Cheap Lee Valley Hirsch Large #3 Straight Gouge

Produced by one of Germany’s oldest tool-making firms, this professional-quality gouge is the style traditionally favored by European carvers.

Useful for carvers and chairmakers, it has a wide blade with a shallow #3 sweep. The straight blade is useful for working broad convex shapes or hollowing shallow reliefs, as well as trimming chair tenons.

The natural-finish hornbeam handle has excellent impact resistance, and its octagonal shape gives a secure grip. The fully polished 40mm (1 9/16″) wide blade is hand forged from high-carbon steel, hardened to Rc61 for durability, and requires only final stropping. Overall length is 250mm (just under 9 7/8″).