Best wood carving knives Reviewed | My 5 Favorites!

Last updated on November 18th, 2022 at 11:43 am

I understand how difficult it can be to find the best wood carving knives. It gets even more complicated when you only have the budget for one. Decisions! Decisions! Decisions! As a service to other wood carvers, I have done some of the work, so you wouldn’t have to. This post will introduce you to some of the top carving knives. Each one is accompanied by a detailed review of what you can expect.

If you’re an experienced woodcarver, the right knives can open up a world of possibilities. If you’re a beginner, they make the learning process easier.

In a Hurry?

Do you need a quick guide to buying the best knife for woodcarving? There are a few things that you will need to consider. One of them is having a clear idea of what you will be carving. Some projects require a more detailed approach. Make sure to check on the handle and ensure it is comfortable enough to hold for long periods. 

You also want to make sure that the blade is strong and can hold its own. Let’s take a look at some of our top picks.

Our Top Pick

Round Up of the Best wood carving knives

BeaverCraft Wood Carving Hook Knife SK1 

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If you want to carve a project that requires a concave shape, you will enjoy using the BeaverCraft Wood Carving Hook Knife SK1. It does a great job of carving spoons, bowls, and other hollow shapes. The hooked blade lets you dig in and remove large amounts of wood while leaving the hollow smooth. 

This is the best spoon carving knife from BeaverCraft. The blade is made of high carbon steel, which is very durable. The handle is long, giving you a lot of room to comfortably handle the knife as you carve. Another great thing about this knife is that both left and right-handed users can use it.

Pros 

• It has a long enough handle to carve comfortably and safely
• The blade is sharp
• It can slice through both soft and hardwood
• Both left and right-handed users can use it.

Cons 

• It doesn’t stay sharp for very long
• It does not come with a protective sheath

Morakniv Wood Carving Hook Knife 164

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Morakniv and BeaverCraft are two brand names synonymous with wood carving knives. This is a versatile knife that both left and right-handed users can use. The handle is comfortable to hold and is made of birchwood, piled for extra comfort. The blade is hooked, making it an excellent knife for spoons and hollowed projects. 

The blade is 2 inches long and 0.1inches thick, making it a lightweight knife. This is a specialized knife made in Sweden. The blade is carbon steel, making it a durable knife, ready to plow into any wood. The handle fits comfortably in your hand, allowing you to carve longer. The blade has an internal radius of 0.5inches

Pros

• It has a curved blade that makes it easy to scoop out stock and carve hollow shapes. 
• The blade is sharp and durable
• The blade stays in place as you carve
• The handle is strong and comfortable to use.

Cons 

• The knife does not have a protective  sheath
• You will need to polish the blade often to avoid corrosion.

Morakniv 106 Whittling Knife

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This is a straight-looking knife and probably what you would expect a knife to look like. The blade is made of laminated steel and protected from elements that could potentially damage the steel. This is one of the features that makes it a durable blade. It is longer than what you usually see in carving knives. The blade is about 2mm thick and 82mm long. In total, the knife is 188mm long. 

The blade style is thin and tapered. The straight handle offers you a comfortable grip. The handle is oiled so that it has a smooth feel. However, the extended nature of the blade can make it hard to get into tight spaces. Here’s a more detailed review of the Morakniv 106.

Pros

• It is comfortable to hold
• The blade is durable
• The handle offers you a comfortable hold
• The blade is made of high-quality material
• The blades length is an advantage in that it also adds leverage

Cons 

• The blade is long and doesn’t fit in small spaces.
• The blade is not flexible

BeaverCraft Sloyd C4

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We love this knife because it is affordable and easy to use. This means that a beginner can easily use it. The BeaverCraft Sloyd C4 is a basic-looking knife designed for general wood carving and roughing wood. The blade has a thin pointed tip, and you can use this to get into tight spaces and carve out specific details in a project. 

The handle has an ergonomic shape, making it the perfect fit for long periods of carving. The blade is very sharp, allowing you to carve into just about any type of wood. The blade is made of high carbon steel, a highly durable material. You will be cutting through oak and walnut-like a hot knife through butter. Here’s a more detailed review of the Beavercraft C4.

Pros 

• It is easy to use
• it is affordable
• It can be used by both beginners and professionals
• It has a comfortable handle
• The blade is durable

Cons 

• It easily corrodes. You will need to watch out for this. 
• You will need to sharpen it quite often

Flexcut KN12

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Right off the bat, we like that this is an affordable knife. If you’re still unsure which knife to use, you will enjoy this one. Thanks to the ergonomic handle and the smooth finish, it feels smooth in the hand as you hold it. This is the type of knife that helps you produce very high-quality carvings. 

Both the handle and the blade are made of highly durable material. The handle is ashwood, while the blade is high carbon steel. Both of these materials can withstand high levels of pressure. The blade is honed and already sharpened. You will be able to slice through a variety of woods. Here’s a more detailed review of the Flexcut KN12.

Pros 

• It is easy to use
• The blade is durable
• It is an affordable knife
• The blade remains sharp for a long period

Cons 

• It does not have a protective sheath
• Some users complain about the blade coming loose.

Buyer’s Guide

What should I look for in a good wood carving knife?

There are a couple of things that you need to be on the lookout for. The blade’s strength is one of the most important things to check on. The blade needs to be strong enough to cut through different types of wood. 

The types of steel that commonly make up blades used on knives include stainless steel, laminated steel, and carbon steel. Of the three, carbon steel is the most durable. However, it is usually the one that requires the most maintenance. 

You also want to ensure the blade is not too long or short. The work largely determines this at hand. Hook knives are great for carving spoons but not so great at dealing with roughing work or geometric carving. Make sure the knife’s shape matches the intended work. 

The other thing to consider is the type of wood you expect to work with. This will guide you to buying the right blade. You may also want to consider where you intend to carve and if you will need to be carrying the knife around. If so, then accessories such as a protective sheath are essential. If not, you may want to look for a case or a pocket knife. 

Final Thoughts

The right knife in the right carver’s hands can produce a true masterpiece. It is challenging to develop accurate work if the knife you are using is ill-fitted. We have reviewed five of our top picks, and we hope this helps you find the right knife for your project. 

We like the BeaverCraft Wood Carving Hook Knife SK1 because of its excellent job of carving hollow shapes such as spoons and cusks. It is also reasonably priced and easy to use. Happy carving! Happy shopping!