ARCADIA KNIVES

My name is Patrick Burns. I make all my knives by hand with modern machinery and lots of handwork. That is to say I control the outcome of the knife not the machine. My belief is that every piece of high carbon steel has a knife inside waiting to get out.

There are two ways to create a blade, by Forging and Stock Removal. Both are viable and accepted ways of creating top quality knives. I make knives using both methods.

To me forging is a primal need. The fire soothes the soul and along with the hammer, transforms the steel into an object that has been used by man for millenia. The fire also softens the steel to work it and hardens the steel to be able to hold an edge, yet make it flexible so as not to snap off in extreme use.

The stock removal method allows for a lot more design variations. It's possible to control the overall appearance easier and to create wilder looking knives. Any knife design that can be forged can be cut out using stock removal.

The design of the knife is very important. Know what you want in a knife. If you see a style you like but want it changed to suit you let me know. Some designs are timeless and are made within certain parameters. Some lend themselves to as much creativity as possible. It is fun to put a little twist to most designs to make them special. There is no limit to what you can think up.

Knife handle materials that I like to use are desert ironwood, maple, deer and elk antler, deer leg bone and homemade micarta. These are what I'm used to using but I always enjoy trying new materials. So if you have something you'd like to use for a handle let me know. Most woods or similar objects can be stabilized before using as a handle. There are many items such as mastadon tusk, mastadon tooth and fossil oosik that can be purchased as handle slabs or rounds. Copper is beautiful as guards, buttcaps and pins...my favorite. Wrought iron is an excellent material for guards and buttcaps. Brass is the old standby and always available.

Sheaths are made for each knife from full grain 8-10 oz leather. You have the option of a plain or carved leather sheath. The sheaths are usually wet-formed around the knife to fit it exactly. They are very secure and do take some effort to get the knife out. You can even design the carving on your sheath if you like. Most sheaths are brown or black but there are many dye colors to choose from.

Hand crafted knives have a soul. Each is created with the care, sweat and fire that go into the making of a knife. If you are looking for a knife that you can pass down to your children then look no further.