BURkeS ON A BUdGeT here’s good news for those who wouldliketoownaJimBurkeknife but can’t quite afford the custom pricetag.Bothmid-techandproduction versions of Jim’s designs are available. Mid-techs are knives that have many of the features of a custom, such as hand-ground blades, but often with automated production steps and materials substituted to allow a lowerendcostfortheconsumer. CNC specialist lee Nottingham Jr. runs Burke Production Knives in partnership with Jim.In2008theyproducedtheirfirstmodel, the Rockstar, and last year released their secondmodel,theflippinBallistic.Thesemidtechs feature top-flight materials, including titaniumframesand154CMbladesteel,and havetherock-solidbuildofaBurkecustom. IfyouwantthelookandfeelofoneofJim’s kniveswithoutthecustompricetag(themidtechs run approximately half the price) you cangothisroute. Boker Knives has teamed up with Jim Burke to produce an affordable factory version of the knifemaker’s Mini-Resurrection model. At 8.75" overall (5" in the handle, 3.75" in the blade) Boker’s production version is a truckload of knife just like Burke’s original. The factory Mini-Resurrection featurestexturedslip-proofG-10handlesandall theotheraccouterments,suchasthickblade steel and ample pocket clip, found on the Burke namesake. Better yet, a suggestedretailisonly$89.95. T JIm BURke mAkeS kNIveS appealing, but can, without a doubt, do the job when put to the test.” Another similarity, Burke himself is an imposing figure, over six feet tall, muscled-up and broad shouldered like a tank. Not the kind of guy you want to say bad things to about his mother. Despite Burke’s rigorous past, he is a humble fellow with even more humble beginnings. He grew up in sleepy, conservative central Mississippi and remembers getting his first knife when he was around six years old. His father started making straight knives back in the mid1980s and Jim jumped in line, making his first fixed-blade in 1987. The bug bit and the fix was in from that day forward. Aside from his father’s early influence most of Jim’s knifemaking skills came from self-schooling and the drive within. Jim imparts an interesting story about how he came to make his first folding knife. “I made my first folder in 1998. I found a folder I liked, took it apart, and went from there duplicating parts and adding my own touches.” For Burke, the learning curve is short, it’s the constant drive for perfection that pushes him every day. wITh AN ATTITUde Bred For Battle Burke spares no time or expense in making his knives. They are built tough with titanium handles and a built in frame-lock mechanism, widely regarded and one of the strongest blade locking designs today. His base of customers is made up of both serious users and collectors, but they’re all built to take extreme duress regardless of how fancy he makes them. “My customers are from all over the world and range from high end collectors to police and military personnel,” states Jim. “I have several repeat customers and have developed some great friendships with them. I often hear they not only like my knife designs, but appreciate the fit and finish as well.” Handle one of Burke’s folders and you’ll understand why his knives are so popular. They may be tough, but the attention to detail and final finishing have all the style and grace you could ask for. Jim offers his customers a variety of blade steels, from hard-working 154CPM to more exotic fare. According to Jim, “Blade steels range from tool steels to carbon-free Stellite. The most popular steel among my customers is satin finished 154-CPM stainless. I personally like the custom stainless Damascus made by Chad Nichols. It grinds nice and there are so many crazy patterns to choose from.” Budget Burkes include the Boker Burke’s standard models Mini-Resurrection (top) and will either have plain the Burke Production scales or designs and Knives mid-tech patterns milled into the (bottom). surface to enhance the grip of the knife. Fancier versions may have wilder ball-milled patterns, custom color anodizing, fiber or exotic natural material (such as wood, horn, bone or pearl) overlays, Damascus Continued on page 74 * WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM 49
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