Spoon/Crook Knife Advice

[max whitlock]

Hi

does anybody [i'm sure they will!] have experience of the following spoon/crook knives
looking for one for my birthday and would appreciate some advice.

Svante Djarv Small Spoon Knife - Right Handed
http://www.woodlandcraftsupplies.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_15&products_id=43

and

Ben Orford Small Crook / Spoon Knife (Right Handed)

http://www.woodlandcraftsupplies.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_15&products_id=257

there is a big price difference [the ben orford is £10 cheaper]

is this reflected in the tools performance at all?

any help is much appreciated

regards
Max

 

[Bardster]

Ben's tools are excellent and you wont go wrong buying one. Price difference is more to do with country or origin. Alos yo ucan buy directly from Bens website http://www.benorford.com/CarvingTools.aspx and slightly cheaper as you are not paying a middle man

 

[Vickyjs]

Ben and Lois Orford are really helpful - excellent customer service and really nice spoon knives (I've bought quite a few for my work) It's nice to be able to deal with the people who actually make the product.

 

[robin wood]

Yep that is the first hook knife Ben made when he started and it is a straight copy of the Djarve, his handles are smaller so suit folk with small hands, blades are good. Most beginners get on very well with this style of small tight curved blade, easy to use and not too easy to cut yourself. The only drawback is the tight curve leaves a sort of ridged finish which you need to smooth out. Most more experienced carvers use more open hooks like the large Svante Djarve, the Hans Karlsson or Ben does more open hooks too, these all take a bit longer to get to grips with though.