Hock 1/4" Marking Knife

WOW!!!! I just got this little marking knife in the mail today. I haven't used it yet on any real project, but I did try it out on some scrap wood to see if the performance would measure up to the visual quality. The answer is a resounding YES!The photos on the Amazon website are unimpressive. The two things that gave me confidence in my purchase were the Hock brand name and a positive endorsement by Chris Schwartz. Neither of those prepared me for what I saw when I opened the package today. Inside was perfection in simplicity. It's hard to explain how a little, skinny piece of sharpened metal can exude quality, but the Hock marking knife does. The actual piece of steel may not seem like much, but everything about it has been done exactly right to create the perfect marking knife using only a single slice of metal. I know that it does not compare with the beauty of some other marking knives, including some that are far more elegant and beautiful (like the offerings by Blue Spruce); however, this little gem appears to be capable of doing most, if not all, of the tasks of the pricier models, and just as well, but it can also do things its fancier cousins can't. Most other marking knives have handles that preclude them from lying completely flat on a surface, and most of the other marking knives that can do that (including the bigger Hock knife and the Japanese versions) are too large to mark small dovetails and features that require a thinner, skinnier blade profile. Imagine also the marking chores that can be done using a totally flat reference surface -- chores that would be impossible or at least very difficult with most marking knives. Sure, the wider Hock or equally wide Japanese knives that are made without handles can provide the reference surface, but not in the same tool that will let us gain access to the small spaces we sometimes need to mark. The Blue Spruce spearpoint marking knife may give us access to mark even tinier spaces with the ultra thin blades that are supported with machined ferrules, but how often do we need to work within those extremely narrow constraints? Hey, someday I want to get a Blue Spruce knife too, but I doubt I will ever really need that $75 knife. I expect the Hock will do it all and do it all exceptionally well.I read the remarks of another reviewer who said that for $30 he could buy enough D2 steel to make several of the Hock knives. Good for him. I'd like to know how much value he puts on his time, because it would take much longer than two hours for a skilled metal worker to cut, grind, shape, flatten, harden, clean, temper, polish, sharpen and hone even one knife to the outstanding level of finish as the Hock knife, and the cost of all the equipment and power to do the work would be high. Of course, If someone has all the equipment already and enjoys making knives, then he should go for it. But for $30, this knife is a bargain, especially compared to trying to duplicate it on a custom basis. I do understand that most of the woodworking that will be done with the knife is recreational and not for selling goods at a profit, but making knives isn't woodworking, so most of us aren't properly equipped or experienced to make the re-creation of this knife a worthwhile endeavor, even as a recreational enterprise.I can definitely say that the quality of the steel and the finish of the knife have to be seen to be appreciated. I have been blown away since I first opened the package. She may not be the prettiest one around, but, for me, it was love at first sight (and first slice).

Great marking knife. Perfect flush and no sharpening needed as delivered. My hands are not in great shape so the long handle helps a great deal. This was my first high quality purchase for this kind of tool and I am very happy I spent the money. I don't get out much and people only lend mostly to irritation and unwanted occupation of my rather large personal space bubble. The people who few have been welcomed into that space don't do anything that calls for a specialized blade like this. As a result of my sunny social attitude I have to try things based on what occasional opinion I am subjected to digitally. Once in a while you tune into a worthwhile broadcast and this was one of those times for sure. I marked a single line with this knife and the marking stick I had fashioned from a hounds leg bone and a squirrel tooth have been discarded.

This is a small, flat piece of high carbon steel, 0.25" wide x 0.0625" thick, drilled on one side and ground to a sharp point on the other. It is 7 inches long.I purchased it for someone's gift list. There's nothing wrong with it per se, but this price is so ludicrous for such a small piece of steel, I feel obligated to knock off a star. Assuming you have some basic tools, for $30 you can get enough D2 steel to make 4 of these at twice the width.

I don’t normally write reviews but this marking knife is the bomb. Did know I needed it until I bought it on a whim. Now I use it all the time great product.

This is a great knife for marking on woodworking projects. Gives much more accuracy than using a pencil. Great seller.

I've been using products from Ron for years. As you can imagine, if they weren't high quality I wouldn't be using them. I wanted to make a new marking knife and the only iron I looked at was Hock's. The knife I made will outlast me. I sharpened it initially although it wasn't necessary. It holds an edge very well and as marking knives go won't need to be sharpened very often. I'm very satisfied with not only this iron but all irons I've purchased from Hock Tools.

Hock is a family business that makes the highest quality irons, chip breakers, and knives and commands the highest prices for them. You get lifetime value. I bought this marking knife to use as is without a handle.

Marking knife is sharp and flat which allows you to make accurate layout marks in tight places. Does a nice job. Used on some legs that were mortised in a seat for a perfect fit.