemplated between this knife and my first fiddleback, but I decided to post this one because it is my favorite. It also symbolizes the fact that this community is very special. We are all here to share a great hobby, support each other, and enrich one another's lives. It fascinates me that a bunch of strangers on the internet can do such kind, incredible things around here. This knife continually reminds me of that.
 
This Esquire is special to me because Andy made it for me after the original one was lost during shipping.:thumbup::)

 
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This fiddleback is special because it is my first, in fact I have only just received it today. I have been going between an edc 2, mini Muk or hiking buddy for weeks but in the end the leaf shaped blade won it just reminds of the knapped blades our ancestors carried and that is a major draw for me.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk
 
timichango said:
This thread makes me want a Fiddleback...
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If you don't have one, you should get one. Andy puts a little something special into each knife. It's not something you can see in a picture; you have to hold one and use it. And then a little light pops on and you think "oh, so this is what a knife is supposed to feel like."
 
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