The BEST Folding Pocket Knives for Whittling and Wood Carving! Tested and Reviewed!

There are a lot of folding knives on the market, and trying to find the best pocket knife for beginners who want to start whittling and wood carving can be a bit difficult! In this video, I compare $500 in pocket knives and see which ones work best for whittling and wood carving for anyone from first timers to experienced wood carvers.

Time Stamps:
1:05 - Reviews are focused on wood carving and whittling
1:31 - How each knife is being rated
3:37 - Multi bladed pocket knives for whittling
15:08 - Single bladed pocket knifes for whittling
23:35 - Multi-tool style knifes for whittling
27:50 - My favorite pocket knives for whittling
30:00 - Worst pocket knives for whittling

I need feedback! If you have the time to quickly fill out a 6 question survey I will greatly appreciate it!

For my complete guide to the best pocket knives for whittling and wood carving, check out my website:

Flexcut Carvin' Jack vs Old Timer 24OT Splinter video

Knives Represented in the video:

Recommended knives with links to Amazon and Ebay so you can find the best prices!:

Old Timer 44OT Workmate:
Flexcut Whittlin' Jack:
Opinel Carbon Steel No 7:
MasterCarver Pocket Whittler 2:
Victorinox Swiss Army Camper:
Flexcut Carvin' Jack:

#whittling #woodcarving #pocketknife

[CarvingisFun]

Quick edit!
The steel on the Case Cutlery Seahorse Whittler uses Case's Tru-Sharp Stainless steel with a Rockwell hardness of 54-57.

[stevesmolik]

Have been thinking about getting into carving/whittling but purchasing a folding knife instead of traditional knives. Thank you for the reviews.

[skovbo]

A piece of advice regarding your Victorinox is that if the corkscrew is giving you a hotspot when you use the small blade you can buy one of those small screwdrivers that can fit in the corkscrew which will reduce the tendency to give you a hotspot or you can buy a Hiker instead of the Camper it has the same tools except the corkscrew is replaced with a Philips screwdriver. The reason for the 56 Rockwell on Victorinox is so the edge is less prone to chipping, the knife still has a decent retention and is easy to sharpen even for a less experienced user. I personally prefer the Huntsman because of the shape of the handle and it is a great EDC knife because of the addition of the scissor.

[devantulgren]

Finally someone that compares what matters much appreciated brother.

[ihadnonameideas]

Videos like these are why I watch youtube, thanks for the well-made content and a new hobby.

[jphillips]

I just caught your channel, and found it pretty infirmative. I've got many of the same knives myself. I've been a whittler for over 30 yrs now, and still use my first Old Timer stockman my grand dad gave me. It's from when they were still made here, and high carbon steel. I've always been a pocket knife whittler, and never cared for the handled carving knives. All traditional pocket need a bit of personal blade modification and honing, to be whittling sharp, and generally to how "you" like to whittle or carve. What I personally look for in a pocket knife, is steel being 440c. The Old Timer's now are a Cr 17, which is equivalant to 440c. They have a rockwell hardness of 58, which 56-58 is ideal for a whittling knife. 420c or lower has a much less hardness, and won't sharpen well, or hold an edge very long. Flexcut uses a very good high carbon steel, but their price tags show that. A lil spring in the blades aren't a bad thing. But it pays to know what wood your cutting on to. Too hard a wood will chip and snap any blade if not careful. Most serious, pocket knife whittlers know some extra work will need to go into making a new pocket knife good to whittle with. But we don't tend to mind, and enjoy that process. The past few yrs I've been collecting and using Rough Rider pocket knives. In my opinion, they're the best budgeted, inexpensive, best quality pocket knives I've ever used. Fit and finish have always been great, comfortable to use for hrs, and several styles, when modified, are great whittlers. I actually love my under $18 Rough Rider's over my $60+ Flexcut's. It's ultimately what you prefer, like, and willing to pay and time modifying. The most important is the blade steel. 440c/ Cr 17, or better.

[Hunglikeagrimsmo]

I've always why more whittling brands haven't moved over to CPM d2. Sure it's a pain to sharpen but it holds an edge better than 420hc or the spring steel most brands use. Personally I'm not a fan of any type d2 for EDC use it's just over used in that sense but I think it would be a really great option for a designated whittling knife

[lowedatsme]

Commenting to try to boost the channel exposure, nothing to say other than thanks for the information and effort

[Thirsty_Fox]

Great review. I wood (heh) add that the Victorinox has an awl that can be useful in carving and making holes (which can be expanded with the saw).

My favorite Victorinox model for whittling/carving is the Ranger, which has both the wood and metal saws, the latter of which has the fine file (good for smoothing), as well as the chisel on the back layer. Great size in hand.

[tantheasianman]

Thanks to your channel, I've started a very very small business selling wood carvings to my friends to make a few quick bucks! I made 30$ so far! Thanks a lot, good videos as always. :)

[davidlovell]

Thank you. I have been looking for a simple knife to carry with me for carving.
I going to get the opinel.

[gizmoteknodekker]

Pretty insightful. I was curious about the flexcut knives as I use flexcut knives at the bench. The locking one is a darn shame though as locking blades are illegal in UK and that kind of defeats the object if I can't carry it around. I swear by my victorinox hiker though, never had any issues from the box with any SAK I own, but not the most comfortable for longer carves and always ended up reshaping the blades to fit my needs. Great video though, a lot of detail and sound advice.

[jelkel]

My limited usual outdoors experience concours with what you say. The Splinter Jack takes some work when you first get one but if you are used to regular folders or fixed blades not the array of carving blades it's cheap enough to learn and make your mistakes on. Don't like carving/whittling with SAKs, not entirely sure why, the steel feels too soft for the task, prefer a smaller Traditional, preferably in carbon but have some good whittlers in stainless too. Be aware Opinels are great with soft woods but the edge can roll if you use them with hardwoods.

[adrianbunyard]

I have been whittling for years and I used too be a blade setter so I know steels well and how too sharpen a blade. I collect knives especially slip joints and in my view the best for whittling is a rough rider. Case and buck are ok but they to my suprise don't seem too hold an edge as well as the rough rider and cost a fair bit more and that makes a difference when the chances are you will have too reprofile the blade anyway.. I reprofile my blades for a much finer blade angle and then polish the grind so you get less drag against the wood. It really makes a difference. All done old school on oil stones and finish with a Belgian water stone.

[danielrobinson]

To contest the opinion that softer steels are not as desirable,
Note: I’ve used plenty of high end stainless and carbon blades and I have a knife sharpening side hustle.
Sharpening softer steels takes little time and low effort if you know what you’re doing.
Softer edges will gradually fold over opposed to experiencing micro-chipping in harder ones.
I don’t actually need a sharpening stone for softer steels very often, as I just use a few swipes on a fine honing steel to realign the edge.
Due to keeping up the edge more often, the blade always has the sharpest edge for working with.
I’ve actually found myself gravitating towards softer steels because of this. It is less work in the long run. Thanks for reading. :)

[AnnaelleD]

I'm discovering your channel, and whoua! Great videos.
This one is very interesting.
You give many useful informations.
Thank you very much.
I've subscribed!

[thomasa]

Love the roast session on the Whittler, loving the quality content 👍

[mg]

Thank you for the amount of effort you put into this video it’s greatly appreciated

[hconlin]

Dude thank you for making such awesome videos! U are so underrated. Keep it up and soon u will have tons of subs

[klifestyle]

Brian, I would like to send you a refurbished whittling knife that I have made. How do I get it to you. I'd like to see if you approve. Thanks! I've been watching your videos and they rock!