I love the congress pattern. I have several old Boker Solinger knives but one of my favorites is an old J.A. Henkels that was made by Boker I also have a couple of Boker Solinger whittlers and a Case XX whittler. Those are all really nice examples you have.
I have an Old Timer Splinter. For an inexpensive knife actually does quite well. My go to knife is a Victorinox Camper with a straightened (modified) pen blade.
Thank you, and my compliments on your violins. We seem to have trodden strikingly similar paths as regards whittling knives, arriving at the Boker congress.
I bought a rough rider sway back whittler and re did the edge into one that was easier to carve with. It does really well so far, and I also reshaped a swiss army knife into a whittling blade.
I think that you already cross the line between whittling and woodcarving. I was looking for a knife for me and ended up customizing the blades I already have. As many whittlers do. So the magic in the whittlers knife is in the edge that the owner gives to the knife. My perfect knife doesn´t exist yet. Is a sowbelly stockman with a pen blade on the same liner of the main blade. By now, I use a regular sowbelly stockman and a victorinox pen blade. For rough cuts an opinel number 8. Good video. Thank you for share!
I have used an Opinel No.8 Garden Knife and a No.7 Chestnut and Garlic knife but they just didn't work for me although I like Opinels in general quite a bit. Lots of people seem to like the SAK pen blades.
That is amazing work and those are some great looking fiddles.All i do is sit and whittle on a stick until there isn't enough left to safely hold on to it and whittle anymore.LOL
Watching this again while experimenting with whittling with my various pocket knives and seeing how well the different blade profiles work for particular cuts, and I have another quick recommendation to make: The Victorinox Swiss Army 7/Pioneer 7/Harvester which has a main blade, wood saw, reamer/punch for drilling in holes, combi tool (great prybar), and a little recurved pruner blade. There's also the Pioneer Rancher which loses the saw, the Pioneer Pruner which just has a main spear blade and the little pruner blade, and I think there was a Harvester X which had scissors in addition to everything else. The little pruner blade can be used for many of the same tasks as a sheepsfoot/wharncliffe/coping blade, and in some cases it might even be a little better for certain details. The main spearpoint blade in the alox knives is more robust that the one in the red plastic handled Victorinox SAKs, it has a thicker spine which is more comfortable for thumb push cuts but still has a very nice acute edge. If you keep the reamer blade sharp it can be used for scraping surfaces in tight spots as well as making little holes, very useful. And of course the saw is great for collecting small bits of wood to whittle on if you happen to find a good broken or fallen branch while out on a walk. Just thought I'd mention it as it's cool to have something that has all that functionality in one small pocket tool.
A good traditional pattern for whittling that you might want to try out is the British Ettrick pocket knife. Arthur Wright & Son from Sheffield in England do a really reasonably priced Ettrick and I think there's a few places in the US that have imported them. It's got a single 2 inch wharnclife blade that's narrow with a wickedly fine tip, but has a fairly robust spine. It's an unusual pattern because the handle is relatively long for a short blade, meaning you can get a full four finger grip around it, and the bulbous back end of the handle is good for wrapping your little finger around so you have good leverage and control. I have really large hands but even for me I think it's quite acceptable for short periods of whittling.
I have a bunch of different Rough Ryder knives I carry for whittling. Started with the Congress and loved how it worked out so much, I just kept going from there. SMKW is the place to find Rough Ryder knives because it is their house brand. So they have much better whittlers available, like the seahorse whittlers.
One of my favourite whittling knives is just a RR trapper. Some of them have secondary match strike pulls as well as the usual nail nick, so I clipped the spey blade (that I never use) into something like a Wharncliffe but I had to completely regrind the bevel to get it to bite cleanly. Most of their Christmas models have the secondary pull, if you're interested
Wow, you do some amazing work. I'm very impressed. You lut together a really interesting video too. I'm searching for a pocket knife for whittling, but I can't quite find what I want. I'm in the UK and legal carry has to be under 3" and non locking - it is what it is. That Flexcut Whittling Jack may be what I'm looking for. I read that Flexcut blades are all 1075 steel hardened to about 60 Rockwell, which is pretty good. I have the Rough Rider Whittler which you show and I can't use it because the small blades scare me with the amount that they flex. They're just too thin and would break eventually. You should check out their Seahorse Whittler, but be aware that they make them in 440A, which doesn't impress me much, but also in a T10 carbon steel which should be better. Like yourself I would love a carbon steel Congress pattern, but an affordable one as I would definitely want to modify the blades. As yet all of the Rough Rider Congress knives are 440A as far as I know, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled and my fingers crossed. All the best from bonnie Scotland.
I love that Boker Congress as well as the Boker whistler. Boker is soon to bring the Whittler out in D2 steel. You may want to look for a good used Boker Congress. They aren't too hard to find on ebay. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@ivancho5854 it's sad that you can't look at pocketknives on ebay. Boker sells a Congress, but it is currently Chinese made, and they don't state what steel it is other than stainless. The German Bokers cost more but the steel is good. They are re-introducing a number of their traditional patterns in D2. Check Boker's website. When I get in front of a computer I will get you some links.
I have many whittling knives. I always wanted the Case Seahorse whittler but the $200.00 price always kept me from getting one. Until I found at SMKW the Hen and Rooster knife brand and it comes in the whittler, identical to the case seahorse whittler for a fraction of the cost. It is now my favorite whittling knife.
Love the snake's head and the eagle's head...great workmanship. I found it interesting that you mentioned converting the small pen blade of some Vic SAK's to a semi-Wharncliffe shape, but you didn't show one. I took that to mean that you weren't partial to the idea. I have a Recruit that I so converted and am quite pleased with it. Have you tried one?
I haven't, have only read of others doing it. I would have no objection to doing the modification, I am just not a big SAK user, so it wouldn't make sense for me to do it. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Try vintage schrade 804 or craftsman made by schrade carpenters whittler. I think what's your looking for to fit your hand. My guess enjoy your channel
@@workbenchknifeandtool The reason why I asked , is because in the past , manufacturers of traditional multi bladed pocket knives , always seemed to pick , what is referred to as a junior boy's pattern model , to designate as their whittler !!! Handle lengths vary between 3 1/4" to 3 3/8" to 3 1/2" at their longest !!! Men's premium sized multi bladed pocket knives , started at 3 5/8" & could get up to 4 1/4" !!! these folders gave the average sized man & larger , something for the pinky finger to wrap around & stayed comfortable to hold , in extended work situations !!! Mr. E.J. Tangerman had small hands & could use these smaller junior boy's patterns comfortably !!!
I love the congress pattern. I have several old Boker Solinger knives but one of my favorites is an old J.A. Henkels that was made by Boker I also have a couple of Boker Solinger whittlers and a Case XX whittler. Those are all really nice examples you have.
Sounds like you have some nice examples as well!
Thanks for watching and commenting
I have an Old Timer Splinter. For an inexpensive knife actually does quite well. My go to knife is a Victorinox Camper with a straightened (modified) pen blade.
@@standswithfish nice! Thanks for sharing!
Schrade 804. Fits hand and in pocket beautifully
Thank you, and my compliments on your violins. We seem to have trodden strikingly similar paths as regards whittling knives, arriving at the Boker congress.
@@GenWivern2 the Congress is hard to beat for whittling! Thanks for watching and commenting!
I bought a rough rider sway back whittler and re did the edge into one that was easier to carve with. It does really well so far, and I also reshaped a swiss army knife into a whittling blade.
Reshaping a blade is often the way to get the best performance out of a knife. Thanks for watching and commenting!
Those fiddles are beautiful. If I ever try carving I think one of those protective gloves would save me some pain.
Thank you! I've never used protective gloves and I have the scars to prove it!
I have to agree with you.German blades are some of the best ones to work with.
I think that you already cross the line between whittling and woodcarving. I was looking for a knife for me and ended up customizing the blades I already have. As many whittlers do. So the magic in the whittlers knife is in the edge that the owner gives to the knife. My perfect knife doesn´t exist yet. Is a sowbelly stockman with a pen blade on the same liner of the main blade. By now, I use a regular sowbelly stockman and a victorinox pen blade. For rough cuts an opinel number 8. Good video. Thank you for share!
I have used an Opinel No.8 Garden Knife and a No.7 Chestnut and Garlic knife but they just didn't work for me although I like Opinels in general quite a bit. Lots of people seem to like the SAK pen blades.
That is amazing work and those are some great looking fiddles.All i do is sit and whittle on a stick until there isn't enough left to safely hold on to it and whittle anymore.LOL
Thank you! Making and repairing musical instruments is a favorite activity for me. Thanks for watching and commenting too!
Watching this again while experimenting with whittling with my various pocket knives and seeing how well the different blade profiles work for particular cuts, and I have another quick recommendation to make: The Victorinox Swiss Army 7/Pioneer 7/Harvester which has a main blade, wood saw, reamer/punch for drilling in holes, combi tool (great prybar), and a little recurved pruner blade. There's also the Pioneer Rancher which loses the saw, the Pioneer Pruner which just has a main spear blade and the little pruner blade, and I think there was a Harvester X which had scissors in addition to everything else.
The little pruner blade can be used for many of the same tasks as a sheepsfoot/wharncliffe/coping blade, and in some cases it might even be a little better for certain details. The main spearpoint blade in the alox knives is more robust that the one in the red plastic handled Victorinox SAKs, it has a thicker spine which is more comfortable for thumb push cuts but still has a very nice acute edge. If you keep the reamer blade sharp it can be used for scraping surfaces in tight spots as well as making little holes, very useful. And of course the saw is great for collecting small bits of wood to whittle on if you happen to find a good broken or fallen branch while out on a walk.
Just thought I'd mention it as it's cool to have something that has all that functionality in one small pocket tool.
I like it! Thanks!
A good traditional pattern for whittling that you might want to try out is the British Ettrick pocket knife. Arthur Wright & Son from Sheffield in England do a really reasonably priced Ettrick and I think there's a few places in the US that have imported them.
It's got a single 2 inch wharnclife blade that's narrow with a wickedly fine tip, but has a fairly robust spine. It's an unusual pattern because the handle is relatively long for a short blade, meaning you can get a full four finger grip around it, and the bulbous back end of the handle is good for wrapping your little finger around so you have good leverage and control. I have really large hands but even for me I think it's quite acceptable for short periods of whittling.
Ooh! I'm gonna check it out! Thanks!
Great review - excellent craftsmanship 👍
Thanks for uploading.
Great work! I appreciate your talents and sharing with us. You’re an inspiration. Thank you.😊
@wderoker thank you! Thanks for watching and commenting, too!
I have a bunch of different Rough Ryder knives I carry for whittling. Started with the Congress and loved how it worked out so much, I just kept going from there. SMKW is the place to find Rough Ryder knives because it is their house brand. So they have much better whittlers available, like the seahorse whittlers.
Good to know, thank you! I've been to their store in Tennessee a couple of times and it is an amazing place.
One of my favourite whittling knives is just a RR trapper.
Some of them have secondary match strike pulls as well as the usual nail nick, so I clipped the spey blade (that I never use) into something like a Wharncliffe but I had to completely regrind the bevel to get it to bite cleanly.
Most of their Christmas models have the secondary pull, if you're interested
Wow, you do some amazing work. I'm very impressed. You lut together a really interesting video too.
I'm searching for a pocket knife for whittling, but I can't quite find what I want. I'm in the UK and legal carry has to be under 3" and non locking - it is what it is. That Flexcut Whittling Jack may be what I'm looking for. I read that Flexcut blades are all 1075 steel hardened to about 60 Rockwell, which is pretty good. I have the Rough Rider Whittler which you show and I can't use it because the small blades scare me with the amount that they flex. They're just too thin and would break eventually. You should check out their Seahorse Whittler, but be aware that they make them in 440A, which doesn't impress me much, but also in a T10 carbon steel which should be better.
Like yourself I would love a carbon steel Congress pattern, but an affordable one as I would definitely want to modify the blades. As yet all of the Rough Rider Congress knives are 440A as far as I know, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled and my fingers crossed.
All the best from bonnie Scotland.
I love that Boker Congress as well as the Boker whistler. Boker is soon to bring the Whittler out in D2 steel. You may want to look for a good used Boker Congress. They aren't too hard to find on ebay.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@workbenchknifeandtool No pocket knives on UK eBay, but I'll look for the D2 Whittler. 👍
@ivancho5854 it's sad that you can't look at pocketknives on ebay. Boker sells a Congress, but it is currently Chinese made, and they don't state what steel it is other than stainless. The German Bokers cost more but the steel is good. They are re-introducing a number of their traditional patterns in D2. Check Boker's website. When I get in front of a computer I will get you some links.
I have many whittling knives. I always wanted the Case Seahorse whittler but the $200.00 price always kept me from getting one. Until I found at SMKW the Hen and Rooster knife brand and it comes in the whittler, identical to the case seahorse whittler for a fraction of the cost. It is now my favorite whittling knife.
I'll have to check it out. Thenks!
I use a small two blade penknife made by EC Wood of Sheffield in the 1930s. Works really well.
Nice! I love vintage knives!
Nice work. I've been turning warn out vintage pocket knives into whittlers. That's a whole another Hobbie in itself😅
Very nice video! Good job my friend! Love that knife!
Thank you!
Love the snake's head and the eagle's head...great workmanship. I found it interesting that you mentioned converting the small pen blade of some Vic SAK's to a semi-Wharncliffe shape, but you didn't show one. I took that to mean that you weren't partial to the idea. I have a Recruit that I so converted and am quite pleased with it. Have you tried one?
I haven't, have only read of others doing it. I would have no objection to doing the modification, I am just not a big SAK user, so it wouldn't make sense for me to do it.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Thats cool
Drop a note to a GemanKnife maker and politely ask. Thanks for the great info. Chi Miigwech
Try vintage schrade 804 or craftsman made by schrade carpenters whittler. I think what's your looking for to fit your hand. My guess enjoy your channel
I will check that out, thank you!
Wow, You do amazing work. How did you get the balls inside of the squares? I think the voline's are beautiful. Many thumbs up to your work and video.
Thank you! The balls are carved from the wood in the middle of the squares so they are in there all along!
You should do videos on this and your other wood working. @@workbenchknifeandtool
@@thomastommy1192 I've thought about that....
Hello , do you have small hands ???
Somewhat small, maybe more like medium.
@@workbenchknifeandtool The reason why I asked , is because in the past , manufacturers of traditional multi bladed pocket knives , always seemed to pick , what is referred to as a junior boy's pattern model , to designate as their whittler !!! Handle lengths vary between 3 1/4" to 3 3/8" to 3 1/2" at their longest !!! Men's premium sized multi bladed pocket knives , started at 3 5/8" & could get up to 4 1/4" !!! these folders gave the average sized man & larger , something for the pinky finger to wrap around & stayed comfortable to hold , in extended work situations !!! Mr. E.J. Tangerman had small hands & could use these smaller junior boy's patterns comfortably !!!