What are some must-have books for a knife nut?

Bernard Levine's 4th, if you can find it.
"Sheffield Exhibition Knives" and "Joseph Rodgers & Sons: The Samuel Setian Collection" are both exceptional books for traditional knife porn mixed in with a bit of history.
I also own most of Dr. Darom's books. They are perfect for hardcore custom knife collectors as well as the rest of us who mostly just like to drool and dream.
How To Make Multi-Blade Folding Knives is exceptional, and written by some of the best of the best.
If you're interested in autos, European autos in particular, and the history of same, "Art of the Switchblade" is a good one for sure.
I'll also second the $50 Knife Shop book.

I have one book shelf full of knife books. Looking at it just now, I'm almost shocked about how much it cost/is currently worth. I'd be a little embarrassed to talk about it anywhere but here. :)

ETA a pic. for the halibut.
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Blurry I know, taken with a $100 Black Friday camera that works great in full sun but is finicky everywhere else. I think all titles are visible though, except for "Arms and Armor: Notable Acquisitions from 1991-2002", which is the little volume right next to the Joseph Rodgers book. Examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.
 
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I have three books concerning knives that I found very interesting, Wayne Goddars The Wonder of Knife making 2nd edition, Greg Walkers Battle Blades, and Bill Bagwells Bowies and battle blades.
 
David boye has a a good primer on knifemaking. A lot of makers claimed to have got their start with it.
 
Phone book.
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Honestly, there are some nice books, but with the rate that the industry changes/evolves, there really are few substitutes for the web (and an account here is a first stop for many of us)
 
Yo Mama said:
Right now I'm reading a book by Durwood Hollis, named "Knifemaking with Bob Loveless". Copyright is 2010 and it's a great read. I'm trying to figure out making my first blade, and this book has helped in many ways. It's easy to read and understand, and focus on safety was also crucial.
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I was hoping that it filled in more details and better photos to his first book.

I've read it and I bought it because of the Loveless connection in the title.



Don't let that fool you.

There are some nice Loveless shop photos, but it seems like he died before the book was complete and the author filled the rest in himself.

I do reccomend having it, but not as your first or only knife how to book.

See the google books thread in my standard reply for more reviews and links to books
 
The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. But that's my standard answer for books anyone needs.
 
silveys books, ww2, vietnam, pocket knives of the military, United States Military Knives. coles U.S. military knives book 3 and 4. coles best of U.S. military knives. Ron Fluke british and common wealth military knives. 600 scout knives by Kerr. the military knife and bayonet by homer brett.
 
and plus one to bernard levine book 4 and old sanfransico books mentioned above.
 
boring said:
that arms and armor book above looks good.
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If you mean Stone's Arms & Armor from my photo, it is a good book with a few caveats. It was originally written in the 30s, when the world was both smaller and larger and distance lands seemed much more exotic, and that is sometimes reflected in the writing. I've also been told that it has quite a few errors though I doubt that I know enough to spot more than a few of them. China is almost missing entirely.

My one real complaint is that it is sorted alphabetically with no index, making it real difficult to find info on something that I have seen but do not know the name of. I would like to see it remain alphabetical with indices (anyonewannafightaboutit? ;) ) sorted by continent or sub-continent as well as weapon or armor type. Despite all of this, it is very broad, covering a huge amount of stuff, and I don't know of any other one book that covers as much ground. Does anyone else? I wouldn't mind having it, if so. :D
 
You live in a city i'll bet you can find a few at the library.
 
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