Recommendation? Whittlers in Micarta or Wood

[bikerector]

So I'm very new to the world of traditionals, initially just wanting something to class up the carry for days in a suit or Sunday mornings where a pocket clip just seemed out of place even if it was with BM 943 or spyderco sage which are pretty classy modern folders.

I ordered a couple knives to start testing the waters, an AG Russel sowbelly trapper in brown rucarta/micarta and a queen #48 whittler with walnut handles.

I also found a well priced GEC #48 weasel with bloodwood handle from the forum as it was something I had seen while searching things to try, the trappers seemed about like a BM 943 profile, and you hear a lot of good things about GEC. It arrived yesterday and I was very presently surprised at how great it looked. My only prior experience with slipjoints were SAKs, which are okay but they're too busy for me and just not aesthetically pleasing.

So after the long story, the real reason for the post. I'm still not too big into stag or bone handles but I'm thinking of starting a small collection of whittlers, in wood handles and possibly micarta (love micarta just seems limited on tradition pocketknives). I'm not finding too many options so that will be good on the pocket book I guess. I see a case seahorse whittler in walnut, I have the queen whittler in walnut, boker has something I think, and that's pretty much everything on my radar I've been able to find on websites.

Since there seems to be come different styles of whittlers, I'm only interested in the type where the main blade sits between the 2 opposing secondary blades. I just think it looks very nice and since this will be the first knives more for looking than using I wanted to get some lookers.

I'm wondering if the wisdom here can help me put together a small list of things to look for as websites seem to only show what's in stock but it seems traditionals are sold out more often than the modern knives I'm used to looking for. I'm not familiar with pattern numbers outside of the 2 I now own, so even if I can get a list of pattern numbers to look for would be a help, I think, to help sift through the sale ads and such.

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

GEC's 98 and 13 both came in micarta Whittler form, and may still be available if you look under the right rock.

I'll not include links here due to the forum rules regarding vendors... but I'll look around for a minute...

 

[Ernie1980]

Northwoods recently made a nice whittler that is my favorite among newer makes- the Norfolk. They are not available new anymore but should not be super difficult to find. GEC has made several versions of whittler but they will be expensive on the secondary market. Another option is to check out the bay for a nice vintage one!

 

[VashHash]

The 98 whittlers were available in ebony, snakewood, kingwood, and Micarta.

 

[NJBillK]

The term for the whittler you like is a Splitback whittler.
The main blade uses both of the secondaries springs, while there will be a wedged spacer between the two secondary blades.

Keep in mind there are some that are some out there that aren't true splitbacks, in that they do not have the wedged shaped spacer. They secondary springs will sit along one another.

See below for a splitback wedges spacer.

 

[btb01]

Here's GEC's #13 Whittler in Muslin Micarta.

 

[VashHash]

The term for the whittler you like is a Splitback whittler.
The main blade uses both of the secondaries springs, while there will be a wedged spacer between the two secondary blades.

Keep in mind there are some that are some out there that aren't true splitbacks, in that they do not have the wedged shaped spacer. They secondary springs will sit along one another.

See below for a splitback wedges spacer.
View attachment 732766

You can't just show the split back portion of the knife without the rest of it. We need to see the whole knife.

 

[NJBillK]

Sun bleached from display
Factory edges
Only sign of opening is a slight rub on each side of the main.

This Utica is somewhere around 95 years old, and aside from the sun bleaching, it looks almost like it did fresh from the factory.

I don't keep safe queens, and I couldn't bring myself to use it. So I let it go...
I am sure one day I will kick myself for it, but I am happy that it went to a collection of other "survivors" and it takes one of the top tiers in the show.

 

[Peregrin]

NJBillK , That Utica is a lovely old knife! I'd give my eye teeth for one like that! OK I'm exaggerating a little but that sure is a beauty! Many, many years ago I lived right on the Corner of Genesee St. and Noyes St. in Utica, NY. The Utica Cutlery factory was, and still is, a few blocks down the street.

 

[NJBillK]

It was a peach, but I kept wanting to keep opening and closing it, look it over, et al. So it had to go.
I was going to end up dropping it, or scratching it up, so I cut my losses.

I caught it on the Bay for a song. The seller didn't mention anything about the condition, age, factory grinds, and it was listed without reserve. So I was a happy camper. I sent him a message asking him if he had any other older knives he hasn't listed yet, but he did not.

 

[VashHash]

That's a beautiful Whittler. Thanks for the pics.

 

[bikerector]

I thought I better get an update going since I've been enjoying getting the mail a lot lately. I now have 3 nice whittlers and one more on the way (and more trappers than I should've added onto the orders).

Sorry for the bad picture, it looked a lot better on my phone.

[/IMG]

So far, I've really taken a liking to the seahorse simply because of it's uniqueness, not sure how it will be in use if I use it (bought used). The main blade is quite thick for a traditional and the secondaries are super thin, about like a box cutter blade.