5 comments about Single Action Sixguns.

1. Pretty good, but for gun enthusiasts like me who read a lot of gun magazines, especially Taffin's articles, there was no new material. If you've been reading Taffin's articles, there's nothing new for you here.
   
   It wasn't quite as good as "Big Bore Handguns" and not nearly as good as "Big Bore Sixguns" which had much more original information.
   
   It's pretty good eye-candy, but I'd recommend it for people who've ALREADY read the other two, above, books and are just craving for more. Even the photos weren't as good as his last two - more like leftover and staged photos.
   
   OR, ESPECIALLY...
   
   If you HAVEN'T read the above two and AREN'T familiar with Taffin's writings and are interested in single-action revolvers, then you'll benefit from this book a LOT.
   
   I hope he, someday, does a "Double-Action Sixguns" book. I'm sure it's just a matter of time.



2. I found in this book everything I wanted to learn about sixguns. There is a lot of pictures, most in color, some in black and white. Excellent!



3. From modern sixguns to antiques, the single-volume sourcebook SINGLE ACTION SIXGUNS: THE DEFINITIVE, FULLY ILLUSTRATED REFERENCE WORK covers everything in an illustrated guide and is a 'must' for gun collectors and hobbyists. Color photos appear on every page along with first-person insights on gun purchases, brands, gun tricks, production specs and more. The first-person comments throughout reflect author John Tafflin's in-depth knowledge of these guns and their history.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. I have many, many books about guns, and this is without a doubt the BEST one that I have ever owned. The illustrations are superb, and Mr. Taffin's style of writing makes you think he is talking to you. I highly recommend this book for anyone that loves the single action revolver, but I have to warn you, it will make you want more and more guns!



5. This is a very attractive volume. The abundant color photographs seem to stand out from the page and GLOW.
   The book itself is a very comprehensive exploration of the single action revolvers of history and those of the present day. From mainstream to the esoteric, the material in this book will contribute to the education of anybody with an interest in single action revolvers. There is much detailed information for the novice and a wealth of practical data for those already well steeped in the subject.

No comments about Old Gunsights: A Collectors Guide, 1850-1965.

1 comments about Guns Illustrated 2008 (Guns Illustrated).

1. A good reference book with photos and descriptions. Very similar to GUN DIGEST 2008. I bought both, but next year, one or the other.

5 comments about AK-47: The Weapon that Changed the Face of War.

1. I wish I would have read the reviews before I bought. The author expresses two thing extremely well. He knows NOTHING about firearms in general and the AK's in specific. He does not know an AK from an SKS. The second thing that he makes very clear is that he thinks America is the cause of all problems in the world. He thinks that people are faultless and that an inanimate object does terrible things on their own.
   The book was a terrible waste of paper and ink. If anyone wants one of these, contact me and I will give you a hell of a deal on this piece of trash.
   If you hate America and think machined steel parts make decisions to do bad things on their own, then this book is for you. As for me, I am only sorry that it was not printed in a little larger format. You see, the pages are just too small for the bottom of a bird cage.



2. I was disappointed. This book was initially well-written but rapidly devolved into the world of make-believe. Technically, some of the observations the author made were accurate and even relevent but towards the end it descended into some bizarre bashing of U.S. policy regarding gun control... the United Nations could have stepped in and provided controls over the distribution of AK-47s around the world if only the Bush adminsitration had been on board. This alone is an absurd statement. If someone can tell me of a successful UN initiative over the last 50 years I would be glad to listen to it. In the meantime, the UN's role in the sex trade in Africa and its abysmal record in limiting nuclear proliferation makes it a poor model for fixing the problems of the world.
   
   The book is remarkably under-illustrated, even in regards to some graphics and photos which would be easy to acquire. Oh, and the part added to the book about how the Coalition is getting its butt kicked in Iraq thanks to the AK-47 just seems to be a last-minute attempt to cash in on "hate America."
   
   There better books.



3. As a firearms enthusiast and fan of the AK-47 and its variants, I checked this out from my local library without reading any reviews beforehand. I finished it in a matter of hours during two legs of a flight and now truly regret not using that time to read thru the SKYMALL magazine.
   
   AK-47 fails on every level. It fails as biography of Mikhail Kalashnikov, the gun's inventor. It fails as technical history of a rifle. And it fails miserably at what the bulk of the book is directed toward: political history. While any of these approaches (or all three) could easily, and more successfully, be distilled into a decent magazine article (and have been), none are even remotely achieved by Larry Kahaner.
   
   What begins as the story of Kalashnikov deteriorates into half-baked rehashes of global conflicts with a "the rag-tag rebels succeeded because of the affordability of the AK" thrown in each time. And while every author is indeed entitled to their own opinion with regard to firearms, Kahaner's disgust for the AK-47 (and all firearms and the 2nd Amendment and so on) is apparent - and the reader quickly feels duped into picking up what appears to be an historical overview. Kahaner even goes so far as to blame the AK for the use of child soldiers in some conflicts due to its simplicity of use.
   
   AK-47 finishes up lambasting Kalashnikov for marketing his name and spends way too many pages describing failed vodka ventures - none of which relates in any way to the subject matter at hand (or readers who care about the firearm).
   
   For shooting enthusiasts and/or history buffs, this could have been an intelligent read if approached by the right author. I am not so narrow-minded that I would not admit that the affordable, reliable AK-47 has made a difference in global conflicts - I just want to read about how it has from a reliable, objective source.
   
   Simply put, the worst piece of nonfiction regarding any subject I have read in a long, long time.



4. The other reviewers have pretty much covered the book's faults in detail, but allow me to jump in:
   
   The author's casualty figures are inaccurate, his reporting of so-called 'assault rifle' crime in the U.S. is very overstated (in fact, the class of weapons accounts for a tenth of 1% of violent crime), and he casually labels the weapon at cause for violence and hatred throughout the world.
   
   He doesn't waste an opportunity to impugne conservatives, and laud such luminaries as Senator Dianne Feinstein, who, while mayor of San Francisco, piously turned in her .25. She kept her .38 and concealed carry permit, however.
   
   I am returning this book, and my mind is poorer for having read it.



5. This book was widely hyped at it's publication. I eagerly waited to get a copy. I am a recreational shooter, hunter and weapons collector. This book is more of an extended editorial on the evils of modern weapons than it is a historical account of probably the most mass produced firearm in history. Rightly or wrongly, Kahaner demonizes the devil horned weapon while almost admitting that the machete is just as effective as a killing tool. Kahaner is not a technical writer or a "gun scribe" and it shows. There are some basic ballistic facts that he gets wrong such as the weight of a bullet versus it's usable range and trajectory.
   
   About half way thru this book I realised I should have been taking notes on passages that were either flat out wrong or questionable so that I could have researched them further.
   
   This is a quick read with a decent amount of factual history of the gun and it's designer. It is what it is and nothing more.

5 comments about The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons.

1. I have generally enjoyed reading the previous editions of the "Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons", but this book was dismal in my humble opinion. As other reviewers have noted, there is general discordance with the style of writing, with most chapters appearing to be quickly slapped together from old articles. Most of the material is old and outdated, and most of the firearms written about in this book would not fit the current definition of "Assault weapon" that the picture on the front would convey (Ranch rifles, bolt action 'sniper' rifles, semi-auto shotguns, AR-15 type rifles, and standard handguns seem to take up most of the space). For an updated book about assault weapons, there was little information on current production models of the excellent new firearms available today.
   
   When someone sells a book about assault weapons, you would expect most of the book to be about assault weapons. This one is not. I can not recommend this book because of its poorly written and outdated chapters and subjects and a general lack of any semblance to its title. Go and read through the book at a local store before considering a purchase, it might well save you some money.



2. I have generally enjoyed reading the previous editions of the "Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons", but this book was dismal in my humble opinion. As other reviewers have noted, there is general discordance with the style of writing, with most chapters appearing to be quickly slapped together from old articles. Most of the material is old and outdated, and most of the firearms written about in this book would not fit the current definition of "Assault weapon" that the picture on the front would convey (Ranch rifles, bolt action 'sniper' rifles, semi-auto shotguns, AR-15 type rifles, and standard handguns seem to take up most of the space). For an updated book about assault weapons, there was little information on current production models of the excellent new firearms available today.
   
   When someone sells a book about assault weapons, you would expect most of the book to be about assault weapons. This one is not. I can not recommend this book because of its poorly written and outdated chapters and subjects and a general lack of any semblance to its title. Go and read through the book at a local store before considering a purchase, it might well save you some money.



3. This book is a mishmash of articles in no logical order with lots of factual errors and lots of outdated information. Obviously slapped together from existing articles. Really a disappointing waste of time.



4. This book has almost all the right things to be a hit. It has tons of pictures, gun tests, gun specifications, and hard to find information about guns never built. You can read it once and be amazed and then you can still pick it up and learn more. you can never stop learning from it. The reason I gave it four stars, though, is because of its lack in amount of guns. I understand it is the fifth installment in a series, so I can't wait for the sixth!



5. As a builder and collector of AR-15's, I purchased this book in the hopes of getting some new info on the military versions of the rifle. The cover of the book certainly caught my eye, and perhaps that was the intention. However, I found myself getting a bit "depressed" as page after page of non-M16 info was thumbed through. Finally, after reaching nearly the end, there was one story on the M4 Carbine. It was just enough to make me keep the book. That's more than I can say about a few other books I also ordered.

5 comments about Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist.

1. I found Ricochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist a quick and interesting read. Richard Feldman provides a snapshot of a piece of history in the push and pull in the development of public policy in our pluralistic society. I gave this as a Christmas gift to my sons Lt. Scott Mayberry, USMC and Tim Mayberry so they could reflect on the excitment of life in the nation's capital.
   
   -- Richard Mayberry, McLean Virginia



2. Sorta like old home week for me...
   
   I'd quite agree you can't judge this book by its press or blog reviews. The press naturally picked up on Richard's criticism of NRA fundraising and expenditures, and the bloggers (except me, who refused to blog without reading it) reacted to that. Both made the book seem antigun, when it's very far from that. As I would have guessed, because I last saw the author at the private ceremony to dedicate the bronze of Harlon Carter: Harlon's family would not have singled him out for invitation unless he was respected by them.
   
   The book is exceptionally clearly written, and definitely a page turner. I think I took one break from reading its 300+ pages. If anyone wants to see what it's like to be a lobbyist, this is the book for them. Just one episode: at one point NY Gov. Mario Cuomo holds a tense meeting with the author and others, and tries to break the ice by deliberately sitting on a whoopee cushion. It didn't go over very well...



3. I wasn't sure what I was going to get when I picked up "Ricochet" but it turned out to be a page turner.
   
   Richard Feldman is a skillful writer and an engaging story teller. His prose is easily approachable, passionate, and at the same time, avoids emotional extremes and bumper sticker slogans -- it's easy to see how he has been such a successful lobbiest.
   
   The "confessions" aren't ideological regrets, but rather the kiss-and-tell story of internecine warfare at one of America's largest and most powerful lobbying groups. Feldman presents the National Rifle Association to be not exactly the 800 lb gorilla many people had always assumed -- but rather a pack of 80 lb chimpanzees that sometimes work together towards a common goal but also spend a lot of time poking one another in the eyes.
   
   At the book's core, divergent factions in the NRA (one spearheaded by Feldman) disagree fundamentally on the best way to bring their cause forward -- the reader can decide which (if either) seems more practical. A fascinating read, whatever your position on guns. "Ricochet" seems to tell a universal tale -- one assumes that the very same types of arguments are going on in the back rooms of Greenpeace or any other lobbying group staffed by passionate and dedicated idealists.



4. This book was great. I am a Lifetime Benefactor member of the NRA and I found the insider characterizations to be most enlightening. It's critics call the NRA "extreme" but it does speak for me.
   
   I love the examples that it made of gun grabbing politicians in 1994, reminding the arrogant elitists in Washington that they serve at the pleasure and voting consent of their contituents back home and if they try to take a man's gun away they'll get what's coming to them at the polls as a large number of gun grabbing Democrats found out the hard way.



5. Any Member that doubts fundraising is Job #1 for NRA operations is not paying attention to their mail.
   
   NRA staffs at the local and state level are hard working advocates for individual rights. Too many volunteers and some of the State affiliates don't quite get the big picture and resort to partisan bias to guide their mission but the NRA "pros" that lobby the state legislatures know results come from a bipartisan approach and efforts are guided by results in the real world of local politics. The old part of the Association still does excellent work in training and certifying matches. They do a good job on firearm safety, but they could do more.
   
   It's obvious that long-range success protecting our rights cannot rely on a one-party strategy. The fight for individual rights must be made in both major political parties. But that strategy at the national level can't be made visible because the fight is the thing that raises money. Trust Richard Feldman on this point.
   
   Besides, I'm from Vegas and I can tell you that fight promotion is all about binging in the revenue. A fight can't just be a good contest, there must be personalities involved and it needs a good guy vs. bad guy angle to bring in the bets. Promotion is not about who wins and who loses, it's about the money. Who cares about who wins the fight - how did the cable buy go? How much was bet at the sports book?
   
   I was once confused by NRA-ILA daily emails that dished out needless partisan bashing and asked a Federal Lobbyist how he can approach Democrats on a vote when they have trashed them or their colleges with email blast and links to obvious right-wing blogs and bulletin boards. He smiled and said that they know it is just part of the game and the NRA will be there for them if they vote right. So the trash talk is just part of the game, the promotion, keeping the fight in the fundraising. The NRA will always, always fight for you. Just don't expect them to win for you.
   
   Feldman's book is a must read for anyone who follows the gun control issue. Certainly there will be disagreements with his account of things. That's inevitable. His recollection on passing the important Gun Liability bill left out an important piece of the process. There was one Senator who could have killed it and that one Senator allowed it to pass by releasing Democrats to vote their conscious and their constituency. That was Senator Harry Reid who had been a sponsor of the earliest drafts of the legislation. He and many other Democrats supported the effort and it was Senator Robert Byrd, he who so often drives Republicans to distraction, that became the 60th co-sponsor making the legislation filibuster-proof and shutting down the liberals who had threatened that maneuver.
   
   Kennedy, Kerry, Schumer, and Boxer have not put any serious gun control legislation in play since Reid became Majority Leader. But you saw them on your last NRA fundraising letter and you may see them on the next one.
   
   Bill Richardson should clearly be the NRA's top pick among Democrats and top over many front-running Republicans. But the NRA brass have fingers crossed that it will be Hillary or Obama. Either one will be a top money raiser and top recruiter for the NRA. The fund raising letters are already in draft. Mailing dates are set. Through 2016. With just a little Democratic Party luck it's going to be eight great years for NRA coffers.

No comments about The Drilling Gun: History, Use, and Technology of a Universal Hunting Weapon.

5 comments about American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors: Identification and Value Guide (American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors).

1. The first thing to notice is a lack of an index. Why call something a guide if you don't provide a way to find information? The book, called an Identification and Value Guide covers only four brands of knives. It would better be called an extensive look at Case Knives and short look at a few others. If you are looking for a general guide for collecting knives, there must be better books available.



2. I will be returning this book. I should have read the reviews before buying because one reviewer described what I just discovered with the arrival of "Knives and Razors." It is a huge, detailed encyclopedia of Case (307 pages), with a bone-thrown to Queen/Shatt & Morgan (84 pages), and Remington (86 pages). It is advertised as an all-encompassing guide to American knives. It is not, although Case collectors will love its focus/detail.
   
   I collect vintage knives, mostly the Texas toothpick pattern, but not Case. An incomplete list of manufacturers in my collection includes Parker, Buck, Ka-Bar, Shrade, Robeson, Hammer Brand, Imperial, Camillus, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, Smokey Mountain, A.G. Russell. NONE of these brands are given a word in the "American Premium Guide to Knives and Razors."



3. Jim Sargent's book, American Premium Guide to knives and razors is not a let down if you are into Case or Queen knives. If you have bought other guides and been disappointed by how many advertisements were in it you will be very happy with this book because there are none.
   
   Most of the pictures are black and white but they are detailed and easy to see. There are color pics and these are quite good but few. Even still, going through the pictures is akin to walking into a knife museum.
   
   There are sections in the book for Crandall and Remington but not as detailed or lengthy as the Case and Queen sections. Still these smaller sections are very good compared to anything else I've found.
   
   The Case fixed blade section of this book is about as good as any I have ever run across with information I have never found anywhere else for any price. This section even details the differences in sheaths from different eras and how to date the knife by the sheath if necessary.
   
   I would recommend this book to any Case, Queen or Remington collector. It is not going to cover other manufacturers in detail so if you are looking for values on your Spyderco knives this is not the book you want. What it does cover for the Case, Queen, and Remington collector is perhaps some of the most comprehensive and detailed information for these knives as you can find anywhere at this writing. It is a great guide for these brands.
   
   I've said, "WOW, I did not know that" more times since acquiring this book than any other knife guide I've ever purchased.



4. The book covers mostly Case and four other makers. It is
   advertized as a guide to help you identify and date individual
   knives or whole collections. If your collection is limited to
   these five makers then you could be satisfied,however if you
   collect throughout the industry you will want a refund. It should be described properly.



5. No one book can completely cover even one subfield of knife collecting and values anymore, but this is probably one of the five or six essential reference works for knife collectors. I bought it mainly because I've been a case collector in the past, and it's also especially strong on pocket knives, and Case is the most well known and most collectible of the factory production pocket knives. The book covers all the other main names in that field, including Buck, Schrade, Remington, Queen, Camillus, Parker, Kershaw, Schatt and Morgan, Winchester, and many other lesser known names. But it also covers fixed blades, limited editions and semi-custom, and custom knives are covered as well. But this book is considered to have the strongest coverage of any collector's book on Case, and it's probably an essential reference work for any Case and other American pocket knife collector.

5 comments about Bolt Action Rifles.

1. Let me say that i have had the 3rd edition of this book for 10 years or so and that it is one of my most treasured reference books.
   When i ordered this one, i was expecting an expanded edition in its true sense: Reviews and detailed analysis of bolt actions that had in the meanwhile come to the market, NAMELY the ones on the front cover,the Blaser R93 and the Sauer 200-202 ! Also updates on the CZ-Brno section including the 550 series.
   
   The core content is basically the same, the excellent work done by the late Frank de Haas, already present in past editions.But the title is loosing its place as a major reference work due to the lack of new entries.
   
   Its like when you buy the latest edition of "cartridges of the world" when you had an older edition. you expect most of the newcomer cartridges to be featured. The short magnums, the .17HMR, and so on.



2. I have always been interested in rifles and have collected and shot many different types of rifles ranging from muzzle-loaders to assault rifles. My abiding favorites for hunting and shooting are bolt-action repeaters and Frank de Haas' excellent book is a treasure trove of information.
   
   There are probably some bolt action repeaters that de Haas has omitted, but I am not aware of them. I should explain that he does not include straight-pull bolt actions, just turn-bolt repeaters.
   
   That might be a problem for some Swiss or Austrian shooters and collectors, but they can get SWISS MAGAZINE LOADING RIFLES 1869 TO 1958 by Joe Poyer or MANNLICHER MODEL 95 translated by Terence W. Lapin for those rifles.
   
   The book is well written, well illustrated with black & white photographs and line drawings. I gave it five stars and have always found it to be a great reference for bolt action rifles.



3. I have taken my guns apart and looked at the design, but now I am learning more about my guns with this book.
   
   De Haas can take guns apart, see more, and write more than I can for myself.
   
   If you have a zillion bolt action rifles, get this book and read about what you have got.
   
   De Haas lists advantages and disadvantages of each rifle design. This is not light reading from some stupid gun writer, this is like engineering, and may be too much for some readers.
   
   700 pages, and he shows drawings of the threads and shanks of the barrels, for those into re barreling.



4. I have the older 2nd edition of this book, and it is one of the most dog-eared volumes in my library.

   Sometimes the author is not quite as technical as I might like. For example, he frequently asserts that this or that old military action "must have been" made out of high-grade steel without having done any actual analysis or even hardness testing of the material in question. But, his descriptions do convey at least as much information about the many designs covered as I would have gotten if I had the chance to disassemble and study them all myself. I don't have a hardness tester either.

   The book is generally well written and fun to read.

   If you're thinking about buying a modern sporting rifle, you might want to read this and compare the various designs before you lay down your money. If you enjoy sporterizing old military junkers, collecting old military classics, or just lurking around gun shows, you need this book.




5. This is one of the frequently-quoted "classics" in the field of firearms literature (first edition was in 1971). But even a classic deserves a critical review, such as to determine its (remaining) usefulness, and its strengthes and weaknesses.

   This book is not a true encyclopedia of rifles; for such a purpose, a work like John Walter's "Rifles of the World" (or, formerly, W.H.B. Smith's now outdated "Book of Rifles") would be more comprehensive. It is mainly a thorough (528 pp.) technical treatise on most of the major military (17) and civilian (56) rifle actions. Its strength lies in the very good and very thorough technical descriptions, instructions for disassembly, hints for reworking and sporterizing. Nevertheless, the book also contains a remarkable amount of historical and general information; it is therefore suitable not only for the professional and amateur gunsmith, but also for any hunter or collector who wishes to gain a more thorough understanding of his gun, and who contemplates acquiring a new one.

   De Haas' language is clear and simple, not without an occasional touch of humour. The author's modesty and willingness to acknowledge some limits of knowledge in such a vast field are remarkable and greatly underline his general credibility and experience.

   Small drawbacks of the book are the generally mediocre quality of illustrations (while often okay, they are sometimes dark, sometimes downright blotchy). The bibliography is limited to articles in the "American Rifleman" and "Gun Digest", and an expanded edition would be appreciated. And some commercial German rifle actions might be added.

3 comments about Art & Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives.

1. TOP QUALITY BOOK WITH EXCELLENT PHOTOS AND ARTICLES. A MUST FOR ALL REAL ENTHUSIASTIC KNIVE MAKERS AND COLLECTORS.



2. As a custom knifemaker I'm always excited to see new publications related to the collected works of knifemaking. Of very special interest to me are those books which focus on the art and ingenuity of custom art knives; books which explore the art not only with good photography of quality knives but also with accompanying text providing insight into the methods and intent of the maker. Truly this area of artistic endeavor has been but scarcely examined and over the years I've found only a few books which approach these criteria and which, for the most part, now sit on my bookshelves. There have, however, been two books I've come to treasure above the others; Art and Design in Modern Custom Fixed-Blade Knives and Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives, both by Dr. David Darom.
   
   In these books can be found not only the exquisite photography which occurs occasionally in other collective works but also a depth of writing exploring the knifemaker and his focus on the knives being regarded. With his writing Dr. Darom provides rare and wonderful insight into the world of knives which transports the reader, both those experienced as well as novice, to a higher level of understanding the unique experience of knifemaking. His critical selection of art knives and insistence on only the highest quality of photographs reproduced using top quality printing methods and materials have created the finest art knife books I have ever owned. Coupled with Darom's focus on quality is Amazon.com's ability to bring this treasure to the public for an amazingly low price. I applaud Dr. Darom's efforts and welcome the long awaited USA release of Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives. It is my hope Dr. Darom continues to explore the rich and diverse field of custom knifemaking and finds it worthy of producing future volumes not unlike this one.
   
   In short; Art and Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives is without a doubt indispensable to both professional and the enthusiast alike. This book is of such fine quality I truly must wonder at the ability to offer it for so low a price and advance the suggestion this serves to make it the perfect unique table book or addition to any fine art book collection.
   
   -Charles Kain



3. I want to say right up front that I am David Darom's partner in his third knife book, "The Art of Modern Custom Knifemaking, 100 Custom Knife Related Projects in the Making" (soon to be released). I very much wanted to write this review, but because of my current relationship with David I was concerned that some might question my motives. But I can tell you that I would not have even met David had it not been for this incredible book.
   
   I first heard about "Art & Design in Modern Custom Folders" a couple of months prior to its release. I am a part-time knifemaker, and a member of a group of online forums that are devoted to custom knifemaking. David had "teased" us with sample photos from his soon-to-be-released book. And the preliminary taste worked...Like most of our 7000+ members, I was more than a little bit intrigued.
   
   Hard bound, printed in Italy, 260 full-color pages filled with breathtaking photos of the some of the most exquisite knives in the world... The book sounded incredible and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. And so with the single-minded goal of acquiring my own copy, when the book had its world premier at New York's annual East Coast Custom Knife Show, I drove up with a few friends.
   
   When we arrived I made a beeline for David's table...I was fortunate enough to meet him, if only for a few minutes (he was swamped with fellow enthusiasts trying to get their own copies). The meeting was brief but enjoyable...and I got what I came for...my own signed copy of the exciting new book.
   
   As soon as I got home I dove in...Every page was a delight and I spent hours and hours fully immersed. David's love for his subject matter was apparent...Never before had we seen such a collection of photos...no props, no distracting backgrounds, just page after page of beautifully-done, world class photography, that showed off the knives in all of their glorious detail.
   
   Needless-to-say, I couldn't wait to tell all of my online friends about this wonderful new book and I posted my own review, followed by much discussion. This ultimately led to an ongoing, long-distance correspondence with David. We became good friends. Several months later he asked me to write an article for his second knife book,"Art and Design in Modern Custom Fixed-Blade knives"...and that experience eventually led to our partnership in the 3rd book.
   
   Not a week goes by when I don't refer to my copy of "Art & Design in Modern Custom Folding Knives"...The pages are now quite dog-eared. I have a sizeable collection of knife-related books and magazines, but this is easily my single, most often used resource for inspiration and ideas.
   
   Am I prejudiced? Absolutely! But I can say without reservation that for overall production value and presentation, David has set the bar high with this book. Nothing else out there comes close. The skill and love that went into the making of this magnificent "coffee table" book of museum quality, folding art knives is unequaled. This masterpiece led me to David...And I am honored to have become his friend and associate.
   
   It is impossible to glance at even one page of this book without being completely drawn in. If you are a knife enthusiast, or if you simply appreciate any form of extraordinary art and craftsmanship, this book is a joy to own.
   
   Dennis Greenbaum