Wood carving chisel Kirschen 31180 curved gouge cut 9

Wood carving chisel work that needs deep concave cuts calls for a pronounced sweep. The Kirschen Serie 3118 answers that with a curved gouge in cut 9. The blade bends along its length, so the cutting edge reaches into hollows the straight version cannot follow. Widths start at 2 mm for fine detail and run up to 40 mm for roughing larger volumes. Total lengths sit between 230 mm and 280 mm.

Each blade is ground and sharpened by hand in Germany, as stated in the Kirschen catalog. The octagonal hornbeam handle resists rolling on the bench. Its flats also give a clear reference for blade orientation during a cut. Weights range from 65 g to 295 g across the family. Sculptors, pattern makers and furniture restorers use the series for hollowing, fluting and shaping curved surfaces.

Wood carving chisel Kirschen 31180 Serie 3118 curved gouge

The Serie 3118 sits between the straight gouge of Serie 3109 and the flat spoon bent gouge of Serie 3130. All three share the cut 9 sweep shown on the catalog page. Choosing 3118 makes sense when the cut starts on a flat surface and then dives into a hollow. The curve of the shank keeps the handle clear of the workpiece.

Blade geometry and cut 9 profile

Cut 9 defines a deep, narrow sweep on the Kirschen sweep chart. Narrow widths cut tight flutes and veining in relief carving. Wider blades clear waste quickly from bowls, troughs and sculptural hollows. The curved shank lets the edge continue through a hollow without the handle fouling the surrounding wood. Blade length and section grow with width across the family.

• Cut 9 sweep, curved gouge geometry
• Blade widths from 2 mm to 40 mm in the Serie 3118 range
• Dimensions from 230 x 20 x 20 mm to 280 x 30 x 30 mm
• Weights from 65 g to 295 g depending on blade width
• Ground and sharpened by hand
• Made in Germany

Sixteen widths are listed in the catalog for Serie 3118. Small sizes cover lettering, ornament and finishing passes. Mid sizes from 12 mm to 22 mm suit general shaping on figure and relief work. The three largest widths carry a 30 x 30 mm section for mallet use. Carvers often build a set by selecting widths that match recurring radii in their work.

Octagonal hornbeam handle

Hornbeam is a dense hardwood, used here in an octagonal form. The flats stop the chisel rolling off a sloped bench and help the hand register blade direction without looking. A ferrule secures the handle to the tang. The shape supports both palm-driven paring and mallet strikes on the larger widths.

• Octagonal hornbeam handle
• Ferrule at the handle neck
• Suited to hand pressure and mallet work
• Consistent handle form across the series

A uniform handle style across Serie 3109, 3118 and 3130 keeps the feel the same when switching tools mid-carving. That matters when a single form is roughed with a straight gouge and finished with a curved one. The octagonal section also makes the tool easier to find by touch in a crowded tool roll.

Common applications

Typical uses include hollowing bowls and troughs, cutting deep flutes, and shaping concave surfaces on sculpture. The series also serves relief carving, ornament and decorative patterning in hardwood and softwood. Restorers of antique furniture use narrow widths to recut damaged mouldings and carved details. Pattern makers apply the wider sizes to curved model work. The cut 9 sweep produces rounded channels that a straight gouge cannot reach.

Catalog reference

Page 61 of the Kirschen 2026 catalog groups three cut 9 series with octagonal hornbeam handles.

• Serie 3109 straight gouge.
• Serie 3118 curved gouge.
• Serie 3130 flat spoon bent gouge.

The page notes that all carving tools are ground and sharpened by hand, and that the tools are made in Germany. Order numbers, blade widths in mm, dimensions in mm and weights in grams are tabulated per series.