The Standard Knife Collector's Guide (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Roy Ritchie (Author), Ron Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Series: Standard Knife Collectors Guide, 4th ed | Publication Date: November 1996

This book includes virtually all knife manufacturers, both old and new: Chicago Cutlery, Holley, Belknap, Eagle, Remington, E.C. Simmons, Shapleigh, Winchester, Aerial, and Imperial, to name just a few. The guide presents a common sense system for 'total appraisal' using the RBR scales; overviews of all the major knife companies; notes on commemoratives, reproductions, and limited editions; knife clubs and organizations; numbering systems used by companies; and current collector values. More than 800 line drawings and an expanded full color photo gallery showcasing the various handle materials -- celluloid, wood, bone, abalone, ivory, metal, plastic, and more. 2002 values. AUTHORBIO: Roy Ritchie is a noted expert on knives, and provides certified appraisals of knives and collections, as well as assists insurance companies with appraisals and adjustment evaluations. He and co-author Ron Stewart published one of the earliest books for collectors, the Kentucky Knife Traders Manual. They went on to publish the bestselling Standard Knife Collector's Guide, and later books followed: Big Book of Pocket Knives, Cattaraugus Cutlery Company, and Standard Guide to Razors. AUTHORBIO: Ron Stewart is a noted expert on knives, and provides certified appraisals of knives and collections, as well as assists insurance companies with appraisals and adjustment evaluations. He and co-author Roy Ritchie published one of the earliest manuals for collectors, the Kentucky Knife Traders Manual. They went on to publish the bestselling Standard Knife Collector's Guide, then others like Big Book of Pocket Knives, Cattaraugus Cutlery Company, and Standard Guide to Razors. REVIEW: Standard Knife Collector's Guide: big, wide-ranging, and inexpensive. These factors have made this title one of the three or four most popular books in the knife business. With almost a hundred pages added to this edition, the new page count comes to nearly 800. The heart of this book is the extensive listing of major knife companies and brands, which provides many illustrated examples that apply the authors "RBR" system for determining a value of almost any brand of folding knife. -Knife World

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Now in its 3rd edition, Ritchie & Stewart's identification and values collector's guide for pocket and sheath knives is the benchmark reference guide. An introduction to knife collecting and a chapter on "What Makes a Knife a Collector's Item" are both essential reading for the beginning collector. Other topics include the knife shield, bone's use as handles, pocket knife patterns, appraisal knife values, major knife companies, custom made knives, commercial sheath and hunting knives, kitchen cutlery collectibles, straight razor collecting, managing a knife collection, knife sharpening, cutlery stories and mail order, knife books and periodicals, and special edition knives. A number of appendices are also provided for specialized price guides. The Standard Knife Collector's Guide is the reference guide for all serious knife collectors and dealers. -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Ron Stewart is a noted expert on knives, and provides certified appraisals of knives and collections, as well as assists insurance companies with appraisals and adjustment evaluations. He and co-author Roy Ritchie published one of the earliest manuals for collectors, the Kentucky Knife Traders Manual. They went on to publish the bestselling Standard Knife Collector's Guide, then others like Big Book of Pocket Knives, Cattaraugus Cutlery Company, and Standard Guide to Razors.

Roy Ritchie was a noted expert on knives, and provided certified appraisals of knives and collections as well as assisted insurance companies with appraisals and adjustment evaluations. He and co-author Ron Stewart published one of the earliest books for collectors, the Kentucky Knife Traders Manual. They went on to publish the bestselling Standard Knife Collector's Guide, and later books followed. Roy has since passed away. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 688 pages
• Publisher: Collector Books; 3rd edition (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891457372
• ISBN-13: 978-0891457374
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,838,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useful, but still disappointing, January 13, 2001

By 

Stan Modjesky (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Standard Knife Collector's Guide (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

The strong suit of this book is the section recounting the histories of dozens of knife manufacturers, as well as the six appendixes, which give detailed identification information and price guidance for Buck Creek, Case, Cattaraugus, Robeson, Remington, Taylor, and Winchester.

But the stuff that is missing is annoying, especially in a book that calls itself a "standard guide," and is in its third edition. There is neither a glossary nor an index. The title itself is misleading: this book deals only with pocket knives, and less than exhaustively at that. I was surprised not to see information on modern innovations like the Tanto blade and the Walker lock. Important makers such as Keen Kutter, Leatherman and SOG are not mentioned. Then again, the authors also fail to mention Damascus steel, switchblades, gravity knives and butterfly knives. There is a windy essay on the desirability of bone as a handle material, but no advice how to tell bone from ivory, Delrin or other imitation materials. A chapter about knife shields (or escutions) promises to tell why they are important, but fails. In one spot the authors go on at length about counterfeit knives, and in another they discuss reproductions, but they fail to make the obvious connection between the two, or explain the difference. Very little information appears about watch fob knives or "gentleman's" knives. The authors rank Marbles pocket knives as a "top priority" collectible, but there is almost no specific information about them.

More annoying are the little errors and typos throughout the book. When I found Bakelite identified as a type of hard rubber, I almost threw the book across the room. This is such an obvious mistake that it leaves me wondering what more subtle inaccuracies are in the book. Finally, nobody has edited the text for clarity or consistency, leaving the reader to plow through repetitious paragraphs, some of which actually say nothing.

I would not recommend against buying this book, but it is a disappointment. Unfortunately, it is all too typical of the quality of material that we find in books about collectibles, and not only from this publisher. Collectibles books are expensive, and apparently profitable since there are so many. The buying public deserves better, and should demand it.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of money, May 6, 2002

By 

Jim Anderson (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Standard Knife Collector's Guide (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Other than proposing to be a knife price guide, this book has no information about knives, other than a very cursory overview, for someone who knows absolutely nothing about knives. The book fails miserably in its attempt to be an informative price guide. The concockted mathematical formula for determining a knife's value is devoid of reality. In the case of certain brands, such as "Case" and "Cattaraugus", the values are so far below real world values that the book is almost entertaining as a jest. Someone who wants to learn about knives and gain a feel for their values would best be served by getting a copy of Levine's 4th Edition. I wish I had read my own review before I purchased this book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview and a great place to start, March 31, 2008

By 

JM (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Standard Knife Collector's Guide (Paperback)

Positives: Comprehensive overview of the various manufacturers. Good valuation system that gives direction on which brands are more desirable. Decent discussion of knife care. Good glossy color insert.

Cons: Does not discuss the history of various patterns(Stockman,Trapper, etc.), but this seems beyond the scope of the book (find an old copy of Bernard Levine's Guide to Knives...either the 3rd or 4th edition). A general overview of patterns and their intended use would be nice.

This book will get you headed in the right direction of knife collecting. This combined with the Bernard Levine book mentioned above is all you need unless you specialize in a brand. There are Case, Cattaraugus, etc... specific books. As to some other comments, I guess I knew this didn't cover fixed blade knives, but I guess it should be "The Standard Pocket Knife Collector's Guide."