Helvie supplier

[Gfhwoodwerk]

I'm interested in buying a helvie knife but cant fund a supplier. I've gone to the helvie site, but they seem to be out of stock on everything. What I'm wondering, is the company no longer producing knives? Are there suppliers that usually carry helvie products? Any advice would be appreciated. I'm new to the hobby and look forward to your responses.

Gfhwoodwerks
Beginner carver on an exciting journey.

[Nebraska]

They have limited production some have suggested emailing. The other option is eBay you should expect $100 to $200 for a knife in used or new condition.

[Claude]

Rich has a full-time day job, and Holli home-schools their daughter, so they really only have the evenings and weekends to produce knives. Holli will take your request and put you in queue, but you may have to wait for 2-3 months. There are wood carvers that have their own "signature series", made by Helvie. Some of them sell their knives. A good place to start looking is in their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/helviewoodcarvingknives

Claude

[woodburner807]

Many other knives out there that are available, from OCC Drake, sand others.

[Gfhwoodwerk]

Thanx for the responses, the reason I'm looking at helvie is a particular handle configuration. As I'm sure many of you all collect knives in addition to carve I will look at the other companies. I will also contact them and get in the queue as three months won't kill me, I don currently have a few flexcut knives to with with.

Gfhwoodwerks
Beginner carver on an exciting journey.

[Brian T]

Grab a piece of basswood and carve a replica of the handle that you like.
Fast and easy work, you can get the size to fit your hands. Like sizing a tennis raquet.

Then, you get the wood that you like and carve 2 handles.
One will always be a little better than the other.
Get a blade from someplace or bash off a factory handle.

Build your own knife while you sit and wait for the Helvie.

[Just Carving]

Copy the photo of the knife, size it to what you want.

Print the photo out, glue to a piece of cardboard, trim to handle.

Lay on piece of wood, trace outline, cut and/or carve.

Glue blade into handle.

Tape of blade with safety protection.

Sand and finish handle.

BobL

[Randy]

Other options are Deepwood Venture's, Drake and as sugessed by Bill OCC. They are all high quality Knives.

[Soggy]

Helvie knives are ok ( I own one, and use it occasionally), but I think their popularity is a result of "good" marketing. As others have said , " there are lots of other knives of equal quality available " without the long wait time and at competitive prices.
just my .02 cents worth
Wayne

[rjrsky]

Grab a piece of basswood and carve a replica of the handle that you like.
Fast and easy work, you can get the size to fit your hands. Like sizing a tennis raquet.

Then, you get the wood that you like and carve 2 handles.
One will always be a little better than the other.
Get a blade from someplace or bash off a factory handle.

Build your own knife while you sit and wait for the Helvie.

That is what I do. I use pocket knife blades. Works really well.

Rob

[rjrsky]

Helvie knives are ok ( I own one, and use it occasionally), but I think their popularity is a result of "good" marketing. As others have said , " there are lots of other knives of equal quality available " without the long wait time and at competitive prices.
just my .02 cents worth
Wayne

OCCT make great knives.

Rob

[woodburner807]

OCCT make great knives.

Rob

I mostly use OCC knives and occasionally a Drake...works great for me.

[Claude]

One of the reasons I like the Helvie knives is because the blades are flexible. The thicker blades, such as Flexcut, don't flex; my preference for most of my carving is a flexible blade. I do have and use a couple of Flexcut blades when I don't want a flexible blade, such as making stop cuts. I don't have info on OCC or Drake blades. If anyone does, send to me and I'll add to my chart.

Claude

[Brian T]

Across the variety of crooked knife blades that I can buy in the Pacific Northwest, the thickness of the steel matters a lot.
The basic difference is 3/32 (0.9375)" for the big strong rough-out blades and 5/64 (0.786)" for the real 'carving' blades.
The steel in the Hall farrier's blades is as rough and tough as it gets.
The steel in Jamie-Sharp blades has some nice 'bounce' to it.

[rjrsky]

One of the reasons I like the Helvie knives is because the blades are flexible. The thicker blades, such as Flexcut, don't flex; my preference for most of my carving is a flexible blade. I do have and use a couple of Flexcut blades when I don't want a flexible blade, such as making stop cuts. I don't have info on OCC or Drake blades. If anyone does, send to me and I'll add to my chart.

Claude

I also like Helvie knives. I think that I have 4 or 5. They are sharp and stay sharp.

Rob