Stockman v Whittler OCD

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Mora2013

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Dec 1, 2013
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Ok. I'm a little compulsive here...

But what defines a stockman v. A whittler?

Is it the number of backsprings?
Is it the presence of a man blade that bears two springs?
Is it the blade configuration?


With knives that have 3 blades, I've seen
1) a backsprings for each blade
2) 2 backsprings, where the main blade bears 2 springs and the 2 smaller blades are on the opposite side
3) 2 backsprings, main blade has 1 spring, 2 smaller blades share one spring on opposite sides of each other.

Im thinking #2 is a whittler, while #1 and #3 are 2 types of stockman?

Help. I'm obsessed.
 


Blade configuration and pattern shape. As far as I'm aware of, only the Stockman has a spey blade, hence the name of the knife Stockman or Rancher.
 
You are correct about the springs on the whittler. There are other knives besides the stockman with 3 blades and such as cattle knives or gunboats. Other patterns like the trapper often have Spey blades. Some stockmen don't have speys. The lines can be blurred sometimes. The learning is part of the fun and a good place to start is to find a copy of Levines guide (preferably 4th ed or earlier). The thread on cattle knives also has some good info on stockmen as they are related. Sorry for long post.
 
From what I have seen most people call a Whittler a knife that has two blades on one end of the knife & the main blade on the opposite end. Also the main blade typically fits in-between the 2 smaller blades while closed. Then you have the sub categories like split spring whittler etc etc. just my observations but I'm by no means an expert so take it with a grain salt. :)
 
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The names tend to be less than perfectly defined.

Sometimes you will see a split back whittler with a spey blade, then there is also a split spring whittler which has only one spring that is cut at one end and each of the two smaller blades is held by one semi independent side of the split spring.

Other people will call what most people refer to as a carpenter knife, a whittler or even a stockman. And sometimes the company who made them marketed them using either or both names at the same time.

Offhand, and I'm probably wrong, while I have seen obvious whittlers with spey blades, I don't recall ever seeing one with a sheepsfoot...

....which I assume someone will post of pic of shortly ;)
 
Whittler: Master blade (Clip) occasionally Spear runs off two springs which may be tapered or divided. Minor blades usually Pen and Coping run off their own springs (which are the two that bear he Master blade). Sometimes small Clip blade too.

Stockman: Master (almost always Clip, seldom Spear) runs off its own spring. Other blades are usually crinked off the second spring, generally Sheepfoot/Spey sometimes Pen replaces the Spey. Three thick versions exist (Buck for instance) which have 3 springs one for each non-crinked blade.
 
jkulysses said:
From what I have seen most people call a Whittler a knife that has two blades on one end of the knife & the main blade on the opposite end. Also the main blade typically fits in-between the 2 smaller blades while closed. Then you have the sub categories like split spring whittler etc etc. just my observations but I'm by no means an expert so take it with a grain salt. :)
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This definition is pretty much what Levine has posted.

A "Whittler" most frequently has two secondary blades at one end and the main blade at the other. Frequently it is a two spring knife with the main blade resting on both springs ("split spring"). However, a knife does not have to be a split spring to be called a "Whittler".

But if a knife company wanted to call some other configuration a "whittler", no organization would raise a ruckus. It's not like knives are made to an SAE specification. For instance, Case makes a two blade knife it calls a "half whittler", and if memory serves, GEC makes a three-spring whittler.

Oddly enough, I have a Queen split spring whittler in my pocket as I sit here.
 
What maker was the first to call their knife a whittler and how was it laid out?
 
Buck also currently makes a three spring whittler (varies as to being labeled a 309 or a 310 - this one is a 309). OH

Buck_309_Whittler.JPG
 
leghog said:
What maker was the first to call their knife a whittler and how was it laid out?
Click to expand...

There have been several such discussions in the Levine forum. I forget who posted the catalog pics, but they showed that lots of different things have been called "whittlers" over the years, especially in the first third of the 20th century.

Which is to say, "I doubt anyone could prove a claim as being 'first'."
 
Cool discussion guys. Thanks for schooling me. Learning lots.

I need to aka a follow up question ...

Why would one choose a Whittler over a stockman design?

For me as a novice, it seems that a sheepfoot and a coping is somewhat similar with the straight edge. And they Spey vs the pen is also somewhat similar. Are they really that different?
 
Mora2013 said:
Cool discussion guys. Thanks for schooling me. Learning lots.

I need to aka a follow up question ...

Why would one choose a Whittler over a stockman design?

For me as a novice, it seems that a sheepfoot and a coping is somewhat similar with the straight edge. And they Spey vs the pen is also somewhat similar. Are they really that different?
Click to expand...

The biggest reason to go for a whittler, specifically a split back whittler is the thicker main blade. Usually they are nearly twice as thick. This allows you to put more pressure on it, have more mass into the rougher early cuts, and can even be used to split soft wood with a few whacks of a mallet on the spine.

Additionally, the offset smaller blades allow one to put a bit more pressure and precision into the detail work, people often carve by turning the thumb side of the hand downward as they push or pull. The offset blades make that easier to do.
 
My dad carried a small whittler. It had a large clip blade on one end and a small clip blade and pen blade on the other. I am not sure of the blade/spring set up.
 
Mora2013 said:
Why would one choose a Whittler over a stockman design?
Click to expand...

Kadmos said:
The biggest reason to go for a whittler, specifically a split back whittler is the thicker main blade. Usually they are nearly twice as thick. This allows you to put more pressure on it, have more mass into the rougher early cuts, and can even be used to split soft wood with a few whacks of a mallet on the spine.

Additionally, the offset smaller blades allow one to put a bit more pressure and precision into the detail work, people often carve by turning the thumb side of the hand downward as they push or pull. The offset blades make that easier to do.
Click to expand...


In addition to Kadmos' comments, most stockman knives are two spring with crinked blades. That means the blades come out of the handle at an angle. I don't whittle, but I think that if I did I would want the blades to come straight out so as to make precision cuts easier.
 
knarfeng said:
In addition to Kadmos' comments, most stockman knives are two spring with crinked blades. That means the blades come out of the handle at an angle. I don't whittle, but I think that if I did I would want the blades to come straight out so as to make precision cuts easier.
Click to expand...

My whittlin' knives are multi-blades sharing springs. Not a problem. For me a small stockman with clip, sheep foot, and pen blades would work great, As it is, I usually reach for a single spring Case Half Congress.
 
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