Dick Smith opens the cabinet, and dozens of white-bearded, portly wood carvings peer out.

They range in size, from 8 inches to 20 inches tall. They’re modeled off figures from around the world – Italy, England, Scotland, Russia, Germany, the United States. Some carry lanterns, knapsacks or presents.

Sure, Smith could carve any figure he wanted to. But he almost always gravitates back toward Santa Claus.

“People look at Santa Claus and smile,” Smith says. “About everybody cares for Santa. I like to see the smiles.”

For about 15 years, Smith has carved Saint Nicholas out of bass wood. He doesn’t sell them – he gives them away to family and to charities, who often use them in benefit auctions.

“I enjoy giving,” he says. “I don’t enjoy selling. With every one of these, a little bit of me goes into it. I’d rather give that away than sell it.”

Smith, 78, got into wood carving after he retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He took a class in Hutchinson, where he used to live, and then continued with the hobby after he moved to Lawrence five years ago.

He carves some American Indian figures and the occasional walking stick, but mostly he sticks to Santas. He hasn’t counted, but he estimates he’s carved between 500 and 1,000 of the figures over the years.

Smith usually scours the Internet looking for model Santas. He’s learned a lot about the different portrayals of the Jolly Old Elf around the world – little details, for instance, like Italian Santas usually hang presents from their robes.

Even when he tries to duplicate a particular pattern, the nature of wood usually means the Santas don’t turn out the same.

“No two will look alike,” Smith says. “They’re usually presentable – I’ve never thrown any away.”

Each Santa takes between 20 and 25 hours to carve, meaning Smith spends some long hours in his garage.

“He enjoys going out there,” says his wife, Georgia. “I always know where to find him. He’s been fortunate with his health, to be able to use his fingers. It’s a blessing.”

Smith often takes finished Santas to Lawrence resident Kathy Summers for painting.

“He tries different things he likes – he’ll put things in their hands, like a bag or sack or something,” Summers says. “There are lots of personalities, and they’re all different. I always paint the faces the same, but they’re carved a little differently so they always look a little different.”

The list of organizations Smith has donated Santas to through the years includes Mother to Mother of Douglas County, Eastern Star and his church, First United Methodist. He also has donated to charities in Hutchinson.

Summers says Smith picks and chooses his causes judiciously.

“Any time you have handiwork and talents like that, I think it’s great to share it,” she says. “He’s really careful about not just spreading them around. He has some things he feels strongly about, and that he thinks are worthy of his work.”