I've already carved one, and will have to do another tonight (in Georgia, carved pumpkins on the front stoop rot fast). This year's crop stinks! An average size pumpkin has sides that seem to be about twice as thick as nornal, and hard as rocks! I've asked some friends and they have had the same experience this year. So... tonight I'll attack the bugger with my Buck "beater" sheath knife (don't even know the model number -- that's how bad a beater this one is to me).
Also, I don't recommend using anything too nice. Pumpkin guts will stain the hell out of any metal they come into contact with if allowed to dry in place. Just a heads up.
Happy Halloween!
-Al-