Whittling Knives - what kind and where to buy?

I googled...I think that I should have done that first - sorry -

I think I can get just a plain old pocket knife at Walmart that will do for the boys. But if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it, seeing as I have never whittled before.

I have a tiny lock blade made by Schrade known as the Uncle Henry. I love it. The only thing that would make it better would be a larger guard, to prevent the hand from moving forward and sliding down the blade.

I carry that little knife everywhere I go. I lost it once for two years and was delighted to find in an overstuffed chair while searching for a lost remote.

The LB-3:

thanks cjhsa - when you say a larger guard - do you mean the handle that sheaths the blade? This would be important to me since they are so young.

There are special whittling knives on the market (at least, I know that they are produced [and sold] here in Germany), some especially for children [e.g. with rounder blade heads]).

I suppose, you can find them in any arts & craft/hobby shop.

Thanks Walter - I will start looking in those.

Here's a nifty folding knife in a very modern design. That little lip on the lower front of the handle is the blade guard:

I see what you are talking about now cjhsa - that is also good to know. Thank you! I have a good idea about what will work for the boys - HUGE help

thank you both!

I think for kids, something like this is more appropriate

There are lots of specialty knives made for wood carving...

Here are some at one vendor
wood carving knives

Also try Rockler and see what they have.
Local craft stores might also have some.

Thanks Jane, thanks parados...those are exactly what I was thinking - I like the bigger handles for little hands to hold easier, Jane. When they are older we can get them a regular pocket knife...They are not quite ready to carry a pocket knife around yet, I was going to have to get them back for safe keeping after their den meeting.

Yes, I would collect them afterwards too, and I would be a nervous wreck while
they use it. It's not easy being an innocent bystander as a Mom.

When I was a cub scout a knife with a sheath, held on your belt, was standard issue.

Unreal what has happened to our way of thinking.

HA! Well - they have this nifty little oath they take about how to use their knives and their Dad, who is more of a mother hen than I am will be with them, thankfully. I will be glad when they are home and the knives are in my lock box in the closet though!

Yeah but look what became of you!

Isn't it though? A shame what has become of the world in general cjhsa...lot of things happen now that didn't, or at least weren't heard of as much when you were a cub scout. My boys will be juuuuust fine.

You mean being a successful IT professional who also enjoys the outdoors and making left leaning people really nervous?

One piece of advice: don't buy the kids any sort of a folding knife which doesn't have a mechanism to lock the blade in place, for whittling.

I favor the little CRKT M16 knife for hunting and it could be used for whittling if you were so inclined; about $40 on most internet sites on which it's sold.

that makes good sense - thanks gungasnake

Gunga is right on. I do a lt of woodcarving with power and whittling. I use Cape Forge and Deepwoods brand knives. They have nice thick handles and they can be drawn toward you with no fear of a lockback "giving".

Woodcarving has gone from using small blade pen knoves to fixed blades specially designed for safety.
Only caution is that the carving knives are not held and whittled away from the body (you cant get much control and its more dangerous to be whittling towaed the hand holding the wood). Carving knives can be used with holding the wood or by having the wood helf fast in a vise.

Good luck and, no matter what, make sure they listen to all the safety rules.

Do you have a Woodcrafters Shop in your area? The guys that work at woodcrafters are usually well versed in their tools and you may find that somebody on staff is a carver.