The Dark Side...

Burt Foster said:
Kevin,

You make some good points about what qualifies as a collectible or a user, but there may be a third category. A daily carry knife, is not so much a user as for most guys, it will not see a lot of action in any day. Any knife I carry gets taken out to cut a piece of string or open a box, or to cut a drinking straw down so it's not sticking up 10" above the top of the little Coke that comes with a kid's meal. That's the most use most of my "carry" knives see on a given day.
So I see this as an EDC more than a user as you've defined it. I've made trade-off's in weight and girth so it's more comfortable to carry around, even if it wouldn't take the hours of field dressing as well as a knife with a real handle.

The same debate takes place with handguns all the time. The "real men" won't go out with anything less than a government model .45 because it can do the job. And no offense to those guys, but most people who've tried that get tired of wearing a photo journalism vest all year and get tired of lugging 3 lbs. of steel and lead around and never needing it. So eventually they settle for a much more comfortable "sissy gun" which will likely suit them just fine this side of a war.
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Great points Burt.
I have an EDC for the office and another which served totally different purposes for when I visited my construction sites.

I guess many of us have done the straw cutting thing at Mickey's "D" and even cut a badly knotted shoelace or two.
 
I just bought a 1000' spool of green 550 paracord so I can be just like Burt Foster. Luckily I started off hollow grinding, so that part won't be an issue.

I actually have a handful of blades like this that I just never did anything with. I sold one at Blade in like '04 and the second or third owner put overlay scales on it.... that's the last I saw of it.

I think it's a really neat little knife. As per a conversation Burt and I had in TX, it alleviates some of the issues with the standard, water-jet cut, precision ground O1 "mid-techs."

Good on 'ya Burt :)
 
Matthew Gregory said:
I just saw a whole bunch of ABS Master Smith Joe Keeslar's 'brut de forge' knives that were rough-forge sided and hollow ground...
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What the hell does he know 'bout knives, anyway? ;)

[For those that don't get sarcasm - Joe has forgotten more than I will likely ever know.]

Frankly, I don't see any of this as controversial in the least. Some people like it, some people don't. That's true of just about any knife from any maker.

There doesn't seem to be any dispute that these would sell well - so where's the downside? Doesn't cost a lot of time or grey hairs for Burt to make 'em. Doesn't cost the buyer a lot to pick up a piece from a supremely talented Master Smith. For those who prefer more upscale cutllery, Burt has that covered as well and will just as happily sell you something that floats your boat. Controversy, what controversy?

Roger
 
jonathan brand said:
Another point is that some people collect knives for the NAME. So now someone with out much disposable income can grab a knife by their favorite maker!
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good point, Jon:thumbup:.

I am generally a guy who 'collects' knives that I like to use. If they don't get used, and they're not worth enough to sell, compared to what I get from keeping and admiring them, then it's time for them to go. I'm sure that's normal...:D

If I can get an inexpensive knife direct from a guy whose high end work is totally awesome and start building a relationship, then that's excellent, no matter how you cut it;). I'll most likely keep it, admire it AND use it. Plus, it gets my foot in the door as a client to a maker whose work I will want more of in the future. Such as the case here.

I would, one day, like to buy art pieces. That wouldn't be responsible at this point in my life, but hopefully I'll learn something over the coming years, and by the time I have a disposable portion of income, spend that money more wisely on blades whose intrinsic value is primarily Artistic.
 
NickWheeler said:
I actually have a handful of blades like this that I just never did anything with. I sold one at Blade in like '04 and the second or third owner put overlay scales on it.... that's the last I saw of it.
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I'll get on it one of these days! Actually, I have it drawn out already. It's going to be fun to 'get a handle on it';):D.
 
Matthew Gregory said:
I just saw a whole bunch of ABS Master Smith Joe Keeslar's 'brut de forge' knives that were rough-forge sided and hollow ground...

...this is so 'been there/done that', Burt.

You're obviously a talentless hack, and I can't stand you.

Call me when you've got one of these available, 'kay?
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Burt, he talked about you like this for three straight days.
It was disgusting.
 
Wow!

When I read "dark side" I opened the thread expecting a folder.
:D
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
Burt, he talked about you like this for three straight days.
It was disgusting.
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Don't believe him Burt, you know I'd defend ya till the end, Pal!


...except I can't defend your abuse of Grecian Formula.


Wheeler, I will dog you like the proverbial Hound of Hell until you revisit the threads YOU BEGAN and post some finished knives or of the thousand other items you've demanded everyone else show!
 
Matt, I know you're jealous of my fancy new hair color, but that's no reason to make fun of Burt for coloring his hair with Dykem lay-out fluid.
 
These are great, cheap knives forged/crafted by GREAT makers at -cheaper-than production prices. I would rather cut my meat in style with one of these over any production steak knife. Wouldn't you? I don't see where there is much debating that.
 
Kohai999 said:
I see where Kevin is coming from, and he makes some good points...if a "no-name" maker produced this knife it might be looked at as too "basic" for a comfortable user, and certainly too rustic for a collectible.



STeven Garsson
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I thought Burt Foster was a no name!! :D
 
Don, Per "Hope it still cuts!" Of course it does. Its 15 yo, with pepper spots on the spring, and a ding on the bolster, from a drop on concrete, but it's tight as that virgin :)
 
Offering a inset slab option in micarta would be pretty cool! :cool::p

Fosterv2.jpg


Cheers

Stephen
 
I like the way that looks. Thanks a lot Stephen....there goes any plans I had to make this easy on myself!

Matt, No. I have scruples. :D
 
Burt Foster said:
I like the way that looks. Thanks a lot Stephen....there goes any plans I had to make this easy on myself!

Matt, No. I have scruples. :D
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I was semi joking about the G10, but a man in your position could offer some more interesting options for handle scales and still keep the price reasonable. With what some higher end production knives are going for these days, we may be to the point where even Unobtanium alloy blade making Master Smiths can be competitve on price. Crazy, man!:confused:
 
The ABS will be working up my membership papers too when they see what I just did. See what you started Bert?



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