Pinewood Forge Hook Knife

While I am not an avid carver, I enjoy dabbling in it occasionally, and on a whim, I recently made a first attempt at carving a spoon. While reasonably pleased with the results, I was frustrated by the challenge of getting a consistent shape and smooth bottom to the spoon’s bowl.

Then a friend directed me to Pinewood Forge, a small toolmaker in northern Minnesota that specializes in spoon carving tools and I chose a 1 3/4″right-handed hook knife. I was pleased to learn that I was one of many who had experienced the challenge of carving a tight concave shape with my standard carving tools and that solutions to this problem were readily available. Additionally, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to speak directly with the person who made the tool. My order was delayed a couple of days while the tool was made. They apologized for the inconvenience, but I relished the thought of my tool being handcrafted.

When I received the tool, I was amazed at the beauty of the teak handle and the quality of the blade. Pinewood Forge uses some of the finest steel available to produce their blades; the quality is obvious. I immediately used the tool to improve the bowl of the spoon I had previously shaped, and it worked extremely well, producing smooth, micro-thin shavings with minimal effort. I own various high-quality carving tools, and this one immediately jumped to the top of my favorites list, not only for its precise purpose-built usefulness but also for its beauty. The tool also included helpful sharpening instructions, as this process could be clearer for a tool with such a unique shape.

Now I can’t wait to carve my next spoon…