This manicure knife was rescued from a flea market in the early 1980’s as part of the Wood Bee Carver’s pursuit of suitable knives that could be modified into a carving tool.

Even though one half of the scissors’ blade was missing this novelty knife invited an interest to pursue its usefulness. Beside the scissor blade, there is a sheep foot knife blade, a cuticle blade and a nail file blade.  Shortly after purchase the cuticle blade, being shape of a number 3 gouge, was sharpened on its cutting edge to be used for cutting in dimples in the kernels of corn in a carving project. Always the experimenter, the Wood Bee Carver discover that the cuticle held its cutting edge indicating that these blades were made of good steel.  Also, based upon unscientific evaluation it was assumed that the nail file blade would be hardened sufficiently to withstand its repeated abrasive use of nail filing and making the further assumption that the scissor blade and knife blade would also be sufficient to make a carving tool.

Finally, after forty years, these blades have now been transposed into butternut wooden handles whittled to a pistol grip shape and then the blades reshaped and sharpened into functional carving knives as depicted in the photos below. First photo are the individual blades removed and the second photo are of those blades reshaped and handled.

[Click on Photo to enlarge]

The first photo below is of the cuticle blade re-handled and sitting on top of the carved ear of corn showing the dimples in each kernel carve forty years ago using that blade.  The second photo is of the three other reshaped blades surrounding a three-inch Half Pint carving that was carved using these three blades. [One of the blades had the stamp of “Germany” etched in its tang indicating that all these blades were made of German steel.]

The term “Be Sharp and Never Dull” is being used to describe the creative tinkering of making of carving knives for personal use by being “Sharp” with imagination and skill of experimenting to continuously learn how to maintain a sharp cutting edge as well as design a shape of the blade that will enhance the carving experience of making slicing cut in the most efficient way.  “Never Dull” means to apply imagination to skill to know what works best and make corrections that will lends themselves to a better design to fit the overall good experience of the carving process.  The “Be Sharp and Never Dull” is a lifelong pursuit of following the mantra “Practice to make Progress,” while evolving that process.

Woodcarving includes much more than shaping a piece of wood with a sharp carving tool, which is perhaps the main part of the process, but there is much more as the carver grows in expanding the carving pursuit. Every carver should learn how the sharpen their tools with the realization that it takes time and practice to develop a workable system keeping in mind that
“Practice makes progress.” Not learning to sharpen is to miss out on a vital aspect of the carving process and the luxury of learning to experiment with developing a blade design that will open new paths on the carving journey.

The Wood Bee Carver has been carving for over fifty years which has included the innovations and experimenting with reshaping, sharpening and making carving knives for personal used that has expanded this carver’s horizons on the carving journey.  For example, the last two photos below are of additional blade designs and innovations of carving knives for miniature carving projects that will serve an introduction for future posting of this subject for any who would like to expand their own carving journey horizons.

In the first photo the knife on the left has joined the three that were used in the carving of the Half Pint.  The second photo is of another Half Pint that was carved by four additional knife blade shapes and handle alternatives.

MORE TO COME ~ in another posting that will talk about the blade designs that the Wood Bee Carver prefers along will sharpening tips and ways to Be Sharp and Never Dull.