Comments on: Our Readers: Sharp Eyes and Good Memories

By: tsstahl

tsstahl — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:55:12 +0000

A sale on knife blanks at Woodcraft and some of my daughter’s play-doh left within reach set me down the knife handle making path.

The work can suit your mood, too. The range is from very nice immediate gratification type of work for simple jig created handles to hair pulling consternation as you try to carve the perfect ergonomic shape based on squeezed play-doh. Maybe if I weren’t so lousy at carving…

By: Robert W. Lang

Robert W. Lang — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:54:02 +0000

I just went and measured the blade length on my knives; Whittlin’ Jack is 1-13/16″ long and the Murphy knife is 1-7/8″. Ron makes great stuff and I don’t think the shorter length of his knives would make much difference. It might even be better; the shorter blade would be stiffer.

There are also some different shapes of this type of knife, I’m thinking the one that comes to a point would be better for reaching into tight corners. I took a look at the Hock Tools website, and you can buy the blades unhandled. That makes it tempting to jump down the knife handle making rabbit hole.

Bob Lang

By: gdblake

gdblake — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:01:35 +0000

Bob:

Quick question, do you have any idea how the Hock 1-1/4″ Carving Knife (#CK125) compares in size to your old Whittlin Jack? In the pictures they look close.

gdblake

By: Bowyerboy

Bowyerboy — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:01:34 +0000

I have 3. An old drawknife and a large screwdriver that were my Grandfather’s and a small oilcan that was my Grandmother’s. I really need to replace the handle on the screwdriver someday.

By: GregMiller

GregMiller — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:51:48 +0000

Gidday, Robert. Great knife! I have been using a knife just like your new skinny one, as my marking knife, since I bought it 23 years ago. Dastra brand. Technically I think it’s a chip carving knife. The long point is great for getting in there to mark out the pins from the tails when I am hand cutting my dovetails. The bevel on both sides is handy – I just tip it, as you say. So accurate and nice in the hand. This marking knive lives in my apron front pocket, so it is always with me. To avoid stabbing myself or piercing my apron pocket with its very sharp long point, I keep a wine bottle cork in the end of the tool. I only need to change the cork about once a year!

By: Eric R

Eric R — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 02:41:27 +0000

I got a couple of old tools that were my dad’s, that I wouldn’t take ANYTHING for….
and they are getting divided up to my boys, who God willing, will do the same.
Thanks Bob.

By: BikerDad

BikerDad — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:40:10 +0000

The Persuader. It’s a Nupla 2lb Dead Blow Hammer, one face is steel, the other is rubberized plastic. Using it taps into that deep well of joy that a toddler has when he pounds on something with a hammer.