Custom Whittling knife

P

Paulknife

Joined
Mar 16, 2005
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I would like to commision a custom Whittling knife. I'm not very knowledgeable on what blades, or type of steel would be best. But I do enjoy carving, and reading the thread about using a custom brought this to mind for me. I would use a custom knife for my carvings because using a piece of art to create a piece of art is somehow satistiying to me. Plus what better thing to pass on to a family member when I'm gone than the beautiful custom knife I used to create my pieces with. So if any knife makers have or would like to take on this, please let me know. Couple of things... 1. I cant afford a thousand dollar knife, about half or less than that. 2. And I am a female, so It needs to be comfortable for my hand. I just bought a boker whittler, and tho a beautiful knife, I've seen some extroidinary examples of custom knives here and though to ask to see if I could get one made for me.
thanks for your time and consideration, PN
 
I'm not gonna swear to it, but I don't think you'll find a decent Custom Whittler in the $500 range.

You may find some slipjoints that will fit your needs, however...
I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong :D
 
I think you could find one for $500 or less as long as you aren't wanting extremy fancy. You should decide what shape blade you'd want though because alot of makers, and especially the newer ones who can still make excellent knives but don't have the big name to get big prices, have certain blade types they're good at and certain ones they're not so good at. By mentioning what you want people who are probably lurking on this thread might think "Oh, I can do those!" and offer their services to you, while with it left so open people are probably wondering if what they can make is something you would want. It's 5:30AM here and I'm rambling a bit, does that make sense?
 
$500 for a knife to whittle with WOW!!!!!! There are makers out there that will make you a knife for a lot less than that. I don't make a lot of small knives, mostly Bowie's so I am not the person to look to. Get a copy of knives 2005 and look in the back where the knife makers are listed and find some that are close to you and contact them with your ideas. Gib
 
I've been to a lot of knife shows and I've never seen a Custom 3 blade whittler for anything close to $500, like I said that doesn't mean there ain't one out there...just I've never seen one.
 
A whittling/carving knife? I've made one of those for a friend... my first ever knife at that :P It's currently in transit over there, but she likes what pics she's seen :P

$500 would get you quite a nice knife, if not quite a diamond inlaid ivory handled Mosaic damascus artwork :P

A well made 52100. 5160, D2, 1085 or other plain blade should be well inside your budget from what I've seen posted around. Someone can make you something :P

Heres mine :) made of 5160, annealed and later Hardened/tempered in a fireplace, not a forge. mostly cold worked while annealed. Has a solid point to enable the carver to grove and bas relief, and a gentle curve rather than straight edge near the point, but a straightish bit near the handle.

258401.JPG
 
Aparently there's some confusion here, are you looking for a folding knife, or a nice fixed blade? for that kind of money, lots of people would gladly build you a very nice fixed blade knife, myself included.

Tony
 
A matched set of fixed blade wood carving knives with the blade shapes you would get oin your 3 blade whittler in a nice leather case would be well within your budget, and could be made more comfortable and safer to use than any folder.
 
Thank you for the response! For further clarity, I’m looking for a folder, a locking folder, two blades, or three if I can afford. Similar to the boker 3-blade whittler, but perhaps a bit larger. A large blade for paring down the wood, and rough detail, and a smaller blade for fine work. I don’t need extremely fancy, but would like Damascus blades, unless another type of steel holds a better edge for whittling. Again, pardon my lack of knowledge here. I’ve seen some Damascus folders in the Knife makers for sale that are roughly around 250, to 350. So, I can always do a lay-away plan with the knife maker. Unfortunately, I had to have emergency dental work this yr, so that’s were my overpayment of tax refund went. I would let the knife maker decide the materials and look, as again, this is his/her piece of art and I’ve seen some beautiful examples of work from not so known makers to known.
Thank you again for your time, PN

Quote from Shgeo: A matched set of fixed blade wood carving knives with the blade shapes you would get oin your 3 blade whittler in a nice leather case would be well within your budget, and could be made more comfortable and safer to use than any folder.

I would not be apposed to this, just thought that would end up being more expensive from a knife maker, again, pardon my knowleged in the art. I would say my hands are medium for a female 5'8 and I've been starting to have some arthritis pains in the knuckles, lol, so I'm not sure if a folder or fixed blade would be better. I like the control of the boker, I have a older model (2-blade) boker that I enjoyed carving with even tho it was a folder. the newer boker whittler is a bit smaller, I think I like the older folder better.
again, thanks for your time :D PN
 
If you go custom you can define exactly the size and shape of the handle and blades.You haven't mentioned a wharncliffe blade which is a common carvers blade especially for chip carving.If you have a copy of Tangerman's 'Whittling and Woodcarving' there are drawings of all the blade types. For problems like arthritis a fixed blade gives you mor e options for handle shape.
 
Paulknife,
One advantage of a set of fixed blades is that the handles can be matched to fit your grip size and shaped to be comfortable. I wouldn't think they would be out of line with the price you are talking about.

For a fine (polished) and lasting edge, I would go with S30V steel. It is not as pretty as Damascus, but makes a very nice knife. Damascus tends to have microserrations in the edge from the layering. This aids in some kinds of cutting, but might not be an advantage in carving.

I think Mete has the right idea with one Warncliffe type blade and maybe two different sized blades including something like a small spear point and a larger clip or drop point for the heavier work.
 
Looking at the bottom one here, looks like whether it's 3 fixed or one folder, we're talking about a medium size clip point, and a small wharncliff and a small spear point.
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...art=1&prev=/images?q=boker+whittler&hl=en&lr=
Sorry it's in a google window but the site itself doesn't let you link to individual pages, it redirects to the main screen.

I'd agree that damascus isn't best for the blade do to the microserration effect of damascus, but you could have damascus furniture (bolster and stuff).
 
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