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.

Picked up this Camillus BSA Boy Scout Whittler off of ebay. It has some wear but actually knife is in pretty good shape. Great snap and tightness on the blades. Wondering if anyone might now how old this knife would be?IMG_1036.JPG

I've been a whittler and pocket knife enthusiast for a long time, and I'll generally whittle with whatever knife I have in my pocket at the time. It probably depends more on the stick I pick up than the knife in my pocket, truth be told. But I became a collector of Whittler frame knives when I inherited my grandfather's pocket knife and learned that it was a Whittler pattern knife, a Case XX 6380, dated 1949-1964. It's the one on the top left of the display case in the photo. Since then I have acquired many of this special pattern, but that one is probably still the most valuable, and definitely the most prized.

Love the display, Pat.  See you have room for a Seahorse in there too.

Pat, I agree with J.J. -- That is a great display! I'm curious about those cards that are apparently used to catalog your knives. First of all, I love that idea! Second, where did you get those cards and would it be possible to get a close up shot so I could see what is actually on one of them? Nice collection of Whittlers, btw!

Very nice whittler display, Pat.

Some of my Whittlers

Thanks I was getting behind in posting pics!!

Nice collection of Whittlers, Brian! I also love your photographic layout. Nicely done all the way around! Kudos and cheers, my friend!

Thanks Ron

I don't own any Whittlers, but seeing yours, Brian, makes me want one or two.

They fit in the hand nice Howard and don't feel heavy in the pocket make nice EDC.  Thanks Pat I am trying to make better pics, working on better lighting is my next goal.

Hahahaha.  Steve, that is something (walking stick carving) I can't do with my big Busse knife - totem pole maybe, but not fine work.  Great talent, and I saw on "Antiques Roadshow" that a couple old ones, from nobody famous, brought some big bucks.

Well, that does it, Steve.  I have to get a whittler.  What make/kind do I need?  I bought a "Carvin Jack" just so I had something, but reading this blog it seems that REAL carvers don't much like the "Carvin Jack".  So, Seahorse Whittlers look good, but do they feel better in the hand than a straight Whittler?  As you know, I am not much for 1095, even though that is what the "Carvin Jack" is.  D2 sounds like a good option, but are there any "super steel" (154 CPM, Aus-10, S30V,etc.) carvers out there?

Thanks, J.J.,  Good point about "pocket worn", that is, might want smooth bone or wood for the scales/handles for comfort.

I took a look around the Internet this afternoon and a sowbelly might feel pretty good, but they have 4 and sometimes 5 blades which makes for a little fatter knife, and I don't have big hands.

Ivars,

I looked at Oar carvers today, too.  They look pretty good, and as you say, Queen makes them.  And a Canoe is my favorite knife pattern in folders.  Also, I think you are correct about 1095 or high carbon steel being easy to work with and sharpen.  My problem with it is that most of my life I lived without central heating/cooling, and rust loves hot and humid weather.  I live in a controlled environment now, but it's hard to forget all the pitting I experienced with carbon bladed knives.  Whatever carver I get will sit around a long time between uses.

Howard,

In the end, it all depends on what you want to carve.  Dedicated carving knives are nice, but a slip joint whittler let's you carry it anywhere you like.  Ivar's makes excellent observations and recommendations tho I like the downturn on the Seahorses main blade.  He makes his own carving knives, while I like to modify knives to suit my tastes,  

http://www.iknifecollector.com/photo/albums/knife-modifications.

Either way, experiment with what's available.

Thanks, guys.  It looks like I need to get at least a couple different carvers.  The Oar carver looks good, and so does the 2-blade GEC.  The Seahorse is also worth a try.  I don't intend on being a dedicated carver, so I should probably pick one of the three and go with it.  However, I do like to test knives and I need more than one to make comparisons.  Probably any well made Whittler would do for someone like me who intends to just play around.  You guys don't think I need a Bill Ruple Whittler do you?  Hahahahaha.

I'm fond of Barlows too.  Saw a nice stag handeled sway back in a hardware store in North Carolina once.  Didn't pick it up at that time, but came back the next day and it was gone.  You snooze, you loose.

I'd love to have one with a coping blade secondary.  I'd be ALL over that.

Sweet knives Ivars!!

Stadtlander carvings has the oar carver (version II, regular blade and detail blade).

http://www.goestores.com/storename/stadtlandercarvings/dept/272203/...

Bit pricey but a nice knife.

Been looking seriously at a Rough Rider double lock back to modify...

http://www.smkw.com/webapp/eCommerce/products/Rough+Rider/Rough+Rid...