Some of my favorite resources for getting started in exploring the rich history of traditional pocket knives
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Getting Started:
Levine's Guide to Knives & their Values by Bernard Levine and Bud Lang
If you want a grounded understanding in knife patterns, history, etc, then start here!
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The Standard Knife Collector's Guide by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart
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American Pocket Knives A History of Schatt & Morgan and Queen Cutlery By David A. Krauss
David is a really nice guy and his book is an excellent read on one of my favorite old companies. Also, David's intro on knife history is a must read.
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Fascinating Reads:
The below are all in the public domain
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A Man of Samples - Something about the Men He Met "on the Road." by William H. Maher · 1886
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The Cutlery Trades An Historical Essay in the Economics of Small-scale Production by Godfrey Isaac Howard Lloyd · 1913
The Manufacture of Steel Containing the Practice and Principles of Working and Making Steel by Frederick Overman, A. A. Fesquet · 1873
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Archaeology dig of the New York Knife Company by the University of the State of New York. · 1999
This is a fascinating look at the survey and excavation of the grounds of this former powerhouse of a knife company. What was left behind will shock and astonish readers!
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The American Cutler - Official Organ of the Cutlery Industry
US Trade mag from the early 1900s targeted to manufacturers, job shops, and retailers. Multiple bound years available
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Catalogs:
One of the best ways to piece together knife history - and maybe even test urban legends.
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Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett and Co - One of the best hardware stores of our great-great grandfather's time! Famed hardware store based in Chicago and originator of the True Value brand. The below catalog PDF links are large downloads.
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Web Resources:
Self-descriptive! This site has many good reads on both Queen and Schatt & Morgan with new content added frequently
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Support a great magazine and writers. A digital subscription also gets you access to their lengthy magazine and book archive.
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The World's best manufacturer of production pocket knives. You can get them from Austin!
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