KNIFE WORLD ONLINE NEWSLETTER #56 " BLADE'S GUIDE TO KNIVES AND THEIR VALUES " (formerly Levine's Guide) -- IN STOCK!! BOOK REVIEW posted!! " THE HISTORY OF DOLLAR KNIVES " -- IN STOCK!! BOOK REVIEW posted!! " U.S. MILITARY KNIVES, BAYONETS, AND MACHETES PRICE GUIDE -- (FIFTH EDITION) -- NEW PRICES, NEW FORMAT, and should be here VERY soon! OTHER KNIFE BOOK NEWS " KNIVES 2006 " " BLADE'S GUIDE TO MAKING KNIVES " -- Book Review Posted!! " SILVER FOLDING FRUIT KNIVES " -- gone! WEBSITE UPDATES & OUT OF PRINT BOOKS Highlights from the JANUARY & FEBRUARY issues of "KNIFE WORLD" A few miscellaneous ramblings ____________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ " BLADE'S GUIDE TO KNIVES AND THEIR VALUES" -- NEW! ________________________________________________________ Edited by Steve Shackleford **SHORT VERSION** This used to be "LEVINE'S GUIDE", now it isn't. Maybe it's not everything it could be, but in many regards it's still the best available book of its kind, and the prices are current -- so we're recommending it. **EXTREMELY LONG VERSION** LG-6?? Well, NO, not exactly, but this is the 6th Edition in the series that used to be called "LEVINE'S GUIDE". Many of you might remember that KNIFE WORLD refused to carry or recommend the 5th edition of "LEVINE'S GUIDE", due to several reasons. One of these was that the title misleadingly suggested Bernard Levine's endorsement of the book. Another was that the system for pricing antique pocketknives had degenerated into a complete mess. Finally, the book's organization was poor, and it smelled strongly of having been updated with little thought other than profit. These problems have largely been corrected with this 6th edition, now called "BLADE'S GUIDE". In addition, the circumstances are now somewhat different. The last true "LEVINE'S GUIDE", the 4th edition, is now almost 9 years old, and doesn't reflect changes in the knife market since 1997. What's more, these books are difficult to obtain, and the current going rate seems to be about $75 apiece. As a result, we have given the new book a look, and have decided to carry it. I asked all-around good guy Ron Bucher (eBay's "Uncle Ron"), a real devotee of the Levine's series, to review it for us, and you will find his thoughts posted at the link below. Overall, he shares my opinion that it's valuable both because of the information Levine assembled years ago, and also because the valuing information is more flexible and covers far more ground than any other price guide on the market. In my opinion, PRICE-WISE the new book is a pretty easy choice, since LG-IV is now 9 years old. REFERENCE-WISE, I think that LG-IV might have the edge in areas other than Buck, Moran, and Loveless knives, but if you don't want to search and finally pay 2-1/2 times as much to get one, then this makes a pretty darned good substitute. Despite the convoluted path it has taken, BLADE'S GUIDE is still the best available general information and identification guide to knife collecting. Softcover, 576 pp., $29.95 http://www.knifeworld.com/bladesguide.html ________________________________________________________ " THE HISTORY OF DOLLAR KNIVES " -- NEW ________________________________________________________ by David Krauss and David Clark. An illustrated booklet on the knives produced under this Schatt and Morgan related brand name. This is an expanded version of a KNIFE WORLD feature article from 2004, with clearer illustrations and nicely bound. Read the full book review posted on our website! Softcover, 28 pp., $5.95 http://www.knifeworld.com/dollarknives.html ________________________________________________________ " U.S. MILITARY KNIVES, BAYONETS, AND MACHETES PRICE GUIDE " (FIFTH EDITION) -- SHOULD BE HERE ANY DAY! ________________________________________________________ NEW PRICES & NEW FORMAT !! We've changed the format of the new 5th edition M.P.G. to make it more pocketable & portable, and of course the values are as accurate as they can be, coming direct from the field's foremost authorities in Mike Silvey, Gary Boyd, and Frank Trzaska. We've also added three more knife books to those indexed, for a total of 12 of the best references on the subject -- many of which are probably sitting on your bookshelf. The 4th edition has been out of print for some time, and I understand that used copies have fetched as much as $75 apiece on eBay! Our printer is binding them as I type this, and we expect to have them in stock very soon. Order now and we'll ship yours as soon as they come in! Softcover, 72 pp. $9.95 http://www.knifeworld.com/militarypriceguide.html ________________________________________________________ KNIFE BOOK NEWS -- STILL LOTS TO REPORT! ________________________________________________________ Other recent releases include: " KNIVES 2006 " -- The annual standard on handmade and factory knives. http://www.knifeworld.com/knives2006.html " BLADE'S GUIDE TO MAKING KNIVES " -- a useful, well illustrated text. A DETAILED BOOK REVIEW OF THIS TITLE HAS BEEN ADDED... http://www.knifeworld.com/blguide2makingkn.html GONE: " SILVER FOLDING FRUIT KNIVES " by Bill Karsten -- all sold out. REVISED & UPDATED: SHARPENING MADE EASY -- the BEST book out there on sharpening, in our humble opinion (OK, so we may be biased, but take a look and you'll agree) http://www.knifeworld.com/sharmadeas.html ________________________________________________ WEBSITE UPDATES & OUT OF PRINT BOOKS ________________________________________________ LOTS of website updates this time around! The 2005 KNIFE WORLD Index has been posted to the website (even though it didn't make it into KW - see below!) In fact, all of the KW Index pages have been reworked, so if you have bookmarked them you will need to make new bookmarks. http://www.knifeworld.com/thisandthat1.html Lots of folks inquire about ordering KNIFE WORLD backissues based on what they find in the indexes, so I've added a more detailed page on how to order backissues. Got tired of typing all those responses! http://www.knifeworld.com/kwbackissues.html Incidentally, the KNIFE WORLD Knifemaker Indexes are still damaged, from some sort of problem with the host. I'll try to get them repaired in the coming months. Maybe we can add a couple more sample KNIFE WORLD articles as well! If you haven't seen the ones already posted, they can be found here: http://www.knifeworld.com/saofknwoar.html The articles in KNIVES 2006 have been added to our KNIVES '81-2006 ARTICLE INDEX -- another mighty handy reference available for FREE on the KW website, and fully searchable. http://www.knifeworld.com/arintokn8120.html Our LINKS page has been updated, bad links removed & etc. http://www.knifeworld.com/links.html We've also updated the Out of Print Book List, with more rare and hard-to-find titles for your reading pleasure. I've reduced prices on some unsold titles, too! To view our complete list with prices, visit: http://www.knifeworld.com/outofprdabo.html ________________________________________________ KNIFE WORLD BOOKS ________________________________________________ KNIFE WORLD BOOKS has existed since 1977 simply because we have the best selection and service around. We know our knife books! If you're seeking out an elusive knife book, or know what info you want but not which book it's in, we can help. And if you don't see the answer on our website, just email (knifepub@knifeworld.com) or call (865-397-1955) us... OUR BOOK CATEGORIES: Collectible Knives (two pages' worth!) Collectible Razors Military/Fighting Knives Bowie Knives Custom Knives Knives '81 - Knives 2006 annuals Knifemaking & How-to Knife Throwing Scrimshaw Knife Sharpening & Use Out of Print Books ALL to be found at: http://www.knifeworld.com/featuredbooks.html ____________________________________________________________ now in the mail - the FEBRUARY 2006 issue of "KNIFE WORLD" ____________________________________________________________ February's KNIFE WORLD contains the following articles: ... "THE DUBIOUS DOG LEG" by JOE SEALE No counterfeits here, just a little misunderstanding about what is and is not a "Dog leg" pattern in the world of cutlery (no dogs were harmed in the publication of this article). One of our all-time most popular writers, it's always good to see Joe on our cover! ... "THEY CALL HIM 'TOO TALL'" by B.R. HUGHES Journeyman smith BRION TOMBERLIN is rapidly establishing himself as a fine maker, and everyone that's met him knows Brion really "stands out" in more ways than one! Look to be hearing more from this maker in the years to come... ... "THE BECKER 'PIGSTICKER'" by BOB CAMPBELL It's not the first knife marketed for sticking pigs, but it's probably the first commercial knife intended for hunting wild boars, and it's sure built for it. (Incidentally, I couldn't find a place in the article to tip our hat to the king of wild boar knife-makers, Larry Harley, so we'll do it here. Get well soon Harley, and please hassle Richard for me.) ... "THE FIRST KNIFE" by ABE ELIAS Our first contribution from this skilled outdoorsman and woodcarver focuses on selecting a knife worthy of that youngster in your life. His suggestions are well thought out, and might surprise some folks! ... "RESTORATION OF A WWII KNIFE" by RICHARD WHITE The recent articles on knife cleaning sure have been well received, and now we offer Mr. White's detailed explanation of how a WESTERN "BABY SHARK" can be restored. The photographs are outstanding -- Richard has taught photography -- and the detailed text will have you believing that you can do it too. ... "LEATHERMAN'S MODEL e304x" by M. WILLSON OFFUTT This month's "Field Trial" focuses on a Leatherman that doesn't look like the typical Leatherman pocket-armory of tools -- thumbstud, linerlock, etc. -- but it certainly IS well thought out, in the firm's tradition. ... plus detailed reviews of "BLADE'S GUIDE TO KNIVES AND THEIR VALUES" reviewed by RON BUCHER "THE HISTORY OF DOLLAR KNIVES" reviewed by Knife World Staff "KNUCKLE DUSTERS AND KNUCKLE KNIVES" reviewed by Knife World Staff As always, BERNARD LEVINE's WHUT IZZIT features another interesting assortment of oddities to perplex and delight... included this month are a WWII theater knife(?) with a very strange marking, a large single blade Remington sleeveboard, and a couple of very fine EARLY English penknives (read late 18th / early 19th century), all covered in much detail. One of those penknives has a nifty trick, too - that alone is worth the price of admission! And what about ARTISTRY IN KNIVES, our handmade knife centerspread? This month features GRAY TAYLOR, HOWARD HITCHMOUGH, STAN WILSON, KAJ EMBRETSEN, REESE BOSE, LAMONT COOMBS JR., DWIGHT TOWELL, PETER WILE, TRACY MICKLEY, AND JAMES R. "COOKIE" COOK (I guess everyone named "Cook" is "Cookie" to some folks.) Mr. Cook was the subject of a recent profile, in our April, 2005 issue. IRONS IN THE FIRE ponders: to spey and not to spay, and some of the other minute difficulties of "knife lingo", and LETTERS TO THE EDITOR revisits SAVE A LIFE WITH A KNIFE and why "KNIFE WORLD" more resembles meat and potatoes than dessert. Of course there's also our exclusive CLUB CORNER (free listings for all nonprofit knife collecting and knifemaking organizations), the CLASSIFIEDS, and the biggest knife related EVENTS CALENDAR anywhere (and we do mean ANYWHERE). KNIFE WORLD really is the ONLY publication covering the WORLD of KNIVES. We even offer a free trial so you can see for yourself! http://www.knifeworld.com/knifwormag.htm ____________________________________________________________ what about the JANUARY 2006 issue of "KNIFE WORLD"?? ____________________________________________________________ No, we didn't skip one... just busy catching up on all the things we didn't get done when we couldn't keep up! Anyway, without further ado, here's the high points of what you saw -- or missed -- in January: ... "LITTLE TOWN WITH A BIG HISTORY" by DAVID ANTHONY A look at the cutlery companies hailing from TIDIOUTE, PENNA -- Not a large town, but once a large town in the world of knives. A lot of the older cutlery firms have ties to Tidioute, and Mr. Anthony's article throws a little well-deserved attention in their direction. ... "BILLY BOB'S TRIPLE CROWN" by B.R. HUGHES Come to think of it, that is sort of a strange title... but Macon, Georgia's Bill "Billy Bob" Sowell is an ABS Journeyman smith that has won a slew of awards, including the ABS/ABKA Bowie Knife Award three years running (wow!). Heckuva nice guy, too! Methinks there's an MS stamp in his future... ... "TOMAHAWKS, FROM THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR TO AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ" by DAVID STEELE. Coverage mainly of modern tomahawks, available models, and how they are being used by our overseas troops. A particularly well-done contribution from the longtime KW correspondent. ... "THE USMC 1219C2 OF WW II (Part Two)" by FRANK TRZASKA If "1219C2" doesn't ring a bell, how about "K-Bar"? Here's part two of the detailed story behind one of the world's most famous knives -- just not "famous" under that moniker! ... "THE MAKING OF A COLLECTOR" by RUSSELL CLEARY Or, how a nautical knife-user transforms into a collector, in just a few easy steps... ... "STARTING A KNIFE CLUB" by MICHAEL BLACK Mr. Black relates his experiences with a new knife club forming in the Richmond area, and how their experiences might relate to others interested in founding a local knife club. It might just be a bit inspirational! ... and also REVIEWS of BLADE'S GUIDE TO MAKING KNIVES (BOOK) A SAFETY RAZOR COMPENDIUM (CD-ROM) ________________________________________________ MISCELLANEOUS RAMBLINGS ________________________________________________ Well, we goofed. After many years of running an annual index in the back of each December issue, it slipped our minds during the holiday madness. Heck, we didn't even realize it until February was almost to press, so I guess everyone will have to track 2005's articles by the index on the KW website. Ah well, it's a better system anyway... Boy, does this editor feel glad to have the new "Military Knife Price Guide" finished -- it's been a long time coming. And please -- those of you who are familiar with the older editions, drop me an email and let me know what you think of the new format, good, bad or indifferent. I don't know of any other price guide that's anything like this one, regardless of field, and through four editions it's been a real success. Other than those thoughts, my brain and fingers are tired so I'll stop now. Lots of shows coming up in the March-April time frame; we'll bring you up to speed the next time around. Mark D. Zalesky Editor, KNIFE WORLD knifepub@knifeworld.com ** Questions or comments? Letters to the KNIFE WORLD editor? ** Send them along to "knifepub@knifeworld.com". We'd love to hear from you! Yes, really!! Knife World Publications - PO Box 3395 - Knoxville, TN 37927 --- phone 1-800-828-7751 --- **** These Online Newsletters are now available for viewing directly on our website; the URL is http://www.knifeworld.com/joinouremlis1.html *** If you have online friends who are interested in knives, we would appreciate it if you would let them know about our website, this mailing list, and of course our three-month trial subscription offer if they're not familiar with KNIFE WORLD. They can sign up right here: http://www.knifeworld.com/thremonfretr.html ONE three-month trial offer per household (and yes, we check). This is a straightforward, no-obligation offer -- that's the way we do business. ** Not interested? ** Your email address was obtained from either a direct request to be on this list, or an order from our website. 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