Which spoon knife?

[bb07]

Hi all. I've decided I want to have a go at spoon carving and would like to know which shape/curve would be best if I only have the one knife. Use would be for the common size of spoon most folks make but larger rather than smaller so a really tight curve might not be as good as a bigger curve. I'm thinking something like the shape (and size) of this one http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/83-Spoon-Knife-Right-handed/
Or the larger one http://www.raymears.com/Bushcraft_Product/580-Spoon-Knife-Big-Right-handed/
In reading here I see a number of makers recommended and probably would be well served by any of them. I do know that the Moras are not what I want, from the reviews I've read. I prefer to buy the best quality the first time around.
Recommendations as to which curve would be most useful for me?
All comments appreciated!

 

[Kepis]

anything from Ben Orford, FGYT or Dave Budd will serve you well, a curve like this one from Ben Orford is a good starting point and is great for spoons and bowls

The shallower curves like the second from the top in this pic are better suited to finishing type cuts

 

[Baggy]

What Kepis said, they will all advise on the best curve for you.

 

[robin wood]

The Svante Djarve knives you linked to are good and the small one was the one Ben copied for his first knives top in Kepis's picture. This sort of small tight curve knife is very accessible, that is it's easy for a beginner to use, the drawback is it leaves a bit of a ploughed field surface so you need a shallow curve to follow it eg second one down in Kepis's picture. I have worked with Ben over the years on his knives the shallow curve one used to be much straighter at the end but is a good shape now though I feel it is still too thin which means it flexes and chatters if used for heavier cuts. More advanced carvers always use larger hooks, partly because it removes wood faster but also it leaves a cleaner cut surface. The bottom one in Kepis's picture is a good example as is the Svante Djarve large hook. A current fave of mine is the Hans Karlsson available from woodland craft supplies. I have used hooks by all the UK and Scandinavian makers I know of and own around 40 which people try when then come on courses. If there was one that could be recommended above all others I would say so but different people like different knives so really you have to either take a lucky dip or get somewhere like a local meet where you can try a load out.
A few years ago I arranged a passaround of some of the most common ones available at the time
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29676&highlight=hook+knife+passaround+great
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30569

 

[robin wood]

double post sorry

 

[bb07]

Thanks very much for the information guys. It's been a huge help!