Blade's Guide to Making Knives [Paperback]

Joe Kertzman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 2005

Blade Building Made Easy

The world's finest knifemakers learned to ply their trade through trial and error. They honed their skills with blood, sweat and tears. Never before has there been a fully illustrated, all-color, step-by-step book on how to make knives - until now! And, as a bonus, two chapters are dedicated to sword and tomahawk making.

Novice knifemakers, knife enthusiasts and shop junkies of the world, this is the book of your dreams!

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  Learn to grind blades
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  Fashion handles the easy way
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  Forge steel like the pros
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  Fashion bolsters and guards
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  Fit and finish those bladed beauties

Chapters are penned by some of the world's greatest knifemakers, including Wane Goddard, Allen Elishewitz, Rick Dunkerley, Don Fogg, R.J. Martin, Jow Szilaski and John Lewis Jensen.

Seeing is believing, and with over 400 step-by-step illustrations guiding you along the way to making your first or finest knife, this book is a must-have for any knife enthusiast's library. Have fun, and be careful!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joe Kertzman has authored 12 editions of the Knives annual book, as well as the Art of the Knife, BLADE's Guide to Making Knives and four editions of Sporting Knives. Joe is also Managing Editor of BLADE Magazine. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications; 1 edition (August 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896892409
• ISBN-13: 978-0896892408
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,960 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book for the novice to intermediate knifemaker, January 10, 2007

By 

Kevin L. Currin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blade's Guide to Making Knives (Paperback)

If you are new to knife making and want to make your first knife you are better off buying either the $50 Knife Shop by Wayne Goddard or Custom Knifemaking - 10 Projects from a master craftsman by Tim McCreight (both of which I own) or, if you can get an edition with clear photos How to Make Knives by Richard Barney and Bob Loveless.
If you have some experience you will find some useful tips that may help you.
In 6 of the 7 sections of Blades Guide the editor has assumed a fairly high degree of knowledge, skill and expensive equipment for the projects that it overviews. I say overviews as I do not think a novice could use any of the sections except one (and I will come to that one later) as a manual to successfully complete the projects descibed. The projects are the construction of a tactical folder, the construction of a simple hunting knife, creation of pattern welded damascus, elementary sword smithing, installation of fancy screw fixed bolsters, forging a damascus tomahawk and blade grinding on a belt grinder.
While the sections are well illustrated with colour photos and the text is easy to follow, the only section that a novice could use is Wayne Goddard's section on the creation of a simple hunting knife and even then large bits of this text and photos are lifted straight from the $50 Knife Shop. The book does not have any real commentary on knife format and design, steel descriptions, classification and choosing the best steel for the job or sheathmaking or sharpening.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blade's Guide To Making Knives by Joe Kerrtzman, June 26, 2008

By 

Arthur C. Lawrence (Eastern Sierra, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blade's Guide to Making Knives (Paperback)

I'm a want-to-be bladesmith hungry for information. This book is a great overview for making all types of blades including but not limited to a folder, a basic fixed blade, a sword and a hawk. It shows tools, metals and techniques for making blades using a well thought out format and a beautiful layout. I had to buy it because the library got tired of me borrowing it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better books available, January 30, 2010

By 

Sean Elkins (Owenton, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Blade's Guide to Making Knives (Paperback)

The pictures are B & W, and aren't even particularly good B & W. David Boye's book is better and more detailed, as are several others. I know Loveless is a legend as a knife maker, but that doesn't have any impact on his written work. OK to buy as a historical document but there are better first books if you want to learn to be a knife maker.