A-ha!

Another convert.

Here's a picture of my new little friend. I'm going camping this weekend with my granddaughters and I'll be putting it to the test. I'll let you guys know how it fairs.

Looks like you got a good one there, Robert.

Well done.

I was asked to write a review for a seahorse whittler so I'll give it my best try. I have never owned a seahorse whittler or any wharncliffe blade in my life. I always bought blades relating to outdoor activities.

The case seahorse whittler that I purchased came with stag scales, not the quality of the 60s and 70s, but still very nice stag. The knife came with razor sharp blades, they're thin and adapted to precision cutting.

The knife arrived just in time for a planned camping and fishing trip with my two grandaughters, alot of my good friends and their children. So I figured I'd give this new knife a try on this trip.

On a camping trip like this, there is need for a small pocket knife; opening packages, food preparation, cutting fish lines and so forth. The knife passed all the tests and everyone that saw it fell in love with it.

It's only drawback was when it was time to clean fish. It's not very well suited for this task. I cleaned a few with it so it will get you out a bind if it's the only knife you have with you.

I make walking staffs for fun and as gifts for friends and family. I'm starting to make more and may start selling them and I thought it would be a good idea to carve something into them, like a face or different designs and patterns. It has worked great so far. It carves like a dream. I would encourage anyone wanting to try a new knife pattern to give this one a try. You will be very glad you did!

I take it, then, that it gets a big thumbs up?

Never thought about cleaning fish with one though, but I'll bet it'll do you a great job on the walking sticks.

If you get around to carving some canes, give me a holler...

Cool group!  Whittlers are for some the holy grail of slipjoint collecting. For me as a maker I love the challenge of making one. Here is my rendition of a Case #83 pattern in my dyed and jigged bone.

Thanks Mr. Ken Erickson ! ...thanks to you, I now have to replace my keyboard & monitor from all of the excessive drool to the very sweeeet lookin' Whittler pic you have posted here sir !!!  ; )

^ l l { l\l 

Thanks for the kind comments guys!  I have not done a seahorse for a while. My first whittler was one, not sure if I can dig up a photo or not. I use a lot of ATS-34, CPM154cm and D2 on whittlers.  Here is a a picture of a lockback whittler done in ivory. This is similar to the Case/Bose but with wharncliffe master instead of a clip.

And here is a matching pair of whittlers, one in ivory and one in bone. These are like the Case  #80 pattern.

Bout missed this one.  Locking Wharnie.  Great work, Ken.

Ken,

I do love your whittlers and this is no exception.  Great Work

Someone in this group that is knowledgable in the whittler pattern could list all the different whittler patterns might get some fire going in this group.

Ivan, anyone that knows of some of the patterns can list them. I recently learned of the Ballroom Whittler. A favorite of mine that is seldom seen is the Cotton Sampler Whittler.

The only problem with this is that a whittler needs to only have two major distinctions,  1 - the main blade is at opposite ends with the secondary blades, and 2 - the main blade falls in between the secondaries when closed.

The big task is to try to find all different blade variations, frame styles and backspring configurations.

I mean those that have whittler as part of their name.

The more whittler patterns I see, the more I want to collect them.

I just missed a great Fight'n Rooster whittler on Ebay...so sad.

Do any of you own a "Courthouse Whittler?" And if you do, how do you like it for whittlin'? I've only seen pictures of them but for some reason feel the need to own one. I would love to hear some thoughts about them. Anyone?

Ron,  I don't have one, but I like the blade configureation on them.  Any whittler that has a wharnie, coping and pin should be good to whittle with.  Can't speak to the troubles that Ivars has though.  I'm sure tha GE could and would correct a problem...

I've, read on other forums, where the Courthouse is a favorite user.

Me, I'm still waiting on the iKC Geppetto, which I plan on using.

Ivars,

Thanks! I really appreciate your comment. I'm just a novice when it comes to carving or whittling and had never heard of a Flexcut Whittlin' Jack before. I just Googled it. Looks interesting, but like J.J. mentioned in his comment, I have also heard some very positive remarks about the Courthouse Whittlers.

About the only whittler I have any actual experience with is my Case Seahorse, and I really enjoy working with it. I suspect that any decent steel that has been sharpened to a point will cut some wood. My concern, and I think what prompted my initial question, is how does a Courthouse Whittler feel in your hand? I 'spose I'll just have to buy one and find out for myself?

J.J.,

I've read some of those same comments about the Courthouse being a favorite user. Like I just commented to Ivars, I think my primary concern is how it feels in your hand? A Seahorse feels very natural and very comfortable in my hand. A Courthouse is an entirely different physical configuration. I believe that's what prompted my question. It just looks like it might not be as comfortable as the Seahorse? I think that's what I'm trying to find out.

Am I making any sense here?

Perfect sense, Ron.  I (as most everyone knows) love using my seahorse. 

I just got Josh's Traveling Maverick today.  It's based on the same congress frame.  Haven't got to use it yet but the back is lacking the "Hump" that's inherent on a seahorse.  It's not uncomfortable in hand though.  I'm really impressed with the handles, as they are nicely rounded.

After having this one in hand, I might have to scrounge some cash for the courthouse version, after the iKC Geppettos come in.

Ivars mentioned 2 other knives, the Flexcut whittlin jack (Ivars has a discussion within the group) and the "Oar" carvers, which are modified knives made by Queen I believe. 

There's another option, that you might try, Ron.  One of my favorite "Pit Carvers" is one that I modified from a Rough Rider.

Sweet Mother of Gawd! Mister Henry! You can't just dangle the pearl handled slice of Heaven without a story. Is this gonna be my Xmas present this year? I have a birthday coming up next month. Perhaps it's my birthday present, huh?

C'mon, man! You've got some 'splaining to do! Wassup with the Seahorse? You're a Stockman man, so out with the story!

I need  a Seahorse, but not one that fancy.

Believe it or not, pearl is a very traditional handle material for Whittlers. I knew several guys back in the "old days" that used to carry and USE peal handled Whittlers!

A story? How about a Whittler handle material story from Bernard Levine?

"Whittler Handle Materials - 

Handle material on Whittlers runs the gamut. Wood, often Ebony seems to be standard on Whittlers in the 19th century. Ivory and smooth white bone is also common on 19th century Whittlers. Green Cow Horn was also a popular early handle material. And aluminum was used by a few firms such as Holly. Pearl has always been a favorite handle material for Whittlers in the 19th century. Even very cheap imported turn of the century Whittlers had pearl handles. Pearl also shared the spotlight with Tortoise Shell. Stag was also used, but much less often than pearl. As pearl got more expensive in the 20th century fewer Whittlers were seen with it."

Found this in Main Street Mercantile (45 Main St.), Bradford last weekend.  Tag says it's rare, but I don't collect this pattern.  They wanted $100. for it.

Pat,

Thank you for the information on this knife.  As I mentioned to Craig and Charles about the Stag Stockman alongside this knife in the case, if anyone is interested in this knife you can call the store (814) 368-2206.  Of course, seeing it live would be problematic if the interested person lives far from Bradford, PA, but as you say, if someone needs to fill a spot in their collection, it might be worth a call/visit.

Howdy John.  My carver of choice is the CASE Seahorse whittler.  Been known to modify a blade into a Wharncliffe a time or two.  Barlow makes a good carver, with the right blades.

I have always admired wood carving and whittling.  Thought about trying it but never did.  One reason I haven't started is not knowing where to start.  Are there kits to  buy with a knife, a few pieces of wood and some directions for a project?  I'm thinking of something like they have for leather work.

Can one of the "whittler" knives with 3 blades suffice for carving small things or are other knives needed.  The woodbeecarver.com site has some knives with bigger handles and little blades.  Fixed blades. I can imagine different blades with  different shapes may be needed.

I have started making knife handles in the past year or so and some carving work on some knife handles might be nice.

Jack,

At the W.R. Case Event every other year (next one in July 2014, they usually have a carving class.  I forget who holds it, but he and his son give you a lesson on carving, and naturally they use a Case Whittler on which they "re-profile" one of the blades.  You get a block of wood, a Case Whittler, and you watch and carve what he does.  You won't be a Black Belt after one session, but you might get the fever.  Sign up is included with the Case Event paperwork.  I know you live pretty far from Bradford, PA, and you might not want to wait so long, but it is a fun time and you learn something.  Start turnin in them glass quart soda bottles for a nickel deposit to save up for the trip.

A whittling class would be great.  Especially during a trip to a knife company or show.  However, I doubt if I'll be making a trip like that any time soon I'm sorry to say.

If I were to get into whittling small things I have already thought about using my Dremel.  I haven't seen any mention of Dremels here.  Is Dremel a bad word here?  Or any carving tool with a motor?  I can imagine some may feel that would be an insult to a true "whittler".  Any thoughts?

Hahahaha.  I'm thinkin the purists hate noise.  Plus, maybe it ain't about gettin that duck decoy carved and painted as much as it is about the journey of cuttin away the parts that ain't duck. 

Somehow I missed your message about sharpening, John.

I use the diamond sharpening cards in medium, fine and extra fine, followed by a stroping on the back of an old belt.  (I'm cheap). 

My current pocket carry is a Rough Rider stag whittler.  I'm partial to the wedge-back design too.  

Been hoping that Rough Rider would make a wharncliffe whittler along the lines of the seahorse, but no luck yet.