Knife for Whittling/ Carving?

Ok now I'm hooked. Thanks for the tips on books. While I'm on the road, there are times that I have many hours twiddling my thumbs(actually, I spend it on the computer) and this gives me something to have fun with.
 
I've run into a few whittlers over the years, while playing around in the Adirondacks. Money can be a bit scarce up there, and lots of these people are forced to make their entire living by whittling and selling their works at craft shows or on the sidewalk in front of their house. All of the ones I've talked to have used the exact same knife. A Schrade 80T stockman. That's pretty amazing. I'm sure that the fact that Schrade was located in New York had something to do with it, but every one of them using the same model?
 
My favorite pocket knife for whittling is Schrade 44OT. It's like a 34OT mid size stockman with a small wharncliffe carving blade as a fourth blade. These are a little hard to find and a mint condition one brings a premium. I have picked up a couple of users on the Bay for around $20 - $25 each. Lucked into a mint one once for $35. I have seen quite a few mint in box ones go for $75 and up, sometimes way up. Reprofile the blades and you will have a first class whittling knife. Schrade carbon steel is nice.

For a larger knife pocket knife that make a good whittler I like using a a congress. My favorite congress is a Queen half Congress. I like the narrower width. That Queen D2 steel will take and hold a really good edge. It takes a while to get the edge the way it needs to be but it's worth the effort.

Once I get an edge the way I like it I can maintain it by stropping for a really long time.

Greg
 
grelcar said:
My favorite pocket knife for whittling is Schrade 44OT. It's like a 34OT mid size stockman with a small wharncliffe carving blade as a fourth blade. These are a little hard to find and a mint condition one brings a premium. I have picked up a couple of users on the Bay for around $20 - $25 each. Lucked into a mint one once for $35. I have seen quite a few mint in box ones go for $75 and up, sometimes way up. Reprofile the blades and you will have a first class whittling knife. Schrade carbon steel is nice.

For a larger knife pocket knife that make a good whittler I like using a a congress. My favorite congress is a Queen half Congress. I like the narrower width. That Queen D2 steel will take and hold a really good edge. It takes a while to get the edge the way it needs to be but it's worth the effort.

Once I get an edge the way I like it I can maintain it by stropping for a really long time.

Greg
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This one (the 44OT) seems like it would hold a lot of potential as a carving knife. Four blades to choose from, two of which are straight. I think I may have to put this one on the "need to buy" list.
 
Okay, I picked up a Case sway back jack with the CV blades and chestnut bone scales. It's a little smaller than I was expecting, but so far it's been a heck of a knife. I've only done some practice cuts with it, but the wood just curls right up.

Makes me realize that I really need to sharpen my other knives better to achieve the same thing with them. This SBJ just glides through the wood, whereas using my other knives seems more like a chore.

Thanks again for all the suggestions and advice. I'll more than likely look into other designs for whittling, and the ones suggested here will be at the top of the list.
 
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