This post isn't really a knife review as such but really a breakdown of my thoughts on how I have developed some knowledge on what makes a Knife 'a good whittler', as you will see, this has mainly been through trial and error (mainly error). Obviously we start to whittle before we start to think about whittling and then we get hooked, then obsessed. I will however, discuss knives that I think work really well for this activity, you may disagree, have larger, smaller hands, different aesthetics and tastes, I hope some of it will, help, ring some bells or encourage you to move forward.
When embarking on your whittling journey thoughts will obviously move to the tools of the trade. Most of us, probably started whittling at a young age, using whatever came to hand. In the past I have whittled with knives ranging from pen knives, craft knives, Stanley knives and the like.
On a trip to Spain about a dozen or so years ago, I came across an amazing knife shop that stocked a massive range of hunting knives, diving knives and folding knives, in the shop was a selection of pocket knives of various makes and designs, one that caught my eye was a Laguiole lock-knife, the blade just under three inches. The prices were incredibly cheap, I bought a couple of other Laguioles at the time, these are of the culinary type with long thin blades, great for cutting up a sausage and a loaf of bread on a hillside, not too great for whittling.
That little Laguiole started me on a bit of a whittling quest, I still have that knife, well used, it's been a bit of a mainstay for lighter whittling and carving projects. I have experimented with alot of knives over the past decade, coming to realise what works and what doesn't.
The Little Laguiole and some other folders that I use in whittling projects:
The next stage was obviously to go for a fixed blade knife. This was again a journey of trial and error as one of my main obstacles on choosing a 'good' knife, was initially one of aesthetics.
My first fixed knife was a Muela Bowie knife, again bought in Spain(stupidly cheap, about £14.00), not too big, just under four inches. A lovely knife in many respects but really not that greatly suited for carving. I have used it for removing large amounts of wood (with a punch grip) but intricate work is restricted, this is mainly to do with the thickness of the blade and the Bowie finger guards. It has a concave profile to the blade but is easy to keep sharp and knick free.
The Main issue with this knife, for me, was the double hand guard, that top guard really inhibits a useful carving grip. There is no way to choke up onto the blade.
The Muela Bowie:
A friend bought me my next knife, also a Muela, this was a much more successful whittling knife and one that I have used greatly over the past few years. Infact I whittled a banjo neck from American Walnut using only this blade. Again the blade is quite thick but much shorter, I assume it's a hunting knife, these seem very big in spain, it has a concave profile not a Scandi-grind like the knife beneath it (see below).
The Scandi-grind was also a gift, in the form of a blank (Norwegian, I think it's a Skogli), I put on a bone handle that came from an old kitchen knife, just to see how it would cut and very quickly realised that this shape was a whittlers dream. I have since secured the blade.
The Scandi-grind was a revelation, this particular knife is SCARY sharp. For a long time this became one of my most used knives. It made the Muelas seem clumsy and for want of a better word, blunt (this is relative).
AND THAT'S A MORA
or Where Have You Been All My Life
My latest knife journey has been one of an aesthetic, economic seachange, the aesthetic nature of knives in some ways is one of the most difficult aspects (certainly for me) of choosing a really good knife that suits you and just as importantly the task you wish it to perform. It's similar to going into a guitar shop and buying a guitar on looks alone. Yes, form and function both matter in design but what I've realised is a knife ultimately has to come down to it's functionality, in the performance of the task. It is basic ergonomics. Like the guitar however, there are deep cultural/ visual associations connected to these objects, these may predjudice our judgement.
I've recently started to research more online about knives in conjunction with bushcrafts and carving, this has been educational as there is far more discussion on knife crafts and the functionality of knives in the States and obviously in Europe. Looking at the Internet, I think that here in Great Britain there is a growing
outdoor/ bushcraft, knife using culture but anything 'knife' still seems to be tainted by the tradgedy of 'knife-crime'.
From an economic point of view, there is an old chestnut that you get what you pay for, the next selection of tools seems to contradict that old adage...to an alarming degree.
That brings me to the Mora 120:
I recently bought the Mora 120 online, cost £12.00, I didn't expect much from a £12.00 knife, I was very surprized with its amazing quality and functionality. This is one of the best knives I have ever whittled with, the shape of the handle fits perfectly, the length and grind of the blade superb (again a Scandi-grind).
I very quickly acquired the companion spoon or crook knife (Mora 162), again a brilliant carving knife.
And some more recent additions to my Mora toolkit:
This development has made me reconsider my carving/ whittling tools, after much reading I have recently acquired two further Mora knives, the Ray Mears engraved Companion (formally the Clipper) and a rather neat 511 (knife not Porsche, although it is red). I've had a bit of a whittle on the 511 and again, is hard to fault. Razor sharp straight from the box, lovely grip and feel in the hand, even the oft derided finger guard does not bother me (these can be removed if you so wish, with a file and some elbow grease). I will certainly be using this knife as a regular whittler, especially in conjunction with the 120. Again a great knife for the princely sum of £3.65 (Clas Ohlson 3 for £9.00).
I am now even starting to like the aestheic of these knives, in the past the plastic handles/ colours would have been a stumbling block, someone else online put it very well they said 'You even like the look of these knives, once you realise how good they are'. I tried to re-find the quote for a credit but to no avail.
I haven't really given the Companion a trial yet, but again it feels great in the hand and is sharp as a.........errm Knife...only sharper.
Further Whittling:
