Best Spoon/Hook Knife

[Erdbeereis]

I think I'm ready to graduate from my Mora spoon knife to a better hand made one. Which maker is your favorite? I've been thinking about one of the standard hooks from Pinewood Forge. I like these because the shipping is reasonable because I'm in the US and so is the company.
http://www.pinewoodforge.com/catalog.html

I've also thought about the medium hook knife from Ben Orford. I'm just not sure how much shipping to the states would cost me.
http://www.benorford.com/CarvingTools.aspx

Finally the ones from Dave Budd look pretty good. I'm not sure on how to order from his website though.
http://www.benorford.com/CarvingTools.aspx

What are you guys' thoughts on these spoon knives? Are there any other makers that I should look in to? If anybody has any info on shipping that would be great.

 

[redandshane]

Hi
No expert by any means so just my thoughts
Ben Orford makes great carving tools and his spoon knives are no exception
Dave Budd is well known in these circles and a great maker I am sure if you contact him via here or British Blades he will sort you out very nicely
FYGT AKA Dorset Woodland Blades is also of note
I own 3 Dorset Woodland blades and one Ben Orford all quality tools and all very different
I am sure they will all ship to US but these days that can be expensive

I suppose the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence; so that has meant that I have always had a hankering for a Del Stubbs blade and for you that's the easiest option (in the first instance anyway lol)
Robin Wood is the best man to advise and I believe he has done comparison reviews He will probably be along shortly

 

[stuey]

Also consider Nic Westerman who goes by the username nic on british blades. His spoon knives are the best I've used and there's not many I've not used to be fair. Hair poppingly sharp, nice bevel to aid sharpening and a lovely radius.

 

[Bardster]

I'll second that, I now have 8 or 9 of Nics blades (he's a member on here too.) and they are the best i've used. I own blades from most of the other makers too and they all work well but Nic suit me better. Being in the US you wouldn't really go wrong buying Dell stubbs blades, they are beautifully finished and cut really well.

 

[Hugo]

I use three of Ben Orfords and can't fault them, and have used Mora which are OK and have have handled one of Duncan's which looked and felt good in the hand, I must give it a try when I have access to it again.

 

[brancho]

I suggest you read THIS
I would suggest a Bo Helgesson

 

[fishfish]

mate ive used a few and duncan at dorset woodland blades makes a very good one,its all i use.

 

[luckylee]

I have also used a few, and have a few and love my Dorset woodland blade one it's his handle profile it's perfect.

 

[Erdbeereis]

What are the prices of the ones from Dorset woodland blade? Where would I order one? I see the links from their website, but the websites linked don't seem to stock them.

One more thing, are these spoon knives the same as the FGYT ones I've seen online?

 

[bikebum1975]

I'm planning to get one custom forged from a friend of mine off another site

 

[robin wood]

I have used the majority of the hooks that are on the market. The mora straight knives are great but the hooks sadly not as good as they should be. If I was in the US I would definitely buy Del's, they were the first good hooks I used 15 years ago long before most of the other makers mentioned had thought of making them, they haven't changed they still work. A second excellent alternative easily available in the US is Hans Karlsson from Drew Langsner at Country Workshops.

 

[Erdbeereis]

Thank you for your input Robin.

 

[grey-array]

I am currently using a knife from Svante djarv which to me is a really pleasing knife yet my only other experience is a Frost from mora and as many people before me said, it wasnt what you would want it to be.
Yours sincerely Ruud

 

[robin wood]

I like the large Svante Djarve hook and many folk get on well with the small one, they were some of the first hooks we could get in the UK and what Ben Orford based all his first hooks on. They work well.

 

[Erdbeereis]

How do you guys think this spoon knife would be?

http://www.deepwoodsventures.com/301spooncarver.html

I sent Ben an E-Mail asking how much shipping to the states would be, I'll let you guys know.

 

[Samon]

Ben orford is not only a top bloke but his work is brillaint. I have a medium spoon knife of his and it performs brillaintly.

With the exchange rate I can imagine costs will rack up, so if you can find simular quality but made closer to home i say that. if money isn't a facotr then go with Ben Orford!

 

[fishfish]

One more thing, are these spoon knives the same as the FGYT ones I've seen online?

FGYT is dorset woodland blades,duncan is slow on making them so give him a ring or email,worth the wait though.

 

[Erdbeereis]

Ben Orford replied that shipping would be about 13£. I think that I'll get one from the US. Which do you guy think would be better, the one from Del Stubbs, or this one http://www.deepwoodsventures.com/301spooncarver.html ?

 

[Simon H]

Another vote for Del Stubbs. I went up from Mora spoon knives a couple of years ago to Del's stuff and I think they are excellent, certainly upped my game anyway. I also have a largish Ben Orford crook knife for bowls etc which is also excellent. Being your side of the pond though I'd go for Del STubbs to save on the postage and import duty etc.

 

[Grey Owl]

The tools of North Bay Forge are a little different in shape from typical hook knives, but they are exceptional tools.

http://www.northbayforge.com/rec_sel.htm#maintarget

Over the years I have accumulated 4 different curved bladed tools from North Bay and each one has worked very well. They do require a slightly different technique than more traditional hook knives, but they are easy to learn.

On the other hand, with a bit work I have converted all of my Mora's into comfortable, easy to use tools as well. But when I think of purchasing another tool, it's typically one of the custom tools that I dream about.