SAKWiki Book List

[Ross]

Just looking at the list and wondered where to start - does anyone have any advice or read these?

Thanks

[Grant Lamontagne]

The Kane books are good but there's little there that hasn't been discussed her a million times.  The one by Rick Wall is a good read but can be hard to come by.  I haven't read the Swiss Army Companion but as I understand it, its pretty basic for the average forum member- ie, probably not much new in it.  I think Felinevet may still have a few copies for sale.

The author if the Swiss Army Knife Owner's Manual is a member here and he has written a massive book, and if I recall correctly, Victorinox purchased a thousand copies for their own needs, which gives you an idea of whether there's anything good in that! 

Just remember that a book is static while the forum is live. I'm not saying that the forum is better than a book (try surfing the forum in a power outage!) but don't be surprised if we have covered just about everything you may read on paper.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[Ross]

The Kane books are good but there's little there that hasn't been discussed her a million times.  The one by Rick Wall is a good read but can be hard to come by.  I haven't read the Swiss Army Companion but as I understand it, its pretty basic for the average forum member- ie, probably not much new in it.  I think Felinevet may still have a few copies for sale.

The author if the Swiss Army Knife Owner's Manual is a member here and he has written a massive book, and if I recall correctly, Victorinox purchased a thousand copies for their own needs, which gives you an idea of whether there's anything good in that! 

Just remember that a book is static while the forum is live. I'm not saying that the forum is better than a book (try surfing the forum in a power outage!) but don't be surprised if we have covered just about everything you may read on paper.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

oh yes for sure this forum has everything I have had a question for song far and even if it has been covered you guys are always kind in pointing out the old post or answering again. 

I was just thinking owning a couple of books might be nice and to have them to keep on the shelf

[Grant Lamontagne]

In that case I suggest getting all of them. They are well worth having if you appreciate them.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

[kkokkolis]

The SAK Owner's Manual is great.

[J Mackrel Jones]

Here is a summary of all SAK books in print now or in the past, from the SAK Owner's Manual:


There have been eight books concerning the Swiss Army Knife - and now this one. Here are the others:
The Knife and its History - Written on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Victorinox. Printed in Switzerland in 1984. Begins with 117 pages covering the history of world cutlery, starting in the Stone Age; many black-and-white prints from old books. 72 pages on the history of the Victorinox company; 31 pages of color photos of the factory, production, and knives. There is an edition in German also. A large-format hardback.
A Fervour Over Knives. Celebrating the centennial of Wenger. Printed in Switzerland in 1993. 8 pages on the history of cutlery, 28 pages on the Delemont region of the 19th century, its iron, forges, waters, businesses. 97 pages on the Wenger company; striking color photographs of production and knives. 1200 copies in French, 800 in German, 500 in English. Large-format hardback, wider than tall.
A friend in need, printed by Victorinox. The first edition no title and no date; a second edition dated 2003. 60 pages (2nd edition 56 pages) of true stories about lives saved, emergencies handled, situations resolved with the SAK. A small pamphlet; the source of several of the accounts in Chapter 11 of this book.
Swiss Army Knives - A Collector’s Companion, by Derek Jackson. Published in London, 1999. 35 pages on the history of cutlery; 157 pages on Victorinox knives, brief history of the company, almost no mention of Wenger; no history of models or development of tools; nice photographs. Hardback. Much of it is material reproduced from Victorinox’s The Knife and its History. A first boxed edition included a Soldier (tang-dated 2005) with Charles Elsener’s signature etched on the blade; the second edition was sometimes accompanied by one of a limited run (1 of 5,000) of the last of the Model 1961 Soldiers, dated 2008.
Swiss Army Knife Companion - The Improbable History of the World‘s Handiest Knife, by Rick Wall. Printed in U.S.A., 1986. A joking view of the SAK. 61 pages, paperback booklet. Rick was the president of the now-defunct Swiss Army Knife Society.
Swiss Army Knife Handbook - The Official History and Owner’s Guide, by Kathryn Kane. Printed in U.S.A., 1988. Practical information on the tools, modifications, uses. Good drawings by the author. 93 pages, paperback booklet. Published by the Swiss Army Knife Society.
The Swiss Army Knife, by Peter Hayden. Printed in England, 2005. A children’s story in which an SAK plays a briefly-passing role. With humorous illustrations. 63 pages paperback.
A Collector’s Guide to Victorinox 58 mm Pocket Knives. Published circa 1990s by its author Daniel J. Jacquart, President of the “Victorinox SAK Society”. 173 pages enumerating the models, scale materials, colors.
Binder format, black-and-white photos.

[Ross]

I appreciate that a lot - am ordering the owners guide tomorrow!

[stressmaster5000]

Here is a summary of all SAK books in print now or in the past, from the SAK Owner's Manual:


There have been eight books concerning the Swiss Army Knife - and now this one. Here are the others:
The Knife and its History - Written on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Victorinox. Printed in Switzerland in 1984. Begins with 117 pages covering the history of world cutlery, starting in the Stone Age; many black-and-white prints from old books. 72 pages on the history of the Victorinox company; 31 pages of color photos of the factory, production, and knives. There is an edition in German also. A large-format hardback.
A Fervour Over Knives. Celebrating the centennial of Wenger. Printed in Switzerland in 1993. 8 pages on the history of cutlery, 28 pages on the Delemont region of the 19th century, its iron, forges, waters, businesses. 97 pages on the Wenger company; striking color photographs of production and knives. 1200 copies in French, 800 in German, 500 in English. Large-format hardback, wider than tall.
A friend in need, printed by Victorinox. The first edition no title and no date; a second edition dated 2003. 60 pages (2nd edition 56 pages) of true stories about lives saved, emergencies handled, situations resolved with the SAK. A small pamphlet; the source of several of the accounts in Chapter 11 of this book.
Swiss Army Knives - A Collector’s Companion, by Derek Jackson. Published in London, 1999. 35 pages on the history of cutlery; 157 pages on Victorinox knives, brief history of the company, almost no mention of Wenger; no history of models or development of tools; nice photographs. Hardback. Much of it is material reproduced from Victorinox’s The Knife and its History. A first boxed edition included a Soldier (tang-dated 2005) with Charles Elsener’s signature etched on the blade; the second edition was sometimes accompanied by one of a limited run (1 of 5,000) of the last of the Model 1961 Soldiers, dated 2008.
Swiss Army Knife Companion - The Improbable History of the World‘s Handiest Knife, by Rick Wall. Printed in U.S.A., 1986. A joking view of the SAK. 61 pages, paperback booklet. Rick was the president of the now-defunct Swiss Army Knife Society.
Swiss Army Knife Handbook - The Official History and Owner’s Guide, by Kathryn Kane. Printed in U.S.A., 1988. Practical information on the tools, modifications, uses. Good drawings by the author. 93 pages, paperback booklet. Published by the Swiss Army Knife Society.
The Swiss Army Knife, by Peter Hayden. Printed in England, 2005. A children’s story in which an SAK plays a briefly-passing role. With humorous illustrations. 63 pages paperback.
A Collector’s Guide to Victorinox 58 mm Pocket Knives. Published circa 1990s by its author Daniel J. Jacquart, President of the “Victorinox SAK Society”. 173 pages enumerating the models, scale materials, colors.
Binder format, black-and-white photos.

I have the book highlighted and basically it is more for a collector who wants more info about each 58mm model. Dan originally told me he was going to produce an updated version or a second edition type book. Have not heard much about that one lately.

[Ross]

I think I might just read them all just because I am interested. It would be nice to have them all on a shelf (do people even have books shelfs any more hahah)

[ColoSwiss]

I think I might just read them all just because I am interested. It would be nice to have them all on a shelf (do people even have books shelfs any more hahah)

I have about 15 feet of book shelves in my office, all filled to overflowing with books. I also hit the library about once a week, and regularly make the rounds of new and used book stores.

All proof, I guess, that I'm an 'Old Fogey'. On the other hand, 'To err is human; to really screw up takes a computer'.

[ColoSwiss]

Here is a summary of all SAK books in print now or in the past, from the SAK Owner's Manual:


There have been eight books concerning the Swiss Army Knife - and now this one. Here are the others:
The Knife and its History - Written on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Victorinox. Printed in Switzerland in 1984. Begins with 117 pages covering the history of world cutlery, starting in the Stone Age; many black-and-white prints from old books. 72 pages on the history of the Victorinox company; 31 pages of color photos of the factory, production, and knives. There is an edition in German also. A large-format hardback.
A Fervour Over Knives. Celebrating the centennial of Wenger. Printed in Switzerland in 1993. 8 pages on the history of cutlery, 28 pages on the Delemont region of the 19th century, its iron, forges, waters, businesses. 97 pages on the Wenger company; striking color photographs of production and knives. 1200 copies in French, 800 in German, 500 in English. Large-format hardback, wider than tall.
A friend in need, printed by Victorinox. The first edition no title and no date; a second edition dated 2003. 60 pages (2nd edition 56 pages) of true stories about lives saved, emergencies handled, situations resolved with the SAK. A small pamphlet; the source of several of the accounts in Chapter 11 of this book.
Swiss Army Knives - A Collector’s Companion, by Derek Jackson. Published in London, 1999. 35 pages on the history of cutlery; 157 pages on Victorinox knives, brief history of the company, almost no mention of Wenger; no history of models or development of tools; nice photographs. Hardback. Much of it is material reproduced from Victorinox’s The Knife and its History. A first boxed edition included a Soldier (tang-dated 2005) with Charles Elsener’s signature etched on the blade; the second edition was sometimes accompanied by one of a limited run (1 of 5,000) of the last of the Model 1961 Soldiers, dated 2008.
Swiss Army Knife Companion - The Improbable History of the World‘s Handiest Knife, by Rick Wall. Printed in U.S.A., 1986. A joking view of the SAK. 61 pages, paperback booklet. Rick was the president of the now-defunct Swiss Army Knife Society.
Swiss Army Knife Handbook - The Official History and Owner’s Guide, by Kathryn Kane. Printed in U.S.A., 1988. Practical information on the tools, modifications, uses. Good drawings by the author. 93 pages, paperback booklet. Published by the Swiss Army Knife Society.
The Swiss Army Knife, by Peter Hayden. Printed in England, 2005. A children’s story in which an SAK plays a briefly-passing role. With humorous illustrations. 63 pages paperback.
A Collector’s Guide to Victorinox 58 mm Pocket Knives. Published circa 1990s by its author Daniel J. Jacquart, President of the “Victorinox SAK Society”. 173 pages enumerating the models, scale materials, colors.
Binder format, black-and-white photos.

I have the book highlighted and basically it is more for a collector who wants more info about each 58mm model. Dan originally told me he was going to produce an updated version or a second edition type book. Have not heard much about that one lately.

Dan at one time was also saying the book was a first volume of what was intended to be series of books, one for each length.

[Ross]

SO I have just ordered a copy of Swiss Army Knife Owner's Manual - Thanks Mike for the personal touch, I cant wait to get and read.

[kkokkolis]

You won't regret it.

[ICanFixThat]

I added the German language book "Werken mit dem Taschenmesser" ("Working with a Pocket Knife") to SAKwiki. SwissBianco first mentioned this book almost a year ago I hoped it would come out in English, but nothing yet. 

It's aimed at educators for kids, but it looks like a really great book with fun projects, and even has a nice photograph of a completely disassembled SAK to show the kids how the are made.  Some medical stuff, and your general SAK maintenance as well as how to replace the scales.

If you read German, I think you would enjoy this book.   

[basilio]

I added the German language book "Werken mit dem Taschenmesser" ("Working with a Pocket Knife") to SAKwiki. SwissBianco first mentioned this book almost a year ago I hoped it would come out in English, but nothing yet. 

It's aimed at educators for kids, but it looks like a really great book with fun projects, and even has a nice photograph of a completely disassembled SAK to show the kids how the are made.  Some medical stuff, and your general SAK maintenance as well as how to replace the scales.

If you read German, I think you would enjoy this book.

I saw on Amazon the same book in french.
It has a different title, however: Couteau suisse
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Couteau-suisse-Techniques-applications-concrets/dp/2940365598/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369925881&sr=1-1&keywords=couteau+suisse

[Syph007]

SO I have just ordered a copy of Swiss Army Knife Owner's Manual - Thanks Mike for the personal touch, I cant wait to get and read.

I just got my copy in, and Its a good read so far.   

[ICanFixThat]

I added the German language book "Werken mit dem Taschenmesser" ("Working with a Pocket Knife") to SAKwiki. SwissBianco first mentioned this book almost a year ago I hoped it would come out in English, but nothing yet. 

It's aimed at educators for kids, but it looks like a really great book with fun projects, and even has a nice photograph of a completely disassembled SAK to show the kids how the are made.  Some medical stuff, and your general SAK maintenance as well as how to replace the scales.

If you read German, I think you would enjoy this book.

I saw on Amazon the same book in french.
It has a different title, however: Couteau suisse
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Couteau-suisse-Techniques-applications-concrets/dp/2940365598/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369925881&sr=1-1&keywords=couteau+suisse

Thanks I had not see the French translation yet.  Looks like it was just completed a few months ago, so maybe Victorionox is also having it translated into English.

[Ross]

Look what turned up today - damm and I am supposed to be working lol