Why Andy Roy is the Only Custom Maker I Buy From;)

Steely_Gunz

Got the Khukuri fevah
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Gentlemen, I'm embarrassed to say but I ONLY have one Fiddleback Forge knife in my collection:o

It's not an issue of Andy's work, or price, or anything short of the fact that the woodsman I ordered about 2 years ago simply is the finest general bushcraft knife I have ever held. It fit my needs perfectly!

Oh, I've chased other Great White Whales in the knife world. I've got a drawer full of folding knifes, more swiss army knives and multi-tools than I know what to do with, and a plethora of gorgeous Himalayan Import khukuris. I have my favorites, but I'm still looking for "the one".

My Woodsman is different. When I ordered it, I left the entire build in Andy's hands. What he thought looked best would be fine. Hell, if he some kind of wood in surplus that he wanted to use up, I would have been fine with that. Instead, he picked out some species of wood that he thought I, personally, might like best. I've known him for years on the forums, and am luckily enough to call him my friend. He simply knew through osmosis what would look best to me on my knife.

When it arrived, I was stunned. Executed to a masterful degree. Razor sharp, highly polished, and had an absolutely stunning handle of laminated Osage and Walnut that felt as if it were made for my hand. That knife has accompanied me on several adventures, prepped dozens if not hundreds of meals in my kitchen at home, and rode dutifully in my truck behind my seat "just in case" I should ever need it. I simply did not like leaving home without it.

However, that loving (yet probably destructive) act of long hot days in the humid southern Indiana sun sitting in my truck caused the wood to separate juuuuuusst so in a tiny area. It wasn't a big deal, but I wanted to ask Andy what he thought about it.

Of course, Andy being Andy told me to ship it to him to take a look at it. I told him it was no big deal if he couldn't fix it. I was VERY satisfied with the knife. I got MORE than my money's worth out of it, and it was just an itty bitty separation that was causing no real performance issues in the least.

After really no more than a week or so, I just received my Woodsman back. Totally fixed as if nothing had ever happened, shined up, lettered, and purdier than she was the day we met;)

On top of that he added a bullseye at the lanyard hole, sent me a new sheath (I had clumsily sliced my old one trying to holster the Cajun lightsaber:o), AND (here's the kicker) my very own genuine Fiddleback Forge Beer Coozie!:p

Andy, I'm stoked, bro!
Way, way, over the top regarding customer service. I have to say, I've never been burned by a custom maker. However, I have been, really, really, really, REALLY disappointed with one whom I expected more out of. While I never even considered that Andy would make me jump through the hoops I did with this other guy, I'm still totally and completely floored by the level of top notch service.

I'll always have this Fiddleback (and I really hope several more). I want to be one of the guys that was on "the ground level" of knowing Andy before he was big and famous in the knife world, before Sly Stallone taps him to craft the knife for Rambo 9, and before his waiting lists stretch 4 years.

I raise a Coozied beer to decades of success to Andy and Fiddleback Forge.
Here's a crappy phone camera pic!
IMG00089-20101028-1212.jpg


200% satisfied customer.
I'm gonna copy this thread over to Feedback too.
 
Oh, and if you so happen to ship your knife with a business stationary note with your phone number on it, Andy will be sure to crank call you:p:p:p

Awesome touch, and nice to put a voice with a name with a face with a knife...er sumpin' like that;)
 
You write up the best posts Jake. I was glad to do it, and I loved seeing that the knife was used and cared for, and sharp too. Wood and heat aren't a match made in heaven, but the issue was easily fixed. No biggie. And honestly, I thought I had ruined your sheath. LOL.

Thanks for the post brother. What a smile it has given me.
 
Like I've said in other posts, I bought into Fiddleback because of the man not the steel. I have only one custom knife in my harem, and its a Fiddleback. There may be other Fiddlebacks in my harem later, but my Hunter is very, very special to me. So I know what you mean. Andy, you are the man.

So when are those machete's gonna be ready?

I couldn't help it:D:D

Moose
 
Great post. Andy is a great guy, and makes great knives. The constantly changing temps and humidity level here were a concern for me and why I wanted micarta on the Bushfinger so I could carry it anywhere and any time with less worry. Good thing too because the Bushfinger is in a class by itself for me and goes where I go. Then I wanted a wooden handled Recluse because I love that design and his wooden handles are so darn beautiful and feel so great in the hand. I hope I manage to keep from having to send it back to him over environmental issues, but glad to hear how happy you are with his customer service, and glad to know he can fix it if I do :)
 
Great post! I dont own a Fiddleback yet but love the looks of Andys knives. Hopefully I can pry Moosezs away from him for awhile. I have bought many custom knives based mainly on price point over the years and have only kept a few due to one reason, the maker. It just seems like the ones I keep are because of the experience of actually buying the knife and less about the knife in general. I never thought about it until now. Keep it up Andy and your customers will keep coming back!
 
I knew it wasn't me who cut that sheath!!

Nope. Totally me:o
I probably had the knife a total of maybe a week. I was grilling out (and drinking beer), and my Woodsman was on steak prep duty. I was wearing it on my left at about 8 o'clock trying to sheath it and pushed down at a little too much of an angle.

I usually make my own sheathes, but I just never got around to making one for the FB.

Andy, how much do I owe you for the new one? I don't want you to be out $$ because my goof;)

i've learned my lesson, I'm wearing the Woodsman (as we speak) on my right side. No twisting to sheath it now;) Plus, one I get some more leather, I'm going to give it a matching pair of pants to go along with a leather shell cuff for my Marlin 336. They just belong together:p
 
Oh, I've chased other Great White Whales in the knife world. I've got a drawer full of folding knifes, more swiss army knives and multi-tools than I know what to do with, and a plethora of gorgeous Himalayan Import khukuris. I have my favorites, but I'm still looking for "the one".

Funny, I can relate to having stacks of knives in search of "the one." I was poking around on the boards not too long ago and saw the Bushfinger. It was one of those "oh shit" moments that I don't recall having with any of the other knives.

I have almost come to the conclusion that "the one" is the next one you get. I gotta say though...I would love to have one of the Bushfingers. It very well might be "the one."

I have been keeping my eye out for one but no luck yet. I got tired of waiting and had to grab a knife to placate myself. I grabbed a BHK Bushcrafter. I really like it but I still keep going back to that gorgeous Bushfinger.

So, I got some money set aside waiting for one to show its head. Really really like the looks of your knives Andy and can't wait to get my hands on one!
 
Andy is a class act for sure! And he makes awesome knives :D:thumbup:
 
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