Pocket knife & carving

[Dennis Taylor]

I have seen the long post about pocket knives for whittling, and would myself like to get one to carry around for those times when you are waiting on something or someone, and time is free, so why not carve something! I have seen posts saying, a pocket knife isn't made(maybe wrong wording) for carving only whittling, is this statement true or not?....I would like the knife to do both, I have a Lyon's & a Dunkle I use all the time, but not to carry around, I have only looked at a few, Rick's Kershaw would be shaped and sharp upon arrival and the price is fare with other's and you don't get the service, I seen a Old Timer Middleman at a flea market for 23.00, not sure about the price, and it didn't look ready to be used as a carving knife....I didn't want this post to follow in the lines of the previous, but I don't see the difference in the blades for carving in the round or whittling....tks for the input....Dennis

[Joggernot]

Consider this. It has been posted before and is available many places, including eBay. Flexcut Carving Jack.

Joggernot

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Rick's double cross is a good selection. Carving and Whittling when it comes to knives, are interchangeable terms. An alternate opinion (at the risk of starting a flame war) on the Carving Jack is forget it. It's kind of a neat gadget, but found it's cumbersome to deal with. I carry a couple STRAIGHT handle Ramelson tools (which roll up nicely in a very compact package, fits in a pocket very nicely) and a pocket knife. Found it to be a much handier set up than my Carving Jack.

[Just Carving]

I think Ed is right--use a couple of palm tools and a good knife--pocket or bench. (Tip--you can take a Murphy knife and shorten up the handle if need be--just keep the handle the same size as a closed pocket knife. A knife is great for just killling time and making chips. And yes, you can create carvings with a knife. But to be honest, I find myself using the knife to rough out and get a piece of wood to the general shape, and then I keep a couple of Ramelson tools--a small gouge 1/8"x#3 and a 5/16"skew chisel handy to finish the carving--in particular I'm referring to the teddy bear pins I do. I also find that it's easier to use the skew chisel to rough out than the knife. So, in reality, I can do my favorite teddy bear pin carvings with just two tools. So, maybe the answer is to do some carvings tht you normally do--and see what 2 or 3 tools you repeatedly pick up. You might surprise yourself and realize the answer has been sitting right there in front of you all the time. I seem to be rediscoverong the tools I have rather than looking for a new solution.

Bob L

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Dennis, I have the Carving Jack and like it, Ed is correct, it is somewhat cumbersome but I did get used to it. Just last month I found my old Buck knife that I broke the tip off of over twenty years ago, I sent it off to Rick at Little Shavers, he reshaped and sharpened the blade, it turned out much nicer then I ever expected !! It is now what I carry with me.

Dave

[GaryMc]

Hello Dennis, I vote for the Double cross that Rick sells. I have had one for about 3 years now and have used it alot for carving face in everything from branches to tool handles and I love it. I got mine off Ebay, but Ricks comes shaped and shapened properly so it is a good deal.
GaryMc

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have the Carving Jack and an Oar Carver, I really like the Oar Carver....don't use the Carving Jack much as the tips of some of the unused blades stick up just slightly when you pull up a blade and lock it in place, tips are up just enough to give you an irritating nick! Will someday maybe try the Kershaw of Ricks.... Oh, by the way, I have done a number of carvings while camping from start to finish with the Oar Carver.

[Clifford_Parker]

I have done many woodspirits in walking sticks and "gnome homes" in bark with only a pocketknife. Be prepared to either grind or file the blades to a shape better suited for carving/whittling if they do not meet your needs.

My latest pocketknife is a Victorinox Pocket Pal that I picked up at a yard sale for $2.00. It was unsharpened and in perfect condition. An hour or two spent with stones and file made it into a GREAT carving/whittling tool.

Canada knife sword |victorinox pocket pal

[Canopener]

I can vouch for the double cross from Rick; it comes wicked sharp and the lock blade system is a real plus. The handle is fairly comfortable also, but I have small hands. I did a small carving out of really hard pearwood this past weekend and could not have been more pleased. Did not even have to strop it.
I also think [JMHO] that unless you are really up to speed on sharpening; send any quality knife to Rick to sharpen and it will be money well spent.
One last thought; my neighbor was given a really nice Gerber on his retirement and he has pretty much used and abused it and cannot get it sharp. You should have seen his face when I showed him my double cross; it was like he just realized the world was not flat. It should be going to Rick soon.
Jim

[George Will]

New comer to the list, and just read the thread about Rick's double cross knife for carving, which sounds really interesting to me. However, I got in on the thread late, and don't know who Rick is, the way to contact him, or any other details. Would someone help me out?