Dan Burke – Custom Knife Maker and Slip-Joint Specialist
Dan Burke, born in Cushing, Oklahoma in 1941, has been making knives for more than 36 years. His first mentor was the legendary Jimmy Lile, and when asked which knife makers he admires most, Dan names icons Tony Bose and Jess Horn. He respects Tony for creating what he considers the most mechanically perfect slip-joint, and Jess for popularizing slip-joints long before their modern resurgence.
A retired dealer of classic English cars, Dan began crafting slip-joint folders in 1995 and has focused ever since on vintage American and Sheffield Exhibition patterns from the late 1800s to 1925. These historic designs represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship from that era, and Dan’s goal has always been to match or surpass their excellence using modern materials and techniques.
Dan prefers natural handle materials such as tortoise, buffalo horn, and exhibition-grade pearl, and his favorite steel is BG-42, which he believes produces the most aggressive edge of any stainless steel he has tested.
Over the last thirteen years, Dan and his work have been featured in numerous knife publications, including Blade Magazine, Knife World, Knives Illustrated, and Tactical Knives. He has appeared on the front cover of Blade Magazine’s Annual Knife Book and on its inside back cover. In 2004, he received Blade Magazine’s prestigious Best Folder Maker of the Year award, along with several other honors throughout his career.
Dan continues to attend the annual Blade Show and was among the makers represented at the first Boston Art Knife Classic in 2010.
Current delivery times range from approximately three to five years, depending on the model.
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