I've been using Mora knives for carving, but I'm on the lookout for something better as my birthday approaches. I have pretty big hands and I love using Puko knives, but I want to hear about your experiences and see what other options I have. I mainly focus on smaller projects like carving Pagan Gods figures and even tiny D&D figures, and I've recently started experimenting with carving Walking Sticks. I'm considering investing in just one high-quality knife that would be comfortable for these tasks. Thanks for any recommendations!
4 Answers
Check out Deepwoods Ventures; I've used their hook knives for spoon carving and they've been reliable and reasonably priced. They have a nice selection of knives that cater to both rough and detailed carving. It's worth looking at their collection!
For smaller carvings, I love using flat ground straight edge knives like the OCC Tools 1.5" detail knife. Beaver Craft offers a nice starter set with thin scandi blades that have good points and straight edges. They come in different handle sizes, which is great. For larger carvings, my go-to is the Mora 120. If you're feeling crafty, you can even build your own Pukko from Ragweed Forge; they sell kits and blades for around $25 to $35, and I just ordered one with a 3" blade for $27 shipping included!
If you're in the US, you might want to check out Drake and Helvie—they're top-notch but pretty pricey. Lee Ferguson and OCCT are great options too, and Flexcut has some decent carving knives, especially their new 'Pro' line. For fine detail work, I usually go with a narrow, straight blade with a flat grind. A blade length of about 1.5" works well for intermediate carving, while a 1" blade is best for the really small details.
I've had great experiences with Svante Djarv tools if you're looking for something hand-forged. Their larger Pukko knives are excellent for rough work, but they also offer smaller detail knives that are fantastic. You might want to consider whether you need a scandi grind, though—Mora knives are quite functional. Beautiful works from artisans exist, but a Mora can still do the job just fine!