Best choice of the two?

[tsellati]

I recently acquired two Camillus folding knives that I intend to use for whittling, if they are deemed reasonable choices by those more learned than I.

The first is a three-blade Camillus knife that just arrived in today's mail. The only distinguishing feature is a "72" stamped on the blade. Is this the year of manufacture perhaps?



And, the other is a simple two-blade Camillus knife -



I want to give one to my 10-year old daughter Alex to begin whittling with. Which knife, if either, do you think is a good choice for her?

Here is a photo of Alex at camp with me. As you can see, she is intently whittling the end of stick with the very first knife I bought her - a teeny tiny single-blade Swiss Army. And yes, that is a tiny monkey key chain charm on the end, she insisted -



Tim

[Joggernot]

I've been looking at used carving/pocket knives, but the price has stopped me every time. Please PM me with the prices you paid for these.

Joggernot

[tsellati]

Originally Posted by Joggernot

I've been looking at used carving/pocket knives, but the price has stopped me every time. Please PM me with the prices you paid for these.

Joggernot

PM sent.

Tim

[Ron T]

Hi Tim,

Good going on the knives. I just picked up some on Ebay. Check out the thread.

Please be sure to check out the knives before you give it to you daughter to see how easily they close. If she does any prying the blade can close on her fingers. That's something I've done several times in my younger years.

By the way, where did you get yours?

[AlArchie]

That three blade one is very similar to the one Camilus made for the Boy Scouts (their three blade whittler) untill Camilus went under. That is a very good carving knife. I have one like it with the BSA emblem and use it a lot


Al

[tsellati]

Originally Posted by Ron T

Hi Tim,

Good going on the knives. I just picked up some on Ebay. Check out the thread.

Please be sure to check out the knives before you give it to you daughter to see how easily they close. If she does any prying the blade can close on her fingers. That's something I've done several times in my younger years.

By the way, where did you get yours?

Just snagged mine off eBay as well. Picked up each for $20 or less. Given what you say about the ease with which the blade can close I will definitely give her the three-blade knife. That ones blades are much tougher to open and close than the other.

In fact, I have a Swiss Army and that two-blade knife to thank for my first and second finger/thumb cuts in almost as many days. Certainly teaches you to be more careful and cognizant of how you are applying pressure to the blade. However, these all are lessons I will try my best to spare Alex.

She might have a tough time opening the three-blade knife herself, but, that is not too big an issue as "Rule #1" is she never whittles without me supervising.

Tim

[Nomad]

The second knife was part of a series of traditional folders made by Camillus that used Carbon V steel. Carbon V was a trademark used by Cold Steel, but the steel was produced by Camillus for Cold Steel. Camillus labeled the steel as 1095 or often just "carbon steel" in this line of folders because of the deal they had with Cold Steel. Carbon V is high quality carbon steel usually considered better quality than 1095. Camillus also made the Ethan Becker line of knives which also used Carbon V steel but it was called 0170-6C.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Tim, In my opinion, it should be a locking blade knife only. Probably more inportant then the knife is which carving glove to buy. I don't see Alex wearing one in the picture. Sorry, I am a safety nut.

Dave

[Big Barn]

I know this is a late post, but neither knife is a good choice for a child. If you want her to have a decent 'pocket knife' for whittling - then get a 'whittler' pattern. A 'whittler' is a three blade knife (kinds like in your picture) but has two back springs and both back springs work on the large blade. This make the large blade much safer & very stiff to close. Now the down side - majority of pocket knivies are not very comfortable in the hand for any lenght of time. My two cents.