Traditional patterns for pumpkin carving?

orca8589

orca8589

Joined
Jan 27, 2007
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Who used or is using a traditional pattern for carving your pumpkins? And what pattern? Extra points for pics. :)

The night before Halloween is usually when we carve the gourds. I have an old no name serrated steak knife for my regular pumpkin carving, and my old U.S. Schrade 8OT gets some good use for detail work.

I just bought a Queen #32 Congress, and those sheepfoot blades are just begging for some detail work tonight. I'll post up pics of results when we're done tonight.
 
I used to use my western f48a fixed blade as it's fairly thin and narrow, Shcrade 34OT stockman, and a cheap frost family Congress as the blades are small thin and sharp which is good for detail work. I'm not carving anything this year though as the neighbors pumpkins are already soggy, mushy, and moldy from the rain.
 
Last year I used a Buck 110 to carve our pumpkins just to say I did. This year I went with my kitchen knives.

I have two pie pumpkins that I might throw on the grill later this week. If I carve them up with a traditional, I'll be sure to get pictures.
 
Chris, no pumpkin carving for me anymore, until I become a grandpa, but no action on that front as of yet. An ideal knife would be that great Camillus made Stanley serrated trapper you gifted me:thumbup:

Sorry no pictures as its kept in my work van on a constant basis. EXCELLENT work knife...Thank you again:thumbup:
 
Used the coping blade on a GEC 85 to make the teeth on my pumpkin yesterday..
 
Used a plastic handled Marttiini M571 puukko to carve mine out.
 
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Used the #77 for the lions share of this carving. I let my five year old do a bit but he used the standard pumpkin safety knife. I will say that using a traditional folder was more challenging then I anticipated. Something with a small saw like an electricians knife or similar would probably make the job a bit faster.
 
paulhilborn said:
An ideal knife would be that great Camillus made Stanley serrated trapper
Click to expand...

Yup. Those shallow serrations would be perfect. I have a smaller one here (different mfr.) that I might dig up, now that you mention it.

One tool I used in the past and forgot to mention - a folding hacksaw-bladed cutter. I had an old hacksaw blade that was snapped off at an angle, and it was amazing for carving pumpkins. I'll get it off the pegboard tomorrow, dust it off, and out it to work.

~Chris
 
Here is one I did a couple Halloweens back.

#21 Bull Buster

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Funny how you made this post right after we had carved these yesterday. The first thing I thought of this year for carving pumpkins was the Victorinox wood saw. It works very well. I also thought of using a GEC electrician but I don't have one yet.
 
Yep, Jak3 nailed it! I used the saw and awl from my Farmer this year - I will never use a kitchen knife again. That wood saw makes very quick and precise work of carving them, and cleaning up the knife is pretty painless...
 
Was wondering if the saw would work well, so I quickly grabbed my Farmer before leaving for wk this morn and the festivities later tonight. Thx.
 
paulhilborn said:
Chris, no pumpkin carving for me anymore, until I become a grandpa, but no action on that front as of yet.
Click to expand...

My kids are 22 and 27 years old and have both moved out. It's a tradition that my wife doesn't want to let go of. :D We (including my daughters fiancé and my sons wife) get together, make margaritas, play cards, carve up some pumpkins. It's a good time making a mess. :p
 
We actually went with a Hubbard squash this year, and let our 2 year old paint(sorta). My better half will bake it in a few days-totally delicious, like an acorn squash but slightly sweeter. Yummo. I've used folders and fixed in the past tho'. 1 thing, fixed are wayyyy easier to clean up after. Fillet knives work very well, as long as you don't poke thru the other side! he said from experience. :D
Thanks, Neal
 
Grilled Pumpkin is surprisingly good.

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A. Little olive oil and your favorite seasoning.
 
I came home from work this afternoon and my 11 year old daughter was using her mom's Vic Classic for some fine detail work. (A serrated steak knife did much of the other cutting.) she seemed to be struggling a little so I offered her what was in my pocket, an older 33OT, but she declined. She said she had it under control and wanted to do it herself! I enjoy the independence she's gaining but at the same time, wish she'd let me help! Her pumpkin looks good! Happy Halloween, all.
 
This year i tried several different knives to see what worked best. My wife "gutted" the pumpkin, I guess that is what you call it. I did the detail work and I kept going to a smaller and smaller blade and ended up with my case peanut. That really did the job on the fine detail work. Seemed like the smaller finer blade did the best job. I can see where a Sak with a saw would be great too. You have the saw and the fine sharp blade so all the bases are covered.
 
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