New from Bill Burke

PhilL

PhilL

Joined
Oct 1, 1999
Messages
6,490
I had the opportunity to introduce Bill Burke to the forums recently and I asked Bill to send me pics of any of the new stuff he’s working on. I know he just got finished with a series of experiments with Ed Fowler trying to push the envelope of the high-performance blade. He’s also busy getting ready for Blade Show West. As busy as he is he did take the time to send me some new pics and I thought I’d share them with you.

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Bill writes:
“Here is another blade picture for you. This one will also have a stag handle. It's part of a three knife set that I am making for the RMEF's national convention to be held in Reno Nv. this coming Feb..”

“I forged this blade from Rex Walters' 52100 steel using many thermal cycles at as low of a temp as I could get to, with out the steel cracking on me. From what I found out, by keeping the temp in a very narrow range I am forming pearlite and cementite. The astinitizing heat is lower than the heat that it takes to fully remove the pattern formed so that the finished blade has a full martensitic transformation in the hardened part of the edge while maintaining the springy properties of the pearlite in the spine of the blade.”

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“I just finished this one. What do you think? The blade is forged 52100 differential heat treated triple tempered. Iron wood spacer Brass guard and Elk horn handle.“
Bill Burke

What do I think? I think it’s a Beauty!

Now, what do you folks think?
 
That is one of the nicest Scagel style knives I have ever seen. Thanks for sharing that pic Phil. Kudos to Bill Burke. I am in love...

Para
 
I think that if I never see another knife again I'll always have the memory of having seen that one. I mean, really. That knife is the perfect embodiment of everything I could ever want in a knife. I really mean it when I say this. That knife took my breath away. I may have to break my own rules and buy me one of those. 'Spose Mr. Burke has much of a waiting list? :)

Scagel? Hardly. Mr. Fowler deserves the influence credit on that baby. That's all Fowler minus the sheeps horn. Of course, Mr. Burke has made it his own style. There are just enough differences to put it in a class all by itself. Well done Mr. Burke. My hat is off to you sir. (I don't think I'll ever be able to post another knife pic again as long as I live)
 
Ok, a man can only take so much. You push and prod and keep pushing. I cant take it anymore!!!!!!!
So please, Phil,Ed, or Angie, somebody send me Bill's contact info.


Dave
 
Dave, I'm hoping Bill, Angie or Ed will post on this thread when they have a chance. In the mean time, I don't think Bill will have a problem if I post his E-mail addie here.

burke531@salmoninternet.com

I had a feeling you folks would like it. :D
 
I gotta find a place to hang out that does not cost as much as this place :D
 
Originally posted by MaxTheKnife
I think that if I never see another knife again I'll always have the memory of having seen that one.
(I don't think I'll ever be able to post another knife pic again as long as I live)
Click to expand...

Maxi, I hope that pic is etched into your brain when you get started on the project we talked about. And don't worry about posting a pic of it, I'll be proud to post it for you. ;)
 
Thank you all very much for the kind words. It makes me very proud of my work when I read what you people think of my knives. But the credit for the knives I make should really go to Ed Fowler. He is the inspiration as well as the reason that I push so hard for the performance standards that make my knives what they are. One thing that I didn't tell Phil, the blade length of the above beauty is seven and one quarter inches long. and she consistently will make 250+ cuts on a lay from a one inch hemp rope. I also have her little brother out in shop and will send pics to Phil as soon as he is complete.
I took the lock off my e-mail so I can be reached through the forums. My waiting list is fairly short but is growing longer by the day.

THANKS AGAIN:D
 
Phil and Bill, I think that that is a fantasatic knife. I love the overall look and the materials used are some of my favorites.

Bill, you have a great deal of talent. I think your knives are wonderful.
 
Hey Phil, I saved a copy of that pic in my Knife order specs folder. That knife will be mine one day if I have to make it myself. Meanwhile, thanks for posting Bill's email addy. I'll bet his mailbox is filling up as we speak.
 
WOW! What a knife! The blade is just plain gorgeous, but the combo of the ironwood and eld antler is flat perfect! And, it is always so good to see a useful ricasso on a knife. I haven't seen that many Scagels, but so far, I believe that all I've seen lack any real ricasso at all. Given my druthers, I'd rather have a Fowler or a Burke, or one of Audra's and let the folks with all the bucks keep the Scagels.
 
Hi Guys:
I will say that Bill Burke is really devoted to ALL of Ed's principles and ideas concerning performance. Others have learned bits and pieces, but he is the only one really dedicated to the art. It is NOT about $$$$ and a little fame for BIll....it is performance. That is what Ed stands for, and Bill seems like a sponge for the info. He loves knives, and we really have his wife, Patty, to thank for this. I understand that she bought Bill the "Knife Talk" book, and that got Bill going!!!
They are just REAL folks, and Patty is behind Bill ALL the way.
The contact info is:

Bill Burke
315 Court House Dr.
Salmon,ID 83467
208-756-3797


Have fun!!!
angie fowler:D
 
Bill makes his knives the hard way, one at a time. The words to explain the science do not detract from the fact that Bill does his homework and is not afraid to break a blade that he invested a lot of time and intelligent hammer work in. Achieving the true high performance blade is not a simple task, it requires liberal amounts of tincture of time and elbow grease. Most of these developments are not seen or appreciated by the majority of the knife community. Devotion to the high performance blade is a lonely occupation. Bills dedication and companionship have been very helpful and welcome. .It is one thing to make a knife with a lot of shine on it, another all together to put the shine on a high performance blade.

Study the blade and you will see an example of what I call high level functional geometry. Still, what you see in Bill's knives is only a small percentage of what went in to the finished blade in order to take full advantage of the functional potential of steel in the knife pictured.

We just spent three days experimenting with Rex Walter from the metals laboratory of a large steel mill. As you can guess from the big words Bill is using Rex left us a lot of written material to review and some $100 + books to study. We are learning how to communicate with Rex and Rex with us. Rex witnessed exactly what goes into our blades and he took some of our blades back to the laboratory for technical analysis. The results of this three man Willow Bow Ranch hammer in will in all probability open the door for many more experiments in the future.
 
Ed, I can hardly wait to read about what the three of you found out.

Bill, if you can not tell, I am really impressed with the visual part of your knives since that is the only reference that I have at this time. Ed says that the performance is as good as the looks so it must be a great knife. You picked the right teacher. Ed is someone that I have a great deal of respect for, both as a maker and as a person.
 
I was not at Blade West, but it looks like bill had some really nice knives there. I hear he had a knife made in the Pronghorn style, with a damascus blade. Sure would like to see a picture of that knife.

It also sounds like Bill sold all the knives he took with him. I sure hope so, this maker is someone to watch. IMO he is going to be a star in this industry.
 
Absolutely stunning. The blade, the fittings, the handle all go together like a zen poem. This pic is going into my "Wish For" folder.

Andrew Limsk
 
Phil,
I want to thank you and everyone for all the nice things being said about my husband, Bill Burke. It is very exciting for us as a family to see all his hard work coming together. Bill works two other jobs as well as making knives into the wee hours. Both Ed and his wife, Angie have been very supportive of Bill. Ed is like the dad Bill hasn't had since he was twenty years young. Bill does love the knife world and making knives. All the seasoned knife makers have been great sharing tips, advice and constructive criticism. He is on his way home and did very well at Blade Show West. It was hard not saying to him that I didn't want him to go with all that happened last week. Both our hearts go out to you Phil in NY and everyone else in America. Even little Salmon, Idaho was directly affected; as our school librarians' brother-in-law is one of the firefighters still missing. Bill has been a volunteer fire fighter for ten+ years. Well, I won't write often and maybe not again but it is great as his partner for 20 years to see this all come together for him.

Thanks Again,
Mrs. B.
 
Hi Patty, you're more than welcome. I was pleased when Bill sent me those first pics and allowed me to post them on the forums. For me there is no higher reccomendation than Ed & Angie. I know they look great, but I also know they'll perform with the best knives out there. One guy I know was lucky enough to pick up one of Bill's knives at the show, I hope he decides to post a review.

I know Bill & Ed will get home safe, and be back to work soon. I hope Bill doesn't forget me when he has something new to show. My only hope is that when I have the money to order one of his knives he won't have become too expensive for me. ;)

Great to hear from you, take care.

Phil
 
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