Thoughts On An Osprey K/T Apache, & A Few Pics

Mistwalker

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2007
Messages
19,035
I have been watching Chris' work develop since his first days at Fiddleback Forge. Last year we had a talk about testing one of his knives. So we talked about a knife I wanted for some upcoming projects this summer that would vary in environment from urban to woodland, and with any luck at all from temperate to subtropic. Since then we have talked several times about the knife, my intended uses and expectations, where and how I saw the knife being used, and the various ways I would be carrying it. The knife needed to be functional in various roles from making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to processing an alligator if needs be. From cleaning my fingernails before re-entering the urban world to use in CQC in that urban world, and myriad pf other tasks that might come along in between. Over the last several months we discussed the pros and cons of various blade profiles and edge geometries as any such knife would be an exercise in putting the compromises in the right combination, in order to achieve optimum results in field use.

The knife arrived a few days ago. In fact it even arrived a day earlier than expected based on the tracking info, and seeing that information during a pre-bedtime email check, with the months-long anticipation at its peak, I actually drove to the PO at midnight to pick it up. Everything about the actual execution of the knife, steel type, steel thickness, grind height, blade geometry, handle configuration, and color scheme were all left to Chris' discretion. I told him what I needed, not what I wanted. As I sat there on the table at the parcel-packing-kiosk at the PO turning the knife in different ways in my hand, holding it in various grips, and picturing it in various uses and environments, some things became very clear. Our Mr. Linton is not only a talented knife maker who is very passionate about the tools he makes. His being well traveled, his having spent time in both very tranquil and very hostile environments, and his time spent with his nose buried in books on the history of knife making, knife designing, and their historical uses and results of said uses, give him a great deal of insight as to how to arrange the various aspects of a knife design to suit the uses it is intended for. Even when some of the descriptions are complex, abstract, and difficult to put into words.

These are just a few photos I took at the end of the day yesterday when the lighting was low, and then later on last night. There will be more on this one in the coming weeks and months.

The knife as it arrived. I really dig the lines and contours, the handle configuration is great for my needs, aesthetically pleasing and classy in both colors and the tang taper, yet discrete if that becomes a concern. The grind height gives me the right combination of cutting ability I need it to have combined with enough meat left in the spine to give me the lateral strength I want it to have. The blade profile and distal taper provide for good penetration while having enough strength to not be fragile The handle contours provide both hand comfort and a secure purchase, in all of the various grips and holds I commonly use. I think you nailed it very well Chris.

The specs are:

Overall .................8-5/8 inches
Blade length .........4-1/8 inches tip to handle scales
Bade steel ............CPM 154
Steel thickness ......0.176 inches
Handle materials....Bead blasted black micarta with hunter orange pinstripes

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For my needs on this one, the sheath will be somewhat complex. It will need to be not too bulky, and also be very versatile and offer various carry options. So I am making that myself. I have the design worked out in my head now, but the guys at RMJ had the kydex station pretty well occupied yesterday. Luckily my friend Jonathan, who is operations manager there, took pity on me and threw a quick sheath together for me so I could at least carry the knife out and about without it ending up stuck in my femoral artery or something :)

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I have a few small maple limbs that have been riding around in the back of my truck, curing in the sun on the black bed liner for the last couple of months, leftovers from another project. So as I was propped on the side of my truck yesterday after work I decided to get a little more acquainted with the Apache. I find it to be a very user-friendly knife, very intuitive with great controlability. It feels very natural and organic in use.

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I carried it with me as I walked through the art district area down town as I thought about a current urban survival project I m working on. Then I studied it more as I went through the photos on the camera from the day in the field, to delete some of the redundant ones that weren't quite what I was after. Then came that awkward moment when my urban-summertime-edc-pocket-dump-pic made me acutely aware of just how much I have been slacking on equipment maintenance the last several weeks, and made me decide that today should probably be taken as a maintenance day. I think there may just be enough dirt and pollen built up on my cameras that I could start a whole new temperate rain forest somewhere if I wanted to :D

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That's definitely a badass user. Should fit perfect for what you're looking to do with it. I'm curious to see the final sheath for it. Looking forward to more about this Apache.

Chris is definitely a talented maker! I cannot wait to get my Warthog in. Tracking says Monday.
 
:thumbup: Great looking Apache! Looks like it will be up to the task. May it seve you well. I really like the look of of the sand blasted black canvas soaked in linseed oil to give it the dark appearance.
 
That's definitely a badass user. Should fit perfect for what you're looking to do with it. I'm curious to see the final sheath for it. Looking forward to more about this Apache.

Chris is definitely a talented maker! I cannot wait to get my Warthog in. Tracking says Monday.

Yeah, that was the whole point. I have wanted to really put one of Chris' CPM 154 knives through the wringer in the field, but to be honest that would have been taking the Warthog beyond reasonable expectations. It is gorgeous but that isn't the issue. It was ground very thin to be an amazing slicer and it is, but that is not the type of knife I really need for an edc nor is it the type I feel comfortable with being really hard on, because that was not what it was intended to do. This one is quite a looker, but not quite so ornate, but definitely built with harder work in mind :)


:thumbup: Great looking Apache! Looks like it will be up to the task. May it seve you well. I really like the look of of the sand blasted black canvas soaked in linseed oil to give it the dark appearance.

I agree, and looking at all the dimensions I think it will be also. This handle is awesome, it feels as good as it looks :)


Very nice review Brian. Love my Apache.

Thanks Abe, so far I am loving this one :)
 
This is a great looking handle. Not a bad choice anywhere on it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Brian, here's the sheath I got made for my Apache. The leather bit is removable
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I really am digging this model from the specs to the overall lines. Great looking knife - I'll have to keep my eye out for one.
 
Brian that was a great introduction to the Apache, I like how you touched base on our conversations relating to my philosophy and experience with edged tools. I think it is important to understand the intent behind the design. And In my opinion if I did my job correctly the knife should let you know what its intent is. I have been asked about the handle and finish. I sandblasted it and then soaked it for a couple of days in boiled linseed oil, that helps darken the Micarta up as pictured.
I look Forward to you putting it through its paces, and sharing your opinion and findings here with us.
 
I really am digging this model from the specs to the overall lines. Great looking knife - I'll have to keep my eye out for one.

More of these in the works and I will Have Half a Dozen or so at Blade Show this year

This is a great looking handle. Not a bad choice anywhere on it.

Thank you,I am very pleased with how this one turned out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very nice review Brian. Love my Apache.

I agree Abe, Great Review/Introduction Brian tells me he has a lot more in store for this knife. I am excited to see what he does with it.

That's definitely a badass user. Should fit perfect for what you're looking to do with it. I'm curious to see the final sheath for it. Looking forward to more about this Apache.

Chris is definitely a talented maker! I cannot wait to get my Warthog in. Tracking says Monday.

I also am curious to see the final sheath. Did you see Scotcha's setup that is a sexy combo there. Share with us what you think of the warthog when you get it. I hope you enjoy it.
 
I also am curious to see the final sheath. Did you see Scotcha's setup that is a sexy combo there. Share with us what you think of the warthog when you get it. I hope you enjoy it.

Awesome sheath set up that Scotcha has. I like the removable leather. I'm going to order my kydex stuff this week so I'll start playing around with it next week sometime. Tracking says the Warthog will be here tomorrow! I will definitely take some pictures and make a quick post in your thread when I get it.
 
Thanks for the great write-up and photos Brian. Chris is consistently producing very high quality knives with amazing grinds, finishes, and handle combos. I really like the understated elegance of the black handle with orange pinstripes. I have a very similar handle on my Raptor and it has really grown on me. While I prefer thinner steel for the most part these days, the .176" CPM 154 with tapered tang on your knife looks perfect for what I know your needs and taste to be. I really like the minimalist design of your kydex sheath as well. That is a harsh environment set-up if I have ever seen one.

I have a question about the profile of the Apache design. From your pictures and specs, the Apache looks kind of Bushfinger-esque to me with the exception of a more centered spear point tip. I would like to hear your comments on how these two models compare. If you have a Bushfinger in your current rotation, a side-by-side photo of them would be great too.

In closing, I want to say that I admire how you consistently do a great job putting together a review. You make it look easy with your efficient use of focused words and photos. I still struggle to produce a review that is half as good in twice the time as it takes you. I need to pick your brain for some constructive criticism at the Blade Show this year.

Thanks,

Phil
 
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Chris is an amazing maker. I love this model too. Its nice seeing y'all post user pics. Every knifemaker loves that.
 
Brian, here's the sheath I got made for my Apache. The leather bit is removable
DSC00842_zpsagl42vee.jpg

That is a great looking sheath Abe, and a gorgeous Apache!


I really am digging this model from the specs to the overall lines. Great looking knife - I'll have to keep my eye out for one.

I am too. Chris makes them as a regular model in his line so I am certain there will be more :)


Brian that was a great introduction to the Apache, I like how you touched base on our conversations relating to my philosophy and experience with edged tools. I think it is important to understand the intent behind the design. And In my opinion if I did my job correctly the knife should let you know what its intent is. I have been asked about the handle and finish. I sandblasted it and then soaked it for a couple of days in boiled linseed oil, that helps darken the Micarta up as pictured.
I look Forward to you putting it through its paces, and sharing your opinion and findings here with us.

Thank you Chris, I thought is was important to explain the overall intent of the knife to understand what it will be put through over time.

I am just getting acquainted with the knife now, and enjoying how it cuts and how handles.

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At the moment I am still focused on the relatively softer materials it will face. This morning it was fixins for the tuna salad...in time it will open the can

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Awesome sheath set up that Scotcha has. I like the removable leather. I'm going to order my kydex stuff this week so I'll start playing around with it next week sometime. Tracking says the Warthog will be here tomorrow! I will definitely take some pictures and make a quick post in your thread when I get it.

Kydex is a lot of fun to experiment with.
 
Thanks for the great write-up and photos Brian. Chris is very steadily producing very high quality knives with amazing grinds, finishes, and handle combos. I really like the understated elegance of the black handle with orange pinstripes. I have a very similar handle on my Raptor and it has really grown on me. While I prefer thinner steel for the most part these days, the .176" CPM 154 with tapered tang on your knife looks perfect for what I know your needs and taste to be. I really like the minimalist design of your kydex sheath as well. That is a harsh environment set-up if I have ever seen one.

I have a question about the profile of the Apache design. From your pictures and specs, the Apache looks kind of Bushfinger-esque to me with the exception of a more centered spear point tip. I would like to hear your comments on how these two models compare. If you have a Bushfinger in your current rotation, a side-by-side photo of them would be great too.

In closing, I want to say that I admire how you consistently do a great job putting together a review. You make it look easy with your efficient use of focused words and photos. I still struggle to produce a review that is half as good in twice the time as it takes you. I need to pick your brain for some constructive criticism at the Blade Show this year.

Thanks,

Phil

I am trying to respond Phil...but BF won't let me....
 
I would echo the thought on the spear-pointed Bushfinger similarities...particularly the older Bushfingers with a little more drop.

Absolutely awesome handle, I miss the occasional runs of bead-blasted handles from the Forge.

The hammered spalting is very appealing to the eye, what does it feel like under the finger? Are the dimples noticeable or is it similar in feel to A2 spalting? Not that it matters, just curious; it's a very cool finish.
 
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