Crooked knives-let's see them

[bb07]

Lately I've become somewhat obsessed by crooked knives and am now up to three.
All have a different 'feel' in use, but I haven't really come to drastically prefer one over the over, at least not yet.
First is a Ben Orford that I had originally borrowed but then purchased

This one has a blade by FGYT, handled by myself

And this one has a blade made by jojo from a file. I made the handle from caribou antler.

Let's see yours please

 

[Man of Tanith]

this would be mine
blade by jojo, antler from tengu, buffalo horn from mountainm, assembled by sasquatch
used badly by me

 

[EarthToSimon]

I have one made by lanny man, it's sort of a mixture between a spoon and crook knife.
use it daily in my lunch time attempts at spoon carving

 

[Man of Tanith]

nice sprook knife you have there mate

 

[mountainm]

More of a hook knife than crook knife. Lauri blade handled in corian by me.

 

[robin wood]

I just did a crooked knife course with Jarrod Stone Dahl a bark canoe builder and snowshoe maker who has used this tool extensively. It was very interesting, he reckons the crucial thing is to have the thumb rest in just the right position so that the thumb is under light compression during use and the fingers can be relaxed.

These are some of his

and these ones are examples that are poor design and cause stress during work.

These are the knives we made on the course

and here we are learning to use them

more pics of the making process here http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/crooked-knife-making-with-jarrod-stone.html

 

[robin wood]

If you have not seen it then the book mocataugan has loads of images of old crooked knives, it's available for free download here http://www.mocotauganthebook.com/

 

[bb07]

Thanks for that Robin. Being able to try different knives would be great. Then getting to actually make the blade and a handle that's a proper fit under the guidance of such a person is even better. And I suppose taking the course would save an enormous amount of time in learning how to use the tool.
I think more people would appreciate the virtues of these knives if they would persist in their use.
The first few times I used one, I almost gave it up but stayed with it. It took awhile before it felt comfortable and natural in use- I'm glad I did as I can't imagine being without one now!

 

[Retired Member southey]

My rocking custom crook arrived this week!

Very happy with it

 

[tombear]

As far as i know the are still making the blades in Sheffield for the US market. I talked them into selling me two blades they had pulled from the production line before they put the pointless bevel on the bottom and fitted to a handle.

I still have one wrapped in the bag they packed it in which i'd swap for something interesting as I doubt i'll wear this one out.

ATB

Tom