Rich, Holli and Skylar Smithson, owners and manufacturers of Helvie Knives  are passionate about the Kokomo Humane Society and have created a “One of a Kind” knife collection as a prize for a raffle fund raiser. The photographs and written description invites all who would like to participate in this fund raiser by purchasing a raffle ticket. Read the rest of this entry »

Breaking the tip on a carving knife is inevitable.  It happens because the tip is the thinnest and narrowest part of the blade and takes the most stress and pressure when it is used for making entry stop cuts and for carving in a circular motion.  It can be slowed down by always remembering to begin the slicing action before twisting the point of the blade to make a circular cut. If the tip bends over or breaks do not panic or blame the knife maker.  Simply follow the tip to reshaping the tip of a carving knife described below with a photo tutorial for a cutting edge that curves up at tip. Read the rest of this entry »

The Rest of the Story can now be told about the Block Heads that were posted on February 17, 2013 in that the Bock Heads were a companion to a special knife made by Rich Smithson for the twenty fifth anniversary of the Eastern Woodland Carving Club  (Converse, IN).    The photos are provided by Rich and Holli Smithson along with their daughter Skylar.  (Click on each photo to enlarge then use back arrow to returns to posting) Read the rest of this entry »

In March Rich and Holli Smithson of HELVIE KNIVES sponsored a knife handle carving contest that was judged at the Renegade Seminar by judge Mark Akers.  Four winners were recognized with the announced prizes but in reality all who submitted a carved knife handle was a winner just by participating.  In the photo display below it will become quite apparent what a great variety of top notch ideas were carved into these knife handles.  Congratulations to all who entered and Thanks to HELVIE KNIVES. Read the rest of this entry »

The WOOD BEE CARVER  is primarily a knife carver who has developed a style of carving called “Whittle-Carving” to imply carving using only a knife.  The most efficient use of a carving knife is to utilize a slicing cut as often as possible.  A slicing cut is similar to slicing bread, slicing steak or the action of the guillotine’s skewed blade slicing as it slides down the track of the guillotine.  The cutting edge of a knife is made up of very small cutting teeth similar to teeth on a hand saw and it is these teeth when used in the slicing action that separates the wood fibers for a clean cut.  Using the knife blade with a wedge cut crushes fibers before the edge cuts the fibers resulting in a fuzzy and cloudy surface.  A slicing cut creates a clean and slick surface.  The scimitar blade shape with its curved cutting edge slices in both the push and pull stroke.  It can also make slicing cuts upside down and sideways as well as right side up. The concave shape of the back of the scimitar blade allows for reaching into tight areas where another blade shape would be impaired. Read the rest of this entry »

Rich, Holli and Skylar Smithson own and manufacture HELVIE KNIVES that have become very popular and well respected within the carving community.  They make a wide range of carving knives with various handle material and shapes along with blade shapes and sizes.  In their Signature Series they make several knives with blades designed by the WOOD BEE CARVER.  Rich does the wood burning art work on the handles which gives a very distinctive look to excellent carving knives.

HELVIE KNIVES announces additions to the Series # 3 of the Signature Knives with two additional blade shapes to join the original # 3 detail blade..  Series # 3 – 1 is a detail version of the larger Series # 1 Signature knife.  Series # 3 – 2 is a detail version of the larger series # 2 Signature knife with a scimitar blade shape. Read the rest of this entry »

Dave Lyons, maker of the famous Lyons Knives  is now making two knives using the blade design developed by the WOOD BEE CARVER.  Each blade is fashioned in a beautiful handle distinctive of a Lyons Knife.  The handle fits comfortably in the cradle of the palm of the hand and fingers to allow for long periods of carving activity and can be easily rotated in the hand for guiding the cutting edge with cuts upside down, sideways or right side up.  WBC-1 is the smaller version of a scimitar blade with an extended tang to allow for longer reach of the cutting edge as well as a place for the index finger to wrap around for close up detail carving.  WBC – 2 is a larger scimitar blade with an extended tang for longer reach and use of entire blade.  Both blades are designed for slicing cuts in a push stroke and a pull stroke.

To order for purchase either knife contact Dave either by telephone at 937-426-0085 or by email  dlyonsl@msn.com keeping in mind that each knife is custom made so allow time for each knife to be made. Read the rest of this entry »