Different knife blade shapes - what are they for?

chuckt · #1 07-13-2007, 10:01 AM

Hey folks! Haven't asked a question in awhile so I thought I'd pop this one into the forum and see what people have to say. I've been looking at some of the really nice Helvie, Dunkle, Drake knives and there seems to be a bewildering array of blade and point shapes & types.

Is there a good reference anywhere that explains how all these came into being and what types of cuts they are for? I am a little confused.

EDIT - Thought I'd add a little more detail. I understand the difference between Roughing, Carving and Detail knives. What I am talking about are the various "sweeps" of the blades (hi point, low point, upturned, straight, pelican, etc.). These seem to mostly vary in detail knives. But similar to gouges - how do you know what you should have in a set of knife shapes?

Thanks!
ChuckT

DADDIO · #2 07-13-2007, 11:29 AM

don't really know of a reference guide anywhere,just kind of a trial and error deal i guess. running into different situations where a certain shape would get in at a better angle than another,i have modified some cheaper tools sometimes for this same reason,even made a few to make it easier to get in a spot. that's about all i got to say about that,cause that's all i can come up with, maybe it'll help

AlArchie · #3 07-13-2007, 11:51 AM

Chuck, quite a few of those different shapes are designed specifically for chip carving.

The "scimitar" shapes are good for getting in, around and under a lot of details. Some of these are sharpened on the concave edge, some on the convex edge and some on both. I think it's best to have one of each individual sharpening, rather than one sharp on both edges, as a matter of safety.

Once in a while a blade size and shape will come along and suit a particular purpose really well. Rick sent me a large (too large, he said) razor knife that looked a lot like a thin hunting knife. It's ideal for work on carved fish and is really well adapted for carving the gill areas.

The Swede "sloyd" style knives are great for whittling and that flat plane style carving. The Finnish "puukku" knives are very similar to the sloyd style. However "puukku" is a general term for knife in Finn, so you might get any number of styles if you ask about that style.

It would also seem like many of the shapes are just variations on two or three standards, made to individual preferences. ie; basic bench knife, drop point, sheepsfoot, etc.

The fixed blade utility knife seems to be specially designed for western caricature carving, right Lynn?

Al

Kenny_S · #4 07-13-2007, 01:46 PM

I prefer a knife blade shaped to cut juicy 1-2 " Prime steak.

I know, go back in to my little little world.

DADDIO · #5 07-13-2007, 01:52 PM

hhmm that would be the 5" steakum maximus blade wouldn't it!!! lol

Tom H · #6 07-13-2007, 02:17 PM

Hey ChuckT, Maybe the various different shaped knife blades are a result of the "free market" system in carving knifes at work. What I mean is that woodcarvers are always looking for and purchasing the "new" knife that will be "the knife". You know, the one that will let us reach our top carving form just with its use. In other words, for every different blade profile/shape there will be carvers that will buy it. Hense, they are out there. After all that "new" blade profile might just the the one.......Tom H

This theory does not apply to Lynn D........

susieq · #7 07-13-2007, 11:11 PM

Hello Chuck,
Regarding the different shapes of blades, there may be certain jobs that certain shapes were created to do. What it boils down to in the end is what shape works best for the individual carver for the job he is doing. You develop your favorites. A good friend of mine was a terrific knife maker. Rich Notto died a couple of years ago but I still have a set of his knives.

He and wife, Carol, made tons of knives and went to shows with them, sold them through carving magazines and many suppliers used to stock them.

Every now and then, he would make a mistake on a blade and wind up with a tiny little "scalpal" like blade. I bought one from him because it was just what I needed at the time, to carve eyes in my little santa figures and ornaments. He called these blades his little "bastards". My carving friends would see mine and want one too. I would tell them to ask Rich for one of his little bastards and they started selling quite a few. Pretty soon they began making them on purpose instead of by accident. They couldn't figure out for the longest time, who was sending these folks to buy them and ask for them by Rich's pet name for them. It was always a big joke between us after they found out.

I also liked a curved blade with the sharp edge in the inside of the curve. I used this for making stop cuts and could get more leverage by pulling the knife toward me with the curved blade. Had more control of it. It ends up being all about personal preference.
susieq

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #8 07-14-2007, 10:38 AM

I have one of Rich Notto's folding chip knives.....nice knife! I should have gotten more from him...............but $$ so many tools, so little room! lol

chuckt · #9 07-14-2007, 11:10 AM

Hmmm . . . sounds like I am going to have to try them all to figure this out. Heh heh. Yeah - that's the ticket. "Hey Hon - gotta go buy about $300 worth of knives now." Well - maybe not. Don't think that'll go over too well.

Guess I'll just stick with my Frost sloyd style, and my Flexcut roughing and Detail knives for now. Next purchase will be a mini detail knife or two for carving eyes in small figures.

Thanks for the great info from everyone.

!
ChuckT

santagibbs · #10 07-14-2007, 01:47 PM

While we are on the subject of knives, sense I am a beginner and am slow to learn about all these carving utensils, What is a skew knife used for? I am looking for a knife that can get into places that other straight blades won't reach.. Like when the handle is in the way to get the right angle for cutting.. I have seen pictures of skews etc.. Any suggestions would sure help.. Charlotte, the slow to learn one... !!!