A hand tool designed for cutting away small amounts of wood to form decorative shapes, figures, or complex surface textures. Unlike standard utility knives, carving knives feature high-carbon steel blades that take a very fine edge and come in various shapes like straight, curved, or hooked. The short blade provides the leverage and control needed to push through tough wood fibers without snapping.
Heard on the job
Pass me the straight carving knife so I can clean up the tight corners on this rosette.
Insider tip
Keep your carving knife razor sharp and strop it frequently during a session. A dull blade forces you to push harder, which leads to slips and ruined workpieces or injuries.
Also heard as
- whittling knife
- sloyd knife