This is a loaded question amongst carvers.

Although we seek many of the same qualities, very few will agree on one knife as the 'best'. So I will tell you what I look for.

(1) Edge holding ability.

(2) Condition of the blade; this includes many things like:
Actual shape, length, angle to handle, type of grind, thickness, bevel angle, number of bevels, fit (in handle) and finish.

(3) Handle size and shape, which determines comfort.

(4) Handle material, and grip (is it slippery?)

(5) Turning ability in wood.

(6) Maker's guarantee and reputation.

(7) Sharpness and price.

Even though most carvers might agree with this list, few if any would trade their carving knife or feel comfortable using someone elses. Â*
That's because; there is no 'best knife'; but mine is pretty close!

Boy Howdy - I've got a small fortune invested in knives and still think the best one is my pocket knife.

[AlArchie]

I don't necessarily think that my trusty old pocket knife is the 'best' one I own, but it sure is the most versatile! I don't think there's another one in my tool box that will whittle a stick, turn a screw (either straight or phillips), open a beer, open a can of tuna (yeach!) cut my fingernails, punch a hole in my belt (ya, I know, go on a diet), pick my teeth, tweeze out a sliver, and file off a broken nail.


With two good blades, I can carve just about anything I want with it, even though there are other knives better suited to carving. And my 'other' pocket knife, the three blade whittler will just about take care of that!

Personal opinion is that the venerable old pocket knife is far under rated, and it's too bad one isn't put into every kids front pocket at age 8! Oh, ya I forget, they won't let him into school with that 'weapon' anymore. For those of us who remember mumbledy-peg, frog spears (heck they even drained all the frog ponds), and willow whistles, some of our changing social standards are just a shame!

Al

I agree..everyone is so preoccupied with 'politically correct' they are missing a wonderful life!! It is very sad that time is gone, it was the best!!

[Captain_Bandaid]

I just went an counted my knives. Sheesh! Not counting the multi-blade knives, I have 39 including the ones I made myself. As to which one is the best, well, it depends on what I am carving. However, the one you have the most confidence in is the best. PS: I don't use all of them on any given project. 2-3 is normal.

[Kenny_S]

Many types of knives but I will go with my Broker carving pocket knife. It goes every where I go. Most othe knives stay in their pouches till ready to use.

I am like everyone else here. Those new knives that you see for sale just seem to maybe the one you are looking for and always works great on the piece of bass wood at the show. When you get home though and start a serious carving it seems to get left in the tool box and you go back to the one you are most comfortable with. That is why I have so many knives I will take them out and try them all once in a while but I always go back to that one I love and trust.
Colin

What is it with carvers and dinky knives? I carry a 3.75 inch blade pigsticker. I might carry larger, but KY consides anything over 4 inches a weapon or 'agricultural implent'. I really don't want to try to convince an officer that my KA-BAR is a farming tool. Anyhow, how can you grasp something that small for any period of time? My brother, who has rather long hands but certainly not exceptional, complained that all my knives were too small. I made one for him that is a bit more that 1' by 1.5'. at its widest. The handle for that thing was shaped by my pigsticker, by the way. What is the appeal of a pocket knife for carving?

[AlArchie]

Nothing wrong at all, with BIG knives! My hand is so big that I have a hard time finding gloves to fit, and have been stuck with oversized ski gloves for decades; can't find a carving glove to fit. And I have several LARGE handled bench knives that I can work with all day without fatigue.

That said, a small handled knife that I can fit IN the palm of my hand, and/or hold like a pencil works like no large knife can for detailing and fine incised work.

A pocket knife for carving is a GOOD thing because it is ALWAYS there! And if I have to pop the top off a can of varnish, it's got a screwdriver blade to do that with. The big blade can whittle a stick, and the small one can carve a face in a branch, the 'leather punch/drill can start a hole in a piece for carving, an', aw heck, there's just all kinds of reasons.

My other pocket knife, a 'whittler' has three blades made especially for carving and they work on just about anything I carve. They are sharp, have good steel, the blades are designed well, and they are always available when i'm out and about. Now granted I don't carry them both at the same time, but I always have at least one of them along with me, so if I decide to carve, I carve.

A big Folding Buck Knife is great for guttin' a deer, or cleaning a fish, and maybe hacking my way through the jungle, but it's really kinda hard to carve with, although it makes a pretty good tool for sharpening a tent peg, or sittin' on the porch makin' piles of chips from various sized sticks!

Oh, and once in a while ya still runs across a beer that doesn't have a twist-top, or the darn thing was twisted on too tight! Ever have that pop-top pull off your last beer? My pocket knife can still get that bugger open! My brother is a wine snob, and I can even get his wine bottles open with the built in cork-screw!

No offense meant to the big knife fans, but please don't pick on my lowly pocket knife! I LOVE it!

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Al...wallyworld has the fishing filet gloves....and here at this store, the only size they have is extra large!