The "best" makers vs "your best" makers!

I won't try to push the issue of Curt's art in knifemaking, as the artistic area is one of pure subjectivity. It's all based on taste.

However, if you rely on fit and finish on much of the measure, and if you have seen his work, Curt Erickson's fit and finish exceeds almost anyone alive and at least equals everyone else's. Ain't no solder or anything else around the guard on this knife, and the grind can't be equaled, IMHO.
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Arpad is another maker that has his own category which he owns. A totally amazing knifemaker and I seldom see anything he does that a lottery win would not let me be glad to own.
 
Tactical Folder ( Ernie Emerson, Rick Hinderer, Tom Mayo)
would be my top picks. Every one of these guys have great F&F. I'm a huge fan of Ernies work but i would have to say Rick and Tom have better customer service when it comes to there work. I own many customs by Ernie when i send them to him for some fine tuning i wont see them for months. But on the other side his knives are amazing
 
I think some of the benchmark makers were WT Fuller, Dick Dorough and Harvey McBurnette. All of whom helped move the front lock system into the custom market. They worked together at Goodyear Tire & Rubber here in Gadsden, WT only had one hand and they developed the lock in order to help him. Gone but
not forgotten. Examples of their Work:
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Two Blade Front Locks by WT Fuller
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Front Lock by Dick Dorough
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Front Lock by Harvey McBurnette

An Old Timer,
James Todd
 
You got that right James. My late father worked with these boys at Good year. I got my first piece os steel from Harvey. Would you believe I had to talk him into grinding edge up! His grinds were at the time a bit muted But that cured it!!! Mike
 
Michael Lovett said:
You got that right James. My late father worked with these boys at Good year. I got my first piece os steel from Harvey. Would you believe I had to talk him into grinding edge up! His grinds were at the time a bit muted But that cured it!!! Mike
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In 2002, Harvey demonstrated grinding at a NY Hammer-in. He was, at the time, quite pleased with grinding one side down and the other up. When did you 'cure' him?

Coop
 
Alas I guess he was in relapse! Lol!!! It was in 1975! He was afraid that the edge world cut the belt. Of course it wont.

He pulled a good one on me. The first piece of steel Harvey sold to me was a piece of D-2. Only he didn't tell me it was D-2. when I brought it back to him fully mirror polish, he accused me of using something else. He couldn't believe it. So I showed him how I did it. He got a real kick out of it.

You can grind either way, but you can't get a super crisp grind line near the spine edge down. The belt is always trying to climb the grind line. You may be able to do the main grinds this way, but can't do it with the finer belts while finishing or the grind line will be muted. We sometime grind edge down to blend something on the blade, but that is about it.

I always thought Harvey was under appreciated back in the day. I am so happy that his work is in such demand today.

I always like Dorough's and Fullers work. See that little re curve at the back of the Dorough folder. If you study Mcburnettes Old sheath knives, and some folders, you will see that a lot. I showed Harvey one of my first finished knives. It was in stag. It had this style butt. I'm almost embarrassed to tell you where I got it. I was trying to figure out slothing unique to finish the rear of the knife with other than the typical flat butt. Well The Pod's or engines on the SS Star Ship Enterprise caught my eye. And thought why not! Well I was young, and this was back in 75. But Harvey liked it. There you go!!

While I'm thinking of it, WT Fuller lost his hand in a tread mill accident there at Good Year if memory serves. Mike
 
Michael Lovett said:
While I'm thinking of it, WT Fuller lost his hand in a tread mill accident there at Good Year if memory serves. Mike
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Your memory serves you right this time. WT was a friend, excuse me if I add to the note, I built WT's last knife shop, he was run out of the basement while grinding elephant ivory, He said it looked like sheetrock dust all over upstairs. He wife was mad as an old wet hen. His grinding stopped until the shop was built. By the way, WT shot that elephant. Big Game Hunter also.

I was always amazed at his skill with just one hand, but he had jigs and hand attachments for most everything. I for one am sorry he is gone, But his contributions to the custom world of knives does not need to be forgotten.

Thank you Mike for not forgetting,
Jim
 
SharpByCoop said:
In 2002, Harvey demonstrated grinding at a NY Hammer-in. He was, at the time, quite pleased with grinding one side down and the other up. When did you 'cure' him?

Coop
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I think you might be talking about Harvey Dean. They're talking about Harvey McBurnette.
 
mike577 said:
I think you might be talking about Harvey Dean. They're talking about Harvey McBurnette.
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You're right. I was. Don't know how I got that impression.

My bad. Anyway, Harvey Dean flat grinds mostly, so this is probably why he can get away with it.

Thanks for the reasoning, Mike Lovett. I learned something about hollow-grinding now.

Coop
 
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