The Standard Knife Collector's Guide: Identification and Values by Roy Ritchie and

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 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Reader Reviews
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.

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