There is a huge variety of literature about knives, knife making and knife collecting available. Out of my app. 50 pieces, I would recommend for a start (without any commitment to completeness):
1. Ernst G. Siebeneicher-Hellwig: "Messer machen" - Nice entry into knife making (in German language)
2. Roman Landes: "Messerklingen und Stahl" - Good and understandable basics of metallurgy (in German language)
3. "Stahlschlüssel Taschenbuch" - German standard steel handbook, good reference
4. Barney / Loveless: "How to make knives" - Standard entry book with many pictures