? on Fowler/Burke

P

Pistolero in NM

Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Messages
24
What is the difference between a pronghorn,long yearling or yearling.I've never been a fan of the big hilts and the some of the smaller knives seem out of proportion(blade to handle) to me, but, they seem to be growing on me. What makes these knives worth the big bucks?P.S. I've never read Knife Talk.
 
The main diffrence is in size and length. The Prong horn is a large knife with a blade that is <4" inches in length and an inch or more wide they ar usually 3/16 or so thick but I have made them up to 5/16 with a six inch blade. Although this lenght and weight falls more into the short camp catagory for me. The yearling/gents pronghorn is just a smaller version of the pronghorn with blade lengths up to four inches and the long yearling will go up in blade length to 4 1/2 or 4 3/4 inches long. In some of the smaller knives we try to put a useable handle on them and they can sometimes look a little out of proportion but you can't use a knife if you can't hold on to it.

Bill
 
Wow, couldn't have asked for a reply from a better source! Thank You Mr. Burke! I like small knives and I really like the sheep horn handles. Maybe someday a 2 3/4 yearling will wind up on my belt.
 
You just have to hold one of these knives and you will no longer wonder why they cost what they do. They become a part of your hand, they fit so well. They also cut like nobody's business.
 
I fell in love with the looks of a Pronghorn from the first knife magazine I saw. I was lucky enough to meet Ed Fowler at the first knife show I went to and got to talk to Ed for a while and to handle several of his knives. Keith is right once you handle a Pronghorn you'll begin to understand how a knife is supposed to feel. You won't however really understand the true value of the knife until you see Ed's video on the making of a Pronghorn. I finally bought my Pronghorn from Ed at the 2001 Blade Show. Mine has a 3 3/4" blade and is the perfect blade length in relation to the handle for me.

I got to meet Bill Burke at last years Blade Show and his knives are just amazing. Not just his Fowler inspired knives, but his Scagel style knives are in a class by themselves. Ed has a new protege named Steve that Ed says is coming along nicely. I look forward to seeing and handling his work.

Pistolero, do not miss the chance to handle any Fowler or Burke knife.

Bill I'll see you at Blade ;)
 
PhilL said:
I got to meet Bill Burke at last years Blade Show and his knives are just amazing. Not just his Fowler inspired knives, but his Scagel style knives are in a class by themselves. Ed has a new protege named Steve that Ed says is coming along nicely. I look forward to seeing and handling his work.

Pistolero, do not miss the chance to handle any Fowler or Burke knife.

Bill I'll see you at Blade ;)
Click to expand...


Thanks Phil. I look forward to having a beer with you.

DaQo'tah

It is written down And there is also a movie. I believe that you already have both. I read and studied Ed's book and then made and tested knives until I was ready to give it up and then hung in there and did some more. I had a single goal and that was to make the best knife that I possibley could. I remained focused and didn't deviate from my path until I was making a decent (not great ) knife. I sent time and money along the way to seek out and get instruction from Ed for the most part but I would talk to and ask questions from any other knife maker that I met. I was never snubbed or turned away. You have a good start and from the looks of your last knife you are on your way. keep it up. I think the most important thing in leaning to make a good knife is persistence and repitition. setttle in on a design and heat treat system that you are comfortable with and then keep at it until you can forge the blade and do the heat treat properly with out thinking about it. After you have perfected your forging and heat treat etc., on this one style of knife then start to spread out and develope other styles. By sticking to one basic design and one heat treat method you can make small changes in forging practice and heat treat until you have these steps perfected for the steel that you use. Then when doing other designs and or styles your forging will come easily and you can consentrate on your new design and not on how to hit the steel. You can think about the blade you are making and how to shape the steel and not about wheather or not you are forging at the right temp etc.. As I said above you have a good start.

Pistelero, THANK YOU.


Bill
 
Until you handle and use a Fowler knife you cannot understand. There is a lifetime of experience in each knife, you realize why each characteristic is there and why others arent. From the rounded spine, to the convex grind, to the oversize guard,the indestructible sheephorn,etc., everything has a reason. I also know that Ed had made and destroyed more test knives than some makers make in a lifetime. With all things considered I doubt Ed makes a huge hourly wage making knives if it was figured out. I recommend you get Ed's books, you will learn and laugh.
I havent as yet had the pleasure of handling any of Mr. Burke's knives but have heard only good things from some who's opinions I respect.
 
Bill...okay, sounds good.

I just wish there was a site or something that would be able to answer the billions of little questions I face with each blade.

I understand what you mean about sticking with a design and working to make it easyer to do each time. I have only started forging blades, but I have found that this last blade I forged flat from the 1&1/2 inch round shaft way faster this time. I have learned how to hit the steel over the edge with the pointed end of the hammer to draw out the steel.

This is a simple lesson to learn, but I had to learn it the hard way.

The first lesson of many to come Im sure.
 
The area that I live in is full of cheap knife users. By this I mean they don't want to give over $20-$30 for a knife and complain about that. Well this past December I got my Burke pronghorn and when I told some of them what I paid for it they freaked. Buutttt, after they held it and got the feel of the knife in their hand,the balance,the beauty,the sharpness and after repeatedly wanting to hold it,they thought I got the deal of a lifetime. Like others have said once you really look at one and hold one then I feel it is a must have at least it was for me. I'm going to buy another. This time maybe a yearling. Great knives from great makers................. I for got to add that Knife TalkI&II are outstanding reading and Ed's movie is outstanding if you like knives.... :cool:


Dean
 
Ed's movie? LOL, ok, his knifemaking video. For a minute I had visions of Ed going Hollywood and becoming the next James Bond:D
 
The Pronghorn is a species of knife in the world of knives. Named after one of my favorite wild animals the Wyoming Antelope.

Like the native antelope, the pronghorn is guided by a Darwinian process. While all are similar, their are individual differences that become known to those who take the time to study them carefully. All are designed for survival with their mate. The pronghorn starts out as an embryo, known to some as mineatures. Develops and is born a fawn, the fawn grows to yearling then long yearling and finally an adult.

As in nature, there are no definate rules, just individuals. Devotees to the Pronghorn carefully select their steel, then nurture the steel to their dream of performance the knife is intended to serve. Pronghorns are not shackled by such indexes as visual balance, they are meant to fit the hand of the individual in relation to the task. The blanace that the pronghorn seeks is a functional balance to task, hand and partnership with the maker, knife and person who choses to share time with her.

I would have responded sooner but had some arguements with computer stuff.

Take Care
 
A most enjoyable discussion of one of my favourite knives. One of these years, I will be greatly honoured if I should get to own one.

:)
 
I totally agree. Until you own a Bill Burke or Ed Fowler knife, you just cant image how good these knives are. They are the best of the best in quality and workmanship. I own a Bill Burke yearling and it is absolutly amazing. If you have the means go and pick one up. I PROMISE you wont regret it. Buddylee
 
After many months wait, Bill Burke has let me know that I am a few days away from having this little puppy in my hands. I have a larger one and what everyone says is correct. You have to handle one to see just how good they feel in the hand.
(This a picture from bladegallery that inspired me to ask Mr. Burke to make me one like it. The dime gives you an idea of the size)
 
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