Hi UK-Fire,
Your's is a, proverbial, loaded question. In order to attempt answering it a whole bunch of questions are probably in order. But first, just so you know, I'm a newbie too, so don't take anything I say authoritatively. That being said, I wonder where your interests are. Forging? Stock removal? Etc? Also, what skill sets do you have? Machinist, techie-type, tradesman, artist, etc? What resources do you have to work with: facilities, equipment, tools, materials, local suppliers, local knife makers, etc?
There are lots of ways to learn: the self study school of hard knocks figure it out as best you can method, reading, forums, tutorial, DVDs, one on one demos and sharings, hammer-ins, clubs' and organizations' conferences; institutional workshops and training programs, etc. Again what are your interests and resources?
For me, as a farmer (recently displaced), former goldsmith, sculptor and once upon a time mountain-man want-a-be, I just plain enjoy tinkering, working with my hands and, what I call, earth crafts. Believe it or not, my quest for self-made blades started coming into focus via pursuing welding, fabricating a forge, scrounging a smithy together and striving to forge steel. I've since started building and buying grinders, and assorted equipment.
Since I can not really afford this stuff (I have a family of four and, did I mention, I'm a displaced farmer (meaning, dirt poor)) I need other means of justification than the simple, "some day I might make money at it," in order to buy it. Thus I have (and am) setting this stuff up at a private high school and sharing it with teenage students via blacksmithing/forge classes, copper smithing classes and soon stone carving classes (we'll forge, grind and heat treat our own chisels). I'm having the time of my life, playing, sharing...and getting paid for it. I buy the tools and equipment, the school covers consumables and my salary. Works for me!
I'm sharing all this in the hopes it might be of some use to you. Certainly your path will be as unique to you as mine is to me and others' are to them.
As for books...I went through every book available throughout the state of Hawaii's library system, many more than once. When I travel, if I have the time, I check out other library systems too. I can't say I've found any book completely satisfactory. I can't say I'm sorry I have purchased any of the books I have. They all lend something to one's knowledge base. But for me, DOING is paramount to knowing. Therefore, I have really learned the most via this methods. Thus every attempt, no matter how dismal, is a success in that the next effort will succeed from where it left off.
This forum has been one of my most valuable and steady resources (if, and when, I can get the search function to work). The info is, of course, great, but the folks who post that info are by and large FANTASTIC. When you combine the two (learning by doing and these folks) it is a winning combination. For instance, I recently visited with several knife makers from this forum at a hammer-in hosted by one of its members, Indian George. Need-less-to-say, I learned a LOT!
Well, to round out my efforts with this post, I've also started heat treat studies (mainly from this forum), acquisitions and practicing. I've also been exploring handle design in modeling clay (presently have 12 designs, each in three sizes, modeled). I've settled on a few steels to work with for now, primarily 5160, 5200 and 1084 (and 15n20 w/ 1084) and have been rounding some up. Also sent off some Koa wood to get stabilized and have been rounding up antler. Additionally, I've started cursory research on power hammers and presses. Add name branding development (just got a home made electro-etcher and ordered some stencils), photography and sheath making to the mix and I've bitten off a belly full.
AND ITS A BLAST.....
All the best with your journey. Keep us posted as to your progress.
Oh ya, it might be good to update your profile with your locale. No telling who might be around your neck of the woods (so to speak).
A fellow enthusiast, Phil
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Very excellent resource. It took me a while of on again/off again reading, but I actually finished reading it this morning. I would also suggest a Timken manual you can download from their website. Sorry, no link, just go to Timken.com and find it under "Knlowledg Center, For Engineers" then scroll to the bottom. The document is titled "Practical Data for Metallurgists".