All About Pocket Knives

Hey Terry thanks for the show and tell of your favorite knife books. Knives and knife makers appears as a common theme of many here which must suggest its a good one.

Jacknifeben, thank you for the knife world example of the Baby Ruth article. It came in handy!

Charlie I found the web site and am ordering a few back issues. Thanks again for taking the time to help.

Finally got some time to pull out my reference books and take some pics. Mostly what others have but seems I have a couple that haven't been shown (maybe I missed them) namely Romance of Knife Collecting by Dewey P. Ferguson. This book was published in late 1960s and to my knowledge was one of the first on the subject. Also Ferguson's Pictorial Price Guide to Romance of Collecting Case XX Knives from 1972. Official Scout Blades by Ed Holbrook, and 600 Scout Knives by Joseph Richard Kerr are indispensable resources for those interested in scout knives, axes, etc.

The blue covered booklet titled America's Aristocracy of Fine Cutlery is one of my favorites as it contains a reprint of an old Case catalog of unspecified year, published by Grawolf Trading Company, Milwaukee, WI. I've had this booklet for about 40 years or more, and the reason I like it so much is inside the back cover is a great and funny poem titled "An Old Alibi" by J. Russell Case.

In addition to what's pictured here I have numerous years of back issues of Knife World, Blade, and Case Collector magazines. Need to spend some time organizing these magazines. They are in un-organized stacks so pretty much useless when it comes to finding anything.

Ken

Ken those are truly awesome resources! I personally have purchased a few new resources due to the recommendation in this thread. Can't wait to get them! Thanks for taking the time to show yours and also your added commentary.

Ken the book you have on the history of the dollar knife...does it only cover the Shatt & Morgan dollar knife or does it include the Remington dollar knife or dollar knives in general? Thanks

ROCKY1122 wrote:Ken the book you have on the history of the dollar knife...does it only cover the Shatt & Morgan dollar knife or does it include the Remington dollar knife or dollar knives in general? Thanks

Thanks Rocky. The Dollar knife booklet starts with a brief couple of pages history of the first Dollar Knife from 1916, from Oklahoma, and then the second Dollar Knife from Georgia (early 1920's). Then it goes extensively into the Schatt & Morgan versions. It's been a while since I read it but I don't recall anything about Remington. I think the booklet is a somewhat expanded version if an article originally published in Knife World.

Ken

Thanks Ken! Good info.

That book on the Dollar Knife was co-authored by David Clark, a fellow AAPK member, known by the screen name, "nifbuf".

You can probably purchase the book from him.

He has also published life sized reproductions of the only two Schatt & Morgan catalogs known.

They are very nice.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Charlie!

Here are some new/old books and reprint catalogs added to my resource library

1. Signed and numbered #440/1000 by D.Y. Grimm- Identification Guide To Remington Sheath knives 1925-1940. Copy right 1991.

2. The PocketKnife Manual by Blackie Collins copy right 1976.

3. American Knives The First History And Collector's Guide by Harold L. Peterson copy right 1958.

4. Remington Modern Arms and Ammunition 1923 Cataloque No 107, reprint. Very nice section on Remington Cutlery.

A few more reprint catalogs and book

1. Remington firearms 1929 catalog, cutlery page in back on Hunting and Trapping Knives.

2. Remington Arms Company Ilion, New York 1899 catalog. Shows the bayonet used with select rifle.

3. Reprint of A New Chapter In An Old Story published in 1912.

The cool part of finding an old book is some times you find an unexpected treasure inside as I did with the book American Knives by H. Peterson as seen below.

Sorry for just showing the book spines (a bit lazy) but here is the better part of my knife library.

I keep a Levine's Guide 4th edition (not the one shown), a Goins' Encyclopedia and Sargent's Knives and Razors 7th edition in my desk drawer separate from the books pictured. I refer to these 3 books too often to leave them on a shelf.

Wayne

Jeez Wayne, you have more books in your collection than I have real nice knives!

Dan

btrwtr wrote:
I keep a Levine's Guide 4th edition (not the one shown), a Goins' Encyclopedia and Sargent's Knives and Razors 7th edition in my desk drawer separate from the books pictured. I refer to these 3 books too often to leave them on a shelf.

Wayne

Wayne, those are the same 3 books I keep on the table by my favorite chair in our living room. I find them to be the most frequently used references and typically the first place I look for info. They also go with me when I travel on vacation, etc. in case I find a knife needing research. For anyone starting a library, those are the first ones I would recommend getting. (Levine's 4th edition is hard to find and expensive now so I would recommend his 5th edition instead as it's more readily available and affordable).

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:

btrwtr wrote:
I keep a Levine's Guide 4th edition (not the one shown), a Goins' Encyclopedia and Sargent's Knives and Razors 7th edition in my desk drawer separate from the books pictured. I refer to these 3 books too often to leave them on a shelf.

Wayne

Wayne, those are the same 3 books I keep on the table by my favorite chair in our living room. I find them to be the most frequently used references and typically the first place I look for info. They also go with me when I travel on vacation, etc. in case I find a knife needing research. For anyone starting a library, those are the first ones I would recommend getting. (Levine's 4th edition is hard to find and expensive now so I would recommend his 5th edition instead as it's more readily available and affordable).

Ken

They are also the only books I ever take when I set up at a show. I never bought the 5th edition since BRL did a "reveiw" in Knife World shortly after the books release so I can't recommend that book having never read it. I can recommend the 3rd edition as a next best to my knowledge. If I were to recommend a 4th book for old knife enthusiasts it would be Voyles ABCA Price Guide. Purely for the pictorial pattern reference of so many knives.

It seems that every book or magazine contains some jewel of information or even misinformation that isn't found elsewhere. Finding it can sometimes be a chore. I need a good card catalog. My wife already vetoed the librarian.

Wayne

I was lucky to find five US knife books on the German Ebay. I was the only bidder and got them cheap. And guess what - in the best of Knife World Vol. III I found an article about Amicus knives, the ones I was buying a few days ago! Sure enough this book has me going for more. Well, thos doesn t make it cheaper I suppose...

btrwtr wrote:

Mumbleypeg wrote:

btrwtr wrote:
I keep a Levine's Guide 4th edition (not the one shown), a Goins' Encyclopedia and Sargent's Knives and Razors 7th edition in my desk drawer separate from the books pictured. I refer to these 3 books too often to leave them on a shelf.

Wayne

Wayne, those are the same 3 books I keep on the table by my favorite chair in our living room. I find them to be the most frequently used references and typically the first place I look for info. They also go with me when I travel on vacation, etc. in case I find a knife needing research. For anyone starting a library, those are the first ones I would recommend getting. (Levine's 4th edition is hard to find and expensive now so I would recommend his 5th edition instead as it's more readily available and affordable).

Ken

They are also the only books I ever take when I set up at a show. I never bought the 5th edition since BRL did a "reveiw" in Knife World shortly after the books release so I can't recommend that book having never read it. I can recommend the 3rd edition as a next best to my knowledge. If I were to recommend a 4th book for old knife enthusiasts it would be Voyles ABCA Price Guide. Purely for the pictorial pattern reference of so many knives.

It seems that every book or magazine contains some jewel of information or even misinformation that isn't found elsewhere. Finding it can sometimes be a chore. I need a good card catalog. My wife already vetoed the librarian.

Wayne

Thanks Wayne. I don't recall what Levine said in his review of the 5th edition, but I have both Levine's 4th and 5th editions. Had I known how little difference there is between them I wouldn't have bought the 5th edition. On its own there is nothing wrong with the 5th except that it seems the index wasn't properly updated so sometimes it points the reader to an incorrect page. For anyone not already having a copy of Levine's Guide, IMHO you'll find the 5th edition a great resource, and they are readily available at reasonable prices. But if I already had the 5th I sure wouldn't pay the current exorbitant price for a 4th edition. I don't own the 3rd edition (nor any of the later editions) so cannot comment on that.

Ken

These are some of my resource books

What an education that is, Dimitri. Fabulous collection; part of.

No substitute for resource like that Dimitri!

Wayne

Once again you are correct Dimitri! There's no educational substitute for an honest old knife in the hand. if you'll just box those up and send them to me I'll be a lot wiser.

Ken

Thanks Joe and Wayne

Mumbleypeg wrote: There's no educational substitute for an honest old knife in the hand.

I can`t agree more!

Mumbleypeg wrote: if you'll just box those up and send them to me I'll be a lot wiser.

AWESOME,D!!!!!!!!!

WAY TOO COOL TA SEE,MAN

but......
i own a pile o knives too....and they don't teach me like a BOOK does.....total different deal i guess FOR ME,errrrrrrr two different lessons.lololololololol i dunno.

I know this is an old thread, but if anyone is looking for a Coles book 3 I have a nice one for trade.

Are they any good reference books on Winchester Knifes? I started collecting them but haven't been able to find much information on them as far as books.

I know it may appear to be an overwhelming resource but like any good library there are many books, magazines, pamphlets, and other knife guides located within this thread that will provide you with ample information and answers to your search. Also I found a great thread on Blade Forum related the Winchester brand and company. Good luck! Remember,to strike is rich you’ve got to do some heavy digging!