Collection: Crooked Knife

Below is my selection of crooked and hook knives. All are available ship immediately upon your purchase. The main difference between the two is my crooked knives are bent up to 90 degrees, while a hook knife will have a bend that exceeds 90 degrees up to 180 degrees.

Crooked knives, otherwise known as a hook knife, bent knife or spoon carving knife or bowl carving knife are great wood carving tools for organic features found in most wood carvings, for example those of animals, faces and landscapes. They can remove large amounts of wood quickly in concave areas in a slicing action that leaves a very good surface finish.

The curve in a crooked or hook knife allows it to reach into areas other wood carving tools can't and its double sided nature allows it to cut the grain in directions that may be more favorable without rotating the work. This makes them good for all kinds of wood carving such as carving masks, rattles, bent wood boxes, etc.

Primary used by native west coast artists, these crooked knives are amazingly versatile as they have been refined over generations of wood carvers.

Crooked knives with a smooth, large radius curve can be used to flatten out large areas without the handle getting in the way, while a crooked or hook knife with a tighter radius is good for hollowing, concave features and getting around obstructions.

To learn how to sharpen crooked and hook knives, refer to our sharpening guide