[Mischief]

I am a beginner at carving and have spent the last few days reading about what knife to buy. From what I can gather Ron Wells produces good knives. However when I visited his website he announces on his main page that he sold the business. I am wondering if anyone has got a knife from him recently?You never know with new management.

As of today I am still trying figure out whether I am going to carve with a pen knife or a bench knife but I was almost certain that I would have liked a Ron Wells, so anyone with any feedback?

[Paul_Guraedy]

I talked to Ron a few months back and although he did not mention selling his business, he did indicate that he had an interest in pursuing blacksmithing. I have known Ron for about 12 years now (he lives just south of me in the Ozarks). I know Mike Shipley by reputation as a woodcarver and have no doubt that he will continue the Ron Wells tools at the same level of quality as in the past. I do not have a knife but have several of his "flat" gouges ranging up from a very small one that I special ordered and I will be ordering more, even with the change of ownership.

[Mark N. Akers]

Mischief:
I recieved one of the new Shipley/Wells knives for Christmas.I am going on record and saying that Mike will do as good a job as Ron did.I have no complaints with the new one.

[redbird46]

I am friends with both Ron and Mike and they are both great teachers,carvers and high quality knife makers. Ron spent several months last year teaching Mike all aspects of making his knife and is very concerned that his quality legacy will continue. Mike Shipley "only" does First Quality and will continue the Wells Knives with the same top quality that woodcarvers have come to expect. The only difference you will see is the initials on the handle will now be RW/MS. I have also had the opportunity to carve and touch up the new Mike Shipley knife for some carving friends and they are super sharp and are easy to hone and polish to a razor edge!
Norb

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Do you guys feel that the Wells knives are better then Denny knives. The only reason I ask is that I was going to order a Denny knife till I read this post.

Dave

[Mischief]

Dave,

I did a fair amount of reading on this forum and the consensus seem to be that Denny's is a fine knife. I just personally didnt like that grove that goes up where the blade meets the wood handle.Makes me think I am going to have it snap off( Yes! I know that is irrational) So its just purely on imagination I prefer the way the Ron Wells knives look and the way the Murphys and Fergusons look.
Apparently New Yorkers dont carve!! I cant find a tool shop or even a pen knife shop....unless you count those that want to sell me a 12 piece utility knife with toothpick and nail clipper to boot. Somehow having something that goes near my toes go near my teeth after that, just does not sit well with me.

=)

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Mischief,
Still confused on which way to go. I have a Denny detail knife and have no complaints, maybe I will get one of each.

Dave

[redbird46]

Dave, I'll have to admit that I have a hard time passing up a good carving knife and I have a bunch. I love my Dennys gouges and especially his v-gouges. I also use Dennys detail knife along with my Lee Ferguson detail knife on small features on caricatures. For taking off wood I use my Ron Wells knives but also have larger Denny knives including one Denny made for Steve Brown. If I could only have a few instead of the 30-40 that are in my collection it would be a Wells knife, a Ferguson detail knife and a Denny detail knife. I like the Ferguson around the face/eyes and the Denny is long and thin and great in tight spaces.
Norb

[cseymour]

Hello,
I am a beginning carver and was interested in flat-plane style carving. I was getting frustrated until I invested in my Ron Wells knives (Mike Shipley made these and they are fantastic!!!).

The knives and better wood (Heinecke basswood) have made a huge difference.

I am sold for good on these knives -- very high quality.

cheers.

Chris

[Keithmc]

I was looking at the Ron Wells knives with a view toward flat-plane carving. Any suggestion as to which Ron Wells knife would best fit the bill.
Thanks
Keithmc