Pocket knife for whittlin'

RussL. · #1 12-26-2006, 09:34 AM

I know that one can spend a lot of money on a new hobby making it feel like they are "progressing" when all they are really doing is "acquiring".
Having said that I currently whittle with a Schrade Old Timer as my portable knife. It works pretty well, and better as I improve my sharpening and honing skills.
I'm wondering if veteran whittlers have a sense that an Oar Carver or Case Seahorse Whittler would actually be superior portable tools or (given my beginner level of skill) they would be little more than "whittler's bling" in my hands?
Any thoughts on these, or other, portable whittling knives?

Thank you in advance,

RussL.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 12-26-2006, 09:43 AM

If yours is honed and stropped, I am not sure there would be a world of difference, but saying that, there is a difference in knives and steel. I have quite a collection of carving knives (not pocketknives) and the straight razor conversion is hard to beat, you can feel the difference with one cut,,,but that said, many of the other knives I have, I use all the time! I know, not much of an answer, but basicly.......its what you like and are comfortable with. Lynn uses a fixed blade utility knife!

Capt. Bandaid · #3 12-26-2006, 09:48 AM

Russ, I have a Case Seahorse whittler and I do not find it to be a particularly good tool for actually cutting wood. The blades all needed re-profiling to remove the bevel at the edge. The big blade is a bit too thick to cut well and the two smaller blades are a bit wimpy. They can actually bend in use. I carry my Seahorse every day but really don't use it to whittle much. I have several Case knives and I have come to believe that they are made for collectors to put in glass cases, not for actual use. I have never used the Oar Carver. I own a couple of the Old Timers and they work as well as any pocket knife, in my opinion, if they are properly sharpened. Over all, I prefer to use my short bladed, thin, properly tapered, comfortable handled carving knives over a pocket knife.

Lynn O. Doughty · #4 12-26-2006, 10:23 AM

I started out using a "Old Timer" pocket knife. Now I use "Old Reliable", my trusty box cutter. My biggest complaint about using a pocketknife to carve or just whittle (there is a difference!) is that it's not very comfortable and also can easily slip out of your hand creating a safety situation. My Dad left me his Warren knife with a number of interchangeable blades. To make it portable I drilled a hole in the handle large enough so that I could drop in a couple of blades and then whittled a little hole plug to keep them in the handle when not in use. The handle is comfortable and the blades are a good quality so it makes a great portable tool.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #5 12-26-2006, 10:24 AM

I agree Capt....I have a sea horse whittler too and altho I do use it to carve when I am waiting ...its as you described..the large blade is a bit too large and the small ones do bend.....I have an oar carver and I do like it, I take carving stuff with me when I drive the DAV van to Prescott occasionally. I want to find a good cheap pocket knife that is good to carve with, so if I lose it, Its not earth shattering....I have the Carvin' Jack too, but not sure I care for it, the blades don't fold back where they belong every time and have gotten nicked by the corner of a blade several times! not good but especially not good for a knife that costs that much!

RussL. · #6 12-26-2006, 11:19 AM

Thank you for the informed and informative responses. I particularly like the customized Warren knife for a versatile, portable tool!

Please, anyone else with ideas and/or opinions...keep 'em coming. I can use all the feedback I can get!

Right now I AM just whittlin' (not carving), balls in cages, chains, basswood eggs, spoons, twig roosters etc...
But who knows where it will lead.

Thank you,

RussL.

dryheat · #7 12-26-2006, 12:08 PM

I agree with most of what’s been said. I have loved pocket knives since I was a youngster and have collected them for several years. Of those that makers claim to be for carving, including 2 made by a custom knife maker, I believe that the one sold by Rick of Little Shavers is the best value. After reading Lynn’s posts about his fixed blade utility knife I found one in an old machinist chest and got some new blades and tried it and I can see why he likes them. I was surprised at the edge I could get by honing.
Like Hi-Ho I have Lots of knives and I find myself going to the Razor Knives I got from Rick most of the time. I think a beginner would be best served to get a reasonable priced knife get it sharpened right by someone who knows how and learn to keep it honed well. Then, when one has some experience and practice under their belt you know more about what a knife can and will do, you can look and experiment with the different shapes, handles and so on. I shot Bull’s-eye Pistol for many years and early on I was talking about needing a better, more accurate gun and an old timer took me aside and said “use you money to buy accurate ammunition and when you can shoot you gun offhand as well as it will shoot off a sandbag then look for a better gun”.
I believe this analogy can be applied to carving too.
Ed

Ed

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #8 12-26-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RussL.

Thank you for the informed and informative responses. I particularly like the customized Warren knife for a versatile, portable tool!

Please, anyone else with ideas and/or opinions...keep 'em coming. I can use all the feedback I can get!

Right now I AM just whittlin' (not carving), balls in cages, chains, basswood eggs, spoons, twig roosters etc...
But who knows where it will lead.

Thank you,

RussL.

It will lead to a mental breakdown

, a distorted view of wood and a neverending quest for more tools! ha ha

brushpilecarvings · #9 12-26-2006, 02:03 PM

I started using a Schrade Old Timer Middleman Jack (330T), then I went to a Case Seahorse Whittler. The Seahorse Whittler wasn't the best knife for carving. Now I'm using a Rough Rider Mini Canittler http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eC...art=&SKU=RR383

Which surprisingly sharpened up very nice. It's a bit small, but it didn't take too long to get used to.

Tom H · #10 12-26-2006, 05:08 PM

I just traded a carving for a new Oar pocket knife (single - lock blade type). I had the factory edge sharpened, but the bevel is so extreme that I cannot carve with it...Since I like to carve small, I thought the thin pointed blade would be perfect. At present, the blade bevel tends to crush the wood when I carve small. It's off to Rick for reshaping tomorrow. If this doesn't work, it'll become a knife for trade. So far it's been a disapointment. Tom H