Whats the best kind of knife for whittling?

Z

Zach4542

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Nov 8, 2009
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I'm interested in getting a nice slipjoint for whittling. I want to spend around 30-40 dollars, I like Case knives and thought this would be a nice time to get my first Case. The thing is I don't really know what kind of blades are best for whittling (I'd like 2 or 3 blades) I figured some people here may know some stuff about whittling and good knives for whittling, so I came here for help. Any information on some different knives would be greatly appreciated!


-Zach

EDIT - I'd also like somthing USA made - Thanks!
 
A whittler would be a good whittler ;-)) I don't think you can get a Case whittler for $30 to $40 but you may get one at auction that has had some use. True whittlers generally have three blades. There is a big thread on this forum showing many different brands of whittlers. You can get Rough rider knives (chinese made) for about $10.00 and for the money they can't be beat, they come razor sharp and are very decent knives. You could buy 3 or 4 different whittlers and fingure out what handle shape you like best and then buy an american made knife. RR makes at least 2 different split spring whittlers as well as four blade congress patterns and two blade senators which are also used as whittlers. Here's the link to the whittler thread. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=438813

Best regards

Robin
 
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I was going to suggest a 3 blade stockman pattern - that's what my grandfather used and he made some pretty neat stuff.
 
Pipeman said:
A whittler would be a good whittler ;-)) I don't think you can get a Case whittler for $30 to $40 but you may get one at auction that has had some use. True whittlers generally have three blades. There is a big thread on this forum showing many different brands of whittlers. You can get Rough rider knives (chinese made) for about $10.00 and for the money they can't be beat, they come razor sharp and are very decent knives. You could buy 3 or 4 different whittlers and fingure out what handle shape you like best and then buy an american made knife. RR makes at least 2 different split spring whittlers as well as four blade congress patterns and two blade senators which are also used as whittlers.

Best regards

Robin
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Are there any Case knives in my price range that would also be good for whittling?
 
Zach4542 said:
Are there any Case knives in my price range that would also be good for whittling?
Click to expand...


I'm in Canada and Case knives are a bit more expensive here. Google Case knives and see what is out there and check the big online auction site for more. Case knives sell on the auction site for a wide range of prices, whittlers are pretty popular as collectors pieces though.

Regards

Robin

I posted the link to whittlers in my first post.
 
I've tried out several of my slippies for whittling &, IMHO, a comfortable handle is very important.

If you're thinking of getting a Case, I suggest getting one with CV blades instead of their Tru-Sharp SS. Just about any decent size slippie should work, but a mini or full size Trapper (3 1/2" or 4 1/8") comes to mind with CV blades. A Stockman would work fine, too. I've used my '93 German made Bulldog Sowbelly Stockman for Whittling with good results. Personally, I also like a good Congress, too.

I've found that the Congress, Stockman, & Whittler are very good because of their different blade shapes. The Clip point's handy, as is the Pen blade, but the Coping/Sheepsfoot/Wharncliffe type blades are also VERY handy, too.

Good luck.
 
A Schrade 44OT has a nice selection of blades. Not easy to find em still, but they are a dandy with the 1095 steel. Not sure of the spey though.

44OT_CL-2.jpg
 
A two blade jack makes a good whittler. A Case Texas Jack in CV and amber bone comes to mind
 
thawk said:
A Schrade 44OT has a nice selection of blades. Not easy to find em still, but they are a dandy with the 1095 steel. Not sure of the spey though.

44OT_CL-2.jpg
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I like the shape of that small blade.Small warnie. I shaped my 63032's pen that way years ago. I was cutting that green grass rug stuff with it to make dollies.

P1010041-2.jpg
 
Style knife. This includes ol' man Warther many years ago back east in Dover[?] Ohio.
It probably matters not a whit what knife you like to see make the wood chips fly. IT IS THE GUY running the knife that matters and you simply cannot buy the skills nessessary to be a competent whittler;[ Don't ask me how I know this to be a fact...]
I prefer a Congress knife about 4" with the usual selection of blades to whittle with comfortably. I also use a large stockman to whittle as it is always the knife in my pocket, an EYE brand in all probability.
On the other hand A.G. RUSSELL&COMPANY has a beautiful 4-blade whittling knife I am just dieing to try one of these days RSN.
 
I whittle a little. Very basic stuff. I find that a Case Texas Jack in CV works well...

SDC10048.jpg


this whittler...while not CV....works pretty good too....

SDC10090.jpg


and I would suspect that the Schrade Old Timer (made in USA) model 34OT has whittled a forrest full of wood in it's day. You can find them on Ebay in your price range.

I have always thought a Congress pattern would be ideal for a whittler.
 
A big blade for removal
Smaller blades for fine work

A sheepsfoot or coping blade is good for finer work
A pen or clip is good for for finer work

I do not find a spey blade useful.

So
Case stockman with a main clip and a small sheepsfoot and pen blade in CV
CV is easy to get to razor sharp, but will need sharpening more often

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Queen Whittler with a very stout main clip with a coping and pen blade in D2
D2 is harder to sharpen but hold an edge longer
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S&M Dogleg Whittler
The warnie blade is too long for my comfort to use the point for fine work

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Heckels and Boker make great whittlers in carbon and a 4 bladed Congress with four different blades
Mike Latham carries them
 
I like the whittler pattern... I've picked up a few Bokers on the Ebay for less than your listed price, and have found them to be very nice little knives. I love their washboard bone handles, and have a few with that handle. I also have a Hen and Rooster congress (post 90's model) that is one of my EDC's... great knife for the money, great whittler. Knifeworks has Case half-whittlers for $42, and regular whittlers starting at $49. I've ordered from Roger and always found him to be a gentleman.
 
I'll second the motion to go with CV, D2, 1095 or other carbon blades. They hold up well to the stress of whittling better than average stainless, generally. Not that you can't use stainless, you just might have to strop a bit more often. Although the fancier stainless steels are quite nice and hold up very well, they are just alot harder to find in your price range.

Question: Are you decent at sharpening? If so I would really recommend the Queen whittler in D2. (I currently use a Canal Street Cannitler in D2. D2 is some fantastic stuff but a real pain to sharpen.) Otherwise, a Case CV stockman would be great, I used one for a long time and they are easy to sharpen and hold a nice edge

Lastly, I recommend you pick up Chris Lubkemann's book "Whittling Twigs and Branches" It's cheap on Amazon. (Check out his site http://www.whittlingwithchris.com/ for some examples and other stuff. Making twig roosters is a lot of fun! (It's how I got started in whittling myself.)

Now go make those chips fly!
 
I'm with neeman about the small pen blade on a stockman, I find it a lot more useful than a spey blade.
After using swiss army knives for quite a while, I could tell the differences with the CV steel on my Case stockman. It's easier to sharpen and stays sharp longer. That's the knife I'd reccomend for whittling, a medium stockman with a pen blade in place of the spey. It has a good blade variety for whittling, pretty much perfect in my opinion.
 
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