This piece has one aim and one aim alone. This is to reveal to you the best wood carving knives in the UK. To ensure that you get the best of the best, we searched high and low. So, if you intend on becoming the next Grinling Gibbons, you should consider looking at the stash we’ve put together in the section to come.
What type of knives will you get to see here? Well, only the absolute best. We selected various carving knives, so whether you are looking for the best general carving knife or want a knife that makes detailing a lot easier, we’ve put together the best knives for the task at hand.
Morakniv 164 Hook Wood Carving Knife
From Sweden, where the art of carving wooden spoons has been in practice over the ages, we present to you the Morakniv 164. This hook-style knife makes creating hollow wooden items like cups, utensils, and dishes more than easy. Let’s take a closer look at some of the distinguishing features of this tool available on the Amazon UK store.
The Blade
Here you’ll see that the Morakniv 164 features a 2” single edge Swedish carbon steel blade with guaranteed strength and hardness. In addition, the blade features a hook with a deep curve which makes carving hollow objects possible.
Still, on the 164’s edge, you’ll find that, unlike previous models, this blade doesn’t dull quickly. However, you should note that the absence of chromium makes it susceptible to corrosion and rust.
The Handle
We found the handle of this knife to be crafted from oiled birchwood, which is known for its fine texture finish. The spindle-like handle of this tool adds to its comfort and functionality use while guaranteeing you complete control of the knife during use.
Key Features
- Blade length: 5.5cm
- Blade thickness: 11cm
- Overall knife length: 16.4cm
- Overall knife weight: 50g
- Handle length: 11cm
- Handle thickness: 2.33cm
- Hook radius: 1.27cm
Pros
- This Morakniv is lightweight and affordable
- It is versatile and suitable for both pull cuts if your dominant hand is the right hand and push cuts on the left hand.
- With this tool, you’ll find carving small hollow objects like spoons relatively less time-consuming.
- Making push cuts and hollows with the Morakniv 164 is less stressful than using a straight edge knife.
Cons
- It is very prone to rust and corrosion, so it needs to be maintained regularly.
Flexcut KN26 Right-Hand Hook Wood Carving Knife
Yet another hook knife has made it to the scene; its name is the Flexcut KN26, available on the Bushcraft UK store. This is a very much sought-after carving knife and is intended for the modern woodcarver.
The Blade
First things first, you’ll notice that the blade of the KN26 assumes a very different shape than you would see on any regular knife.
Its curved blade made from carbon steel takes the form of a gouge and is shaped like a hook, allowing you to remove stock from wood very quickly. Its design is perfect for making hollow in wood.
In addition, its sharp edges help ensure that you stay in total control all through the carving process.
We’d also love to add that this tool is made by woodcarvers for woodcarvers, so the blade is precision sharpened to meet the highest standards. Further hand sharpening is also done at the factory before the knife gets to you.
The Handle
Depending on the way you carve, you have the opportunity to choose either a righthanded or lefthanded hook knife.
However, remember that no matter the style you choose, if you are a left-hander using the left-hand tool, cut by dragging the blade towards you. At the same time, if you are a right-hander using a lefthanded tool, cut by pulling the knife away from you. Apply the same principle if you choose the righthanded hook knife.
Finally, the knifes ashwood handle makes it the perfect companion for extended periods of carving.
Key Features
- Handle length: 12cm
- Blade length: 2.8575mm
- Knife weight: 53.9g
Pros
- This knife is pre-sharpened from the manufacturer
- The handle ensures users enjoy a slippery free grip.
Cons
- No sheath is included with the product.
Helle Skog 83 Wood Carving Knife
Getting its origin and name from the Scandinavian Forest, we have the Helle Skog 83 wood carving knife available on the Knives and Tools UK website.
The inspiration for the design can be traced back to nights when men would make campfires and tell stories to pass the time. While narrating these nighttime stories, Norwegian folks would carve out spoons and camping tools with their knives.
The Blade
Here, we have a carving knife with a triple laminated blade. The core blade can retain its sharpness even though it is laminated between layers of stainless steel, and although this Scandinavian blade is relatively short, its length makes it easy to control.
Furthermore, you’ll notice that this carving knife has a slight drop and a curved edge design that ensure that all cuts are smooth.
The Handle
Unlike other popular knives, the Helle Skog features a more robust handle designed from beechwood; this makes it the perfect choice for carving and general use. In addition, you’ll find the handle well sanded with a contour to make handling it less troublesome. These contours also add to making the blade safe for use.
Key Features
- Blade length: 7.6cm
- Blade weight: 72g
- Handle length: 10.7cm
- Blade thickness: 0.26cm
Pros
- Included in the package is a leather sheath for keeping your knife safe
- Its shape and robust design make it the perfect knife for more than just wood carving
Cons
- This tool is somewhat on the heavy side.
Mora 106 Wood Carving Knife
Like all Morakniv tools, this knife finds its origin in Sweden and sells on the Amazon UK store. However, it is no slacker in delivering accurate cuts since the handle gives you complete control of the tool.
The Blade
Once you glimpse the blade on this knife, you’ll understand why it’s on this list. The laminated carbon core blade is long, sharp, and pointy, ensuring that every cut is precise, and even when you need to cut large chunks of wood, it delivers efficiently.
In addition, the blade is tapered to the end, making it a great choice when carving delicate curves. Like many other Mora knives, you also find that this one spots a full tang that extends to the handle and adds to the durability and strength of the blade.
The Handle
With the Mora 106, you’ll have the pleasure of carving with a spindle-shaped oiled birchwood handle. Not to mention that Morakniv also gives you the freedom to customize the handle of your Mora 106 to your taste.
Key features
- Knife weight: 55g
- Overall knife length: 18.9cm
- Blade length: 8.2cm
- Blade thickness: 0.27cm
- Handle length: 10.9cm
Pros
- The handle is easily customizable
- You’ll get a plastic sheath in the package
- It is suitable for general purpose carving projects.
Cons
- You will find it challenging to use this tool for detailed carving since the blade is too long.
Flexcut KN15 Chip Carving Knife
For chip carving and creating flat surfaces on wood, your go-to knife should be the Flexcut KN15 available on Chronos UK store.
This tool helps take your carving to a whole new level, and we are sure you’ll be impressed with the detailing it delivers, whether you are carving a triangle or engaging in free-form chipping.
The Blade
The blade of the KN15 is mainly made short due to its purpose (chip carving). However, with it, you’ll get to witness the results obtained when spring steel is combined with the perfect quantity of carbon to help deliver precise cuts.
The Handle
The Flexcut KN15 chip carving knife comes with an ashwood handle made from the ash tree and guarantees comfort throughout the carving process. In addition, this Ashwood handle is easy to hold since it has different holding points to give you more control over the carving process.
The handle is additionally covered with oil to give it a glossy appearance. This look is accentuated with the straight grain of the ashwood that adds to the dazzle of the handle.
Key Features
- Overall length: 3.2cm
- Width: 8.89cm
- Weight: 84g
Pros
- The blade is quite flexible
- With this knife, chip carving becomes less complicated.
Cons
- The handle doesn’t quite compare to other Flexcut tools
- This knife is on the heavy side
Sarge Knives SK-10N Vision Maker Carving Knife
Thanks to the Sarge Sk-10N intricate design and comfort, your knife can now feel like an extension of your arms. On the Desertcart UK website, where it is sold, you’ll get a knife that packs both chip blades and detailing blades.
The Blade
The blades used here are made from high-grade stainless sheet, and although often referred to as steel of lower quality, you’ll find that this is not so.
Still not the highest quality steel, the blade on this knife has enough strength and toughness to perform its duties effectively.
In addition, the 440 Chromium steel is resistant to corrosion, easy to sharpen, and great for making controlled cuts while carving.
The Handle
It sports a maple burl wood handle which aids in ensuring that you stay in total control throughout the carving process. However, since the size of the handle is a bit too small, you might experience difficultly working with it for long hours.
Key Features
- Overall length when open: 11.43cm
- Overall length when closed: 8.89cm
- Weight of the knife: 8.5g
- Length of both the chip and detailing blade: 3.175cm
Pros
- The edges spot a cheaper satin finish
- Two knives in one casing adds to its versatility
- It is extremely lightweight
Cons
- Not suitable for extended periods of use
- You’ll need to hone it before you begin to use this knife.
Flexcut Pocket Jack for Carving
Whether you are a professional woodcarver or a hobbyist from the Bushcraft UK store, we have this Flexcut pocket jack you would not regret having on you. You’ll love how easy it is to fold this smaller version of flex cuts jack carving knives and carve with them will on the move.
The Blade
The knife reveals four blades, all compactly positioned in a single frame, each edge serving different purposes.
First, there is a detailing blade for removing large chunks of wood from curved surfaces. Then you get a straight gouge to help with printmaking cuts and carving of surfaces. The third is the gouge scorp which has a short radius perfect for making narrow recess than a spoon gouge would. And finally, there is a V scorp that helps with distinguishing adjacent surfaces.
The Handle
You get a casing with a lock instead of a handle. However, the current lock is weak so, this might not be the best option for serious carving jobs.
Key Features
- Overall length: 14.478cm
- Closed length: 10.795cm
- Blade thickness: 1.524cm
- Overall weight: 85.04g
- Detail knife length: 4.1275cm
- Straight gouge length: 4.7625cm
- Scorp length: 2.69cm
- V- Scorp length: 2.54cm
Pros
- Its multitool casing makes it versatile
- This set of carving tool is excellent for carving when on the move
- The casing makes it safe to keep in the pockets
Cons
- The lock doesn’t feel durable, and it is hard to open
- It is not the best carving tool for beginner carvers and serious carving jobs.
