View Full Version : Crook knife
stu1979uk
14-11-2009, 01:07
Good to have the forum up and running again.
Was wondering if anyone has a crook knife for sale?
I have heard the mora is a bit dissapointing but can get them for around £12 and some others are a lot more expensive.
Any ways was just looking for something to hack away with if there is any lying around needing a new home please let me know, ta
Chinkapin
14-11-2009, 02:19
I have an extremely nice Enzo with a carbon steel blade, that I handled myself with Arctic birch. I also have 2 Mora "Clippers" that I use all the time. If I have a cutting job to do, likely as not I just grab one of my Moras, and not the Enzo. (I keep the EnZo shaving sharp and held in reserve.) I can't for the life of me imagine how a person could use a knife that comes razor sharp, has a very ergonomic (but not beautiful) handle, cuts and carves wood like a dream and only costs 12 pounds, be a "bit disappointed" in it.
Probably 3/4 of the people on here have one or have fond memories of one. Some say it is a good beginners knife. I say it is a very good knife for any skill level. O.K, its not beautiful, its not a work of art, and the sheath is crappy looking plastic. BUT, it works, and the sheath works as well.
Dangerous Dan
14-11-2009, 07:42
John, Stu was looking for crook knife rather than the regular straight number.
Stu. I have a pair of Ben Orfords. They're not the cheapest but do the job nicely. PM me if you need details
I bought a Mora from evil bay a couple of weeks ago.
Its not bad and does the job, in fact carved my first spoon.
Tubbyfraser
14-11-2009, 09:23
Get one of FGYT's standard hooks - just wonderful carvers! I have two Ben Orfords and would say that given a hard choice I'd take one of Duncan's first. His Handle is just amazing and the blades are super slicy. Cheaper too :D.
He's a member on here so send him a PM.
Graeme
P.S. I'm just a (very) satisfied customer, no hidden agenda.
Whittler Kev
14-11-2009, 09:51
I had the same problem finding one cheap enough, while good enough to carve with.
Simple 11 step solution in the end:
1. Buy a pack of scrapers from poundland
2. Remove the handle on the small one (keep it for later)
3. Watch Green Petes knife making video on his website
4. Cut the scraper down and shape it
5. Sharpen it
6. Bend it (Sharpened side inside the bend)
7. Heat treat it (make it hard then temper it so it has a bit of flex) using a bbq or a blowlamp
8 . Clean it up
9. Put the handle back on
10.Re-sharpen using emery paper on a piece of doweling
11. Use it and gloat about how cheap and easy it was to make
Might not be as good as an expensive one but easy to replace especially as they can be a pig to sharpen
robin wood
14-11-2009, 10:03
frosts £12 some scrape away and are happy with it as it comes, others regrind and have a reasonable though not pretty knife.
FGYT £25 ish advertises here. Not used one yet but others like them
Ben Orford makes a range of different hooks, some particularly his most recent ones are better than others £30
Svante Djarve £30 the bigger hook is good
Hans Karlsson £30 ish a really excellent hook
Del Stubbs pinewood forge good hooks from USA currently dear due to exchange rate.
rancid badger
14-11-2009, 13:42
Listen to Robin, he carves spoons professionally; axe, carving knife, hook knife, then passes them on to Nicola for fine finishing:)
If I was making hook knives to sell, I'd have asked Robin to do me a review by now, but I'm not, so I haven't:D
Anyway I certainly do not like the mora hooks, any of them. I find them awkward and even hazardous to use.
The Del Stubbs and Svante Djarve hooks, I used when Robin did our spoon carving course last year, were excellent. I cant afford either though, so I rely on my home mades:rolleyes: ( still better than mora hooks)
Frost carvers are excellent mind you:)
hth
R.B.
stu1979uk
14-11-2009, 14:21
Ok, like the idea of trying to make one watched greenpetes video and now have an old hair drier onto old bbq and some bricks wedged together- hey presto forge complete!
What type of scrapers did you use from poundland kpurse?
Will have a go at making one, got a couple of old files lying around as well so will see what i can make with them.
If it all goes wrong I'll just go for the mora.
Thanks all
Chinkapin
16-11-2009, 04:09
Oops, oh do i feel stupid! Guess I better learn to read a bit more carefully!
Dave Budd also does Spoon knifes £30-£40 i think and blades only for £15-20
But making one your self is a good idea to try always feels better if you use something you made :22:
ATB
Duncan
Whittler Kev
17-11-2009, 15:33
Ok, like the idea of trying to make one watched greenpetes video and now have an old hair drier onto old bbq and some bricks wedged together- hey presto forge complete!
What type of scrapers did you use from poundland kpurse?
Will have a go at making one, got a couple of old files lying around as well so will see what i can make with them.
If it all goes wrong I'll just go for the mora.
Thanks all
Just the cheap £1 pack. Not super high carbon steel but as there so cheap, it dosen't matter if you make a pigs ear of it.
When you think your good enough at it, try using an old file as most have a high carbon content that will hold a good edge.
One thing I have noticed from British Blade Forum is using cooking oil (preferably olive oil but expensive) to quench means it's not so messy to clean up as black old engine oil
Hope your using fire bricks not house bricks as they may explode. Old storage heaters are a good source of fire bricks
Just the cheap £1 pack. Not super high carbon steel but as there so cheap, it dosen't matter if you make a pigs ear of it.
When you think your good enough at it, try using an old file as most have a high carbon content that will hold a good edge.
One thing I have noticed from British Blade Forum is using cooking oil (preferably olive oil but expensive) to quench means it's not so messy to clean up as black old engine oil
Hope your using fire bricks not house bricks as they may explode. Old storage heaters are a good source of fire bricks
bearing in mind the huge price of a bit of O1 carbon tool steel is about £4 from Cromwells and will make 4-5 blades :22::D and a handle can be made form any old bit of wood or ply
veg oil is fine for quenching I use Lidels finest
Simples
ATB
Duncan
Whittler Kev
17-11-2009, 16:47
bearing in mind the huge price of a bit of O1 carbon tool steel is about £4 from Cromwells and will make 4-5 blades :22::D and a handle can be made form any old bit of wood or ply
veg oil is fine for quenching I use Lidels finest
Simples
ATB
Duncan
I wish it was that cheap around here. They want you to buy long lengths and deliver it.
I stand corrected by someone that knows, and is definitely more knowledgeable about knife making than me - I've seen pics of some of the fantastic stuff you make
I wish it was that cheap around here. They want you to buy long lengths and deliver it.
I stand corrected by someone that knows, and is definitely more knowledgeable about knife making than me - I've seen pics of some of the fantastic stuff you make
cromwells (http://www.cromwell.co.uk/) have a fair few depots round the country but arnt everywhere so might not be near you
for stu1979uk (if his location is right in his profile) there are 2 in Glasgow
this is what i use 1.5 x 10mm (http://www.cromwell.co.uk/CTL4133200A) looks like postage is £4.50 ish so best if you an go and get it (was the same postage for 10 off to so might be worth it for a few bits )
Top tip: ring first to order they are unlikley to have it in stock at Branch so save a journey
my branch deliver Free on the works delivery round in my area so you could ask :naughty:
ATB
Duncan
robin wood
17-11-2009, 17:48
cromwells (http://www.cromwell.co.uk/) have a fair few depots round the country but arnt everywhere so might not be near you
for stu1979uk (if his location is right in his profile) there are 2 in Glasgow
this is what i use 1.5 x 10mm (http://www.cromwell.co.uk/CTL4133200A) looks like postage is £4.50 ish so best if you an go and get it (was the same postage for 10 off to so might be worth it for a few bits )
Top tip: ring first to order they are unlikley to have it in stock at Branch so save a journey
my branch deliver Free on the works delivery round in my area so you could ask :naughty:
ATB
Duncan
Great to see a knife maker encouraging others to have a bash and sharing info freely. :You_Rock_
Whittler Kev
18-11-2009, 19:59
Thanks Duncan.
Went in the one in Peterborough today. The guys were so knowledgable.
Talked about stainless (machinable hardens when its worked).
Bought two lengths 500x20x3 (ctl4133402c) and 500x25x3 (ctl4133403d).
Told them what I wanted it for ...... 3/4 hour later got out after chatting abount quenching, spray tempering/baking and carbon content.
Thanks for putting me onto them
Loads of files are now praying to you for sparing them from a cooking