Curious as to what books you find useful for knife collecting... I have BR Levine's 3rd edition (and find myself looking something up in it all the time), Goins 2nd edition (for me lots of useful tang stamp info - some history and quite frankly a few knife companies listed that are not in BRL's 3rd edition - useful for sure), New England Cutleries (couldn't resist this one - some helpful info on company history for some and others a cursory overview but no doubt lacking on knife info except for a few examples - overall glad I bought it) and The History of the John Russell Cutlery Company (couldn't resist this one after picking up a Russell Std Barlow and a Daddy - book has lots of good company info but wish it had more listings of the knives from the company)... Now I'm considering getting G Tweedale Sheffield 2nd edition - (seems to be a book with lots of good info from excerpts I have read and though I don't have alot of Sheffield knives I keep my eyes open for oldies that intrigue me)...
What others do you find useful - from all around collecting guides (any others that are must haves or good additions that were published since the 1990s) to specific company books and even books on knife making and repair... How about monthly or bi-monthly publications such as Knife World or Blade magazine (and a perspective on the focus on those pubs - traditional knives vs modern knives - I only ask as I am more interested in old traditionals)? I recently got a free intro issue of Knife World - more of a newspaper than a magazine but I liked it ....
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Lee
Tweedale's 2nd edition is an excellent guide for Sheffield knives, as you mentioned you were thinking of getting it. Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery by Gerald Witcher is very good for tips on spotting fakes. They used to give you a free copy when you joined the NKCA, not sure if they still do? If you are interested in Case knives, Collecting Case Knives by Steve Pfeiffer (knifeaholic on AAPK) is great. I also have the 6th and 7th editions of Sargent's American Premium Guide to Knive and Razors. They are both Case and Queen knives, including older knives. The 6th edition also has a section on Remington.
Dan
I have most of the books mentioned so far and they are all good. For the really old Case knives that I collect I like Parkers Pocket Knife Trader's Guide Volume 7. It is hard to find info on the really old Case knives, (pre 1920 Case knives). Steve's book, (Collecting Case knives) is really great and has a lot of information not available anywhere else. I think he may be doing another edition soon, no doubt another must have!!!
I don't have all the books mentioned above, but I do have most of them.
My collecting has been targeted toward just one maker, Robeson, and most published books do not cover them well, if at all.
Dewey and Lavonna Ferguson did publish a nice book back in the 70's directed toward just four companies, Cattaraugus, Queen, Russell and Robeson. It is essentially catalog reprints with some historical narrative and a, current for the time, price guide for each section. This book can be found on Ebay occasionally or at a good knife show. KnifeWorldMagazine offered it for many years, but I think they've sold out.
I've always liked and quite frequently refer to Bruce Voyles' American Blade Collectors Association Price Guide To Antique Knives. He did two editions, the first is the better made of the two, with better paper, better covers, etc. The good thing about those books is Bruce's valuation system. He describes the several condition categories for pocketknives, including illustrations of what a knife in each condition category would look like. He also prices the knives in each manufacturer's section for each of those several categories from "Pristine Mint", "Mint", "Near Mint", "Excellent" "Good", "Fair" and "Poor". Of course, his values are no longer relevant, but it's not difficult to factor in current economic conditions, inflation or collecting trends to arrive at a reasonable price value. If you know your brand interest and he illustrates it, this is a great book.
It has lots of great information.
Bruce tried to list a lot of maker's marks, so his book is a bit between Goins and Levines, and he illustrates a lot of knives from the more prominent, well known makers.
That book is hard to come by, but can be found at a knife show and rarely on Ebay.
One should have a good general working knowledge of "things that go cut" if they pursue collectable pocket cutlery. One never knows what they might come across in their pursuits.
I know a lot about The Robeson Cutlery Company, but I also try to be fairly knowledgeable about as much of the other stuff as I can and books and paying attention to what others relate about their specific knife interests and looking at as many knives at knife shows as possible and asking relevant questions and absorbing good answers is the way to gain that knowledge.
You cannot have too many knife books.
Charlie Noyes
DE OPPRESSO LIBER
"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "
Charlie nailed it: You cannot have TOO many knife books. When I first started going really nuts collecting knives in the early 1970's there were precious few books on knives. My first was an early edition of Parker's. A friend of mine gifted me with his collection of the American Blade magazine from volume 1 and then it was anything I could find.Catalogs(original and re-prints);books;periodicals.
I now have a fair sized bookcase full of knife related books and they get a lot of use.
If I had to pick the most useful(to me anyway)ones it would be Levine's Guide (2nd and 3rd editions) and Goins' Encyclopaedia. Phil Panckewicz(sp?) book on New England Cutlery is a great reference as well.
And YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY BOOKS!
No doubt my book list will be growing but guess I had the right starting references... I'm a strong believer in never too many books as well Charlie and K7Knut - you should see my fly fishing/tying library )... it has been just a matter for me to figure out how to prioritize the next book purchases... Tweedale will probably be next (thanks danno50 for confirming that it is worthwhile) and then to be followed by a few of the others as noted above... Never knew Voyles had a book as I was only aware of his auctions.... sounds worthwhile as does the book on fakes and counterfeit identification which quite frankly is an important aspect - but to that point handling as many knives as possible can't be substituted by any book and I am very much a visual learner. Books are the references & valuable but as alluded to above I'll keep on handling as many knives (all makes and styles) as possible wherever and whenever I see them..... Of course the knowledge on this site as 0078 wrote is no doubt priceless...
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Lee
TripleF wrote:Official Price Guide to Collector Knives (15th Edition) has been my "source" for knife information pretty much since I started 4 years ago.
This book is my go-to all around book for comparisons and info, I find it well organized and easy to use. If I'm looking for Case info, Steve's book cannot be beat. If I'm looking for old knives info, Sargent cannot be beat. Arni Dunathan wrote the book on Marble's outdoor gear. Voyles has great pictures and variety for old knives, kind of like Sargent. Goins has about every and any tang stamp out there; you might not find details but it will get you headed in the right direction.
I just ordered 2 books on Keen Kutter knives and products, looking forward to receiving them. You cannot do too much research in my opinion. Do your homework, spare yourself a headache!
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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