An excellent knife is essential when carving. With the right blade, you can carve with ease and put your ideas into practice.
Finding the best carving knives, however, is not as easy as it sounds – especially if you are new to this craft.
So, what is the best knife for carving wood? To help you make an informed decision, we have researched numerous woodworking tools and picked out five of the best carving knives for wood carvers.
Find the perfect carving knife for your project with our unbiased reviews and helpful tips.
What is the Best Knife for Carving Wood?
1. BeaverCraft Sloyd Knife C4s 3.14″
This carving knife from BeaverCraft is an excellent choice for anyone starting out with wood carving.
Despite its simplistic design, this is an excellent tool for beginners as well as professionals!
This carving knife features a 4-inch stainless steel blade with a straight edge perfect for making clean, smooth cuts.
It also has a lightweight build that makes it an excellent choice for extended carving sessions.
Pros
- Super sharp blade
- Best for detail work
- High-quality
- Best value for money
- Comfortable handle
Cons
- May be unsuitable for people with large hands
- The protective sheath is not included
2. Morakniv Wood Carving Knife 120
This lightweight carving knife from Morakniv is another excellent option for wood carvers.
For a beginner, it is an ideal carving knife due to its simple design. This carving knife features an ergonomic grip that makes it easy to hold without hand fatigue for long periods.
The design is also small and easy to store, perfect for users who don’t want to compromise quality for discretion.
Pros
- Precise cutting
- Highly durable blade
- Made from high carbon steel
- Easy to sharpen
- It comes with a handle that is easy to work with
Cons
- Not suitable for relief carving and hollow crafting
- Susceptible to causing injuries
3. BeaverCraft Cutting Knife C2 6.5″
This BeaverCraft carving knife is another great option that’s made for carving both soft and hardwoods.
It also has a more extended design than most carving knives, making it easier to work with larger pieces of wood. This carving knife’s rubberized handle makes it easy to hold for extended periods.
Additionally, it features a lightweight design that makes it easy to work with for long sessions.
This carving knife has a 6.5-inch blade perfect for creating clean, precise cuts. It also features a straight edge that’s great for soft and hardwoods.
Pros
- Perfect for beginners
- Easy to use
- Comfortable handle
- Sharp blade
Cons
- The handle is too small for some people
4. Old Timer 24OT Splinter Carvin 6″
This Old Timer carving knife is an excellent option for anyone ready to try something a little more advanced. It’s a longer blade that’s perfect for working with larger pieces of wood.
This carving knife features a 6-inch blade that’s made from stainless steel. It also has a straight edge and an ergonomic, easy-to-hold handle that makes it easy to use for long periods.
Furthermore, this knife comes with a wooden sheath that makes it easy to store away when you’re not using it.
It also has an affordable price tag, making it an excellent choice if you are on a budget.
Pros
- Highly versatile
- Lightweight
- Good value for money
Cons
- Low quality steel
- Too much flex on the chisel
5. Augsun Wood Carving Knife Set
This Augsun carving knife set is the perfect option for anyone who wants to try a few different carving knives at once.
It is also easy for beginners to use these carving knives because they do not require special skills.
They’re incredibly affordable, which makes them a perfect choice for anyone on a budget.
Aside from that, these three knives have the ideal size for cutting, carving, scraping, and gouging wood.
As such, you can use them to create detailed pieces of art, or you can use them to add a decorative touch to any project!
Pros
- Long-lasting carbon steel material
- Various tools in the set
- Easy to sharpen
Cons
- Not suitable for carving hardwood
What You Should Know Before Buying a Wood Carving Knife
Knowing which one to purchase can be challenging with so many knives available. However, here are a few key factors you should keep in mind before settling on a knife to buy.
Tang Guide
Knives have tangs, which are portions of the blade that extend into the handles. If the tang does not go to the end of the handle, then the knife is a partial tang knife.
You can still use partial tang knives for carving wood, but they are not as heavy-duty as full tang knives.
Full tang knives are best used for cutting wood because they ensure that the blade will not break or snap as you use it.
They also offer greater carving control, making them a better option than partial tang knives.
Blade Type
If you are looking for a wood carving knife that is best for shaping your wood, then you will want a carving knife that has a curved blade.
If you are carving a detailed pattern into your wood, you will want to purchase a carving knife with a straight blade.
Straight blade knives have a thinner edge that is perfect for carving small designs into wood.
Handle Type
The knife’s handle can significantly impact comfort and control. Therefore, it is vital to ensure you choose a knife with a comfortable handle.
Wood carving knives with a wooden handle are the most popular option. They are sturdy and comfortable to use.
You can also find rubber or stainless steel knife handles, but in terms of durability and comfort, a wooden handle is the best option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What type of knife do you use for wood carving?
A chip carving knife is used to remove specific shapes or chips from wood by making precise incisions.
When carving soft wood, like basswood or butternut, a chip carving knife works well. Still, you can use a chip carving knife with various hardwoods depending on your project.
2. What is a whittling knife for?
For creating detailed artwork, specialized fixed-blade whittling knives are preferred.
They have large handles to provide a firm grip and greater leverage, allowing for more precise cutting and pressure.
3. How intricate is wood carving?
It requires a great deal of patience and time to learn how to wood carve, but wood carving comes with experience rather than talent.
Therefore it is challenging to master but accessible to anyone.
4. What tools do I need for wood carving?
Whenever you start a new hobby, it can be daunting trying to figure out what supplies and tools you need. Wood carving is no different.
However, the good news is that you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to get started. A few basic tools will suffice for most projects.
First, you’ll need a sharp knife. A utility knife or a carving knife will work well.
You’ll also need a way to sharpen your blade regularly; a honing stone or strop will do the trick.
Second, you’ll need a saw for cutting larger pieces of wood. A simple handsaw will suffice for most projects; however, if you’re planning on doing a lot of carving, you may want to invest in an electric saw.
Third, you’ll need some chisels for shaping the wood. Again, a few basic chisels will do the trick.
As you get more experienced, you may want to add more specialized chisels to your collection.
Finally, you’ll need some sandpaper for smoothing the wood once it’s carved.
Coarse-grit sandpaper should be used for rough shaping, while finer-grit sandpaper can be used for finishing touches.
With these few tools, you’ll be able to tackle most wood carving projects.
Of course, as you get more experience, you may find that there are other tools that would be useful to have on hand; however, these are the basics that every carver needs.
5. How do I make wood carvings without tools?
If you don’t have any wood carving tools, you might make use of a variety of items.
For example, a swiss knife, a butter knife, or a straight razor can be used as a whittling knife.
Conclusion
When carving wood, the right tools can make all the difference. Unfortunately, not every knife can be used for carving wood, so it’s crucial to find the right one for the job.
If you’re new to wood carving, we’ve reviewed the five best wood carving knives in this article.
Additionally, we’ve mentioned some of the most important factors to consider before buying a wood carving knife.
We hope that this article will help you find the right wood carving knife for you.
