June 19, 2020

Flexcut KN26 Right-Handed Hook Knife Review [REVISITED]

Are you considering buying the Flexcut KN26 Right-handed hook knife? The hook knife is one of the oldest tools for whittlers. You can use this knife to remove more material than the average blade.ย 

This knife was the go-to knife for curved objects such as bowls, spoons, ladles, etc. It has a curved blade, which makes this task easier. This is how the job got done.ย 

Today, many companies are making various carving tools. As woodworkers continue to evolve and gain more knowledge, wood carving tool makers have had to do the same.ย 

Flexcut KN26 Right-Handed Hook Knife

The Flexcut KN26 right-handed hook knife has a curved blade that looks almost like the gouge made by the same manufacturer. It allows you to carve hollow pieces at a much faster rate. It is one of the most requested knives.ย 

Whether right or left-handed, its unique and sturdy construction all works hand in hand to ensure that you have a comfortable time carving whatever you will be.ย 

The design of the handle encourages this by driving the force you are applying to be directed to the heel of the knife. The many advantages that this knife has made it quite the favorite.ย 

The KN26 is a right-handed knife which means that you will use your right hand to draw it towards yourself. Letโ€™s look at all that the KN26 has to offer you and what you need to be on the look for.

Aesthetics

This knife does not look like the regular one you would normally see. It has a curved blade that almost looks like a spoon, with the difference being very sharp in every sense of the word. If you do not know anything about wood carving, this will seem very weird.ย 

The blade is not only curved, but it is very well polished and sharpened. It is made of high carbon steel, which, when sharpened, is extremely shiny.ย 

Flexcut KN26 Right-Handed Hook Knife on a white background

Flexcut makes it a point to make very highly polished and sharpened knives that most blades on the market can not compete with. The blade is 7/8 inches, just long enough to take out the right amount of stock for this size of the knife.ย 

Thanks to its clean-cut looks, Ashwood is widely used for various wooden furnishings. The handle is made of ashwood, and its natural beige hue comes out nicely. The handle is also contoured and very comfortable to hold.ย 

Itโ€™s not just all looks with this knife. The red Flexcut logo is noticeable across the handle. It also has a hook-like shape which is part of the design and makes it easier to handle.ย 

You also get great functionality. But letโ€™s say that looks were all you had to go by; it is not a bad looker, just like the rest of the blades from flex cut.

Performance Review

The way a knife will perform has to be top of your list of priorities when choosing a carving tool. You will need to know what it can and can not do and if this aligns with what you want to do.ย 

The KN26 right-handed hook knife has a solid and durable blade made of high carbon steel. The durability of the curved blade will allow you to remove a large amount of stock from the block of wood at a faster pace than if you were using the wrong knife.ย 

The blade is curved to enable this. It is polished and sharpened to precision so that you can cut through whatever wood you need to be working on.ย 

The handle is made of ashwood and is carved for the perfect hold. The handle has a particular shape and multiple points to rest your hand to ensure that your hand does not get tired as you carve.ย 

The design also gives you a more controlled grip that you will be happy to have. Slippery hands or a slippery surface can be frustrating and cause you to be less efficient in your work.ย 

Thankfully Flexcut has made sure that this is not something you will need to be worrying about. The handle design also helps to focus the force on the heel of the hand and therefore keep your hand from getting tired quicker.ย 

The overall design of the KN26 right-handed hook knife is designed to make your job easier and faster. By it being a right-handed hook or knife, right-handed users will be pulling the knife towards themselves.

Safety

The blade comes already sharpened. Because of this, it is very important to make sure that you watch your fingers as you take the knife out of the packet. It doesnโ€™t come with a protective sheath, making it even more dangerous if you are not careful. You can cut yourself.ย 

The knife needs to be pulled towards you as this is the proper way to use a right-handed hook knife. If you are a novice at carving with a hook knife, you must take the necessary precautions to ensure that you are not putting yourself at risk.ย 

You can protect your hands and fingers, by wearing whittling gloves or even a thumb guard, especially on the hand that has the wood. This way, even though you are careful, you have a backup.

Who is this product ideal for?

Both amateurs and professional woodworkers can use this knife. The important thing is to make sure you take the necessary safety precautions.

Pros

  • It is strong
  • The blade is sharpย 
  • The handle has many comfortable contact points

Cons

  • It does not come with a sheath for the blade

Our Verdict

When choosing a hook knife, it is important to know whether it is a right-handed or left-handed hook knife. The Flexcut KN26 is perfect for a woodworker to carve out hollow shapes such as bowls and spoons, by pulling the knife towards themselves.ย 

Flexcut has made a great-looking and great-performing knife here, and we think it is a great buy. It fairs very well when you pit it against its competitors. Happy shopping! See the Flexcut KN12 Cutting Knife Review.

David D. Hughes

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