How to Make Knives
June 1st, 2008 by swordandknifefactory Posted in Books
Krause Publications (March 1995). By Richard W. Barney & Robert W. Loveless. 191 pages.
If you want to make knives with modern tools this is a good book to buy.
REVIEW
I have to agree with the other reviews of this book that it is a total classic, and an excellent primer/guide to the craft of knifemaking. I don’t have anything to add on that score. There were just a couple of things I was surprised at when I saw it in hard copy - firstly, that it was first printed in 1977. This dates it a bit, although obviously it all still stands (Loveless’ stock removal method and Moran’s forging still being better than first class). Secondly, the “”explicit and detailed photographs”" (from the preface) are mared by poor reproduction. It looks like Krause Publications have simply photocopied the original. For example, a picture on page 50 captioned “”Now it looks right”" is indecipherable. For the most part this is not a problem, however. It is well to be aware of these issues. However, it remains a text book from masters of the art.