Which One Would You Pick? (Whittler)

L

LaughingBones

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Dec 26, 2014
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Well I'm still trying to decide on the perfect Whittler in the $40 to $65 range. I've got it norrowed down between a Queen #48 Whittler in Amber stag and and Boker Carver with Rosewood scales. I will be using it for whittling and EDC. If you had to pick, which one would you snag? If you have any other recomendations please let me know. Looking to buy soon.

Much Apprecited

edit: Also a Case Seahorse is not out of the question either,but have read complaints about how thick the main blade is?
 
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I have the queen, and like it a lot. The blades have good snap and hold a nice edge for a long time. The finish on mine is not perfect, but is good.
If you are not stuck with your stated price, the canal street cannitler is a great knife for around $100.
 
This thread needs some pics


I might be a little bias being a fan of congress patterns and also a Boker fan, and the fact that I have the Boker Carver in my pocket right now, but all that aside I've never found a clip to be all that useful whittling (IMO) can it be used sure I have, but mostly use smaller blades like the pen and coping 90% of the time, the sheepsfoot it great for shaping like a draw knife and with the Carver congress you get the extra spey which is nice for things you need to get deeper inside cuts, like spoons, used like a gouge or chisel. The other thing that I've always liked with Boker's carbon steel is it's easy to get a hair shaving edge and holds it well, touch ups are easy, and they come sharp from the factory, no need to spend a day establishing a edge. It also has a great snap and blades open and shut with authority, I find this with all Boker congress patterns, the sheep, coping and pen blades have 1/2 stops, spey does not. Also the Boker Carver was designed by Len Yule a wood carver who uses Boker pocketknives because he like their carbon steel. Under Len's guidance, Boker incorporated 4 different blades into the Carver Congress pattern which they are now producing for the wood carver. Plus if you shop around online you can find the Boker for an extremely reasonable price which adds to the value.
Just my 2.2 cents




Pete

Just wanted to add, that for general utility the congress pattern can't be beat, I thought I was a stockman guy for years but always went for the sheepsfoot 90% of the time, so the congress I found just worked better as a all around utility knife for me here's a thread with variations of the congress theme

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1102196-Let-s-Congress
 
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Hey Pete,

I've heard that the Boker Congress Whittler main blade sticks up out of the handle when closed. Is that what I'm seeing in your last photo?
 
It appears so, that it does stick up a little bit. However, this shouldn't be an issue, because there's always at least one blade folded up, preventing your hand from ever contacting the exposed tip.
 
Perhaps. I don't have one, so I'm not sure exactly. I'd be interested to see a couple close up photos of that Boker Congress Whittler ready for action (like the first photo). It seems that it would be possible to graze the edge of that spey blade tip and main blade while gripping.
 
Folks seem to complain about a lot if things that never have any effect on function on pocketknives, I guess it would be an issue if you were using two blades at once but as I've never used a knife with two blades at the same time it is a non issue, the spey sticks up a bit but I've never noticed or had an issue until this thread and the question asked and I've carried and used it a fair amount, I guess if you have delicate hands and it bothered you, you could take 3 minutes and file the front spine of the spey, but for me I've never noticed or had a issue.

Closed sheepsfoot, tip covered by other closed blades



Closed spey, does stick up a bit but, never noticed, while using the other blades, spey spends most of the time closed so I would have noticed if it snagged by now

 
Pete, thanks for your more detailed examination. Yeah, that's something that I doubt I would notice during normal use either. Doesn't matter, practically speaking.
Nice looking knife, very useful blade selection, seems to cover all the bases. I really like the smooth rosewood covers, too; might have to pick one up and give the congress pattern a try.
 
Stitch,

How does the knife feel in hand? Especially over long periods of use.

I'm really interested in both your thoughts on the handle shape as well as the blades that stick up. Not the cut issue they were discussing, but the spines of the blades.

Thanks.

Jim
 
onejim said:
Stitch,

How does the knife feel in hand? Especially over long periods of use.

I'm really interested in both your thoughts on the handle shape as well as the blades that stick up. Not the cut issue they were discussing, but the spines of the blades.

Thanks.

Jim
Click to expand...

Never noticed any issues with any knife handle shape or blades protruding on any knives these sort of things don't bother me, sort of like I never wished a hammer had a handle like a screwdriver, or a coping saw had a handle like a back saw, it is what it is.

LaughingBones said:
Just ordered a carver. Stoked
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Congrats, hope you are pleased

Pete
 
I have both whittler patterns and congress patterns. I must agree with Pete, the congress is king.

I'll not go over the points he made again but I have numerous congress patterns. I've GEC ones, Moore Maker, Rough Rider, Hen and Rooster, Henckles and of course Boker. They are all excellent daily carry knives but the sway back spine really benefits whittling.

I'll offer another thought too which I'm sure Pete would also advocate as he often sports the green bone version of this;





A congress whittler. Great knives, very comfortable. But not particularly easy to find. So I suppose I'm just teasing by flashing this one. Sorry.

Paul
 
IMG_2467copy_zps13bad068.jpg


Mine's 3 3/4". You're gonna love it. ;)
 
A couple of points:

1. You can drop the blade (a little) by stoning the kick. I carry a lot of Congress patterns and never noticed a proud blade with this pattern due to coverage by the other blades. This is considerably different that many other patterns.

2. The Congress is very comfortable to use due to the "swayback" in the design. I find I like the squared corners best, but that's a personal preference; I have both.

3. For carving I rarely find use for blades over 1.5" long. Just peeling strips off a chunk of wood can be done with pretty much anything. (I'm not a gifted carver.)

4. A Seahorse pattern is not a bad knife (I carried one for a couple years, overseas), but most of them do have main blades that are fairly thick. If I were to make such a knife I'd relieve the main blade and make the two smaller blades a bit more substancial (and probably a little longer). Still, a split spring does make a slimmer knife.

5. Queen makes a good knife. I really like their blade/spring tension. But the 4" Congress is too big, and it's hard to find the smaller version. If you do get one, go with the winterbottom bone.
 
pmew said:
I have both whittler patterns and congress patterns. I must agree with Pete, the congress is king.

I'll not go over the points he made again but I have numerous congress patterns. I've GEC ones, Moore Maker, Rough Rider, Hen and Rooster, Henckles and of course Boker. They are all excellent daily carry knives but the sway back spine really benefits whittling.

I'll offer another thought too which I'm sure Pete would also advocate as he often sports the green bone version of this;





A congress whittler. Great knives, very comfortable. But not particularly easy to find. So I suppose I'm just teasing by flashing this one. Sorry.

Paul
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Wow Paul that red bone looks like red licorice, I like the 62, but I personal like the Bokers I have for work knives, I've learned in theory I like a wharncliffe for aesthetics but in function I like sheepsfoot blades, but I have used the wharncliffe to recess hardware on doors and it worked fine, I think it feels more delicate than it really is.




deskil said:
IMG_2467copy_zps13bad068.jpg


Mine's 3 3/4". You're gonna love it. ;)
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Love the blade etch they added, I really like the frosted blade etches that Boker does time to time, my Boker 240 has it.

eisman said:
A couple of points:

1. You can drop the blade (a little) by stoning the kick. I carry a lot of Congress patterns and never noticed a proud blade with this pattern due to coverage by the other blades. This is considerably different that many other patterns.
Click to expand...

Reason I suggested filing the front section of the spin on the spey instead of the kick is to not create the domino effect, at least with mine if you filled the kick on the spey it would drop behind the pen, then you would need the file the pen blade leaving almost no nick accessible, but your blades may sit a bit differently.




Pete
 
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