"The most important book ever published on antique American knives" - A.G. Russell

A profound influence on both the collecting of antique American knives and the artists producing the finest modern handmades, this book belongs on the shelf of everyone who loves the knife as art form and historical artifact. No custom knifemaker or collector of antique bowie knives should be without it.

BOOK REVIEW
reviewed by Knife World Staff

"Knifemakers of Old San Francisco" holds a distinguished position among books on cutlery. It represents the first exhaustive study of a limited segment of cutlery history. It was an influence that helped shape the still-growing bowie knife field, elevating their desirability to the highest level. Along with his monthly Knife World column Whut Izzit, it vaulted Bernard Levine into the spotlight as the worlds preeminent authority on antique cutlery. Lastly, when the final stocks were sold, used copies achieved prices unheard of for modern knife books, commonly bringing $200-250 per copy. Why all the fuss about this book? Simply, the book was superbly written and researched, and opened the eyes of many to the knives of the San Francisco cutlers. A reprint has been a long time in coming, and will surely be welcomed by those who have never had the opportunity to enjoy it.

For those of you unfamiliar with it, Knifemakers of Old San Francisco is a historical account of the S.F. knifemakers and the cutlery they produced. Chapters are included on Will & Finck, Price, McConnell, and Kesmodel, as well as some of the lesser-known cutlers. These men produced, as Levine says, the most exotic, the most costly, and perhaps the most beautiful knives ever produced in the United States. The bowie and hunting knives they crafted are truly exquisite,making that final comment awfully difficult to refute.

The second edition incorporates new photos of twenty or more knives discovered in the two decates since the first edition, many of them important specimens. The text appears to be little changed, a correction here and there, but there is little need for revision- the information is every bit as sound and valuable as it was in 1978. If you have the first edition, youll want a copy for the additional photographs; if you dont, youll want it for all the photos as well as the marvellous text youve missed out on. A blow-in price guide is also included; a bonus that will prove most valuable should you ever be lucky enough to call a San Francisco knife your own.

Softcover, 160 pp. Price includes a blow-in price guide.

keywords: California knife, California knives, push dagger, punch dagger, push dirk, Michael Price, M. Price, Will & Fink, Wills & Fink, Wills & Finck, Hugh McConnell

Availability: Usually ships the next business day.

$29.95