From: hes@ncsu.edu (Henry E. Schaffer)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: KNIVES '93 - A Book Review
Date: 1 Jan 93 23:57:09 GMT
Organization: North Carolina State University

KNIVES '93  (13th Annual Edition)
Edited by Ken Warner
DBI Books, Inc.  ISBN 0-87349-134-3
8 1/2" x 11" 288 pages paperbound $15.95
On the cover it says" Today's Knives - The Latest in Technical 
Developments and Design Trends: A type-by-type look at what's
being made: State of the art reports on materials and
techniques.: Extensive directory of makers, supplies, sources.

  If you like knives and are interested in just about any aspect
of knives and related cutlery then this is a book for you.  It
won't teach you how to make knives - that aspect is not covered
other than in the directory area, but it covers most everything
else.  The photographs are outstanding in number and in illustrative
value.  They are all in black and white, other than the cover, but
show details of construction, materials and decoration.  The
information value of this book is very high, and the price is quite
modest - and remember that DBI books are available mail-order on a
2 for 1 basis (check any gun magazine for their ad.)

Contents [my comments in brackets]

Introduction
FEATURES
In Search of No. 6 Choy Doh by Steven Dick
  [The typical Chinese-style cooking cleaver. More than you ever
  wanted to know, but told by someone who collects these and uses
  them in the kitchen.]
Knives of the Canary Islands by Woodson Gannaway
  [A discussion of distinctive working knives made there, with their
  washer-based, inlaid handles and heeled blade.  Told by someone
  who has learned to make these.]
A Navy Knife of the Great War by Bernard Levine
  [Tracking down the Navy issue pocket knife.  Told by one of the
  real authorities on knives and their history.  Note that Levine
  has published an excellent book on knife identification, and
  writes a column "Whut Izzit" in the monthly Knife World.]
We Called Him Mr. Ruana by Lance Strong
  [Stories and biographical information about knifemaker Rudy H.
  Ruana of Montana.]
The Stuffs Knives Are Made Of by Ken Warner
  [General discussion of blade and handle materials.]
The Knives I Kept by John Lachuk
  [Long reminiscence of a collector and user about which knives he
  liked and about their makers.]
Why We Collect Pruners by Richard and Teresa Stein
  [folding pruning knives]
The Eight Dollar Mountain Foundry and its Dessert Storm Knives 
by Steven Dick
  [Dale Sandberg decided to make knives out of lumber saws for his
  son's unit in the National Guard at the start of Desert Shield.
  This is a story of the knife, the cast aluminum knuckle duster
  handle he casts onto the steel blade and the variations.]
The Other Knives of Desert Storm by Ken Warner
  [A short review of some other knives intended by knifemakers to 
  get to the troops.]
TRENDS [short reviews of the mainstream and the fringes]
Boys from the Forks of the Creek [makers who sell at flea markets]
The Overseas Contingent [Japan, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, ...]
  Hunters; Folders; Big and Brawny
What do You Mean, Personal?  [small utilitarian knives for carrying]
Folding Standards [mostly lots of photos with short captions]
  Investment Knives; Shaped with Style; Pattern Welded Blades;
  Embellished Every One; Selected Slip Joints; Working Patterns;
  Mechanically Different.
Daggers and Fighters
  Mainstream Daggers; Baroque Daggers; Patterns of Old; The Stiletto
  Style; Mainstream Fighters; Fancy Fighters; Boot Knives; Sub-Hilt
  Fighters.
Straight Standards
  Bowies; Fish and Fillet Knives; Camp Knives; Fantasies; Push and
  Claw; Hunters; Utility Hunters; Skinners.
Away to the East [Oriental knives]
  The Japanese Look; Persia and Elsewhere.
Swords:  Still a Select Group
Miniatures: Bigger and Better
The Hungarian Airborne's Throwing Dagger by Steven Dick
  [Strange system in which the scabbard is held in the hand and a
  snap of the arm throws out the dagger.]
New Leather, Great Leather [sheaths]
  Classic Cases; Carry Cases.
Miscellany
Why Go to Shows?
STATE OF THE ART [emphasis on custom made]
The Swiss Fix Is In [about K.J. Lewis who reworks and customizes 
  Swiss Army Knives]
Study and Steel and Shape and Stuff  [photos with captions]
  Steel; Shape; Grinds; Texture; Tools.
Found: A Real SEAL Knife
They Call it Cryogenics [short discussion of cryogenic treatment]
Scrimshaw [Riddle: What is a person called who does scrimshaw?]
  People and Such; Birds and Animals.
Engravers
Carving and Etching
FACTORY TRENDS
The Pliers-Knife Story by Butch Winter
  [discussion and review of the Leatherman tool, the competing ones
  from Gerber and SOG and the history of previous tool.]
The Mechanically Different [innovative locking mechanisms]
Reinventing the Wheel [a critical review of kitchen type sharpeners]
Here Comes Pakistan
New Knives in Production
  Folders; Straight Knives; Swords.
DIRECTORY [WOW! A Treasure trove of information!]
Custom Knifemakers [with short descriptions of what they do, prices, ...
 for something around 1,000 knifemakers]
Knives '93 [a 24 page section of photos of custom knives]
Knifemakers State-by-State [a bunch in NC, but none in Raleigh :-(]
Knifemakers Membership Lists [Knifemakers Build, American Bladesmith
  Society, Miniature Knifemaker's Society, and a bunch of State and
  Regional Associations.]
Knife Photo Index [alphabetical by knifemaker, engraver, scrimshander
  - yes that's the name for someone who does scrimshaw, etchers/
  carvers, and handle artisans.  For this edition and then also for
  past editions.]
Specialty Cutlers
General Cutlers
Importers & Foreign Cutlers
Knifemaking Supplies
Mail-Order Sales
Knife Services [engravers, heat treaters, leatherworkers, 
  photographers, scrimshanders, misc. 
Organizations & Publications.
Knife Terminology

  Well, that should give you a taste of the contents.  Nobody will
be interested in every word, but everyone will find a lot to like.
Especially if you like seeing the vast variety which is illustrated
in the many hundreds of photos.

--henry schaffer