I've been dabbling in spoon carving lately and my decades old hardware store Sloyd knives just weren't cutting it (no pun intended). Despite a razor edge, the blade geometry wasn't working for me. LV had a deal on a Flexcut starter set and the difference is amazing. They came sharp and ready to use, but a final honing and stropping made a big difference. What was like carving stone now feels like carving soap. Not surprising that the right tool for the job makes the job go easier.