Seth Burton’s Cosmo Knives On Point
Images by Brette Little
Seth Burton of Cosmo Knives has been forging steel for more than 20 years, and a tour through his Salt Spring Island studio leaves one in awe at the level of detail and precision that goes into each one of his hand-crafted knives. Most of his pieces have a striking Damascus pattern in which the steel appears layered, almost like a contour map. Burton creates every aspect of the knife himself, from the handles right down to the pins, and it takes him about a week to complete one 8” chef’s knife.
We caught up with him for a chat about what makes the perfect knife.
Seth Burton Q&A:
What makes a good hand-crafted knife—and why?
There are four things:
1. Uniqueness - one of a kind. In a world of mass production, and one size fits all, people are looking for something unique, made with care, attention to detail and precision. Most of my knives are made from my own signature laminated alloys. Each pattern is unique.
2. Quality - my knives are made from the highest quality alloys and materials. There are only a handful of knifemakers in the world that work with the metals that i do. I've chosen these extremely challenging alloys to work with because they produce the best knife possible in terms of their sharpness, hardness, edge retention, toughness, stain resistance and overall beauty.
3. My knives last generations - they are not disposable like mass produced knives. They are timeless and heirloom pieces. My clients care for their knives like they would a Ferrari or Picasso. My knives are individually numbered and they increase in value over time just as a precious piece of art.
4. Having a connection to the maker - Supporting industry/business in Canada and knowing I am always available to sharpen their Cosmo knife or provide advice.
What are your blades and handles made of?
My blades are fabricated primarily from specialty steels containing high chromium, vanadium, and carbon. My handles are primarily made from my own locally grown and sustainably harvested maple burl. I cut, dry and stabilize all of my own handle material.
How do you forge a knife?
With extreme patience and care - working slow and meticulously, keeping an eye on the temperature and the movement of the steel. A moment lost to distraction can lead to overheating or burning the metal and wasting expensive material. When I'm forging I am completely present, thinking of nothing else.
“When I'm forging I am completely present, thinking of nothing else.”
-Seth Burton
Are there certain things you should look for when buying a knife?
Quality, fit and finish, balance and weight, overall aesthetic and feel in the hand.
What’s the most common question you’re asked from prospective customers?
When will my knife be ready?
What’s the draw to knife making?
It draws on many crafts working with a diversity of materials and at the end of the day I produce an exquisite functional piece of art that people can use everyday.
Learn more about Seth and his knives at https://cosmoknives.com/ - and be aware the waiting list for a custom knife is typically months-long, but well worth the wait!
