Nice idea for a thread Bob
Bmurray
. I have not posted much significant content in the last year or so because I have run out of new stuff to add. This topic opens up new territory, so I’ll play along.
Bark River knives were my gateway into fixed blades starting about a dozen years ago. I learned a lot by trying and comparing many models over a six year span before I discovered Fiddlebacks in 2013. Along the way I learned that thicker steel and obtuse grinds didn’t suit my preference for most applications. The ones I have held on to are all 3/32” steel with a full height convex grind. They are impressive slicers.
(Top down: Kalahari Sportsman, Kitchen Petty,
Kephart, & Mini-Kephart)
From the extended Fiddleback family, here are my Osprey Knife & Tool knives. The original Raptor from Chris’s early days is still my favorite user even though the others show how his work and skills have grown exponetially since I bought that knife at Blade 2015 when he was just getting going as a maker.
(L to R: Nomad, K2 Raptor, K Raptor, Raptor, & K Apache)
This is my “one-off” group, meaning I only have one knife by each of these makers. There are some real gems in this group.
(L to R: Evans Companion in S35VN, Malanika Limited Edition M4 Puukko, W.A. Surls CPM 154 Moray, Fletcher tapered CPM 154 Esteban II, Ban Tang Mini-Bowie in VG-10, & AA Forge Grunt in 52100)
Even though my indoor photography skills really suck, here are our main kitchen knives. The Robert Erickson chef knife in thin AEB-L second from the left has been my primary kitchen tool for the last four years. My wife prefers the Ken Onion production chef knife on the far right as her favorite cutting tool.
(L to R: Robert Erickson 9” Chef, R.E. 7” Chef, Stuart Davenport Parer, Carl Rechsteiner saw blade Utility, & Ken Onion Rain 8” Chef)
In the last two years I have become a big fan of Nathan Carothers' knives because they have excellent designs (particularly the handles) and hold their sharp edge for an amazingly long time with the D3V steel and heat treat protocol they have developed.
(Top down: Heavy Duty Field Knife “HDFK”, Utility Field Knife “UFK or FK2”, & EDC2)
Of course this post wouldn’t be complete without including my Fiddlebacks. Through year of trials & comparisons, I have achieved my final (for now) group of four favorite users. These are the ones that have proven themselves to me over many years (Bush Hermit, Bushcrafter & Sneaky Pete.)
I put a highly refined convex edge on the machete with my Wicked Egde Gen 3 just to see what was possible. This thing is downright scary to swing now.
My wife still has her pretty Bush Hermit also...
This is the majority of my fixed blade collection after two years of consolidating down from 100 plus knives to the low 30’s as I concentrate on my favorite users. I still have more knives than opportunities to use them, so there is likely more refining work to do on the horizon. Of course going to Blade has a way of derailing plans like that by fanning the flames of temptation to acquire again...
Phil
