Back when I was much younger, I had this vision that I should be a writer.  I just needed the ideal place to write. (I think I still have a similar vision of being a craftsman – it’s just that my shop isn’t quite right to do the work.)  In that vision, my desk looked out over some sort of beautiful landscape to inspire me. 

This month, we travel to the Pacific Northwest to the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.  I’m thinking now my vision was flawed.  Had I the view of paradise of our featured toolmaker this month, I would have never gotten any work done!

Michael and Louise Komick are the owners of Preferred Edge Carving Knives and Supplies.  They are the makers of the high quality handmade tools.  Mike and Louise attend a number of woodworking and carving shows during the year.

While instructing a welding program for inmates, Michael Komick was asked to make carving tools for the Native Brotherhood.  When the contract ran out in eighteen months, he started working at another welding shop and while there, a friend asked him to make an adze, a few knife blades, and other wood carving tools.  This later turned into a hobby and when he was laid off work, he took a marketing course through the employment insurance system called the Self Employment Program and has been making wood carving knives full time for several years now.  Marketing has been done through his web site, woodworking shows, pow wows, carving shows, farmers markets and other craft shows.

He has been working in the metal trades for over three decades as a welder, a welding inspector and a welding instructor.  His studies in metallurgy have given him the ability to know the best kinds of steel to be used for Native style wood carving tools.

Every wood carving artist needs the tools to turn their ideas into reality.  The artisans provide the ideas.  Mike provides the wood carving knives and tools to do the job.  He manufactures a wide variety of wood carving knives and tools.  Custom orders are welcome.

A good quality tool will be one of the most important investments you can make as a carver.  A good tool can be just as important as the experience you gain.  It is very discouraging to have a tool that won’t stay sharp or a tool that is too hard to sharpen and will quite often chip or break.  A good way to find good tools is to ask a master carver.  They have usually established a working relationship with a retailer or a knife maker.  When looking for a carving tool ask the retailer or knife maker a few questions like what is the blade hardness and what kind of steel are they made from.  If the retailer can’t tell you what kind of steel it is made of stay away from it.  The hardness should be RC 57+ and the steel should be tools steel.  L6 is about the best I have found for wood carving tools.  The cutting edge stays sharp for a long time and there is a bit of flex in the blade.  With the right heat treatment this blade has what is called a tough edge.

When purchasing a tool get one that has been pre-sharpened.  You don’t want to sit for hours sharpening to save maybe a few dollars.  If the knife comes with a guarantee, you can be assured it has some quality.  This will be a commitment to the carver that this is a quality tool.

A little history.  Through some research Mike has found out some interesting facts about the start of the carving tools.  The tools started out very primitive.  They were made of jade, obsidian, bone, seashells and beavers hind leg.  Certain fish shins were used for sanding.  Stories have been told of people coming to the Americas northwest coast from different parts of the world, before the 1700's.  There were reports of people boating over from Hawaii, Japan and Russia.  These are the people that introduced steel to the Native Americans.  Steel had also been retrieved from floating debris from wrecked ships. 

This steel would have been in a very primitive state but a big improvement over the bone and tools.  The proof of this is that the carvings started to get bigger and more detailed.  The oldest bent knife Mike has seen was one that belonged to Wayne Carlick who said it belonged to his grandfather.  The blade was made of bone and shaped like a slow curved knife.  It was lashed with sinew to an arbutus brand that was the handle.  Wayne is a carver at the Capilano Suspension bridge in North Vancouver, BC.

Preferred Edge Knives are:

• High quality handmade woodcarving tools

• Made of high grade L6 tool steel

• Delivered sharp and ready to use

• Guaranteed for one year

• Can be custom made

• Used by well known West Coast Native carvers Rick Harry (Xwa-Lack-Tun),of the Squamish Nation, Calvin Hunt and Mervin Child of Ft. Rupert, BC

• Used by other world famous carvers like Chris Pye of the UK and the Fuchs family of Hofstetten, Switzerland.

Mike’s customers love his tools!

A testimony from Ron in New York (yes, we love his tools on this side of the border too!).

“Great talking to you on the phone the other day.  It is a true pleasure speaking to someone that takes pride in their quality of workmanship.  As I said I have a carving knife from every knife maker known and by far, your knives blow them away. Your attention to detail and perfection is incredible.  The sharpness when straight out of the package is unbeatable.  I have never!!! gotten a knife so sharp straight from the knife maker.  Mostly, I have had to re-sharpen them or strop them and spend between 20 minute and as much as 2 hours on a new knife.  With yours I just start carving. What a true joy.  This is definitely true for I have ordered three more knives from you I have a total of five now.  I have completely changed all the knives on my bench to yours.  That should tell the tale.  They truly are the Preferred Edge.  That is the perfect name for your company.  The unique handle is extremely comfortable to use for hours of carving at one time. I was so impressed with our  conversation about how a knife ordered from a catalog came dull and that you wanted it right back so you could make the knife right and razor sharp.  That was incredible.  You don't find that dedication in today's world.

It is a pleasure to speak to you. You did not give me the rush job.  Most do! You spent time with me and we had a great conversation.  Another thing you don't get these days.  Having custom hunting knives and carving knives and years ago making my own before I became handicapped, I can see quality and yours are miles ahead of the rest.  Without a doubt your knives are the best I have ever owned or used in all of my thirty years plus of carving. Your knives are truly the Preferred Edge.

If I can be of any service to you please don't hesitate to call. In closing your knives are the best and you are a great guy to talk with.  It is a pleasure to find someone like you who can be depended on.”

Mike’s customers are the finest advertising one could ask for!  Lastly, Mike offers a disclaimer on his tools that is just too good not to share.  Among other more benign things, he cautions:

“These tools are shipped extremely sharp and are capable of inflicting considerable mayhem upon careless usage.  Please use every caution when working with them.”

Ah, I do love sharp things!  And to keep his tools that way, Mike offers a great visual walkthrough for using his tools and a very crisp photo tours of the sharpening process.

Contact Clark Mike Komick at:
Michael Komick
Preferred Edge Carving Knives
14414 N. Victoria Rd.
Summerland, BC
Canada V0H 1Z5
On the web at: http://www.preferrededge.ca

Jim Esten
Cedarburg, Wisconsin
May 2007