Welcome!
Welcome to Artisan Ideas Publishing. Here you will find truly excellent books written by some of the world’s best teachers and experts in their fields. Domestic clients can order our books here on our site or through your usual supplier.
For Europe and the rest of the world, order from our European distributor, The Mare Nostrum Group, at MNG Bookshop. This link will bring you directly to our books.
Our Subject Areas
At Artisan Ideas you’ll find jewelry books, blacksmith books, books for knifemakers, and books for lock collectors and locksmiths. We also have books on popular science.
Our Objectives
Artisan Ideas publishes books that are intended to last – in more ways than one. Our subject areas: blacksmithing, jewelry-making, lock-making, knifemaking, etc. are traditional crafts. The information in our books will be just as useful years from now as it is today. Our physical books are also meant to last. All our manuals are hardcovers with lay-flat binding so that craftspeople and students can keep them open to any page.
BOOKSTORES, LIBRARIES & RETAILERS
For queries and domestic orders email us at: Info@ArtisanIdeas.com.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are now warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower postage costs across Europe and the rest of the world. Order directly from our European distributor, The Mare Nostrum Group, at MNG Bookshop.
For Europe and the rest of the world, BOOKSHOPS and other RETAILERS can send queries or orders to our distributor, at: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
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Anvils in America – Richard Postman – Anvil Identification & Reference Guide (2025 Hardcover)
$95.00564 pages • 700+ illustrations • Covers American and European anvil makers and types
Artisan Ideas is proud to present the 2025 hardcover reprint of Anvils in America by Richard Postman — the most authoritative work on anvil makers, identification, and manufacturing history.
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The Glint in the Dragon’s Eye: A Blacksmith’s Journey – Illustrated Novel
$14.99A beautifully illustrated coming-of-age fantasy that blends blacksmithing, dragon lore, and personal transformation. Follow Culann as she discovers her craft, her heritage, and the quiet dragon spirit that guides her journey. Featuring 37 original illustrations by Alexandra Mellott.
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THE NEW SPRUCE FORGE MANUAL OF LOCKSMITHING: A BLACKSMITH’S GUIDE TO SIMPLE LOCK MECHANISMS (REVISED AND EXPANDED)
$44.95European customers: Artisan Ideas books are now warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower postage costs across Europe and the rest of the world. Order directly from our European distributor, The Mare Nostrum Group, at MNG Bookshop. Bookstores and other retailers outside the US can send queries, or order from our distributor, at: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
Silver Medal Winner for the HOBBY and CRAFT BOOKS category, 2023 IBPA Book Awards.
Hardcover, 304 pages, full color photos and illustrations.
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Locks and Keys Throughout the Ages – Classic Reference on the History and Mechanisms of Locks and Keys
$32.50A classic reference on the history of locks and keys, tracing their development from prehistoric devices to modern mechanisms. Vincent J.M. Eras combines detailed explanations with over 280 black-and-white photographs and drawings to illustrate how locks function and evolved over time.
Hardcover, 186 pages, over 280 black-and-white photos and designs.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower shipping costs. Order from our European distributor, Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop). Trade enquiries: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
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The Blacksmith’s Project Book – Intermediate & Advanced Blacksmithing Projects from European Masters (Hardcover)
$49.95The Blacksmith’s Project Book is a blacksmithing projects book for intermediate and advanced smiths, featuring 20 challenging projects with over 900 high-quality color photos. Explore advanced techniques and artistic metalwork from European master blacksmiths. Hardcover, 248 pages.
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Antique Lock and Key Collectors’ Library – 3-Book Set on Antique Locks, Keys, and Mechanisms
Original price was: $123.95.$104.95Current price is: $104.95.A complete 3-book reference set on the history of locks and keys, bringing together Antique Locks and Keys, Locks and Keys Throughout the Ages, and Persian Locks. This collector-grade library covers lock development, design, and mechanisms across centuries and cultures.
All three volumes are hardcover.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower shipping costs. Order from our European distributor, Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop). Trade enquiries: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
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A Blacksmithing Primer – Beginner & Intermediate Blacksmithing Book by Randy McDaniel (Hardcover)
$25.00A Blacksmithing Primer is a complete blacksmithing book for beginners and intermediate smiths. Written by Master Blacksmith Randy McDaniel, this widely used guide has sold over 35,000 copies and teaches essential tools, techniques, and projects through clear, step-by-step instruction. Hardcover, 174 pages, over 400 drawings.
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Persian Locks: 1500 Years of Iranian Padlocks – Illustrated History of Antique Persian Locks and Mechanisms
$32.50An award-winning, beautifully illustrated book on Persian lockmaking, presenting 1,500 years of antique locks history through over 500 photographs and drawings. Explore the design, craftsmanship, and mechanisms of traditional Iranian padlocks in this richly detailed visual reference.
Hardcover, 144 pages, 10 × 8.5 inches, over 500 full-color photos and drawings.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower shipping costs. Order from our European distributor, Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop). Trade enquiries: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
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Antler Knife – Traditional Sami Knife Handle & Sheath (Beginner & Intermediate Knifemaking Book)
$25.95knifemaking, knife making, bladesmithing, knife handle making, knife sheath making, antler handle, Sami knife, Scandinavian knife, traditional knifemaking, beginner knifemaking, intermediate knifemaking, leather sheath, woodworking for knives, antler carving, handcrafted knives, knife projects
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Antique Locks and Keys: Their History, Uses and Mechanisms – Comprehensive Reference on Antique Lock Mechanisms and Key Design
$58.952024 Gold Medal Winner – Independent Book Publishers Awards
A comprehensive reference on antique locks and keys, covering their history, mechanisms, and artistic development from Roman times through the Industrial Revolution. Features over 1,000 high-resolution photographs with dates, dimensions, and provenance, along with detailed insights into internal lock mechanisms.
Hardcover, 290 pages, over 1,000 color photos, 12¼ × 9¼ inches.
European customers: Artisan Ideas books are warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower shipping costs. Order from our European distributor, Mare Nostrum Group (MNG Bookshop). Trade enquiries: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
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UNDERSTANDING BASIC ELECTRICITY: A NON-TECHNICAL INTRODUCTION FOR EVERYONE
$15.99European customers: Artisan Ideas books are now warehoused in the UK for faster delivery and lower postage costs across Europe and the rest of the world. Order directly from our European distributor, The Mare Nostrum Group, at MNG Bookshop. Bookstores and other retailers outside the US can send queries, or order from our distributor, at: enquiries@mare-nostrum.co.uk.
A concise, interesting, and clearly written book which explains electricity to readers who don’t have a technical background. All examples and situations discussed are related to the home. Irwin Math’s book will give the ordinary person without a technical background a general idea of what electricity is, how it is produced, how we use and measure it, as well as the dangers involved with its misuse.
Hardcover, 72 pages, 45 color photos & Illustrations
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Forged – Making a Knife with Traditional Blacksmith Skills (Beginner & Intermediate Knifemaking Book, Hardcover)
$29.95Forged is a knifemaking book for Beginner & Intermediate smiths that teaches how to forge a knife using traditional blacksmithing techniques. Step-by-step instruction using hand tools, with 150 photos and illustrations. Hardcover, 132 pages, full color.
