Trio Exchange

[hasco]

Once again, great post! I read it quickly earlier but I wanted to read it again when I was able to really savor it. Thank you both for your thoroughness and willingness to do this.

There are many cool thing about this thread. First and foremost it does something to encourage deeper connections within this fiddleback community. Second, like you both stated it let you both try knives that you might not have ever tried. Nathan, I think it is great you sent Phil the scandi KEB. I am also a little mad at you for this because now I have another knife profile that can be sharked out of the waters before my eyes by his lightning quick shark tactics. I forgive you though because I think Andy's scandi are awesome and all the fiddle heads should at least get a chance to try them.

I am glad that you both got into doing some projects with some of the knives. I think in order to really get to know a knife and how good it is or isn't you have to do some varied work with it. Once you have done a lot of work with knives in general, I think you can pick up any knife , do a little work with it and form your opinion. I have some fiddlebacks that I own that I haven't used because I am not sure that they are keepers. Once I get one I know I probably want to keep, I try to use it as much as I can. After that I have an opinion based on experience. Sometimes that opinion is totally different than the one I had when I first got the knife. That was definitely the case with the kephart for me. After putting it through the paces I went from not really wanting a pointy knife to absolutely loving what I could do with it. When I decided to give a close friend of mine a fiddleback, I chose the kephart. I knew that if he chose one the kephart might not be his first choice and that is one reason I thought it would be a good gift, as he would be exposed to something new. Much like what you two gentlemen just did for each other.

Lastly, I like that Phil said he was going to post more often with some knife reviews. One of my mentors once told me that it is good to be a producer and not just a consumer. Almost everyone wants to consume all the time. People love to consume and critique. But not many people actually produce and produce something of real value. So I applaud you both or being good producers in this community (which loves to consume things of great value - like fiddlebacks!!!)

I also want to publicly give Walt props for lending that knife to Michael when he had no fiddlebacks. That also was a turning point for me with this community. What a nice group of folks.

Well done.

Oh and by the way, thanks Phil for informing of the law in California about fixed blades. I didn't know that and I will be sure to make sure I never do that.

 

[thurin]

I just wanted to jump in a give a quick THANKS! for all the comments. I'll try to respond to them later today when I have some time. This was a lot of fun to do and a lot of work. Phil deserves the credit for this, both initiating the exchange itself and for the idea of doing the comprehensive (oh, see what I did there? ) write up. Great guy.

I'll add some quick comments about his section:

The photos are great. Seeing the comparison shots with them lined up the by handle and then tip gives a good indication of the size difference. I love the shot of the EDK and Runt on the cork. It really shows off the handles and the makers mark on those two. I want to frame it. The in hand shots are helpful, as they give a good consistent base to compare them. I like the detail of the Runt in-hand showing the 3 finger size.

Carving the spoon bowl with the Runt - wow. That was a lot of work. Well done. I love the pictures with all the shavings. And a thread this long had to have some blood in it. I hope it's healing up well.

Thanks for all the details on the projects. And for the thorough info on the knives.

I'm glad you liked the scandi. They are mean wood cutting machines.

I hope to be able to do more like this in the future, but maybe with a single knife as Phil suggests.

 

[prom52]

Excellent work gents & very much appreciated. This may end up being one of the most visited threads on the forum when all is said & done. Your generosity of spirit in sharing is inspiring to say the least. I recently acquired my first scandi, a KEB and look forward to experiencing its wood carving qualities after it comes back from the Spa, although I plan to keep it well fed so it doesn't bite me

Thank you !

 

[SA Condor]

Awesome thread guys! Ever since you guys mentioned that you did the swap and were going to write out your thoughts, I've been looking for it. Pics, insight, and personal feelings all made for great reviews. Hasco put it well in his comments. Far to many consumers and too few 'give backers'! In all walks of life . . . family, friends, work, church, etc people are sponges. This is a good thing, because we learn and soak it all in, but far too few of us squeeze the sponges out! I hope we all take your examples and give back more.

Thurin, I've got a Bushraptor and it was great for peeling the wood away, but it did develope a hotspot on my hand. My hand measures 7 ½" tip of finger to bottom of Palm and 3 ¾" across. I found the handle to be small but comfy working with it as a utility blade in the kitchen, but woodworking I think at least for me calls for a slightly more filling handle. Maybe you should see about trying one of those out too!

BTW, I do plan on going Gold. I only became a member in March and I'm trying to be prudent with the measly $10 I spent! It felt silly to spend 10 and 1-2 months later spend 30.

Thanks again to all!

 

[catalystman80]

Wow, awesome work Nathan and Phil. Loving the friendship you guys developed, and the awesome dose of information you guys shared. I realize you guys put in many many hours doing the testing, writing the reviews, and taking photographs; your efforts are very much appreciated.

Phil, very cool to see the runt being used to dish out the spoon. I'd never thought of doing that as I just use my spoon carver, but it's good to see and know it can be done. And hope your finger is all healed up now.

Nathan, I knew you had big paws but never realized how big they were until I saw you holding the sneaky pete well done~ Anyhow, it was very beneficial to hear about the similarities between the Duke and the Woodsman in functionality.

Again, great job guys coordinating this effort, and I really like that this was a real user feedback as opposed to just bunch of photos (which I'm sure most of us will admit that we like as well).


Josh

 

[pistonsandgears]

Very nice write up on the exchange on both parts, and great pictures too. Thanks for posting this. Helps me out too when I am trying to decide which Fiddleback model I will try next.

 

[kevroo]

WOW!

Thank you both for this extensive write up! I enjoy reading your reviews Mr. Phil, you offer a great "overall" view and provide excellent pictures. You both nailed it with this article. I feel a little guilty for not doing my own but I'm of the belief that I ought to read & learn first beforehand. I don't have much luck in the picture department either, ALL of these photo's are great!

On a side note, I too hit some meat in my thumb while cleaning one of my knives, cut my finger like a surgical scalpel. Got a nice scar now.

Thanks Mr. Phil & Mr. Nathan!

 

[Munoz]

Thanks for taking the time to test and share your findings. Excellent work!

 

[Mistwalker]

Man, this is such an awesome thread! I haven't had a lot of time for posting lately, but I keep watching. LOTS of great pics of Fiddlebacks in use! I was sort of hoping for a pic of a Hiking Buddy in your hand Nathan, but considering your hand makes that Sneaky Pete look like an undersized Asp, close enough Great shots guys!!

 

[trestle]

The amount of thought, effort, and writing that went into this thread is amazing! You guys have both set the bar incredibly high.

I have been fortunate enough to do a similar comparison swap with another member but it was just a look-and-fondle exchange, not a put-into-action exchange. The Trio exchange is a whole new era. :thumbup:

 

[Comprehensivist]

It has been a week since Nathan and I posted this thread. I intentionally decided to step away for a while before responding to all the comments. Honestly, I was wiped out by the time we posted this. Now that a little time has passed, I am ready to reply with fresh eyes and a rested mind.

Great story, thurin is definitely good people. If I am not mistaken, Rick patterns every sheath that he makes after the knife that goes into it. At least this is the case with all of the RLO sheaths that I have. There may be exceptions, but I am not aware of them.

I also am making a spoon, and I also have had a similar mishap. Not quite as sever. I let them heal, then keep carving. I'm doing mine in Maple, it is a little hard, and a little slow going.

Sorry to step into the middle of this Phil and Nathan. I did not see what was happening completely until after I posted. Oops.

Hey Walt,

We figured that someone would jump in before we could get eight posts made. That dang one minute delay between posts messed us up. If someone was going to crash our party, it might as well be a nice guy like you.

I believe that you are correct about Rick Lowe making his sheaths model specific. I wonder if the width of the metal clip on the ED Karda sheath affects retention to some degree. Good luck on your maple spoon. That is some hard wood. Give us an update in six months or so...

Great posts guys!

Thanks Erich!

That in hand pic of you holding the camp is beyond epic. its pretty much on par with me holding a BF.

I agree. The Camp Knife looks like it was made for Nathan's hand.

Great stuff guys and excellent write ups. :thumbup:

Thanks KP!

Nice work Guys. I think that Andy should make a big paw version of the SP or the Big Sneaky. He can call it Sneaky Pete thurin addition, etc. I really think that you would enjoy the SP handle, if you got one that fit your hand better. I find myself missing the dorsal hump of the SP when I am using other 4" knives.

You again. I like the look and balance of the Big Sneaky with the standard handle length. Now if Andy made a Magnum Big Sneaky with a 6" blade and 1/2" more handle length, I think that would appeal to larger handed folks without sacrificing the look and balance of the design.

Thanks for the excellent reviews and time spent to share your impressions with everyone. I'll have to go back a re-read these a few times to let it all soak in. Although I recently scored my first large Fiddleback, I will look at the Duke and the Camp knife a little differently now. I the net effect of this made me settle on getting a Runt when I can.

Thanks for the comments Phillip. There is a lot here to read and process. I am glad that you gained some perspective on the bigger knives. Aren't Nathan's photos awesome! I feel the same way as you do about the Runt. Something about that model just speaks to me. I will get one eventually.

EXCELLENT Thread!!!

And, Thanks for the feedback!! .. and the ring attachment was something I have already addressed. I now offer spring gated rings which allow complete removal of the ring from the earlier danglers I offered, and with the larger sheaths like the Camp .. I now use a bigger ring. They're more expensive for me, but their versatility is something I personally appreciate - same as my sheaths (ambidextrous carry and fits multiple models).

Thanks Bud! I think that the larger gated rings are a good idea. I need to contact you about ordering a couple.

Good stuff here guys. These two write ups are the result of HOURS of thought, executing of intended task and frequent interruptions for pictures. It takes a lot of time to share what you did. Thanks!! I'll have to reread it when I can let a little more sink in but already I see I think along similar lines on a few things

Thank you for the acknowledgement schmittie. Your estimate of the time involved to do this was only off by DAYS.

Great idea and great thread. Thanks for putting it up.

Thanks Mbern!

Wow!! What can I say guys; phenomenal job! It was great to read each of your observations, along with the equally descriptive photo documentation as it provided some phenomenal insight into 6 quinessestial fiddleback designs , from two of our mist astute and informative members!

Phil,
It was great to hear your thoughts on the KEB -- I have always obsessed over Nathans particular example and feel that your review answered a lot of questions regarding both the design and highly coveted scandi grind. I'm glad to see that all ten of your fingers are still intact after three fiddleback bite incurred during testing! Additionally it was great to see you gents orchestrate such a great opportunity for community collaboration to occur! BTW kudos to you for letting the camp knife out of the house although I couldn't imagine lending it to a more worthy forum member!

Nathan,
Kudos on another excellent photo review! Or was great to finally get your impressions on the SP and more importantly the camp knife! As always, your reviews hold a lot of weight with many of us, given your solid bushcraft knowledge base and great sense of knife aesthetics! I'm glad to hear that you didn't find the SP to tactical, IMO the whole profile family is misunderstood by many, due to it's (more) aggressive lines. Your thoughts on the Duke were also interesting as I very much felt the same way after spending several months with both the Woodman and Duke! In the end my allegiance stayed with the Woodman, although your observations were spot on about three versatility of the profile and it's willingness to work. Finally, I'm glad that you were able to spend some time with a camp knife; it really is a special tool that Andy (clearly) out a lot of time and thought into.

On a whole it was awesome to read this post -- it exemplifies the type of trust and camaraderie that can be developed within a community such as our own. I hope to do something like this myself in the near future, albeit you guys have set a very HIGH BAR! Thank you both for taking the time out of your busy lives and schedules to write such in depth, photo driven reviews -- job well done :thumbup:

Thanks for the comments and compliments Will. After using the KEB, I learned to appreciate the scandi grind. I am now open to buying a scandi if the right one becomes available on the Flea Market. Of course Nathan, hasco, or velosa will probably snag any that come up before I have a chance.

This will now go down in history as perhaps the most epic Fiddleback thread ever. You two are both my heroes.

Michael

Thanks Michael! I am pleased that you enjoyed it. You are putting out some great write-ups yourself lately. Heroes? Really?? At least you didn't call us Super Heroes. Nathan and I would look silly wearing brightly colored Shadetree burlap capes with spider logos on them...

Once again, great post! I read it quickly earlier but I wanted to read it again when I was able to really savor it. Thank you both for your thoroughness and willingness to do this.

There are many cool thing about this thread. First and foremost it does something to encourage deeper connections within this fiddleback community. Second, like you both stated it let you both try knives that you might not have ever tried. Nathan, I think it is great you sent Phil the scandi KEB. I am also a little mad at you for this because now I have another knife profile that can be sharked out of the waters before my eyes by his lightning quick shark tactics. I forgive you though because I think Andy's scandi are awesome and all the fiddle heads should at least get a chance to try them.

I am glad that you both got into doing some projects with some of the knives. I think in order to really get to know a knife and how good it is or isn't you have to do some varied work with it. Once you have done a lot of work with knives in general, I think you can pick up any knife , do a little work with it and form your opinion. I have some fiddlebacks that I own that I haven't used because I am not sure that they are keepers. Once I get one I know I probably want to keep, I try to use it as much as I can. After that I have an opinion based on experience. Sometimes that opinion is totally different than the one I had when I first got the knife. That was definitely the case with the kephart for me. After putting it through the paces I went from not really wanting a pointy knife to absolutely loving what I could do with it. When I decided to give a close friend of mine a fiddleback, I chose the kephart. I knew that if he chose one the kephart might not be his first choice and that is one reason I thought it would be a good gift, as he would be exposed to something new. Much like what you two gentlemen just did for each other.

Lastly, I like that Phil said he was going to post more often with some knife reviews. One of my mentors once told me that it is good to be a producer and not just a consumer. Almost everyone wants to consume all the time. People love to consume and critique. But not many people actually produce and produce something of real value. So I applaud you both or being good producers in this community (which loves to consume things of great value - like fiddlebacks!!!)

I also want to publicly give Walt props for lending that knife to Michael when he had no fiddlebacks. That also was a turning point for me with this community. What a nice group of folks.

Well done.

Oh and by the way, thanks Phil for informing of the law in California about fixed blades. I didn't know that and I will be sure to make sure I never do that.

I appreciate your kind words Tod. What you wrote here really encapsulates what this experience was all about for me. I know that you get it because you contribute a lot to the forum yourself. I always enjoy seeing our projects and photos.

Excellent work gents & very much appreciated. This may end up being one of the most visited threads on the forum when all is said & done. Your generosity of spirit in sharing is inspiring to say the least. I recently acquired my first scandi, a KEB and look forward to experiencing its wood carving qualities after it comes back from the Spa, although I plan to keep it well fed so it doesn't bite me

Thank you !

I appreciate your comments Peter. I that you will really dig the scandi KEB when you put it through its paces.

Awesome thread guys! Ever since you guys mentioned that you did the swap and were going to write out your thoughts, I've been looking for it. Pics, insight, and personal feelings all made for great reviews. Hasco put it well in his comments. Far to many consumers and too few 'give backers'! In all walks of life . . . family, friends, work, church, etc people are sponges. This is a good thing, because we learn and soak it all in, but far too few of us squeeze the sponges out! I hope we all take your examples and give back more.

Thurin, I've got a Bushraptor and it was great for peeling the wood away, but it did develope a hotspot on my hand. My hand measures 7 ½" tip of finger to bottom of Palm and 3 ¾" across. I found the handle to be small but comfy working with it as a utility blade in the kitchen, but woodworking I think at least for me calls for a slightly more filling handle. Maybe you should see about trying one of those out too!

BTW, I do plan on going Gold. I only became a member in March and I'm trying to be prudent with the measly $10 I spent! It felt silly to spend 10 and 1-2 months later spend 30.

Thanks again to all!

Thanks Imari! Giving something back to balance out the blessings we receive is always a good thing. I am happy to contribute where I can.

Wow, awesome work Nathan and Phil. Loving the friendship you guys developed, and the awesome dose of information you guys shared. I realize you guys put in many many hours doing the testing, writing the reviews, and taking photographs; your efforts are very much appreciated.

Phil, very cool to see the runt being used to dish out the spoon. I'd never thought of doing that as I just use my spoon carver, but it's good to see and know it can be done. And hope your finger is all healed up now.

Nathan, I knew you had big paws but never realized how big they were until I saw you holding the sneaky pete well done~ Anyhow, it was very beneficial to hear about the similarities between the Duke and the Woodsman in functionality.

Again, great job guys coordinating this effort, and I really like that this was a real user feedback as opposed to just bunch of photos (which I'm sure most of us will admit that we like as well).


Josh

Thanks Josh! Building on my friendship with Nathan was the best part of this experience. Getting to play with some new Fiddleback models in the process was kind of fun too... :thumbup:

Very nice write up on the exchange on both parts, and great pictures too. Thanks for posting this. Helps me out too when I am trying to decide which Fiddleback model I will try next.

Thanks P&G! Presenting information that helps people make informed decisions was one of my goals with this project.

WOW!

Thank you both for this extensive write up! I enjoy reading your reviews Mr. Phil, you offer a great "overall" view and provide excellent pictures. You both nailed it with this article. I feel a little guilty for not doing my own but I'm of the belief that I ought to read & learn first beforehand. I don't have much luck in the picture department either, ALL of these photo's are great!

On a side note, I too hit some meat in my thumb while cleaning one of my knives, cut my finger like a surgical scalpel. Got a nice scar now.

Thanks Mr. Phil & Mr. Nathan!

Thanks for the compliment Kevin. Sorry hear about the scar. Injuries due to user error are not covered under Andy's warranty.

 

[Comprehensivist]

Thanks for taking the time to test and share your findings. Excellent work!

I am glad that you enjoyed it Lance.

Man, this is such an awesome thread! I haven't had a lot of time for posting lately, but I keep watching. LOTS of great pics of Fiddlebacks in use! I was sort of hoping for a pic of a Hiking Buddy in your hand Nathan, but considering your hand makes that Sneaky Pete look like an undersized Asp, close enough Great shots guys!!

Thanks Brian. You make doing reviews look easy. Now I know how much work that you put into your posts.

The amount of thought, effort, and writing that went into this thread is amazing! You guys have both set the bar incredibly high.

I have been fortunate enough to do a similar comparison swap with another member but it was just a look-and-fondle exchange, not a put-into-action exchange. The Trio exchange is a whole new era. :thumbup:

Thanks trestle! Doing a look and fondle exchange is a good way to go too. Quicker turnaround and you still get some valuable information in the process.


Epilog:


This truly was a massive project. Over six weeks, I think Nathan and I took around one-hundred-seventy-five photos between us. We pared that down to the best seventy or so that were included here. We also had regular PM’s, e-mails, and phone calls to share comments, ask questions, and edit each other’s drafts. We were both committed to making this a seamlessly coordinated effort that represented the best we could do as a team. After reading through the complete post again, I think we hit our goal.


You really learn a lot about a person’s character when you work this closely with him over a period of time. I learned that Nathan is smart, clear thinking, forthright, considerate, and dedicated. What more could I ask for in a team mate. I have always looked up to him as one of my mentors on the forum. I still do. The difference is now he is my friend and mentor. I have the highest respect for him.

Thanks Nathan!!


Closing update on my three knives:


Sneaky Pete: This Sneaky Pete is a sentimental favorite of mine. I really enjoy using it. It was my first Fiddleback with Shadetree burlap scales. I remember telling myself after I received it that this burlap stuff is really nice and I need to get some more of it. That was the start of my collection theme.

Duke: This Evergreen Duke is the knife that I missed using the most while it was gone. The Duke is my favorite of the 5” models. I originally received this knife in a trade with my good friend Will (wwwjtxx) a while back. He told me then that I ever wanted to let it go, to contact him first. Just prior to getting this knife back from Nathan, I acquired my dream Duke with Electric Orange burlap. Since I am not big on keeping duplicates of most models, I contacted Will. I am happy to report that the Evergreen Duke is on its way back home to Virginia.

Camp: This Camp Knife has an interesting history with me. You may have wondered why I asked Nathan not to use it during our exchange. This knife was one of three that I scored in my infamous “cast a wide net” post on Fiddleback Friday 3/17/14. That post caused quite a stir on the forum and I committed to never using that strategy again.

After receiving it, I had the nagging feeling that this Camp Knife was not really meant to be mine. I always felt that this knife was built for someone else. For that reason, I never used it. I decided to wait for another Camp Knife that I felt was built for me, before I sold the Drunken burlap one.

Even prior to our exchange, Nathan had stated several times since March that my Camp Knife was his dream configuration. That was why I included it as a surprise in the box that I sent him. During our communications throughout the exchange, Nathan kept saying how much he loved this knife and how hard it would be to send it back. I realized that this particular knife was really meant to be his all along.

On the Fiddleback Friday before we finished our final drafts, I scored a Camp Knife with Emerald burlap over black G10 and white pinstripe. That was my dream configuration that I had been wishing for all year. After that, Nathan asked If I had any plans to sell the Drunken burlap one. I said that I did. I told him that I wanted it to stay with a great friend in Broomfield, Colorado. That was how it was meant to be.

Phil

 

[Justarandomguy]

Great post. Thanks gents for the time and effort that you put into this.

As a new forum member (one week) and a new FB owner (got it in the mail today!), I've been working my way through as many threads as possible. Posts like this give us newbies a great idea of the different versions we might want to try to score in the deadly FB Friday waters.

I'll also add my name to the list of people who have felt the sting of slicing into the tender flesh while making a spoon. Not with my shiny new Hiking Buddy, but the D'OH! moment was the same. A little tip for those that haven't had this pleasure yet; "super glue". It's amazing for sticking the bits back together!

Thanks again guys. I look forward to reading more and contributing to the FB family.

 

[Fullybalanced]

Ive been worried about using my new bushfinger for "real" work. I was think this may be to pretty to use. Thank you again!