Why are 96 & 98 Toothpicks not included in Steve's book?

[Pen & Toothpick]

My name is Pen & Toothpick - I have to ask this question!

I was look for a reference for a certain era of Case toothpicks and noticed the patterns do not show up at all in this book.

Am I missing something?

[trail]

"Given the vast number of pocket knife patterns and variations produced by Case...naturally not everything can be covered" - from the introduction to Collecting Case Knives by Steve Pfeiffer. There is a short section on the 96 pattern, page 240, but it is a tester knife rather than a toothpick.

I know it is disappointing when a favorite pattern is not represented, but the good part is, that we can hope for a Volume II somewhere down the road. Goodness knows there is probably enough information on Case knives to fill up ten volumes.

[knifeaholic]

Unfortunately I had to limit my subject matter due to constraints on time (my contract from the publisher called for completion in four months) and space (I only had 266 pages to work with, again per the contract). Also the requirement of 800 or more photos all in color no B&W.

So I was faced with either presenting a lot more knives and patterns in a lot less detail, or presenting more detail about fewer patterns. I chose the latter course (which I am finding now was a big mistake).

I chose to limit the book to patterns made from the XX era into the 80's. The 96 and 98 toothpick patterns were made in the pre XX years then brought back with different tooling later, in the late 80's and 90's. There are so many Case patterns like that it would indeed take several volumes to even touch on all of them.

The above issue (that I knew I could never make everyone happy with one volume) was the reason that I actually turned the publisher down after the first time they approached me to write the book. In retrospect I wish that I had stuck with that decision instead of later agreeing. The whole thing has turned out to be a huge financial loss for me.

[Ramrod]

Steve , sorry it turned out that way for you ...But I'M glad you did it. Good book with great pictures. Mark

[trail]

I keep that book at hand and look at it almost every day. Those 800 color photos are pure eye candy, and the detailed presentations go a long way toward teaching new Case collectors how to "read the knife." Of course no book can be everything to everyone, but to me "Collecting Case Knives" is the epitome of knife collecting books. I'm really sorry to hear your frustrations, Steve, because I had been looking forward to volumes 2, 3,4,5 and onward and I guess that won't be forthcoming. But nevertheless - we owe you bigtime for the one volume we got.

[LC]

I use a number of books when researching older Case Knives that I am looking to buy not just one, if there was one book that had all the Case Knives from their beginning it would take a fork lift to carry it around Steve's book has been a great addition to my libary of books on Case Knives and thanks to Steve for giving me great info on what books to add to my libary to help me identify true rare beauties of older knives

[Pen & Toothpick]

Steve,

When I started looking around I noticed that Richie & Stewart and Price & Zalesky don't mention the Pattern either.

I do use your book often!

[Umcknifeguy]

Steve, hats off big time to anyone who has the knowledge and patience to write a book on the subject. I personally dont have that knowledge. If people arent happy with whats in your book mabey they should try to write a better one huh. I doubt thats gonna happen.