SIDEWINDER II is put to the test carving a puppy in a sock that measures three and half inches by and inch and half sawed out blank.  A series of photographs will show the knife blade making a variety of cuts to shape the basic form of the puppy and the sock as well as making cuts that will set up the carving of the details of the carving.  The position of the knife blade will indicate which part of the dog legged SIDEWINDER II blade is being used to accomplish that particular cut.  It will help to view these first three photos of the completed carving to compare with the carving in progress photos.

The blade shape of the SIDEWINDER is explained in the photo on the left.  “A” represents the reversed skewed angle of the longer cutting edge that is used for larger slicing cuts in the shaping process. “B” represents the curved cutting edge that forms a bull nose portion of the cutting edge for making dished out or gouged indentations when using a slice and roll action.  “C” represents the curved skew portion of the blade that can be used in tight areas and in a couple of directions with a push slicing action.  The tip of “C” can be used almost like a chip carving blade for getting into tight corners and when making triangular chip type cuts when forming the eye corners as well as shaping the eye ball.  When any portion of the blade is stood up on its edge to begin a slicing action and as the blade is rolled in a slicing action forward the result is a dished out trough or gouged out effect. Study each photo by using imagination as to how the position of the cutting edge is making or going to make a particular cut.

These first photo shows the paper pattern for the puppy in a sock with the shape of the blade laying across a partially carved dog in sock.  The next two photos show the position of the curved skew portions of the blade “C” as it is cutting the outside corner of the eye using the tip of the skew for the deepest cut in the corner. The other eye is already carved as a comparison to see what the cut will accomplish.

Left photo shows the curved skew portion of the blade “C” cutting into corner beside the side of the leg and the overlapping ear.  Center photo shows the curved bull nose portion of the blade “B” being used in a quick slice and roll action to make a dished out texture for the fur of the Santa hat.  Right photo shows the tip of the curved skew portion of blade “C” being used upside down to slice along the hair line and side of the face.

Left photo shows the curved skew portions of the blade “C” slicing into a tight corner where the hairline, forehead and bottom edge of the hat meet.  Center photo shows the reversed skew angle of the longer cutting edge “A” being used in a slicing action to shape the leg portion of the sock.  The right photo shows the curved skew portion of the blade “C” shaping the ball of the hat with the tip slicing into a tight corner.

Left photo shows the edge of the blade making one of two cuts to separate between the toes of the paw.  Center photo shows the reverse angle of the longer cutting edge “A” doing a slice and roll cut to shape the drapery of the sock portion the the Santa hat.  The right photo shows the curved skew portion of the blade “C” making one of two cuts to create a notch underneath the nose.

These last three photos show the completely finished carving of the puppy in the sock with sprig of holly carved on the sock. the Left photo has positioned the curved skew portion of the blade “C” over the eye ball to show how the roundness of the eye was carved.  The center photo shows how the tip portion of the curved skew portion of the blade “C” was used to carve the holly leaves as well as the round berries.  The right photo enlarges the holly and berries.

The purpose of this test was to show that the SIDEWINDER II can be used to carve a small carving with a lot of detail.  Of course it takes practice and experimentation to discover the many ways the dog legged SIDEWINDER blade can be used for a complete carving even though its main purpose is to be a supplemental carving tool to compliment the use of other blade shapes.

The larger SIDE WINDER with its larger blade would be used the same way as the SIDE WINDER II but used for carving larger projects.  The versatility in the variety of cuts each of these knives can make are yet to be discovered by the carver who carves with this kind of knife.

Orders may be placed with HELVIE KNIVES by calling 765-675-8811 in order to talk with Rich or Holli Smithson who are eager to help any carver discover the joy of carving with a carving knife that will bring the joy of creativity and the relaxation of making chips and shaving.  HELVIE KNIVES are excellent carving knives that hold a sharp edge and are sharp looking.