Whittling suggestions

Q

Quy4n8

Joined
Nov 27, 2002
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I have been collecting and enjoying knives for over 30 years and in that time I have used them for almost any reasonable purpose except one. Whittling. I have been thinking about taking up this hobby lately, possibly to make fishing lures, since the end result would be useful. Do any of you fellow forumites have suggestions first of all for a book that might help me get started, and second of all in regards to pocket knives that would be a good choice. The standard whittler pattern obviously comes to mind, but I have a hard time giving up the convenience of one hand opening and closing. Restrictions on what I would like in a knife are fairly simple, keep it under about $250 and inexpensive knives would be just as good as more costly ones, as long as they are good quality. As always, all thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Richard Sommer
 
My 2 favorite whittlers are the Victorinox Pocket Pal and Settler. Both are just simple 2 blade knives, large spear and small pen blades.
Any of the whittler or stockman patterns will serve you well. The Schrade Oldtimers are excellent with their 1095 steel and don't cost much at all.
Something with a wharncliffe blade is also a great choice.

If you have a Micheal's craft store nearby, they sell small bags of basswood blocks that are just right for whittling fishing lures.
Enjoy. :)

Paul
 
Amazon has a "plethra" of books, just do a search. I use a SAK, a large case stockman in chrome vanadium, a boker whittler, and a small berber tow blade penknife. Try a few and see what you like best!!! I collect whittlers also, but I find that other patterns work just as well, if not better.

A couple good SAK's would work well!!!
 
Hey Guys...

I throw something in the mix here that hasn't been mentioned...

Hows a price between $10.00- $35.00 sound ?

Have you look at Moras ??

Either the Frost Clipper, SWAK, or Eriksson M2K ,, or their wooden handled knives...

I'm a recent convert to Swedish Moras,, and quite honestly I can't think of a better all around utility knife for the price....They are thin, sharp as hell and will outcut some much higher priced knives....

ttyle

Eric....
 
I would look at 'congress' model pocket knives with carbon steel blades. The congress style has 4 blades that well designed for whittling. You want carbon steel since it takes a fine edge and is durable. You do a lot of point work while whittling and you are less likely to chip the tip of a carbon steel blade.
 
I have a dedicated knife for whittling/woodcarving that I got for $10 at Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers Supply. They also have books and other information.
http://www.woodcarvers.com/

Never been too keen on the idea of whittling with a slipjoint. I've tried it and it didn't feel right to me.
 
I guess it's a matter of what you want to whittle. For stuff like ball-in-cages, where you're making very small and straight cuts, it's hard to beat a knife with a wharncliffe blade. If it's figurine whittling and the like, a good stockman works well.

Truly, the biggest issue is to match the size of the knife to the size of the whittling project. That's 90% of the battle.
 
Is this for whittling, or woodcarving?

Any ole traditional pocket knife will do good for whittling - which is usually entirely push-cuts.

For woodcarving, you need more specialized tools, usually fixed blade knives with short blades and curvy handles.
 
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This was done mostly with a wharncliff blade, and some with a traditional Splitback Whittler.
 
Normark said:
Hey Guys...
Have you look at Moras ??
Either the Frost Clipper, SWAK, or Eriksson M2K ,, or their wooden handled knives...

Eric....
Click to expand...


Eric, are Mora knives like Lagoile (sp?) knives in that it is not a brand name but rather a place where this style of knife is made? Meaning that there is a variation in quality, price, etc.?

-pb
 
Hey Patrick...

The term "Mora" is used the same way you would use the term "Bowie". It is a style of knife from what I understand..

The Frost and Eriksson companies in Sweden are right next to each other.. In fact they share the same address.. One must wonder if they are in fact the same company, just different divisions of sorts....

This is purely speculation though...


Now to me a "Pukko" looks just like a "Mora" blade only wider...

I think we may need a Mora expert to explain things to us...

ttyle

Eric....
 
Mora is a town in Sweden. Here is a quote from the Frosts of Sweden website:

There are more than 300 years experience behind today's modern Frosts knife factory. Knives have been manufactured since the 17th century in and around the town of Mora, Sweden.

The Mora style of knife has a plain oval cross-section barrel handle, no guard, and a scandinavian zero bevel grind.
 
there are puukkos and there are puukkos....

A "Mora knife" is essentially a puukko style. But it's quite different from traditional puukkos made of birch in Sweden, etc.

And yes, puukkos are good whittlers....
 
Have a look at the Roselli's Carpenters model - is an excellant carver. There are also some excellant books about traditional Scandanavian carving available.
 
Mora information

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi I deal in both Eriksson and Frosts
This is the information as I have it. moras are a family or style of knife if you would have it they are typically an a barreled shaped wooden handle commonly coloured red. they are the style that has been typically identified as the type of knife to come from sweden in history the town that they are named after is called Mora and the two remaining main producers of this style of knife are Eriksson and Frosts. If I remember correctly I read some where that the founder of Eriksson first worked for Frosts.

Since the original folk style knives the companies have also come up with other models using the same craftmenship but perhaps a different metal or handling style with slight next to no variations in the blades.

A for Puukkos and Moras the style of craftmenship is still scandinavian and by no means do i mean to sound what I am saying is the bible but the Moras are swedish and I believe Puukos are Finnish. Beside that a noticable difference can be seen in blade profile with the puukkos having a staight spine and Moras bearing a clip point. I have examples of Moras on my site.

http://home.cogeco.ca/~aelias/
 
Thanks to all for the replies. Pendentive; I plan on doing mostly whittling, so I believe a whittler is more in order as opposed to carving gouges. One question remains however. I am looking for a knife that can be opened with one hand; with a thumb stud or opening hole, etc. Most knives that fit this description are more tactical and large in nature. Are there some that are smaller and have a blade shape more suited to whittling? Thanks again.

Richard
 
The Kershaw Double-Cross is an option. It has a thumb stud, liner locks and two blade shapes. AUS-6 should be fine for popular whittling woods such as basswood.

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I reiterate that you want a multiblade, springback pocketknife for this purpose, not a tactical one hand opener. You need short blades not long blades. You need thin blades not rugged blades. You need lots of different point contours, not one big one. A four blade congress model is best. A stockman is ok, but you seldom need the long blade. You should think of skinny, short blades like Xacto knives. It is nice if the blades have locks, but you won't find many real thin blades with locks.

You might want two knives. One multiblade knife with lots of point options and one longer lockblade for removing bulk material. When working down a long piece I have got my knife blade wedged in the wood and had it fold on my fingers when I pulled the knife back out of the cut. You might get a thin fixed blade, like a small Mora, or a large SAK with locking blade like an Adventurer for this part of the work. Pick one with a good handle since this work can raise blisters. If you want a one-hand opener for this task, pick one with a thin locking blade and a good handle.
 
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