Ever use a whaler?

Joined
Jan 13, 2007
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69
I think I posted this earlier, in the wrong spot.

Has anyone ever used a whaler or Sunfish?

It seems like it might be a nice , large pattern - although a Case trapper usually works for me, if I could just get a smaller blade on one.
 
I have never used a sunfish or whaler.
But when a guy is dreaming of a sunfish, & a smaller blade on a trapper all in the one sentence, I can't help but comment: you are going to end up buying everything that's out there. Have fun.
 
You may enjoy the recent thread Elephant's toenail, featuring pictures and impressions of many of these big blade bad boys (including Whalers).

Reading that thread finally pushed me off the edge and into (onto?) this #36 sunfish:

IMG_3110.jpg~original


I've had it in my back pocket most days since the beginning of October, and love having it along. [I hope to gather my own pictures impressions and add them to the above thread soon.]

~ P.
 
DSC_00791_zps1cbb37b9.jpg

ive only ever had the yellow rough rider sunfish in this picture.
i like how it is kind of cartoonish, particularly the main blade.
ive carried it a bit but i dont carry it 'early and often'. ive used it at work and around the yard some. its a knife and you can cut things with it. lol the wide blade can be good for cutting vines and such which might bind up a narrower blade.
it is a good old handful of knife for something with blades less than three inches. there is a lot of metal in a knife like this so its got a lot of heft.
this sort of knife may not be for everyone; you have to like the reassuring weight of a relatively fat and heavy knife.
 
I have a GEC toenail I use around the house when something really needs to be cut. wouldestous is right. You can jam it pretty snuggly into a Buck 110 sheath. If I ever go camping, I'll probably belt carry it. It could handle some serious woodcrafting chores. It would be tough for me to pocket carry.
 
The Tidioute Sunfish is one of my favorite knives. Rides light in a jeans pocket, very strong spring locks the blade safely in open position and easy to get razor sharp. A great eating knife, perfect for spreading butter or cheese and slicing translucent shims of sausage. A powerful cutter in a smooth, compact format. Great worrystone, too. Mine is Ebony. Perfect.
 
I have a Queen toenail that sits around in my knife box. Too heavy/too big to pocket carry. I'd carry it more often if I had belt pouch.
 
I was under the impression that a "whaler" was a sheepfoot jack, quite a bit different from the elephant's toenail or sunfish. Although apparently all were considered "rope knives".
 
I was under the impression that a "whaler" was a sheepfoot jack, quite a bit different from the elephant's toenail or sunfish. Although apparently all were considered "rope knives".

The Whaler that the OP is referring to is a Named Pattern of GEC. The 46 Whaler. It is a reproduction of a pattern made by Charlie Platts in the 1880's called a " Swell Center Sunfish". The generic "whaler" pattern is the sheepsfoot knife.
 
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