Crusty Sam is carved from a two and half inch by and inch square block of basswood with a Murray 529 knife.  Bud Murray (1490 Thunder Mountain Road, Camdenton, MO 65020 or wjmurray@dam.net or 573-346-7321) makes this style of knife for me.  Bud has been custom making knives and carving tools for a good number of years of top quality.  The blade shape is one that I have developed over the years for the most efficient slicing action.  The handle is an extension of Bud’s palm handle design for his custom made carving tools which also fits my hand comfortably.  Four views of Crusty Sam show off the results of Whittle-Carving using the Murray 529 knife.