Brooks Burt is a full-time engraver and jewelry designer based in Marshfield, Wisconsin where he grew up. While the focus of this listing is his engraving on knives, Brooks also engraves firearms, lighters, custom horse show equipment, his own jewelry designs, and just about anything else made of metal.
Much of his summer is spent traveling to juried outdoor art fairs across the country where he has won many awards for his unique work. When the weather turns cold however, Brooks moves indoors to the gun and custom knife shows where he often brings his engraving bench along to do small jobs. Last year, Brooks exhibited at about twenty five shows and is planning on over thirty in 1999.
As for Brooks' style of engraving, it is very different from what is commonly seen today. Brooks practices "bright cut" engraving, which, as seen in the examples below, consists of brightly polished cuts which act as mirrors reflecting surrounding light and colors much as a diamond would. This affect is accomplished using highly polished engraving chisels which leave a bright, facet like cut behind. The work is often polished afterwards, but merely to remove burrs and to brighten up the rest of the surface. With this style of engraving, every cut is meant to be seen and therefore each stroke must be perfectly smooth and flowing.
If you want some unique engraving done, unlike what your friend or competitor has, try Brooks' bright cut. Examples below are of work done on custom knives, but Brooks works on many production models as well.
 | Bolster only engraving charge of $69 retail, with an additional $16 for the flowered pins. Material engraved is stainless steel. Knife by Dennis McDonald. |
 | Dagger guard in stainless steel. Engaving cost of $120 retail. Guard by Stan McKiernan. |
 | Engraving is on the back side of a pair of large autos by Charles Dake. Engraving on these ran $95 and $125 respectively. Keep in mind that the same area could be covered in less detail for about half the price. |
 | Engraving on smaller folder costs $200 retail. Engraving on larger dagger style, in harder material, costs $290 retail. Double action interframes by Hoskins. |
Email: engraver@tznet.com (preferred)
Web: http://www.angelfire.com/wi/brooksburt