$15 Pocket knife vs. Oar Carver

[Trebor56]

Can a 15 dollar knife compete with an Oar Carver?

Let’s start at the beginning. Every time I read about someone modifying a pocket knife for carving I thought I needed to try that. I started searching for a perfect candidate but somewhere along the way I realized that I didn’t have the right tools to reshape a blade. BUT… I came across an affordable knife that I might not have to reshape, just sharpen.

It’s a Frost Steel Warrior Warn Cliff Whittler. That’s how they spell it – Warn Cliff, not Wharncliffe. It’s made with 440 stainless blades. I picked one up for $14.99 but the prices range all over the place.

There are other pocket knives with Wharncliffe blades but they all cost more than an Oar Carver so I didn’t consider them.

When it arrived I spent quite a bit of time sharpening the main blade on my Massager. (I had to do the same to my Oar Carver) I decided to leave the small blade alone for the time being. The Wharncliffe blade sits out at an odd angle from the handle but I have other knives that do the same and that doesn’t bother me.

The results: The blade is sharp and cuts cleanly and smoothly. Time will tell how it holds up. It matches up very well with the Oar Carver on that point. As far as quality and feel it’s not even close. The Oar Carver has a nice solid feel that the Frost doesn’t.

Does it beat the Oar Carver? No.
Does it carve? Yes.
Is it worth 15 dollars? Yes.
Will I use it every day? No, but I will keep it in my truck along with a few pieces of bass wood for the times when I’m unexpectedly stuck somewhere wishing I had my carving tools. If I have to, I can use it to open a box and not worry about ruining the blade.

[Buffalo Bif]

sounds like a fair assessment to me, thanks. I too have a commercial folding whittler, the Rough Rider Dual Whittler- I'd give it the same rating as you give the Frost. If it wasn't new (and a gift) I might take it apart and make new blades.....

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by Trebor56

Can a 15 dollar knife compete with an Oar Carver?

Let’s start at the beginning. Every time I read about someone modifying a pocket knife for carving I thought I needed to try that. I started searching for a perfect candidate but somewhere along the way I realized that I didn’t have the right tools to reshape a blade. BUT… I came across an affordable knife that I might not have to reshape, just sharpen.

It’s a Frost Steel Warrior Warn Cliff Whittler. That’s how they spell it – Warn Cliff, not Wharncliffe. It’s made with 440 stainless blades. I picked one up for $14.99 but the prices range all over the place.

There are other pocket knives with Wharncliffe blades but they all cost more than an Oar Carver so I didn’t consider them.

When it arrived I spent quite a bit of time sharpening the main blade on my Massager. (I had to do the same to my Oar Carver) I decided to leave the small blade alone for the time being. The Wharncliffe blade sits out at an odd angle from the handle but I have other knives that do the same and that doesn’t bother me.

The results: The blade is sharp and cuts cleanly and smoothly. Time will tell how it holds up. It matches up very well with the Oar Carver on that point. As far as quality and feel it’s not even close. The Oar Carver has a nice solid feel that the Frost doesn’t.

Does it beat the Oar Carver? No.
Does it carve? Yes.
Is it worth 15 dollars? Yes.
Will I use it every day? No, but I will keep it in my truck along with a few pieces of bass wood for the times when I’m unexpectedly stuck somewhere wishing I had my carving tools. If I have to, I can use it to open a box and not worry about ruining the blade.

That looks like a Case knife? Is it? if so and you got it for $15.00 you stole it!! lol

[Tom Ellis]

Thanks for the comparison Bob, I have done a couple of the electrician knives that Nomad wrote about, and they work good, I'll have to keep my eyes open for an Oar Carver, as it seems like they are the best quality.

Tom

[Tom-H]

Don't mean to rain of any ones parade, but the latest OAR CARVER that I purchased, has several quality issues. First, the thumb nick was ground too close to the top of the blade. Second, the heal of the blade sticks out when folded. Third, the main blade on the two blade knife is considerably larger than the blade on the single blade knife. It's still my go to knife, but they need to pay more attention to the details...It does carve. It does hold an edge, after you get rid of the factory grind/bevel and sharpen. Maybe I expect to much from $65 pocket knife.

Tom H

[schwert]

I had the Oar on my list for ages...but the price and the unsuitable grind kept me away. Then I bought the Flexcut Whittlin Jack and all thoughts of the Oar went out the window. An almost ready to use knife for half as much.

That Steel Warrior wharncliffe certainly does have an unusual angle to it.

[Trebor56]

Originally Posted by schwert

I had the Oar on my list for ages...but the price and the unsuitable grind kept me away. Then I bought the Flexcut Whittlin Jack and all thoughts of the Oar went out the window. An almost ready to use knife for half as much.

That Steel Warrior wharncliffe certainly does have an unusual angle to it.

That Flexcut Whittkin Jack looks good and it gets good reviews.

[schwert]

I just don't see any value in the Oar. Mind you I have never had one....However it seems to me if a Queen canoe is being modified as extensively as this is for blade shape, the edge should be properly ground at least to a point that major reprofiling (of D2) is not needed for the price asked.



This flexcut out of the damnable plastic display wrap is almost ready to use. 5 minutes stropping and Bob's Your Uncle. It has its defects like shallow nail nick and blades that do not snap down fully into the handle without a bit of a shove, but honestly for 40 bucks it seems to be a major improvement over the Oar.

[pallin]

What does it mean to "beat the Oar Carver?" If it performs the same function while costing less I would say it "beats the Oar Carver."

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Originally Posted by schwert

I just don't see any value in the Oar. Mind you I have never had one....However it seems to me if a Queen canoe is being modified as extensively as this is for blade shape, the edge should be properly ground at least to a point that major reprofiling (of D2) is not needed for the price asked.



This flexcut out of the damnable plastic display wrap is almost ready to use. 5 minutes stropping and Bob's Your Uncle. It has its defects like shallow nail nick and blades that do not snap down fully into the handle without a bit of a shove, but honestly for 40 bucks it seems to be a major improvement over the Oar.

Got one from Santa, great tool!