Burt Foster Knives

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
Joined
Jul 15, 2003
Messages
12,554
:D I like Burt Foster's knivesI saw this set in Reno at the ABS Show in February, it stopped me in my tracks
This is a detail of the hamon on the big camp knife

This knife is one that I ordered from Burt in February, after the show, and he delivered it in June at Blade, in Atlanta. I "Garssonized" it a bit, but Burt did not complain too much



I took possession of this bowie last week. It is done exceedingly well, but also got "Garssonized" a scosh.

By "Garssonizing" I mean I shave a bit of the swell off of the handle. Burt has pretty big hands, I do not, and the large swells at the end are uncomfortable for my hands. I do not own the top knife set, I have commissioned a set in ladder pattern damascus with stainless steel fittings and a stainless steel frame. Some of you are going, "well, gee Steven, you said you only collect 2 knives from each maker." That is true, but I have created a third group of knives for my collection(Khukuris is the second group of my collection).

I call these knives orphans, because they have a different significance for me. The main body of my collection is "important" to me, and maybe other people. I have orphan knives from Jeremy Krammes, Tom Mayo, Jerome Anders, Steve Mullin, and will get some from others as well. The orphan knives are less serious, more "fun". I really like Burt's work, I think it is superlative, so I have decided to focus a bit in the next few years on working with him on different projects. Maybe a California knife, maybe some folders, maybe one a purely Japanese style. He is really easy to work with, prices fairly, speaks the same knife language that I do, and I take extreme pleasure in owning his knives. Burt has threatened to send the knives to me in "kit" form so I can ensure that the swells are comfortable, and then I do not have to rework his finished knives.:D

I took the "liberty" of stealing most of these pics from Burt's website. He is a much better photographer than I am, and they were handy. I know you guys like pictures. I take full blame for the bowie in the middle, it is a scan that I did at work, but the handle is what the knife really looks like now.

Thanks for looking,

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Keith Montgomery said:
All are exceptional, but that last one is a real eye-catcher.
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Agreed, unfortunately I think that Steven owns that beauty! :cool:

P
 
Wow, Steven. These sure look great! Congrats. You suck! ;)













(inside joke)

Seriously, How can we not enjoy knives of this caliber. Yowie!

But, how dare you go in and Garssonize them!!!! ??? AAaaaaccckkkk! It just goes against my ways. Of course I have NO actual use for a big blade to care if the handle isn't perfecto. That's me. I understand that would'nt be you. The bold and daring Mr. Garsson!

Coop
 
SharpByCoop said:
Wow, Steven. These sure look great! Congrats. You suck! ;). Of course I have NO actual use for a big blade to care if the handle isn't perfecto. That's me. I understand that would'nt be you. The bold and daring Mr. Garsson!
Coop
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1. I have been known to suck from time to time, but I never blow.:D
2. It is not about the use, it is about the balance of aesthetic to function, and how they interact. It is like taking a really good photograph and photoshopping it, to bring out the maximum impact.
3. I don't know about bold and daring! I have had some really excellent tutors-Rod Chappel, Butch Vallotton, Phillip Baldwin...that have given me the confidence to try to improve what "I see" as a minor imperfection that could stand some improvement. Don Fogg calls me a frustrated knifemaker. Dan Farr, Larry Fuegen, Geno Denning and countless others have also offered to work with me to improve my skills. It is hard to find the time for that right now, but I feel that it will happen sometime, sooner than later.

In the meantime, what I forgot to mention is that Burt is an excellent person as well as a top notch maker. He has a killer sense of humor, is generous with his time, and a lot of fun, as well. If I can just convince him to ship his knives in Bill's cases instead of the "100 fer $35.00" specials that he uses, then I will feel my job is done.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven I suck for not sending you the Book
you Rule for scoring that amazing Bowie
Burt...Rocks..seriously!

p.s just do it
 
Steven,
Congratulations on this acquisition! :thumbup: :cool:
The hamon is what I would expect from Bowie's in your collection,really like the guard and ferrule on this one,not to mention the handle.
:eek:
The matched set speaks volumes on the impeccable craftsmanship of Burt Foster's knives!
:D
Thanks for posting Steven,Doug Castor.
:D
Edited to add,I am doubly impressed,now knowing you are a knife maker! :thumbup: :cool: :D
 
Thanks for the peek at these Steven - I am a huge fan of Burt's work. I was very tempted by your newest bowie when Burt had it up on his site - it's a sweet piece and that hamon is off the charts. Enjoy!

Roger
 
Nice knives, Mr. Garrson. You do, however, need to be smacked repeatedly about the head and neck region for altering these knives yourself! ;) :D
 
leatherbird said:
Edited to add,I am doubly impressed,now knowing you are a knife maker! :thumbup: :cool: :D
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Doug, I am NOT a knifemaker. To date I have made exactly one knife from scratch. I am a tinkerer, modifier, customizer. Like the Chopper guys who take a perfectly respectable Harley and Frankenstein it.

I don't know if it is a good thing, or a bad thing, but it is my thing. I look for reasons NOT to mess with knives when I buy them.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Steven,
I think that it would be interesting to see the Garssonizing. Maybe next time you could take before and after pics. this is not meant to be sarcastic or contributing to any kind of flame-fest....
 
Burt Foster definately makes some of the best bowies out there.I've seen some of Steven's Garssonizing up close,it was on a WC Johnson subhilt I sold him.The work was good enough that it looked like it was done by WC himself.I try to keep my collection to two per maker,usually a Bowie & a Fighter,but sometimes I break my own rule too.I like your newest Foster bowie Steven,The Damascus guard setup really adds to it,not to mention the Pretty cool hamon:cool:
 
From those last two posted, I can see just how close our tastes are, Steven...

Beautiful stuff!

And as to altering it.. well I've got a Fitch Trooper Bowie with a handle that could be downsized a wee bit for the very same reason! But I'll never do it!! :eek: :D
 
Kohai999 Like the Chopper guys who take a perfectly respectable Harley and Frankenstein it. I don't know if it is a good thing said:
Steven,
That's what I do.Take a perfectly good or bad, Trumpet,Harley or Other and Frankenstein it or in some cases return them to original.I know your smart enough to know when I say Trumpet what I refer to.Not quite a Monster Garage but it pays the bills and buys the food and Bowies. :D and Fighters.
:D
I'm so disappointed your not a knifemaker,please at least tell me ya' do the 2x4 chops and rope cutting at these get togethers! Or plan on making another knife. :D Again that Bowie is awesome. :D Sorry for posting inside quote. :foot:
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shaldag said:
Steven,
I think that it would be interesting to see the Garssonizing. Maybe next time you could take before and after pics. this is not meant to be sarcastic or contributing to any kind of flame-fest....
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Sorry, Ed, it is hard enough for me to post pictures of anything that I own in the first place. If it was not for Peter Gill, and his semi-consistent pestering, I would probably not have posted what I have up until now.

What usually happens is that I get the knife in the morning from the Post Office, go to work, and then work on the knife when I get home. Sometimes it is a major project, sometimes it is just cleaning compound out of screw heads, and/or aligning screw heads so the lines "align", I forget the term for it now.

leatherbird said:
I'm so disappointed your not a knifemaker,please at least tell me ya' do the 2x4 chops and rope cutting at these get togethers! Or plan on making another knife. :D Again that Bowie is awesome. :D
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Doug,

Sorry you're disappointed that I am not a knifemaker, but that is a term that I take very seriously. I am an artist if it makes you feel any better! I tattooed professionally from 1990-1998. Now I work for a motorcycle apparel manufacturing, designing all kinds of stuff. Yes I have done the 2x4 chops, and have competed in two rope cutting contests at the OKCA, when they still had them there. The only non-knifemaker in the bunch. I do plan on making more knives, but will do it when I have to time to do it daily, instead of stop-start-stop-start, the way it is now.

I love this bowie, I really do. But it needed "the touch".

I'll show it to Burt in Reno, and if he hates it, everyone in the room will know, I'm pretty sure.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I know your smart enough to know when I say Trumpet what I refer to.
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I'm witcha'. I did it for 30 years, too. Water Buffalos, Original 'New York Steak', Beezers, Featherbeds, Pans, and Ducks. There's a nickname for 'em all....

Sorry STeven. I derailed. :p

Coop
 
you suckage big time...:thumbup: :)

everytime i get an e-mail from Mr Burt Foster regarding an available knife on his web i'm always toooo laaate. i guess i should just stay home in front of my PC all the time.

thanks for sharing.
 
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