Modern Handtool Makers

Here is a list of hand tool makers which I will try and keep updated. Last updated November 2023.

MODERN PLANEMAKERS

Here is a list of current planemakers (not including Lee Valley or Lie-Nielsen).

• Scott Meek Woodworks – premium Krenov-style wooden planes (US).
• Daed Toolworks – infill mitre and smoothing planes (US).
• Sauer and Steiner – crazy beautiful infill planes (Canada).
• Old Street Tool – traditional wooden bench planes (not taking any new orders at present) (US).
• H.N.T. Gordon – classic wooden planes, and Asian style planes (Australia).
• Philly Planes – traditional wooden bench planes (UK).
• Brese Plane – traditional handplanes (US)
• Bridge City Tool Works – makers of futuristic-like mini, block, and rabbet planes (US, but made in China).
• Bill Carter Hand Made Planes – hand made planes (UK).
• David Barron Furniture – Krenov style wooden planes (UK).
• Holtey – infill planes in the style of Norris, Mathieson and Spiers (UK).
• St.James Bay Tool Co. – makers of plane parts and infill plane kits (US). (Often sold through eBay store)
• Hock Tools – makers of blades and Krenov style plane kit (now owned by Lee Valley)
• Caleb James – wooden spokeshaves and panel planes (US)
• Red Rose Reproductions – panel raising, spill planes (US)
• J Wilding – wooden planes (US)
• The Lazarus Handplane Co. – handcrafted infill planes (US)
• BJS Planes – custom infill planemaker (Australia)
• Voigt Planes – traditional double-iron wooden planes (US)
• Hillview Wood and Metal – infill block planes
• Blum Tool Co.– Blum patented wood planes (+mallets, workbenches) (US)
• Crown Planes – wooden planes (US)
• Neville Planes – classic infill planes (UK)
• R.T. Toolworks – wooden planes (Canada)
• Wood by Wright – replacement tool (plane) parts (US) 🆕
• Union Manufacturing Company – re-manufacturing Union planes, limited runs (US) 🆕
• Ironbark Tools – low-angle infill planes, spokeshaves (Australia) 🆕

Hand Sculptors / Carvers Tools

• Kestrel Tools – adze’s, crooked knives, straight knives (USA)
• Cariboo Blades – kitchen, hunting, utility knives; woodworking and carving tools (Canada)
• Cape Forge – woodcarving tools (USA)
• Reid Schwartz – bespoke carving tools (USA)
• H Karlsson Klensmide AB – axes, adzes, gouges, carving knives (Sweden)
• Woodmans Finest – knives, axes, leather gear (Austria)
• Maine Coast Craft Tools – US distributor for Svante Djärv and Hans Karlsson tools (USA)
• Finnish Vintage Axes – vintage axes from Finland (Finland)
• Northmen – woodworking tools, knives, axes (Latvia)
• Jason A. Lonon – bespoke carving tools, axes (USA)
• Chipping Away – carving tools, Pfeil retailer (Canada)
• Kalthoff – handmade axes (Sweden)
• Wood Tamer – portal for carvers tools from various makers in Australia and worldwide (Australia) 🆕
• The Spoon Crank – Independent makers portal (Sweden) 🆕

Hand Tool Makers

• David Barron – exotic wood Krenov style planes, marking gauges (UK)
• Lie Nielsen – handcrafted tools from Maine (US)
• Lee Valley – handcrafted tools (Canada)
• Blue Spruce Toolworks – chisels, mallets, marking knives (US)
• Tools for Working Wood – handcrafted tools from New York, toolstore (US)
• Bench Crafted – innovative vises, Moxon, vises (US)
• Walke Moore Tools – clamps, router planes (US)
• Texas Heritage Woodworks – aprons, tool rolls, shop accessories, Moxon vise kits (US)
• Thomas Flinn & Co. – PAX saws, Clifton handplanes (UK)
• E.C.E. – European style wooden handplanes, frame saws etc. (Germany)
• Ulmia – European style wooden handplanes, frame saws etc. (Germany)
• Miki Tool Co. Ltd – Shogun brand Japanese pull saws, other Japanese tools (Japan)
• Henry Eckert Toolworks – honing guide, marking tools, blades (Australia)
• Hamilton Woodworks – marking and panel gauges (US)
• Matthias Fenner Toolsworks – marking knives, mallets, file handles (Germany)
• Pirollo Design – Measuring tools etc. (Canada).
• Barr Specialty Tools – chisels, drawknives, slicks (US)
• Kinetic Customs – custom made hammers, tools (Derbyshire, UK)
• Lake Erie Toolworks – wooden vise screws, Moxon vise (US)
• Acer-Ferrous Toolsworks – wooden vise components (US)
• Vesper Tools – sliding bevels, squares, (Australia)
• Hand Tool Rescue – Remade vintage wrench and screwdriver (Canada)

Saw Makers

• Bontz Saw Works – handmade dovetail, carcass, sash, tenon saws
• North Wind Toolworks – handmade old world saws
• Bad Axe Toolworks – handcrafted saws, bench hooks (US)
• Florip Toolworks – saws, marking gauges (US)
• Alamo Toolworks – saws, saw parts (US)
• Blackburn Tools – saws, saw parts, layout tools, accessories (US)
• Crosscut Saw Co – one-and two-person tree cutting saws (US)
• Tuatahi – (New Zealand) racing axes, throwing axes, and saws
• Two Lawyers Toolworks – handsaws (Germany)
• Greyhound Toolworks – handsaws (Scotland, UK)
• Winsor Saw – handsaws (US) (DEFUNCT ??)
• Great Lakes Toolworks – handmade saws (Owen Sound, Canada)

AXES

• Autine – handmade axes
• Toronto Blacksmith – hand forged axes (Canada)
• Vintage Axe Works – vintage restored axes
• Appalachian Axe Works – restored axes and tools
• Black Bear Forge – axes, etc. (USA)
• Joshua L Burrell Toolsmith – British made axes and adzes (UK)
• Kalthoff Axes – Handmade axes (Sweden)

SWISS TOOLMAKERS

• Klōtzli – Swiss knife maker

CONTEMPORARY PLANEMAKERS

People that led the resurgence in plane-making, as described in Garrett Hack’s “The Handplane Book“.

• Ted Ingraham – wooden molding planes
• Leon Robbins – specialty wooden planes, founder of Crown Planes.
• Jeff Warshafsky (Reed Plane Company) – modern Norris planes.
• Jamestown Tool Company (Jay Gaynor and Joseph Hutchins) British style planes.

DEFUNCT PLANEMAKERS

Over the years, some interesting planemakers have come into the market. What is surprising is how quickly they seemed to have disappeared into the ether. The tell-tale sign is always the website becoming in-accessible. It is often possible to learn more about the work of these toolmakers by searching the old website on WayBackMachine.

• Shepherd Tool (2000-2006) – well known for its infill plane kits.
• Gabardi & Sons (?-2011) – handmade infill planes.
• Sturnella Tools (2013-2014) – infill smoothing plane castings. (sturnella.com)
• Nice Ash Planes (2012-2014?) – nice wooden planes. (niceashplanes.com)
• Knight Toolworks (? – 2012) – Krenov-style wooden plane kits.
• DL Barrett & Sons – traditional wooden planes (bench and plough) (Canada) (website defunct as  of Jan 2016)
• Anderson Planes – traditional style infill planes (US). (defunct 2020)
• Space Age Plane Co. – handmade planes (US) (defunct 2020)
• Ashantilly Toolworks – wooden and infill planes (US) (defunct 2020)
• Marcou Planes – magnificent modern-style planes (NZ) (closed 2007-2020)
• Gerd Fritsche’s Handplanes –  infill planes and complete plane kits (Germany) (closed 2022)
  • Gerd Fritsche passed away in 2022. You can read more about his work in this article in HolzWerken magazine from July/August 2011.
• Juan Vergara – custom infill planemaker (No longer making planes)
• Oliver Sparks – custom wood and infill-type planes (UK) (defunct 2020-2022)
• JT Planeworks – modern metal soled infill planes (US) (defunct ?)

Note the trend amongst infill plane makers to end up closing up shop. It is probably due to the high cost in manufacturing these planes – or being overwhelmed with orders (which is also not so uncommon).

DEFUNCT TOOLMAKERS

• Adria Saws -handsaws (www.adriatools.com/)
• Woodjoy Tools – layout tools, spokeshaves, bowsaws (US) (defunct 2020)
• Preferred Edge – adze’s, carving knives (Canada) (closed 2002-2021 – owner passed away)
• OCCTOOLS – carving knives and gouges (USA) (closed 2023?)
• Rocky Mountain Saw Works – handmade saws (defunct 2015-2022)
• Winsor Saw – handsaws (US) (defunct 2022)
• VICTOR – axes (USA) (defunct 2013-2022)
• Maker Axe Co. – Cool wood axes (USA) (defunct 2011-2022)

NB: If the website for a toolmaker no longer functions, I consider the company to be defunct – if it functions again at some later date, I will move the link.