A drawknife (also spelled draw knife or drawing knife) is a traditional woodworking tool consisting of a blade with a handle at each end, perpendicular to the blade. It is used for removing bark and shaping wood in controlled, continuous shavings.
The drawknife has a long, narrow blade with a tang at each end. Each tang is fitted with a handle that sits at a right angle to the blade.
Key specifications:
The user grips both handles and pulls or pushes the blade toward or away from the body, controlling the depth of cut through blade angle and pressure.
Drawknives are typically made from medium-carbon tool steel (O1, W1, or 1080–1095). The steel should hold a sharp edge and be tough enough to resist chipping on knots. Laminated construction (hard steel edge, softer steel body) is found on higher-quality vintage drawknives.
The drawknife is used with the bevel facing up (for a more aggressive cut) or down (for a finer, more controlled cut). The user pulls the blade toward the body, controlling depth by the angle of the blade relative to the work surface. A steeper angle removes more material; a shallower angle produces a finer shaving. The work is typically secured in a shaving horse or vise.
Cutting should be with the grain; cutting against the grain causes tear-out. Wet (green) wood cuts more easily than dry wood.
The blade is sharpened on a flat stone or bench grinder, maintaining the original bevel angle. The bevel is ground to a smooth, polished surface. The flat back of the blade should also be honed flat to produce a true cutting edge. Drawknives are often ground with a slight convex bevel for durability in green woodworking.
The drawknife is pulled toward the user's body. The user should never place body parts in the cutting path. The work should be securely clamped. A drawknife should be stored with an edge guard. The handles should be checked for secure attachment to the tang.