Your Pumpkin Carving Knife?

Joined
Aug 25, 2001
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843
What knife will/would you use to carve a pumpkin? It looks like my mother is going to celebrate halloween so I'll be the one to carve up the pumpkin. At least I get to take out one of my big knives and have fun. My idea is to use a fixed-blade because it will be easier to clean and will have more control when it gets slimy. I figure serrations can't hurt so I was thinking of either my Chris Reeve Green Beret knife or my Extrema Ratio Col Moschin. What would you use and why?
 
I use the thinnest and narrowest serrated knife that I have. This is a free knife I got at a supermarket demo. I want the thin, narrow blade so that I can cut tight curves with minimum force. The serrations on this blade are extremely fine and work like an ultra-fine saw blade. The sawing action works with minimum force for maximum control in the high-drag pumpkin wall. The sawing action with the serrations also removes a little extra material from the cut which also makes it easier to cut curves. If I didn't have a knife like this I might use a pen knife or a narrow steak knife.
 
I guess my Spyderco Laguiole would make a great pumpkin carving knife but I just bring myself to use it for that.

Instead I have a couple of Victorinox paring knives that I will use. The thin flexible blades are great for pumkin carving - especially the finer cutting for eyes etc.
 
Here's what I used last weekend... my Craig Camerer bird and trout. I actually got a compliment from a woman at the party. Of course this knife performed flawlessly and with panache. You want something long thin and pointy, and of course sharp.

(crap, looked for a pic... but cannot find it)
 
Burchtree beat me to it. A jigsaw blade held with a small handle or even in a pair of locking pliers for longer cuts and just in your hand for the detail stuff. Works great.

Burchtree, I'm assuming you're not going in under power are you? :D

Rob
 
I just use the little saws they give you in the pumpkin carving kits. Why dirty up a good knife? :) I carved my face in a pumpking a year or two ago. :)

wadepumpkin.jpg
 
Chicago Cutlery boning knife with a rough, plastic, ergonomic handle. The blade is thin and stiff (good for cutting tight curves) and the handle is non-slip). More challenging is finding the right tool to scrape out the "guts". We just happen to have a stainless ice cream scoop thats sharp enough (I think it's Henkels). My Pumpkin came out ugly. My 7 year old kid's turned out great. :grumpy:
 
Originally posted by WadeF
I just use the little saws they give you in the pumpkin carving kits. Why dirty up a good knife? :) I carved my face in a pumpking a year or two ago. :)

One year someone posted that the saw on the Swiss Tool was outstanding for pumkin carving. They were right, but I almost had a heart attack seeing pumpkin guts dripping out of the multi-tool :eek:
I've gone back to using a Kabar type military knife and/or the knives from the pumpkin carving kit, if I can locate them in the kitchen drawer.;)
 
I'll be using my Spyderco Police to carve the pumpkin with, but since I'm no artist, I could use a chainsaw and get the same results.:D..
 
Will not be carving a pumpkin for Halloween.

HOWEVER

I will be using some of the large orange vegetables to test some of my cutlery when they go on clearance!

WadeF: the pumpkin is a very good likeness. I am pleasantly suprised to find you here. I visit your site every day, despite computer problems.
 
Kabar "Little Finn." It has a narrow blade and is just the right size for pumpkin work. The stacked leather washer handle provides a good grip, even when covered in pumpkin blood. ;-)

A nice knife to have around, especially for the $20 they cost....

Happy carving,
Bob Scott
 
An SAK Huntsman,(love the saw),
1-3713.jpg

a Kershaw Blade Trader,(I like the fillet blade)
K1095SBT.jpg
,a large scroll blade set into an aluminum handle with a setscrew,(sorry no pics),
and a Ontario Spec Suvival Machete,(basically a sharpend prybar) for hackin' it up after Halloween.
oksp8
 
I use the one from a pumpkin carving kit I got from a Halloween store. It comes with patterns, scooper and instructions. Works good for me!:) ;) :cool: :eek: :p
 
Originally posted by WadeF
I just use the little saws they give you in the pumpkin carving kits. Why dirty up a good knife? :) I carved my face in a pumpking a year or two ago. :)

wadepumpkin.jpg



R u sure that you carved your face in the pumpkin, and not David Blaines? ;)
 
Well, I do get the Tom Green thing a lot. Here is a shot from my webcam:

webcam33.jpg
 
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