Where to read up on traditional slipjoints?

Hengelo_77

Hengelo_77

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Mar 2, 2006
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The more slipjoints I make the more I get a taste for traditional slipjoints.
I'd realy like to get more knolledge about them. Different models, their names, their (special) uses, history etc.

I went trough the Vintage Knife Catalogs & Ads- thread but many pics are gone. I'm learning from this forum but I feel like there is still a lot to learn.
Are there any books or other websites that go in depth on this subject?
 
Bernard Levine's Guides?

I hear Number 4 is the best, but the values are out-dated now.

Out of print, from what I understand, and the local library probably won't have it. (The ones around here don't. 😡🤨)
 
I live in Germany, it would be an expensive book with shipping costs and custom duties.
Any other sugestions?
 
Any edition of Levine's has basically most of the same information. The values are never up to date, but, as far as I am concerned, are the least important part of the book. There is also the 5th edition, published without Levine's authorization. It is probably out of print as well. I just did a quick search and asking prices for it are climbing as well. AbeBooks has some used copies starting at $65 US. I have had the 1st, 4th and 5th editions and in terms of the knife information, the 1st is still very relevant. Even if shipping costs $50 or $60, it is well worth it for the information value. There are a plethora of knife books available, but, Levine's is by far the most comprehensive.
 
danno50 said:
Any edition of Levine's has basically most of the same information. The values are never up to date, but, as far as I am concerned, are the least important part of the book. There is also the 5th edition, published without Levine's authorization. It is probably out of print as well. I just did a quick search and asking prices for it are climbing as well. AbeBooks has some used copies starting at $65 US. I have had the 1st, 4th and 5th editions and in terms of the knife information, the 1st is still very relevant. Even if shipping costs $50 or $60, it is well worth it for the information value. There are a plethora of knife books available, but, Levine's is by far the most comprehensive.
Click to expand...
I found a 4th edition for a fairly reasonable price (with shipping, just under what you quoted above) and ordered it. I'd been looking for one south of $100 for quite a while (just couldn't get my head around paying as much for a book about slipjoints as I could pick up a nice slipjoint for). I guess I can quit looking now - so that's worth something at least.

Kills me to pay that much for a book that was printed the year that rumblings about the Y2K bug were just beginning to be heard, Princess Di was involved in a limo crash, Clinton was in office, Facebook wouldn't be created for another 7 years, the Aztec calendar was big news, and the Beanie Babies craze was in full swing...

I've read here and other places (such as the original author's website) that the fifth edition was, I paraphrase, likely edited and revised by a troop of angry and drunken baboons, not a one of which had ever held a knife of any persuasion, and that's it's only good for laying your hand upon when swearing allegiance to the dark lord of spoons. I have a copy of the 5th edition (please don't tell anyone), so I guess I'll get to see how different they really are once the 4th edition arrives. 🤷
 
birdsbeaks said:
I found a 4th edition for a fairly reasonable price (with shipping, just under what you quoted above) and ordered it. I'd been looking for one south of $100 for quite a while (just couldn't get my head around paying as much for a book about slipjoints as I could pick up a nice slipjoint for). I guess I can quit looking now - so that's worth something at least.

Kills me to pay that much for a book that was printed the year that rumblings about the Y2K bug were just beginning to be heard, Princess Di was involved in a limo crash, Clinton was in office, Facebook wouldn't be created for another 7 years, the Aztec calendar was big news, and the Beanie Babies craze was in full swing...

I've read here and other places (such as the original author's website) that the fifth edition was, I paraphrase, likely edited and revised by a troop of angry and drunken baboons, not a one of which had ever held a knife of any persuasion, and that's it's only good for laying your hand upon when swearing allegiance to the dark lord of spoons. I have a copy of the 5th edition (please don't tell anyone), so I guess I'll get to see how different they really are once the 4th edition arrives. 🤷
Click to expand...
The 5th edition was the only one I had for years. I gave it away when I found the 4th, at the OKCA show for a reasonable price. As far as the general information in the two books goes (patterns, brands, history etc etc) I did not find any significant difference. I have too heard bad references about the 5th, mostly Levine's disgruntlement with it, but, never anything like what you are quoting. I understand Levine's displeasure with the Krause publication of the 5th, but, it was the only thing I could find years ago up here in Canada. I never pay any attention to the prices given in any knife book. I also found a copy of the first edition at a gun show. The general information was basically the same in it as well. I also gave it away. There is also Blade's Guide to Knives and Their Values, edited by Steve Shackleford. I took a quick look at a copy in my local library. I have no idea if Levine has any problems with that one or not. However, it is also a good reference and sells for quite a bit cheaper that Levine's guide.
 
birdsbeaks said:
I found a 4th edition for a fairly reasonable price (with shipping, just under what you quoted above) and ordered it. I'd been looking for one south of $100 for quite a while (just couldn't get my head around paying as much for a book about slipjoints as I could pick up a nice slipjoint for). I guess I can quit looking now - so that's worth something at least.

Kills me to pay that much for a book that was printed the year that rumblings about the Y2K bug were just beginning to be heard, Princess Di was involved in a limo crash, Clinton was in office, Facebook wouldn't be created for another 7 years, the Aztec calendar was big news, and the Beanie Babies craze was in full swing...

I've read here and other places (such as the original author's website) that the fifth edition was, I paraphrase, likely edited and revised by a troop of angry and drunken baboons, not a one of which had ever held a knife of any persuasion, and that's it's only good for laying your hand upon when swearing allegiance to the dark lord of spoons. I have a copy of the 5th edition (please don't tell anyone), so I guess I'll get to see how different they really are once the 4th edition arrives. 🤷
Click to expand...
Post of the year 😂
 
The only book I've owned to date is Steve Pfeiffer's "Collecting Case Knives Identification and Price Guide". Seems to have been published in 2009. I would highly recommend it for any Case collectors. It has been a tremendous resource for my Case knife collecting which is one of the main brands I collect. My first knife ever was a Case peanut my grandfather handpicked from a B&M store with me.

Just a day or two before this thread, I was looking in to getting Levine's 4th ed. This thread happened and suddenly... the copy I was looking at disappeared! Then I see this:
birdsbeaks said:
I found a 4th edition for a fairly reasonable price (with shipping, just under what you quoted above) and ordered it.
Click to expand...
🤣

I found another copy at a reasonable price so no worries 😅 Just made the purchase and am looking forward to reading it! I'm sure it will live up to the hype 🤩 I hope you enjoy yours as well birdsbeaks birdsbeaks !
 
lithicus said:
The only book I've owned to date is Steve Pfeiffer's "Collecting Case Knives Identification and Price Guide". Seems to have been published in 2009. I would highly recommend it for any Case collectors. It has been a tremendous resource for my Case knife collecting which is one of the main brands I collect. My first knife ever was a Case peanut my grandfather handpicked from a B&M store with me.

Just a day or two before this thread, I was looking in to getting Levine's 4th ed. This thread happened and suddenly... the copy I was looking at disappeared! Then I see this:

🤣

I found another copy at a reasonable price so no worries 😅 Just made the purchase and am looking forward to reading it! I'm sure it will live up to the hype 🤩 I hope you enjoy yours as well birdsbeaks birdsbeaks !
Click to expand...
I'd given up looking until I saw this thread. 😂

When last I'd looked, folks were asking some truly crazy prices - so, as stated, once I saw a price under $100, I pounced. GEC drops have trained me well, I suppose. No thinking. Pure consumerism at a breakneck pace. 😂

Glad you were also able to grab a copy, if you hadn't, we'd have had to figure out some type of lending library arrangement!
 
I don't think I have gone to the Oregon Show without seeing at least one 4th Levine's for sale!! I've had as many as five, but usually give them to friends!! I have one very dog-eared copy!!! :)
 
danno50 said:
The 5th edition was the only one I had for years. I gave it away when I found the 4th, at the OKCA show for a reasonable price. As far as the general information in the two books goes (patterns, brands, history etc etc) I did not find any significant difference. I have too heard bad references about the 5th, mostly Levine's disgruntlement with it, but, never anything like what you are quoting. I understand Levine's displeasure with the Krause publication of the 5th, but, it was the only thing I could find years ago up here in Canada. I never pay any attention to the prices given in any knife book. I also found a copy of the first edition at a gun show. The general information was basically the same in it as well. I also gave it away. There is also Blade's Guide to Knives and Their Values, edited by Steve Shackleford. I took a quick look at a copy in my local library. I have no idea if Levine has any problems with that one or not. However, it is also a good reference and sells for quite a bit cheaper that Levine's guide.
Click to expand...
I found a downloadable PDF of the 7th Edition of Blade's Guide about 7 years ago, and I've found it to be a helpful reference for me regarding history, knife patterns, manufacturers, etc. which is the info In which I'm most interested. And every time I've seen excerpts from Levine's 4th edition dealing with those topics, there seems to be little difference (noticeable to less than expert me) between Levine's 4th and Blade's 7th.

- GT
 
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