Many of the older knife books contain valuable information that cannot be found anywhere else, whether it be specifics on a company or knifemaker, or a technique for pinning fragile handle material that no current book addresses. In order to help knife enthusiasts locate these hard to find books, we have established this service.
In most cases, we only have one copy of each book, so everything is offered on a first-come, first serve basis. Several damaged books are also included for those of you looking to save a few dollars here and there. Most of these books are in respectable used condition - they may show signs of storage, or have a note or old price written in them. If they have excessive damage, it will be noted. Catalogs are all reprints unless specifically noted (we don't handle originals).
If you have any questions about these books (condition, general content, etc.) please call us at 865-397-1955, or email us at knifepub@knifeworld.com. If you need to know what is available in your field of interest or are seeking recommendations, we can help you there as well. If you have out-of-print books for sale, please let us know.
This list changes constantly, so check back with us often.
How to Order
Contact us by phone at 1-800-828-7751 or by email at knifepub@knifeworld.com to check availability. If the book you're looking for is still in stock, we will take your order by credit card and ship the book immediately. If paying by check or money order, we will hold the book for you for total of one week only.
ARRANGEMENT: -Title- -Author- -Year- -Publisher- -Binding/Price-
General / Miscellaneous
600 Scout Knives (Plus 136 Unofficial) (very scarce book, with written notes throughout) Kerr 1997 author SC $30.00
2002 Sporting Knives Kertzman 2001 Krause SC $10.00
2003 Sporting Knives Kertzman 2002 Krause SC $10.00
2004 Sporting Knives Kertzman 2003 Krause SC $14.00
ABCA Price Guide to Antique Knives (see IBCA Price Guide to Antique Knives)
**** Sargent’s “American Premium Guide” series - the contents have changed each year; note that the contents listing on cover of the 4th edition is incorrect ****
American Premium Guide to Pocket Knives (2nd ed) (well used but all there) Sargent 1989 Books Americana SC $18.00
(2nd edition includes Case/Remington/Winchester/Queen/Schrade/Western/Keen Kutter)
American Premium Guide to Pocket Knives (3rd ed) (well used but all there) Sargent 1992 Books Americana SC $18.00
(3rd edition includes Case/Remington/Winchester/Queen/Western/Browning/Pal)
American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors (6th ed) Sargent 2004 Krause SC $18.95
(6th edition includes Case/Remington/Queen knives, very little on razors. This is presently the last book in the series on Remington knives.
*American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors (6th ed) Sargent 2004 Krause SC $18.95
* (6th edition includes Case/Remington/Queen knives, very little on razors. This is presently the last book in the series on Remington knives.
****
Antique Medical Instruments (with detailed descriptions of instruments & line drawings) Wilbur 1987 Schiffer SC $12.00
Best of Knife World Vol. II (cover creased & title written on spine) various 1983 Knife World SC $45.00
Best of Knife World Vol. III (well worn cover & a few notes throughout) various 1993 Knife World SC $20.00
The Case Knife Story (on Case tang stamps) Swayne 1987 Knife World SC $7.00
Case Pocket Price Guide Vol. 1 (1982) (stained cover) Sargent/Schleyer 1982 Knife Nook SC $10.00
Case Pocket Price Guide Vol. 2 (1980s) Sargent/Schleyer 1980s Knife Nook SC $10.00
Case, The First 100 Years (dust jacket yellowed, cover with tear) Giles 1989 SMKW HC $60.00
(great history & tidbits on Case, many color photos)
Counterfeiting Antique Cutlery (a guide to defend yourself against fakes, dinged corners) Witcher 1997 National Brokerage & Sales HC $40.00
For Knife Lovers Only (on knife throwing, Scagel, and more) McEvoy 1979 Knife World SC $16.00
George Schrade and His Accomplishments to the Knife Industry (cover worn) Schrade 1982 author SC $25.00
**** Goins - the late John Goins published five different books on cutlery markings and manufacturers, the last with his wife Charlotte.
**** The last book in the series, 1998’s “Goins Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings, 2nd ed.” is still available from us, and is by FAR the most complete. ****
* Pocketknives, Markings, Manufacturers and Dealers, (1st ed.) (cover rubbed) Goins 1979 author SC $15.00
* Pocketknives, Markings, Manufacturers and Dealers, (1st ed.) (clean, great copy) Goins 1979 author SC $25.00
****
**** Gun Digest Series by Hughes/Lewis/Combs - 1993 through 1997, 5 ed’s. plus the GD Book of Folding knives & GD Book of Knifemaking ****
* Gun Digest Book of Folding Knives, The; Hughes/Lewis 1977 DBI Books SC $15.00
* Gun Digest Book of Knives, The; 1st Ed. (slight water damage) Hughes/Lewis 1973 DBI Books SC $15.00
* Gun Digest Book of Knives, The; 2nd Ed. (cover worn) Lewis/Combs 1982 DBI Books SC $12.00
* Gun Digest Book of Knives, The; 4th Ed. Lewis/Combs 1992 DBI Books SC $12.00
* Gun Digest Book of Knives, The; 5th Ed. Lewis/Combs 1997 DBI Books SC $12.00
****
Guns & Ammo Guidebook to Knives & Edged Weapons (interesting book, wide coverage) various 1974 Petersen SC $20.00
The History of the John Russell Cutlery Co. (fantastic history, with jacket cover) Merriam et al. 1975 Bete Press HC $90.00
**** ABCA / IBCA Price Guides by Voyles -- the 1990 ABCA and 1995 IBCA books on “Antique (pocket) Knives” are identical except for the prices. ****
**** These remain popular mainly because of the guide to condition grading, and the ease by which knives in less than mint condition can be graded. ****
**** The “Commemorative Knives” book is the only one of its kind, and issued only in 1995. The promised book on Custom Knives was never completed. ****
* IBCA Price Guide to Antique Knives, 2nd Edition Voyles 1995 Krause SC $18.00
* IBCA Price Guide to Commemorative Knives 1960-1990 Voyles 1995 Krause SC $15.00
****
Introduction to Switchblade Knives, An (bad binding as these usually have) Myers & Myers 1982 American Eagle SC $35.00
Kentucky Knife Trader’s Manual #6 (predecessor to Standard Knife Coll. Guide) Ritchie/Stewart 1980 authors SC $8.00
Knife Album (hardcover collection of vintage knife catalog reprints) Mayes 1976 author HC $40.00
**** “Knife Digest” series - only two editions were published, but they contain some of the finest knife writing you’ll ever see. These are outstanding books!
* Knife Digest, Second Edition (factory knives, Will & Finck, much more) Cassidy 1976 Knife Digest Publishing SC $20.00
****
The Knife Guide (a collection of the first 36 installments of Knife World’s “Whut Izzit”) Levine 1981 Knife World SC $25.00
same, spine cleanly taped Levine 1981 Knife World SC $20.00
Knife Trader’s Guide (good for pricing customs and some factory knives) Russell 1991 Paul Wahl SC $12.00
**** “Knives” annual series by Warner/Kertzman - 1981 to present, one each year, all in softcover ****
* Knives ‘81 Warner 1980 DBI Books SC $40.00
* Knives ‘82 Warner 1981 DBI Books SC $40.00
* Knives ‘83 Warner 1982 DBI Books SC $45.00
* Knives ‘85 Warner 1984 DBI Books SC $40.00
* Knives ‘86 Warner 1985 DBI Books SC $35.00
* Knives ‘87 Warner 1986 DBI Books SC $30.00
* Knives ‘88 Warner 1987 DBI Books SC $35.00
* Knives ‘89 Warner 1988 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘90 Warner 1989 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘92 Warner 1991 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘93 Warner 1992 DBI Books SC $15.00
* Knives ‘94 Warner 1993 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘95 Warner 1994 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘96 Warner 1995 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘96 (some pages stained at edges) Warner 1995 DBI Books SC $15.00
* Knives ‘97 Warner 1996 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘98 Warner 1997 DBI Books SC $20.00
* Knives ‘99 Warner 1998 Krause Books SC $20.00
****
Knives and the Law Nielsen 1980 Knife World SC $10.00
**** Levine’s Guide to Knives and Their Values by Bernard Levine (commonly known as LGI, LGII, LGIII, LGIV etc.) ****
**** The first 4 editions (1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997) were authored completely by Levine and are treasured as informative resources on a wide range of knives. ****
**** Levine split with the publisher before the 5th edition and while the pocketknife valuation system was replaced, new info has been added to each subsequent edition. ****
**** The book’s title was changed to “Blade’s Guide to Knives & Their Values” in 2005 (i.e. 6th Edition). The 4th Editon fetches the highest prices today. ****
*Levine’s Guide to Knives and Their Values, 4th Ed. (used hard & cover shows it!) Levine 1997 DBI Books SC $45.00
****
New England Cutlery (very well researched company & maker histories, great book) Pankiewicz 1986 Hollytree SC $30.00
**** Parker/Voyles/Price’s “Official Price Guide” series: 14 editions 1976-present, not including the pocket price guides (83 - 85?) ****
**** The 2nd thru 8th editions have an extensively illustrated & very useful Ka-Bar section ****
* Official Price Guide to Collector Knives (9th Ed.) (bad binding - typical of 9th) Parker 1987 House of Collectibles SC $6.00
* Official Price Guide to Collector Knives (10th Ed.) (1st edition by C Houston Price) Price 1991 House of Collectibles SC $8.00
* Official Price Guide to Collector Knives (14th Ed.) Price 2004 House of Collectibles SC $12.00
****
Official Scout Blades (2nd printing, with owner’s notes throughout) Holbrook 1998 author SC $15.00
Penknives and Other Folding Knives (Shire Album series) Moore 1988 ShirePublications SC $12.00
Pocketknives, Markings, Manufacturers and Dealers (see GOINS)
Pocket Knife Traders Price Guide, Vol. 2 Parker 1994 author SC $8.00
volumes 1 & 2 of the above are known for the useful Marble’s section, picturing some very rare knives
The Razor Anthology (a collection of articles from the pages of KNIFE WORLD) various 1997 Knife World SC $30.00
Remington Catalog No. C-5 (1925, this is the large one -- some notes on cover & p.3) 1980s SC $40.00
****Romance of Knife Collecting (and various variations upon that theme) - Dewey and Lavona Ferguson wrote something like 18 different knife books with titles like this;
*some were general collectors guides, some Case-specific, and some simply price guides. They are interesting books and make great collecibles themselves!
*Note that there were four editions of “Romance of Collecting Case Knives”, and four editions of “Romance of Knife Collecting”.
*Romance of Collecting Case Knives (2nd edition, green cover) Ferguson 1974 author SC $25.00
*Romance of Collecting Case Knives (4th edition, pink cover) (some loose pages but all there) Ferguson 1978 author SC $20.00
*Romance of Collecting Cattaraugus, Robeson, Russell, & Queen (w/notes & 2 loose pages) Ferguson 1978 author SC $30.00
*Price Guide to Romance of Knife Collecting (1974 ed.) Ferguson 1974 author SC $6.00
*Price Guide to Romance of Knife Collecting (1977 ed.) year written on cover Ferguson 1977 author SC $6.00
Price Guide to Romance of Knife Collecting (1978 ed.) year written on cover Ferguson 1978 author SC $6.00
Price Guide to Romance of Knife Collecting (1979 ed.) year written on cover Ferguson 1979 author SC $6.00
****
Russell Green River Cutlery Reproduction (catalog reprint w/ pics of repros, value guide) Ferguson 1972 author SC $30.00
slightly dogeared... a quite rare reprint, a must-have for Russell collectors.
The Sheffield Knife Book (excellent history & useful collectors information) Tweedale 1996 Hallamshire Press HC $100.00
Silver Folding Fruit Knives (an introduction to fruit knives) Karsten 1986 Knife World SC $10.00
Standard Knife Collectors Guide (1st Edition, includes Puma chart) Ritchie/Stewart 1986 Collector Books SC $8.00
Standard Knife Collectors Guide (2nd Edition, good sections on Buck Creek/ Taylor) Ritchie/Stewart 1993 Collector Books SC $6.00
Standard Knife Collectors Guide (3rd Edition, good sections on Buck Creek/ Taylor) Ritchie/Stewart 1997 Collector Books SC $6.00
Standard Knife Collectors Guide (4th Edition, good sections on Buck Creek/ Taylor) Ritchie/Stewart 2003 Collector Books SC $8.00
Sunday Knives (8 pp. COLOR booklet on fancy pearl knives - abalone etc. Roberts 1979 author SC $5.95
Switchblade, The Ace of Blades (First edition) (basic introduction to autos) Benson 1989 Paladin SC $10.00
Value Guide to Barberiana & Shaving Collectibles (useful razor reference, signed by author)Krumholz 1988 author SC $25.00
Bowies, Swords, Arms & Armor, Military Knives, Etc. (see also General / Miscellaneous category)
Bowie Knives of the Ben Palmer Collection (1st ed.) (b&w pics of some nice bowies) Palmer/Moran/Phillips 1992 Phillips HC $35.00
Butterfield & Butterfield Auction Cat. #6552, 1/28/97, Bowie Knives, W.R. Williamson Butterfields 1997 Butterfields SC $160.00
The second great bowie auction, a necessary reference for bowie collectors. Softcover, with copy of auction results
Butterfield & Butterfield Auction Cat. #6552, 1/28/97, Bowie Knives, W.R. Williamson Butterfields 1997 Butterfields HC $220.00
The second great bowie auction, a necessary reference for bowie collectors. Hardcover, still sealed in plastic, with original copy of auction results.
The Kentucky Rfle Hunting Pouch (pouches and everything that went in them, incl. knives.) Grant 1977 author HC $50.00
The Peacemakers; Arms and Adventure in the American West (loaded with great guns & bowies) Wilson 1992/2004 Chartwell (reissue) HC $30.00
A Sure Defence, The Bowie Knife Book (nice little book, with Australian spin) Burton 1988 author HC $45.00
U.S. Military Knives Price Guide 1st edition Silvey/Boyd/Price 1993 Knife World Books SC $10.00
U.S. Military Knives Price Guide 2nd edition Silvey/Boyd/Price 1994 Knife World Books SC $5.00
United States Military Knives, A Collectors Guide (1 bent corner) Silvey/Boyd 1989/90 author SC $60.00
United States Military Knives 1941 to 1991 (tattered dust jacket, prices written throughout) Silvey 1992 author HC $240.00
U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets & Machetes , Book III (“Cole III”) (tattered dust jacket) Cole 1979/96 CJA HC $100.00
U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets & Machetes , Book IV (“Cole IV”) (tattered dust jacket) Cole 1990/91 author HC $130.00
Custom Knives and Knifemaking (see also General / Miscellaneous category)
The Custom Knife... II, Book of Pocket Knives and Folding Hunters (early handmades) Bates & Shippers 1974 Custom Knife Press HC $40.00
The Great Collections (still in the original shipping box) Darom 2007 Saviolo HC $65.00
Knife Collection of Albert Blevins, The (color pics of mostly 1970s & ‘80s handmades) Levine 1988 A. Schoener SC $8.00
Scrimshaw Connection 1982, The (well done B&W book with photos, techniques, etc) Engnath 1982 House of Muzzle Loading SC $100.00
Damaged Books
(These are mostly current books, offered at a discount. No damage to the contents unless specifically noted. NO RETURNS on damaged books.)
Title/Damage Author Retail Binding/Price
How to Scrimshaw and Carve Ivory (printed dark or poor staple job) Collins $6.95 SC $3.95
The Military Knife & Bayonet (corners dinged or scuffed covers) Brett $69.95 HC $55.00
Knife World Knives
Every five years since 1982, we have offered a limited edition knife to collectors. Over the years, we have informally bought, sold, and traded these knives so that we would always have a few on hand for the newer collectors.
1982 1st Edition Knife World Knife by Cripple Creek, 1 of 2000. Bone handled swell-center 2-blade jack that has a ‘kink’ in the center. NONE available at present.
1987 2nd Edition Knife World Knife by Cripple Creek, 1 of 500. Bone handled large equal-end ‘cigar’ pattern. NONE available at present.
1992 3rd Edition Knife World Knife by Fight’n Rooster, 1 of 500. Buffalo horn handled ‘powderhorn,’ gold washed blade. The only examples we have on hand are those that have minor handle flaws - $45.00 each, inquire for details.
1997 4th Edition Knife World Knife by Winchester, 1 of 350. Honey bone handled five-blade sowbelly stockman. NONE available at present.
Two places you can find color photographs of these knives are on the cover of “Best of Knife World Vol. III” and on the third page of the color section of “The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives” (11th Ed.) A photo can also be found on our website, www.knifeworld.com. Each knife has an etched blade and all but the 2nd edition have a “Knife World” shield.
last updated 5/12/09