Casstrom Wood Carving Range

If, like me and many other bushcraft enthusiasts, you like making spoons, sporks, bowls and kuksas, then this mid-priced handsome and effective set of wood carving knives may well appeal to you.

I tend to do a fair bit of wood carving and have tried various custom and mass-produced tools over the years, but my last dozen or so spoons have been carved using the new set from Casstrom, comprising: Wood carving knife 8cm; Crook knife left 5cm; and Crook knife right 5cm, all of which are available individually. The availability of ‘left’ and ‘right’ crook knives not only caters for left handers, but allows for ‘push’ cuts, which are sometimes more appropriate than the normal cutting with a ‘pull’ towards your body. I prefer the two-knife idea to another manufacturer’s double-edged spoon knife that I tried – and came close to injuring myself with!

These knives are not only very handsome, but I have found that the blades all cut well (the crook knives giving minimal ‘chatter’ in a cut) and have so far needed no more than stropping to return them to full sharpness. The carving knife has a traditional Scandi grind and fiercely pointed ‘Sloyd’ style blade, while the crook knives have a single external bevel on the versatile curved blade – and all come very sharp! Unlike most wood carving tools – and especially the crook knives – all these wood carving tools come with quality leather sheaths to protect the edges when they are not in use… and to protect you from the edges! Those with big hands may want to round off the edges of the flat cut butt, but overall I found the knife handles all very comfortable and practical – as well as beautiful to look at!

All in all, I find the Casstrom Wood Carving Range a very good set of knives at a very reasonable price.