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
What a great story!!!!! Thanks for that. I met Harv back in 92 at the 10th annual BAKCA show that was held in the newly finished Marriott in downtown SF......he was very free to share ideas with me and we talked all nite (at a party at Jay Harris' house-who showed me how to build my first folder at Stan Fujisakas house one new years day)
Harv told me a folder just needs two reference points (the lock pivot and the blade pivot) and you are good to go........good advice for a fledgling folder maker.
One of my buddies, Todd Watanabe, got to be good friends with Harvey and made a number of trips to his house in NM.
