[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Well I tried Lynn's fixed blade utility knife for carving and I didn't care for it, so I went to work on the blade and have it honed pretty good and have to admit, I have used it several times as a roughin and its not bad...I can hog some wood out and not worry about the blade....but this made me think of a large chip carving knife Harold Woods sent me, I had ordered a certain shape for my chip knife and woody did two of them, the large is a bit large for most chip carving, the small is perfect, but the point is, I picked up the large one to carve with, thinking of Lynn's utility knife, and I love this knife for carving! Its strong for roughin and can also because of the angle do fine work...here is a pic of both.

[Thomp]

them's some nice and expencive looking Chip knives....

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Old Reliable being replaced by a Chip Knife? What's the carving world coming to?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

lol.....

[Thomp]

lynn im still looking for a old reliable stanley, but for now im using one of them folding pittsburg utility knives it uses the same blades....

were a little community and not everything is available here on denand...

but ill bet there is some of them utility knives on their way to the flea market as we speak...

thomas

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

try home depot thomp, ours has 5 versions of the fixed blade.

[Blake Lunsford]

Hey Thomp, I picked mine up at Sears, but I have also seen them at Walmart. Good luck on the search...they sure carve nice!

Blake

[Thomp]

i got the pittsberg folder,

its limiting becuse of the bulk of the thick blade fastener as to blade leingth, limiting how deep you can get the blade into armpits and crotches also across flat places but fine to take to waiting rooms with a cigar box full of scraps to make the time fly...
we got a home depot i keep forgetting about, lowes is on the way to walmarts, and i remember it as we go to walmarts every other day it seams.........

thanks guys

[Just Carving]

Thomp,

When you go to Home Depot, check the paint department first for the knife before you go to the tools section. I went to Lowe's, and they had the Stanley in the tools--about $5.50. I happen to be in the paint section a few days later, and they had a knock-off--sold under the Warner name--of the same knife for about $2. Pretty much the same--cheaper obviously, but it'll do the job. Make sure you use the heavy duty blades as the knife will come with the regular blades. I rounded off the back corner of the blade and a little off the handle behind the top of the blade so it wouldn't dig into my thumb when carving.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Old Reliable.....What to look for and what not to buy!

I have attached a photo of a few utility knives laying around the shop. Maybe this will help you in your search for that "perfect" tool!

The top one is "Old Reliable." I found this at either Home Depot or Lowes, I can't remember which. It only cost a couple bucks. From the name "Taiwan" on it's side you can be assured it was not made by some poor prisoner being held in a communist gulag somewhere.

The next one is a very old Stanley Model 299. I don't think they make this one any more, no doubt unable to compete with the Taiwan import.

The third one is a Communist Chinese import and under no circumstances should you buy this model. It's plastic! I found it in my wife's tool box.

The last one is a snap-off version that you should also pass by. It's dangerous! Those blade tips can snap at anytime pressure is applied so you really have no control.

Now, you're probably asking why I would use a Taiwan import over a "Made in the USA" Stanley? Well, inside the handle of the Stanley there is a little metal tab that holds the blade in place. That broke off several years ago due to heavy use. Without it the blade wiggles so I retired that one.

I use Stanley 1992 replacement blades. They have two knotches and I use the back one to extend the blade to it's most extended position. Before I put the blade in place I always put a small piece of masking tape along the bottom of the handle where the unused portion of the blade rests to help prevent an knicks that would result in my having to toss it before I can use that end.

Once the blade is locked in the handle I give it a pass over the buffing wheel and then over the leather strop. If it gets a knick or I notice it getting dull I'lll rebuff it once more but after that it's time to reverse the blade or toss it in the trash and chuck in a new one.

I hope this helps you out. By no means do I rely on this one tool for all my carving. I have different knives of different lengths and shapes laying all over my carving table and I'll reach for them as necessary.