Customer Reviews

The Complete Book of Pocketknife Repair: A Cutlers Manual

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A newcomer to pocketknife repair, this books gives me a start, but doesn't take me very far. It's a small and slim book to begin with (130 pages) but take away the appendix-like materials that are peripheral to repair (such as knife maintenance, sharpening, a section on angles for drill bit points (!), several reproduced Starrett reference tables, types of handle and blade patterns, and other peripheral information you can get from other sources) and the book's down to around 100 pages. Take away the section on the tools used for repair (which is definitely helpful, but there's a full page illustration of what a drill press looks like, another full page illustration of what a bandsaw looks like--you see where I'm going with this) and you're down to around 75 pages. Those remaining 75 pages are well-illustrated with big photos, but there isn't a whole lot of text here. What text does exist, is very good and informative! There's a 28-page sequence showing the repair of an old Case congress slipjoint, which is the sort of thing I purchased the book for, but new blades suddenly appear from nowhere in one of the sequence photos, and no explanation is given where they came from, how they were made, or how they were fitted to the knife. So after I've read the book in about 30 minutes, I find myself wishing the author simply spent more time talking to me about this subject and showing me techniques. He's obviously an experienced pro; just a little stingy with information. On the other hand, it's certainly a decent start, and I'm unaware of any other books out there on this subject, so if you're wanting to learn knife repair from a book, this appears to be one of your few options. I would recommend you get the book because the information that's here is good. Just don't expect the COMPLETE book of pocketknife repair!

this book should've been called the incomplete book of pocketknife repair. dont buy this book thinking it will walk you through step by step. bad drawings, bad photos, much omitted detail. this guy should've hired a writer to co-author.

What do you call the part of the blade that rests on the backspring...that is the kick. Lots of good information on taking knives apart and putting them back together, but you will find yourself asking questions that aren't answered. On the flip side, there isn't anything better out there.