HELVIE KNIVES introduces the latest addition to the WOOD BEE CARVER Signature Series of knives. VIPER (#22) , VIPER II (#23) and VIPER III (#24)are the latest innovation in the basic design concept of the WOOD BEE CARVERS Signature Series of knives. VIPER blade is two and half inches long , VIPER II blade is one and five eighths inches long and VIPER III is an inch long. HELVIE KNIVES has added a detail knife to the VIPER Series of the WOOD BEE CARVER Signature Series of knives and can be ordered by calling 765-675-8811 (soon to be added to their web site) Rich Smithson is a very accomplished knife maker and all his knives are good choices for carving knives.
The Bear Creek Hobo in the photograph above was carved using a Scimitar knife made by Mickey Gaines of the Bear Creek Blades. The knife was made in the continuation of the tradition of knives made by the late Ralph E. Long. Read the rest of this entry »
The WOOD BEE CARVER is primarily a knife carver and ever since boy hood days of whittling with an old pocket knife, the knife, any knife, remains a favorite. Even though the WOOD BEE CARVER uses and highly recommends knives made by Helvie Knives, Bud Murray Knives, Dave Lyons Knives, and Dunkle Knives all who make knives designed by the WOOD BEE CARVER, yet from time to time OTHER KNIVES are also used.
OTHER KNIVES are knives the WOOD BEE CARVER has made for his own personal use by using old pocket knife blades to reshape and re-handle into a carving knife. OTHER KNIVES come from the mind of the “Tinker Thinker” whose mind explores the day dream adventures of tinkering with knife blade shapes for making experimental carving knives. Read the rest of this entry »
A commission to carve two Mountain Men just alike using a photograph of a clay sculpture of a mountain man became a welcome challenge. Every carving project is a learning piece with its own built in challenges. One challenge during the planning and imagining stage is to make the transition of carving a three dimensional figure based upon a two dimensional image with only one view. Three dimensional is to see the project with an “in the round perspective” while a two dimensional image is a “flat perspective.” Another challenge is to try to keep the carving as close to the original image that was a clay sculpture which means two mediums “clay” and “wood” create different surface textures and color renditions. Read the rest of this entry »
One of the Artistry in Wood banquet raffle prizes is a commemorative Helvie Knife and knife holder using the theme of Uncle Sam. This project was a collaborative effort between Don Stephenson, artist, Rich Smithson, Helvie Knife Maker and Don Mertz, carver of knife holder. Read the rest of this entry »
Artistry in Wood Show, Dayton, OH, November 14 and 15 will host a banquet on Saturday night which will include Raffle Prizes. One of those prizes is a Helvie Knife made by Rich Smithson who also wood burned the art design on the cherry handle. He utilized the art drawing ideas of Uncle Sam drawn by Don Stephenson of the Dayton Carving Club. The Uncle Sam knife holder was carved by the Wood Bee Carver, Don Mertz. Read the rest of this entry »
The Helvie Knife Competition was judged at the Renegade Carving Seminar in Lebanon, TN by Steve Brown and Jon Nelson. Pictured above are the winning entries. The left photo are the winners in Open Class who were (left to right) First: Myron Compton; Second: Mark Akers; Third: Bob Hersey. Middle photo are the winners in Intermediate Class who were (left to right) First: Fred Nahlen; Second: Kathleen Mankinen; Third: Kerry Richard. The right photo are the winners in the Beginners Class who were (left to right) First: Mary K. Peterson; Second: John R. Munter; Third: Scott Boyle.
Judges Steve Brown and John Nelson had their hands and minds full of decisions to make from the abundant entries of knife handles carved from all over the country. Thanks to Rich, Holli and Skylar Smithson of Helvie Knives who sponsor this fun competition and all who participated.
On July 19, 2015 at the Eastern Woodland Woodcarving Show in Converse, IN, the winning ticket for the Helvie raffle of a presentation box containing twenty one Wood Bee Carver Signature Series knives and a Whittle-Doodle carved by the Wood Bee Carver was won by Farley Baker of Morrow, Ohio. Many people purchased raffle tickets in this fund raiser for Juvenile Diabetes Research with the end result of $1850 for this worthy cause. Holli Smithson of Helvie Knives posted on Facebook the photo below along with the report of the total raised.
Our raffle this year went the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation and we proudly raised $1350! Rich Smithson place of employment, Walmart DC # 7055, also kicked in an additional $500! For a grand total of $1850!!! In the picture is not one, but two, of Tipton’s finest; Officers Dylan Dietrick and Robert Nunemacher along with our Skylar Smithson and fellow type 1 diabetic Eli Dollens. Thanks to all who participated!
Helvie Knives is own and operated by Rich, Hollie and Skylar Smithson and besides making high quality carving knives they are very generous in supporting a variety of worthwhile causes. Thanks for your generosity Helvie Knives.
