Knifemaking books

LRC^

LRC^

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Jul 9, 2009
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I have been reading quite some on the net about knifemaking lately and thinking about it for some years actually. But I guess I`m oldfashioned and would rather read books on actual paper..
So which books would you recommend? What are the must haves and the classics?
 
These are the ones I started off reading:


1. Wayne Goddard's $50 knife shop

While giving a practical view of knife making on a budget I find that I will probably not be making my knives this way (although it can be done and probably has by many). He grinds using a stone grinding wheel, heat treats with his one brick forge, and uses lawn mower blades as a steel source. Some great ideas, some ok ideas, and some only as a last resort ideas. The new version has color pictures!

2.How to Make Knives by Richard Barney and Robert Loveless:

Good book. Some pictures are fairly dark and hard to see what is going on in the pictures. Good sheath making section.

3. Step-by-step Knifemaking by David Boye

A lot of hand drawn illustrations. Lots of tips. Worth buying.

4. Custom Knifemaking by Tim McCreight

It has 10 projects that do give information about making different styles (fixed blade full tang, partial tang, folder, etc, etc..)

I found this book the least useful for 2 reasons. One, it was the last of the books I read so the info seemed to overlap a lot from the other 3 books. Two, I don't see myself making most of the styles of knives in the book. I don't see myself making folders any time soon and the actual styles while functional and practical didn't have the "look" or presence that I like in a knife which I think turned me off on some level.


Each of the books had strong points and weak points and overal gave me a lot of information. Bladeforums.com has helped me fill in some of the lacking info that I didn't find in the books. Also, the books seem to be a little outdated with some techniques and information. That is when I turn to the forum. Hope these help!
 
+1 on the Boye book. I found it very itneresting and well written with good illutrations.

I had trouble getting into the Barney/Loveless book.
 
Check eBay and Amazon for good prices. I've picked all mine up either lightly used or new for very good deals.
 
All good reads I got all of them at the local Barnes & Noble. The new 50$ knife shop book is all color too.
 
tryppyr said:
+1 on the Boye book. I found it very itneresting and well written with good illutrations.

I had trouble getting into the Barney/Loveless book.
Click to expand...

I'd also recommend that book, its got a lot of good stuff.

also if you want to learn to forge knives "The Complete Bladesmith" is a decent book (if its still in print). I can't say everything he says in the book is 100% correct (like his views on edge packing) but its got a little bit of everything, knives, swords, pattern welding etc.
 
I would like to find some books from the early french cutlers, there is ONE that I can not recall his name that I would love to have, some say that he was/is the best cutler who has ever lived.
 
I picked up "The Complete Bladesmith", "The Master Bladesmith", Boye's "Step by Step Knifemaking" and "The Tactical Folding Knife" all as downloadable PDF files from a thread on this forum here recently.

4 books for free, not bad :)
 
This thread lists some and gives electronic or pdf previews of them.

If you think you like it, buy it.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203

This was posted on knife dogs by Don Cowles son Some I have never been able to find, like the Jerry Fisk books


This list was taken from the old CKDF board:
BOOKS

How to Make Knives, by Robert Loveless/Richard Barney. *
Great overview of the different knifemaking methods including stock removal, forging, flat grinding, and sheaths.

Step by Step Knifemaking, by David Boye. *

Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects From a Master Craftsman, by Tim McCreight. *

Knifecraft : A Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide to the Art of Knifemaking, by Sidney Latham. *

Knifemaking: A Complete Guide to Crafting Knives, Handles and Sheaths, by Bo Bergman. *
This book deals exclusively with Scandinavian style knives.

Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop, by Wayne Goddard. *

The Wonder of Knifemaking, by Wayne Goddard. *

Knife Talk: The Art and Science of Knifemaking, by Ed Fowler. *

The Hand Forged Blade: An Introduction to the Working of Modern Tool Steels, by Karl Schroen. *

Introduction to Bladesmithing, by E. Jay Hendrickson @

Basic Forging and Pattern Welded Damascus Steel, by Jerry Fisk @

Notes From Bill Moran's Classes on Knifemaking 1985 and Damascus Steel @

From the Past, by William Moran, Jr. @

The Complete Bladesmith: Forging Your Way to Perfection, by Jim Hrisoulas. *

Master Bladesmith: Advanced Studies in Steel, by Jim Hrisoulas. *

Pattern Welded Blade, by Jim Hrisoulas. *

Damascus Steel, by Manfred Sachse. *

On Damascus Steel, by Leo Figiel. *

Mokume Gane in the Small Shop: The Complete Guide to Diffusion Welded Mokume, by Steve Midgett. *

The Tactical Folding Knife, by Bob Terzuola. *
Instructs on how to build a locking liner folder.

How to Make Folding Knives: A Step by Step How-to, by Ron Lake, Frank Centofante, and Wayne Clay. *
Instructs on how to make lockback folders.

How to Make Multi-Blade Folding Knives, by Eugene Shadley and Terry Davis.

Practical Heat Treating, by Howard Boyer. *

Heat Treater's Guide, by Unterweiser, Boyer, and Kubbs.

The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening, by John Juranitch. *

How to Scrimshaw and Carve Ivory, by Blackie and Michael Collins. *

The Art of Engraving, by James Meek. *

Build Your Own Hydraulic Forging Press, by James Batson. @

Handbook of Management and Organization for the Knifemaker, by Jerry Fisk. @


VIDEOS

Center Cross Video, by Gene Osborn
www.centercross.com

Loveless Legend, by Robert Loveless. *
Great visual on the Loveless method of making knives.
Hollow Grinding, by Johnny Stout.@
Flat Grinding, by Harvey Dean.@
Forging Damascus: How to Make Pattern Welded Blades, by Jim Hrisoulas. *
Mokume Gane in the Small Shop, by Steve Midgett.
Fowler Knife Making Techniques, by Ricky Fowler.
The Design, Construction, and Function of the Using Knife, by Ed Fowler.
The Wire Damascus Hunting Knife, by Wayne Goddard.
Making of a Knife, by William Moran, Jr. @
Damascus, by William Moran, Jr. @
Handles, Guards, and Sheaths, by William Moran, Jr. @
Knife Care, by Jerry Fisk @
 
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I just got "The Tactical Folding Knife" by Bob Terzuila, if you think you might want to make a folder or two this is a must have book. Its out of print, but there are a number of copies floating around the used market. Don't shy away from them, mine was in like new condition, the spine hadn't even been bent yet
 
I was unimpressed with the Barney-Loveless book. The $50 Knife Shop was less complete in detail but generally more clear overall. I looked at the Jim Hrisoulas books someone posted links to on BF, and I found them clear and informative.
 
Thanks all for the replies. I will sit down tonight ( when the kids are in bed) and go through it more in detail, and then for sure order some of them.
 
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