Books on Knife Making

S

syrdj

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Oct 3, 2008
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I live in a town that recently closed their cutlery. As a result I started to put together some knives from my hometown cutlery as a keepsake for me and my children. It has been a wonderful learning experience about the history of the cutlery as well as the history of knife making. I have a great appreciation for both fixed blades and slip joints and mostly for quality materials and workmanship. I have also met some great people!
I am now looking to learn more about knife making.
Does anyone have one book that they would reccomend as a great guide to knife making for someone new to the process? (slip joint and fixed blade)
 
Welcome to BF, to may be most mind boggling resource on topic...
As a some what novice, I bought Hrisoulas's books at the beginning at it led me to wrong places (for my path, it was too hard to get away from the myths of blade smithing) so I don't recommend these at least for starter.. There are some great books around that I don't know. I would recommend to read carefully the threads here about steel metallurgy and heat treating (read extra carefully the posts of Mete's and Kevin's posts). Also the stickies above the forum...

PS. Edit your profile, location etc., may be you'll get some personal help on this subject also...
 
Possibly the most accessible book on getting started making knives is Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop. You'll find that you can make knives with very little equipment to get started, and then you'll find ... you can never have enough tools or handle material! :D

Welcome, good luck and enjoy. You have found the best place online to ask your knife making questions. I can't tell you enough how this forum will prove to be your customized "how to" reference book for making knives. Ask anything - someone will help you and offer encouragement and honest feedback.

I'd be very interested in learning about your project, too!
 
Goddard's $50 knife shop made me think it was doable and has some good info in it. Then what I really ended up doing was closer to what Loveless shows. So I would definitely recommend both Goddard's $50 Knife Shop How to Make Knives by Barney and Loveless to the beginning maker.

Allen
 
David Boyes step by step knifemaking is really good, all it was missing I felt was a section on cutting out blanks with an angle grinder.
When I was making some blades I was fortunate enough to use my dads friends plasma cutter, that thing spoiled me!:D

boye-knife-book03.jpg
 
Hi Friend,

How's the library system in NY state? In Hawaii we can borrow any book in the state system and have it come to our "home" library for free. I suggest you borrow whatever you can get your hands on and check them all out. You can then decide what one(s) you want to buy.

Anyway, another one that gives an overview of making several styles is Tim McCreight's, Custom Knifemaking. Although I don't care for most of his designs, and some of his methods, he does walk you through 10 different projects.

The Loveless and Barney, How to Make Knives is, indeed, a good one. I chose not to buy the reprinted version though as I had trouble viewing most of the poor quality photocopied photos, all of which are black and white. Maybe some day I'll come across an older copyright version I can afford.

Like others have said, by far, I have found this forum the best resource of all. You just have to get a handle on searching the damn thing. If you're not careful, before you know it, you'll have way too many books about knifemaking (and tools), but might not be making many knives. Just make sure you get started....;)

Keep us posted! All the best, Phil
 
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Look on the net for Knife World, they have the best selection of books I've seen. They are also great people to deal with.
 
Thank you very much to everyone for the words of advise and encouragement. I will dig in and be back later.

Best Regards,
Dan
 
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