"2003 Sporting Knives" includes the articles:
Make Sure to Pack the Traveler's Knife (Ayres)
Release the Knife Hounds When Multi-blades Abound (White)
Knives Evolved With Us, and We Grew Up With Knives (Fowler)
A Middle East and Far East Knife Feast (Haskew)
Duelling: Civilized Institution or Lethal Vanity? (Bean)
You Won't Forget the Feel of a Fallkniven (Williamson)
The 'Hone Rangers Keep 'Em Keen (Hollis)
Machete Your Way Through the Day (Halvorsen)
Grandpa Gave a Part of Himself With That First Knife (Emerson)
Are Switchblades Sporting Knives? (Nappen)

...also ten "reports from the field" on various knife subjects, and one-page coverage of each of the many manufacturers, importers, and other firms "in the biz."

Note: authors Jim Williamson and Richard White are "Knife World" Staff Correspondents.

BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by Mac Overton

This 256 page book on production knives is probably the single best reference for keeping up with commercial cutlery. While the Knives series is dominated by custom and handmade designs, this book fills the void for those desiring information on factory products, and that?s a lot of us!

Since publisher Krause is advertiser-driven, as might be expected, there are several pages of commentary about the knives and accessories on the front and back cover. Merchandising the covers is, of course, profitable, and nobody can fault a publisher for increasing profits. Once you get beyond the covers, the book is very informative as a one-volume source about what's happening in the production/factory-knife field.

Over 150 pages are devoted to "Features" (articles) and "Reports from the Field," updating the reader on the best and brightest in the factory-knife world. This includes such sage advice as "Make Sure to Pack the Traveler's Knife," by James Ayres, on the importance of having the right blade with you as you journey. Ayres includes his opinions on what's best for the world traveler in both fixed- and folding-blades. His recommendations are worth the price of the volume for the world traveler, or traveler wannabe.

"Knives Evolved with Us, and We Grew Up with Knives!" is an excellent treatment of some thoughts on the 'evolution' of knives, from strictly handmade or custom to today's exquisite factory offerings, which in many ways are as good or, in some cases, better than the fine handmade blades of yesterday. The article is even more significant since it's written by Blade magazine columnist Ed Fowler, who is considered among the top bladesmiths alive today.

Other major features include "A Middle East and Far East Knife Feast," "Dueling: Civilized Institution or Lethal Vanity?," "You Won't Forget the Feel of a Fallkniven," "The Hone Rangers Keep 'Em Keen," "Machete Your Way Through the Day," "Grandpa Gave a Part of Himself With That First Knife" (by the renowned Ernest Emerson!), and "Are Switchblades Sporting Knives?"

The subsection "Reports from the Field" occupies nearly 100 pages. Articles in this section include "New Sporting Fixed Blades," "New Sporting Folders," "Swords and Fantastic Fighters," "Don't Compromise the Cut," "A Multiple of Multi-Tools," "Knives with Multi-Carry Options," "Gentlemen?s Folders," "High-Tech Tactical Knives," and "Collaborations with Custom Knifemakers."

Authors include names familiar to anybody who has followed knife publications for a few years: Editor Kertzman, Ayres, Fowler, Emerson, Richard White, Mike Haskew, Greg Bean, Jim Williamson, Durwood Hollis, Roderick Halvorsen, Evan Nappen, Butch Winter, and Roger Combs.

A catalog section and directories complete the book, adding about another 90 or so pages.

2003 Sporting Knives is not a replacement for the Knives series, but a supplement to it. It is probably the most complete one-volume guide to production knives around, and will definitely be one of my most consulted references.

Softcover, 256 pp.

Availability: Usually ships the next business day.

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