Case Books?

[DMLEATH]

Good evening!

I was wanting a recommendation on the best books for Case Knives. I am interested in knife values and history. Thanks for any input!

[djknife13]

Collecting Case Knives by Steve Pfeiffer. This is a must have for Case knives.____Dave

[Mumbleypeg]

If you have just two books, and can afford them, the aforementioned Collecting Case Knives by Steve Pfeiffer, and American Premium Guide to Knives and Razors 7th Edition by Jim Sargent. Pfeiffer’s book extensively covers the Case XX era through the 1970’s. The Sargent book is more focused on the company history from late 1800s (Case Brothers) through the Texted XX and XX era, with pictures of hundreds of different patterns from those eras.

There are knife values provided in both books. As with all printed value guides they are out of date. I wouldn’t recommend using the values other than as a reference of one knife pattern’s relative value compared to another pattern’s value from the same time period.

There are other good books as well but those two are my most used references for Case. Unfortunately both are out of print so available only through the secondary, used bookseller market. A good starting place is www.abebooks.com.

Ken

[DMLEATH]

Thanks to both of you! I found the “collecting Case Knives” on Abebooks for around $225 and I saw it on Amazon for around $450. Is that about what they bring?

[Mumbleypeg]

Depends on how big a hurry you’re in. Keep shopping. And if you have any local used book stores, or by chance go by one while traveling, see what they have.

Ken

[DMLEATH]

Thanks I will look for a bit!

[Mumbleypeg]

I’d check back on abebooks occasionally. Sometimes there are a variety of prices for the same material depending on condition of the copy. Just like with knives an unused or like new version costs more than a used readable copy.

If you buy Sargent’s book, the 7th Edition (published in 2008) is the last one he did and the best. There are prior editions available for less. When buying from on-line sellers be cautious which edition you’re actually buying - look for the year - as they often use stock photos in listings instead of the actual book you are getting. Also, although I haven’t looked recently, at one time there were DVD-only versions of Sargent’s 7th Edition available much cheaper. All the content of the print version, you just had to upload it to your computer from the DVD. The nice thing about that is that it’s keyword searchable.

Ken

[1967redrider]

I was at Barnes & Noble on Saturday with my wife, not a single knife book to be found.

[gsmith7158]

Another good one is Case The First 100 Years By James S Giles. It has some beautiful color pictures of old case knives that you won't find elsewhere. It is a bit hard to find though. Another is Old Knives,XX,and More written by our own Tom McCandless (Olderdogs1). Great color pics in that one as well.

[jmh58]

Another!!
John