Who is Harvey McBurnette?

Joss

Joss

Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
7,353
Hi,

Nordic has put a number of folders up for sale by a maker named Harvey McBurnette. They seem to reach pretty high prices, and I'm curious who this maker is / was...

Thanks,

JD
 
Deceased maker with a lot of history. Almost all midlocks, many interframes. All the work I have seen has his own engraving.

Yes, very collectible. KnifeLegends sells every piece they acquire.

Coop
 
A short history lesson, don't know all the particulars, but Harvey McBurnette, Dick Dorough and W T Fuller all worked together at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Gadsden, AL. WT lost one of his hands in a treadmill accident and was retired from work. They were all friends and machinists, WT needed a front locking knife so he could open and close one handed. The three makers worked together and developed a front locking folder. WT started making knives for friends and then went on to show in NY and other large venues, as did Harvey and Dick. WT once told me he sold Al Mar one of his front locks and it was not long after that that same design showed up in Al Mars knives, WT held no ill will, he was proud to have had it copied and used. Harvey had to move to NM for health and continued making knives there. Harvey went on to greater fame than either WT or Dick, but they all made locking folders as their style. WT once told me that Harvey could make a better living making guitars, than knives. Harvey was a craftsman of craftsman. I have but one of Harvey knives in my collection, 3 of Dicks and 6 of WT's. I built WT's knife shop. Because one day he was grinding elephant ivory and it covered the upstairs in sheet rock type dust. His wife ran him out of the basement and the shop was built in his backyard. He had a porch on it with two rocking chairs and I shared many times with him. He is past now, but not forgotten. Every once in a while my auto searches on ebay will turn up one of their knives. The last one of Harvey's that was auctioned went for around 2,200.00 dollars. It was owned by a woman who dated Harvey's son in Gadsden at the time they lived here. Her boyfriend, Harvey's son, gave her a bunch of Harvey's knives that she has had locked up in a safe for 30 years or so. She had no idea of what they were worth. She does now, I spoke to her before the auctioned ended and told her what to expect. His fit and finish is second to none. The engraving is outstanding. If you want a knife to compare todays makers too, you would not do bad by getting one.

WT was known as One Hander, Dick signed his in a Cursive Dick Dorough and Harvey had his stamped or engraved. BTW The elephant ivory WT was grinding was from an elephant he shot, he was a big game hunter and went to Africa many times, he had tusks under his bed in bedroom. Hidden because of some new laws the Govt had passed.

Harvey McBurnette : WT Fuller Gone, but not forgotten, by me anyway.

James
 
Thanks James for the info. I knew he was a knife maker from years gone by and helped Al Mar and Spyderco( not positive) with there Knife design for the front lock.I did not know all that you posted. Thanks again as it was quite informative.
RKH
 
Here is a photo of Harvey's in my collection.
attachment.php

James
 
James that is great collection of knives. Some of those makers from time gone by are wonderful. I think I am a bit tired of all the black bladed beadblasted tacticals. I really enjoyed the pictures.
RKH
 
Here is a two blade, with two front locks, Mother of Pearl by WT Fuller in my Collection also for comparison.
attachment.php

James
The lighting on this knife is way off, the color of the MOP is pure white, not the yellow it shows.
 
RKH said:
James that is great collection of knives. Some of those makers from time gone by are wonderful. I think I am a bit tired of all the black bladed beadblasted tacticals. I really enjoyed the pictures.
RKH
Click to expand...

Thank You, I posted one by WT with Joss's permission, did not want to hijack thread, but it is a shame that they are so soon forgotten.

James
 
A small boot knife by Dick Dorough, not his usual style, but the only one I had easy access to photos of. Thank You Joss for allowing me to share the three friends and their work.
attachment.php

James
 
James, thanks for the history lesson.

Joss, McBurnette is like the "jim Schmidt" of folder collectors to use ABS terminology.
He was a pioneer.
 
All of Harvey's work was sole authorship.

He worked damned fast, and his engraving was unique, very clean, and quite competent.

Although Mr. Todd has given us quite the history lesson, Harvey is generally credited as the inventor of the mid-lock, and AMK gave him credit for doing so in many catalogs.

He was a heck of a nice guy, as well as an excellent maker, and his work CONTINUES to bring a nice premium over what it did when he was alive....and it was not slouchy then, either.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
All of Harvey's work was sole authorship.

He worked damned fast, and his engraving was unique, very clean, and quite competent.

Although Mr. Todd has given us quite the history lesson, Harvey is generally credited as the inventor of the mid-lock, and AMK gave him credit for doing so in many catalogs.

He was a heck of a nice guy, as well as an excellent maker, and his work CONTINUES to bring a nice premium over what it did when he was alive....and it was not slouchy then, either.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...
I admit I am not an expert in catalogs of AMK or who copied who, what I know is what I was told face to face by WT and I never knew him to tell a lie. The facts are: The three men worked together and because of WT new limitations the front lock was developed, who took the lead and who AMK gave the credit to makes no difference in the facts, I suspect that AMK had rather give credit to someone who was more famous and had a bigger name. I only knew WT and that is when my love of customs began. Harvey certainly was a better known maker and well deserved any credits as to any developments he was part of. Dick is still alive and I may have the chance to talk to him soon to get the rest of the story.
James
Until then.:)
 
James Todd said:
I admit I am not an expert in catalogs of AMK or who copied who, what I know is what I was told face to face by WT and I never knew him to tell a lie. The facts are: The three men worked together and because of WT new limitations the front lock was developed, who took the lead and who AMK gave the credit to makes no difference in the facts, I suspect that AMK had rather give credit to someone who was more famous and had a bigger name. I only knew WT and that is when my love of customs began. Harvey certainly was a better known maker and well deserved any credits as to any developments he was part of. Dick is still alive and I may have the chance to talk to him soon to get the rest of the story.
James
Until then.:)
Click to expand...

I was not implying that you or Mr. Fuller were lying, James.

I am, however, quite familiar with the AMK catalogs, of the mid '80's until now, and knew Harvey, a bit, was a dealer of his work in the mid '90's.

His work was of the highest order, and I have two pieces to show that.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I was not implying that you or Mr. Fuller were lying, James.

I am, however, quite familiar with the AMK catalogs, of the mid '80's until now, and knew Harvey, a bit, was a dealer of his work in the mid '90's.

His work was of the highest order, and I have to pieces to show that.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...
No offense taken and none implied by me intentionally, sorry if I said anything to cast stones your way. I greatly admire Harvey's work, but handling some of WT's, especially his MOP, they are close in quality. I only wish I had that safe of unseen Harvey's work. I suspect she will ebay some more as she needs more money. The last one, was on the bay as "Gamblers dirk by Harvey, had dice inscribed in the handles."

When you are ready to part with some of Harvey's work, I could be interested.
James
 
All I know of Harvey McBurnette knves is that they sell like hotcakes on the dealer sites. :eek:

Thanks James and STeven for the education on these knives. :thumbup:
 
Thank you gentlemen for the information on these great makers and to you James for sharing the photos. I have been interested in knives since I was 5 years old and I am now 57. I remember reading and seeing some of Harvey Mcburnette and W T Fuller knives in the American Blade which went on to become Blade magazine and in Knives Annuals 80 thru 2000 done by ken Warner. I believe I am getting bored with the high tech tacticals and want to get more folders with traditional handle materials like bone, stag and Ivory with polished blades instead of the bead blast finish or coated blades.
RKH
 
James Todd said:
No offense taken and none implied by me intentionally, sorry if I said anything to cast stones your way. I greatly admire Harvey's work, but handling some of WT's, especially his MOP, they are close in quality. I only wish I had that safe of unseen Harvey's work. I suspect she will ebay some more as she needs more money. The last one, was on the bay as "Gamblers dirk by Harvey, had dice inscribed in the handles."

When you are ready to part with some of Harvey's work, I could be interested.
James
Click to expand...

The Gambler features an African blackwood inset panel, interframe construction, with white MOP inlays, done about as well as anyone can do.

I have been turning down offers on the pieces that I own for as long as I have had them, one was plucked directly from the order we placed from Harvey...still have the bill of sale, signed by Harvey, himself....these pieces represent a portion of the rich history of American knifemaking, and are valued far beyond the monetary possibilities.

As per Joss's original query, The pieces on Nordic are at the upper spectrum of cost, and it is imperative to secure the right piece(Piece first, eh, Kevin;)?), but if that is done, you will get a fine, fine knife that will yield you a small profit down the line, unless you get extremely lucky....locating the Gambler, any of Harvey's New Mexico made two piece inlay stainless steel interframe folders, or an automatic, which all command a premium price.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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