New Burt Foster

The makers love these knives as they cut and hack really well.
I think they are funky in a Tai Goo sort of way, but hey, to each his own!
 
Anthony, thanks for the picture of Jason's shop. That's a neat looking loper hanging on the wall. Do you know if it's homemade?
Nice score Joss.

Dean
 
A very different offering, reminds me of some styles of Golok and machete I have seen. Not a bladeshape I would go for for presentation purposes, but it looks purposeful and effective, which I think is the idea, and of course it will have that superb fit and (appropriate)finish that Burt is known for.

Stephen
 
A very cool piece--as are all of Burt's.

Joss, the hamon is so there. If you wanted to bring it out at any future date, it is simply waiting. In fact, this is a piece you could use a bit, then later have Burt put a full polish on it before you retired it from active duty:)

As for the shape, I have recently heard tell of a Jimmy Fikes Cleaver/Camp Knife. Any photos or ideas of how similar it is?

John
 
I love that style of knife -- I enjoy making them and seeing them, and this is a superb example! Very nice snag. :thumbup:
 
Joss,

Actually stopped by Burt's shop Tuesday to look at what will be my Blue Collar Camp knife. Really my first step into the larger blade market and more specifically forged blades. Your knife, like the two others I had the opportunity to examine and hold is amazing in the hand! I was shocked that these larger blades could feel so light in your hand. It is quite striking and I know from my own examination of the blade you are going to be a happy camper.
 
Wow, the knife arrived today and is awesome... Great feeling, just the right size, and all...

:D :D :D

:cool: :cool:

:p
 
Joss,
Congrats.:thumbup: Glad it arrived.The sheepshorn,the blade and that hamon look great together,IMO. :cool:
How do you like the horn handle?

Doug :)
 
John Frankl said:
A very cool piece--as are all of Burt's.

Joss, the hamon is so there. If you wanted to bring it out at any future date, it is simply waiting. In fact, this is a piece you could use a bit, then later have Burt put a full polish on it before you retired it from active duty:)

As for the shape, I have recently heard tell of a Jimmy Fikes Cleaver/Camp Knife. Any photos or ideas of how similar it is?

John
Click to expand...

Hi, John

I started whacking out what I called 'camp cleavers' back around '91-'92 over at Don's shop... even before I set up shop at the house I now own. All the cleavers were relatively crude and meant to replace a hatchet in camp, and then some. They were very versatile tools that would do anything from drop a large tree to slice veggies and meat... and were of several sizes. As the blades got longer, I'd narrow them and forge in some distal taper to keep the weight similar among all designs. The cleavers I forged did not have sharpened front bevels. I know that a while back Matt Lamey made some of what he called 'combat cleavers' that did have sharpened front bevels. He always liked the cleaver shown in that old cutting video of mine, so worked up his own version, a photo of which was at one point on his website. The only other pieces that I've done that are a bit similar would be blades shaped much like a parang.

Jason Knight and Adam D. are both making blades similar to Burt's. I think they're making both upscale pieces and blades that are called 'adventure grade' which show hammer marks near the blade spine.

Burt has done his usual outstanding job on this piece. Correctly balanced (and I'm sure Burt's is) these blades can not only look fine, but are *real* workhorses.:thumbup:

As usual, I have no fotos worth flip of blades I forged. But that's no wonder since I took so few. :grumpy: The photos of the damascus parang shown in the link below were stolen from Win Heger's site. The cleaver is one that I've kept myself and has about an 8 1/2 - 9 inch blade when measured from blade tip to the beginning of the string wrap. Last four photos show the parang and cleaver.

link is : http://www.fototime.com/users/OleyFermo@aol.com/Knives old and new

Jimmy:)
 
Jimmy,

Thanks for posting that link - some of those pics I had not seen before. The wide blade fighter (#4), damascus recurve fighter (#11), and the fighter (#13) are AWESOME!!!

Of course, the Parang is Museum quality.
 
Joss said:
Jimmy,

Thanks for posting that link - some of those pics I had not seen before. The wide blade fighter (#4), damascus recurve fighter (#11), and the fighter (#13) are AWESOME!!!

Of course, the Parang is Museum quality.
Click to expand...

Hi, Joss...

You're welcome for the link, and I certainly thank you for the kind words. I'm always tickled when you say you like something since you're not known for mincing words!;)

The wide blade fighter (#4), is currently being used by either Xavier or Isodore, the owners of the Arms Bastille (don't whack me too hard for any misspelling, please, Sir!) in Paris. That info, and the pic, came from our very own Flava (a real scamp and scoundrel if there ever was one) on the forums here. My spies are legion!;) I remember it as being made in the mid 80's, along with several other similar pieces. I believe those blades were all of O-1.

The damascus recurve was the first knife out of my shop when I set up here in Jasper. It turned out to be a fine cutter. Vanished into the clutches of a Swiss collector.

The little fighter was just picked up by Matt Lamey when he stopped by a week or so ago. I'd had that blade lying around the shop for over a decade and never particlarly liked it, but Matt talked me into finishing it up for him. He intends it as a concealed carry knife. The design was a small-blade take off on the jungle honey design... although many makers have made similar blade shapes since day one.

I'm currently working on a much larger version of Matt's knife, blade 9+ inches, 2 3/8 wide, lots of distal taper to provide balance. The first prototype needs a bit of tweaking, but when I get one finished up, I'll post pics if you like. I've also got a damascus parang blade forged maybe ten years ago with a similar (but stronger and much nicer looking) shape than the one in the pic from the link. It's out in the shop in a drawer with other 'started but never finished blades'. I think it has a blade that's 13-14 inches long and maybe 3 wide. It's been aging and waiting it's time. If my health holds up and continues to improve, I might just pull that one out and finish it up this year.

I know how much you love Don's work, Joss... so just as a heads-up, I might mention that Don is working on another of his interpretation of the old jungle honey, but this is a one-hander. Blade is big... maybe 13-14 inches. The hamon is absolutely lovely, as is the hada... and it's a working blade. Don brought it by the shop so that I could beat hell out of it in testing. No chips, dings or dull spots. It won't hold an edge as long as 1095, but it will about equal 5160. I provided the steel for Don to forge. He was going though a gloomy spell and needed something to liven him up. The steel is water hardened and is... well, let's just say it's a special piece... one of a kind. I'll let those students of metallury scratch their heads a bit on this one. he he he... I knew that Don would do a helluva job on it, and he did. That old jarhead is the man!:thumbup:

Now... If I can get myself able to work as much as I type on the forums, I might amount to something, someday.:p

And my apologies for hijacking the thread. Back on topic... I'll say again that I love that knife of Burt's. Wish I had the chance to cut with it.

Jimmy ;)
 
Thanks for the pictures Mr. Fikes!!!!

Your Camp knife is an inspiration to me, seriously. I'm a WAY amateur "maker" (haven't even finished one yet) and I stare at that picture of your knife all the time.
 
Joss and Jimmy,
Joss,
I certainly concur with you on the Damascus Recurve (#11).:thumbup:

Jimmy,
Thanks for putting up the link.I am very envious of a certain Swiss collector. :D

Joss,
Is the horn as nice as it looks and how do you like it?

Doug
 
leatherbird said:
Joss,
Is the horn as nice as it looks and how do you like it?
Click to expand...
Yes, it's very nice. I've always liked horn but it is my first knife with it.
 
:eek: :D :thumbup: :D :eek:

Got mine too- wow. Love the heft. The horn is beautiful and functional. Even the sheath is extremely well executed. Amazing bargain.

Burt_Foster_BCH_small.jpg
 
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