This version of my popular Monadnock Hook strips away some of most time consuming processing to offer a hook that is more user focused at a lower price.

This third batch of these has a bit of a wait time but may be the last batch to ship before the holidays , Targeting a shipping date of December 1st. I picked this date pretty conservatively because I fell behind in August.

This Round will have Walnut wood (or "ebonized" if I run short on walnut, shortened 6" length slightly oval 8 facet handle. This is an interpretation of the handle design Emmet Van Dreische always requests although I think I do a 12 facet for him.

More about the Craftsman Edition hook below -

For the last couple years all of my work has chased after the most advanced heat treating and performance related processing procedures. With the added time, the cost increased, and as the price pushed further and further away from the median cost of most carving tools I tried to push every detail from the steel, to handle, to leather work to “11”. I developed a mindset that if my work was already the most expensive on the market it better wow every customer at every level.

Not everyone needs that! So once again it was time to get back to basics and make a tool that gets a job done well.

What HASN’T changed? The shape of the hook has not changed. The heavy stock thickness that tapers to the tip is unchanged from my current concept of the Monadnock ideal. My process of developing a bevel, which I truly believe to be a huge part of the success of the design is exactly the same. If blindfolded I think a user would not be able to feel the difference in what I did do differently with this model. The forged hollow inside provides the simplest and quickest method of resharpening with the least chance of messing up the performance of the bevel.

What’s different from my most expensive versions? The steel is 80CrV2 which is one of the simplest steels that doesn’t need or benefit much from extensive processing steps with longer hold times at temperature. Some the heat treating steps are performed directly off the forging process using the forge heat rather than the digital kiln. The final and most important step of heating to 1525 degrees for the fast oil quench does use the digital temp controlled kiln. This step has been proven to have the biggest impact on a great heat treat. Just that one step makes my heat treat more advanced that many of the other greenwood tool makers using a forge for the entire process. Lastly some of the extraneous polishing is skipped leaving the outside blended bevel closer to a satin finish. The actual cutting edge is the focused effort providing that flawless cut out of the box. The blade features a different classic rosette stamp. Blade protection is included in the form of a simple rubber tube.

All of that said I understand this still isn’t the most competitively priced hook on the market, but I hope you find it to be an excellent addition to you carving experience. It’s still a fully handmade heirloom quality piece with features you will not see in a budget oriented build.