Books about knives?

jac_solar

jac_solar

Joined
Sep 1, 2013
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I was hoping someone could recommend some good books about knives. I want to increase my general knowledge about knives, and would like some good books to help with this. Preferably with pictures. :D

For example, books that talk about knife design, designers, maybe a chapter or 2 on heat treatment and different types of steel, along with some juicy pictures. Any ideas? Folding and/or fixed.

"Bowies, Big Knives and the best of battle blades" by Bill Bagwell looks right up my alley, but it's pretty expensive.
 
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Knife Engineering by Dr. Larrin Thomas, probably one of the best reads/reference guides for knife enthusiast/maker.
 
I do not get deep into the mechanics too much, but good to learn up on it. The $50 Knife Shop by Wayne Goddard, one I wanted to read to put together a kit knife. I have more picture / coffee table books. I enjoyed a book about Randall Made knives, and I have several time period books. Civil War, Vietnam era and the one I really like is Theater Made Knives of WWII.
 
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reading is the key to developing knowledge.
and with knowledge comes better appreciation on the subject matter.
understandably, it takes some doing
to create a library with a wealth of information.
alternately if you're on the cheap
read online magazines
https://www.europeanblades.com/previous-editions/
download news letters
http://www.oregonknifeclub.org/knewsletters.html
browse catalogs
https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/download.php
https://www.benchmade.com/catalog-request
https://www.coldsteel.com/catalog-archives/
it would be fantastic to get to know
everything single thing there is to know
in a hobby.
inevitably, its going to be a life long study
for as long as you're still steadfast into a particular hobby.
 
There are so many to choose from...

I have around 100 knife books. Once you get past the must haves (like "Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values" (only the 4th edition)), or the "Knife Collectors Guide", it's best to look at the books that cover things that interest you. You're not going to bother reading "Art of the Samurai" if you're thinking about American Bowies. David Darom's series of books are flat out the best picture books around, but most everything in them costs upwards from four figures ($1000+) so if you're plan to collect old Case knives (which can easily cost as much) they won't help much. (They will however impact your pocketbook, because you can't look through them without finding something you'll lust after.)

Be advised, good books are hard to find cheap. If you can find a inexpensive source, buy.

One thing you can usually find fairly cheap, and comes with good info and pictures, are the old "Knives" annuals. That's a good place to start.
 
Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values
Larrin's "Knife Engineering" Book
Steven Dick's "The Working Folding Knife"
Knife World's Military Knives - A Reference Book
The Practical Book of Knives by Ken Warner

You could probably find all five for $150 - 175 with some looking.

From there, figure out what you'd like to specialize in. General knife books are cheap. Specialized knife books are expensive.

For Bagwell's book, try to find archived Soldier of Fortune magazines. The book is a lot of reprints from there, plus some new stuff. That might hold you over till you find a copy with a nice price.

Also - Worldcat.org is useful for seeing if a book is held at any close libraries.
 
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Wow, thanks a lot for all the great recommendations! And thanks for the article/online magazine suggestions! That's a great idea too.
 
If you are into slipjoints, this is the best book I’ve ever gotten my hands on. It’s way out of print. I’m hoping for a new revised version in the next couple years.

Collecting Case Knives - Steve Pfeiffer
 
Knife magazine sells a number of books. There is Knife Mehanisms Just for the Fun of It, I liked Vol 1 better than 2
 
Shooter’s Bible Guide to Knives (second edition) is a very good book with great pictures.
 
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