David R. Russell (23 September 1935 – 21 March 2018) was a builder who for many years collected antique woodworking tools.

[3] "His first love was the foreman's Norris jointing-plane, which he was not allowed to touch however much his fingers tingled," wrote Huon Mallalieu in The Times.

Back in Cumbria he formed a partnership with his brother and by the end of his career their building firm, by then known as Russell Armer Ltd, employed some 250 men.

The dust-jacket text summarises the book's aim as one of "providing a broad survey of hand tool-making from prehistory to today."

[James Austin] has managed to capture the elusive qualities of balance, texture and patina which make the finest tools a pleasure to handle, frequently lifting them into the realm of folk art".