Knifemaking: A Complete Guide to Crafting Knives, Handles & Sheaths [Paperback]

Bo Bergman (Author), Holly Boswell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1997

This volume offers 12 projects which take the reader though every step of knifemaking, from blade selection and sharpening to crafting handles to making and decorating sheaths.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Swedish

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Lark Books; First Edition edition (December 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 188737437X
• ISBN-13: 978-1887374378
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #798,910 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a blademaking book, a good book on making Nordic knives, November 7, 2002

By 

High Plains Grifter (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knifemaking: A Complete Guide to Crafting Knives, Handles & Sheaths (Paperback)

If you're a blacksmith looking for tips on making knife blades, there's not a lot here for you. Sorry. But if you'd like to make a knife without building a forge or buying a stock-removal system, you're in the right place. This book was originally written for the Scandinavian market, and then translated into English. The people of Sweden, Norway and Finland often buy an inexpensive (locally made) knife blade, then assemble the handle from wood, or birch bark, antlers, brass spacers, etc...and make a leather and/or wooden sheath for themselves. They wind up with a 'custom' knife for the low price of a blade, their time, and a few natural materials they gather on the spot. This is a tradition in their part of the world, and this book shows how to do it, and do it very well. It has clearly translated instructions, good illustrations, it's well worth the asking price. FWIW, I've made these knives and I love 'em. They're inexpensive enough to make and give away, and a knife you've made will be one of the best gifts you can ever given anyone. I don't sell my knives, but that's up to you.

If you're interested in learning how to do this, use your favorite search engine to find info on purchasing the blades blanks worldwide, the blade makers include such companies as Helle, Frosts, Brusletto, Eriksson, Karesuando, Marttiini. A lot of the blade vendors in Scandinavia, two vendor's of these blade blanks in the US that I recommend are Ragweedforge.com and Kellamknives.com. With a $12 blade and this book, some wood, some glue and some time you, too, can make great knives.

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to a beautiful art!, January 11, 2000

By 

Sara Olsson (Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knifemaking: A Complete Guide to Crafting Knives, Handles & Sheaths (Paperback)

Bo Bergman might not yet be known outside Scandinavia, but here he has been one of the brightest shining stars in the area of creative knifemaking for over a decade. His book "Knifemaking" is a compilation of two of his bestselling books and it contains all the things you need to know to become a passionate craftsman.

The instructions are very easy to follow and a lot of pictures and illustrations guide you through all the steps. Througout the text you can really tell that Bo Bergman not only knows what he is talking about, but also that he also loves what he is doing.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that wishes to express themselves through a very beautyful and long lasting art.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, December 9, 2004

By 

Kiirrk "Kiirrk" (Utah) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Knifemaking: A Complete Guide to Crafting Knives, Handles & Sheaths (Paperback)

I got the recomendation for this book off the Ragweed web site. It was rather hard to find, but Amazon found it for me. I am a beginner knife maker, and this book is perfect for a beginner, you will learn so much. Why bother making a blade when you can buy some great blades from Thompson's Scandinavian Knife supply or North Coast knife supply. Who has the time or equipment to forge a blade? You can get a nice Lauri pt with a rockwell sharpness of 63 that will be sharper than anything you now own. Bo will show you how to make the handle and sheath for your knife. He has quite a few step by step projects that are incredibly detailed. The knifes turn out great and they will be unlike any you see on the net. Many of the Scandinavian web sites just have pukko style knives. He has a large varitey of scandianvian knifes. He has instructions for a handle made out of layers of birch bark that looks awesome. I am making a Sami style knife at the moment and it looks great. You learn something with each knife. His instructions on making sheaths is alone worth the price of the book. He shows you how to make all leather, wood and leather, and all wood sheaths, very cool. I would recommed this book to anyone who wants to make a very function knife that they can actually use. Many of the knife books out there show you how to make huge knives that are really not that practical, if you need a weapon, get a gun. But if you want a knife that has years of tradition behind and can be a great tool,then get this book.