Carving on the Edge is to imply that the cutting edge of the carving knife blade is what separates the wood fibers while removing a chip.  The cutting edge, when magnified will reveal minute cutting teeth much like a hand saw.  It is these cutting teeth that create the cutting action when the knife is used in a slicing action.  The slicing cut is to follow the path of the cutting edge through the wood so that as many of the cutting teeth are utilized. In conjunction with the cutting edge teeth, the bevel on the side of the blade be it skinny or fat, provides the angle at which the cutting edge enters the wood.  So it is both the slicing action and the angle of the cutting edge that work together to create a clean cut. Read the rest of this entry »

  HELVIE KNIVES  proudly presents…...The 2nd Annual Basswood Knife Carving Competition!  There will be 3 classes to choose from:

• Beginners Class for carvers that have been carving for one year or less.
• Intermediate Class for carvers that have been carving for one to three years.
• Open Class for anyone regardless of experience or number of years carving. Read the rest of this entry »

Gnome Wizard was carved out of an inch and half square by three inch tall block of basswood.  The Gnome Wizard is carved with a twist of the body, with head tilted up and a flowing beard and mustache.  Such a pose presents an interesting sense of motion while the viewer’s eyes travel the twists and turns of the flowing lines.  Such a piece presents a challenge of skill by figuring out what wood needs to be removed to create such a sense of movement.  This project also teaches the necessary benefit of carving to basic form before ever attempting to carve any details.  Such a process allows creative imagination to help form the design during the carving process that gives a special kind of freedom of creativity. Read the rest of this entry »

Hobbit Blade Cover was carved for a charity fund raising project that Rich, Holli and Skylar Smithson (HELVIE KNIVES) are working on for next year.  Read the rest of this entry »

HELVIE KNIVES announces the addition of a handle choice in the WOOD BEE CARVER  Signature Series for the Detail Bladed Knife # 3, # 3-1 and # 3-2.  One choice is the Original Handle and the second choice is the SWEET BEE Handle of the Second Generation knife series.  The photographs indicate the two handle designs along with a telephone number to Helvie Knives for ordering purposes. Read the rest of this entry »

HELVIE KNIVES was commissioned to make a Commemorative Knife for the Artistry in Wood raffle prize at the Saturday Night Banquet while Don Mertz carved the blade cover.  Artistry in Wood Show is November 9 and 10 at the Dayton Airport Exposition Center.  The photographs show the beautiful art work of Rich Smithson (HELVIE KNIVES) on the knife handle and the carving details of the Wood Bee Carver on the blade cover. Read the rest of this entry »

The HORNET BEE is the latest addition to The WOOD BEE CARVER Signature Series knives by Helvie Knives.  Maintaining the basic concept of a slicing blade with a curved cutting edge from the tip to the notch of the extended tang of the blade, the Hornet Bee is a smaller version of the Wood Bee Carver blade shape with a very long extended tang. Read the rest of this entry »