The Vorpal Blade, by Burt Foster M.S.

Roger - Another great knife and great post as well. I appreciate all you do to help make the custom knife forums a better place!

I often play a little game to test my observational skills. For example, with knives, I'll look at the knife for as long as I need to in order to figure out what's the one thing I'm seeing that triggers a postive attraction. I understand that we all will say, "But it's not just one thing." I know, I know. But there is data to suggest that the brain, the mind and the emotions often work differently than we might imagine - much less logical so to speak.

I saw this knife and really liked it, for all the reasons stated above by everyone. Then I asked myself, "What's the one thing that is 'the hook' for me?" This is the answer that popped up: It's those three pins - they tie the whole package together for me. Not that I wouldn't like the knife if the pins weren't the way they are - I would. It's just that for me there's a difference between a knife that strikes me as a really great knife and a knife that I would really like to own. Burt's and Roger's knife is one of the latter.
 
That is one great looking knife!! I have been a fan of Burt's work for a while now, you should enjoy using this, and if you don't, I'll be glad to take it off your hands....I'd hate for you to have a knife you didn't like!!!! ;) :D
 
HTMD-
I was thinking the same thing. I don't know what it is, but the use of those 3 pins really adds something to the whole package. I love that long swedge, and the 3-D contours of the handle. Nice knife!
 
When I first saw this knife, it didn't do much for me. "But wait, there's more"
I have come back to it a couple of times and I'll have to say, I really like it now. I mean, this is a good lookin knife. I didn't let all of Roger's pics download the first time (I have dial up Roger and your pics take forever :p ) I'm glad I waited for the down load this time. GREAT knife guys!!!!!

Don Hanson lll sunfishforge.com

P.S. Oh and a GREAT review Roger. Thanks
 
roger, thank you for the link! as you are such a gifted photographer and have such a nice collection, i would really appreciate it to be able to see the rest of it! :)

brightred
 
Burt manages to set the bar higher with every knife he makes. That is just a stunner... and he's right on the money with "no straight lines." With a spectacular hardening line and a knockout piece of buckeye burl, you've got yourself a masterpiece there.
 
I was fortunate enough to meet up with RogerP tonight and he had this very
knife with him, how cool is that? :)
He also had several others as a show and tell type of night since I was visiting
here in Bramalea Canada for a few days, but, this knife won my heart for sure
it's more than just a sight to behold, it has a great lively feel to it as well
and as you can tell from the excellent photos, the fit and finish is above par
on any other knife I've held, it really is very very well done!
Thanks again Roger!
G2
 
Roger has shown me this one before...i've never been able to get it out of my head...especially because it will perfectly match my Burt Foster bowie that i got from Roger as well. i love the colors and the involved textures of the whole package. hamon , blade-shape, handle materials, contours, sheath...EVERYTHING! :)
 
Bringing one back from the depths of history, as I got a chance to meet
Burt this past weekend at Ashokan, didn't tie in from that long ago that he
was the same guy that made this lovely and deadly knife, very well done Burt!
and again, congrats Roger!
G2
 
I saw the posting date and I figured I lost track of the date. I didn't think it was Sept 26th.

That's fantastic and the way the Hamon comes out in the last picture is really nice. Amazing stuff.


Mitch
 
Hi Gary,

I'm always happy to take another look at an old favourite. You'd never guess it from looking at the knife, but the Vorpal was among the first of Burt's integrals. He's been one of a handful of American makers that has really embraced the genre. Have a peek below at a more current offering: a full integral this time, and a blade almost as long as the entire original Vorpal knife:

orig.jpg


orig.jpg


orig.jpg


And for something you won't likely see anyplace else, check out this laminated (stainless over carbon) integral:

orig.jpg


Cheers,

Roger
 
Simply amazing and you can see how his sheath work also
has progressed as well, very nice Roger, thanks!
G2
 
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Burt's work is superb. I don't think I've seen one from him that I wouldn't love to own. I love those integrals! Congratulations!
 
In Roger's original post he described Burt as having been bit by the Integral bug, but I can't help but wonder if it's not something a little more akin to a contagious disease.

I got my first Integral from Burt last year and though she is a stunning example of the form I decided to put her into use (some of you may have seen me carrying her at the Blade show). I picked up another fine example a month or two after Blade from a kind friend north of the border and now I’m looking forward to receiving two more variations from Burt in the coming weeks.

Whatever it is that Burt picked up a few years back, I think he’s passed it on to more than a few of us. :)
 
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