Scott King, publisher of the CutleryNewsJournal, recently interviewed me on the subject of WHITTLING.  The interview may be viewed by visiting http://cutlerynewsjournal.com/2009/05/02/meet-a-master-whittler/ .  I am very honored to be able to share my ideas about Whittling with those interested in collecting antique pocket knives.

Ten or twelve years ago our local carving group asked the organizer of a knife show that was meeting in our area if we could come for one day and demonstrate whittling and carving.  He was thrilled that we would want to do so and even asked if we would organize and conduct a “whittling contest” for the show and he would donate two pocket knives to the winners.  Our carving group decided to have a letter opener as the subject for the whittling contest since letter openers have a blade.  We carved up some examples of letter openers, wrote guidelines for how to whittle a letter opener along with photographs and supplied basswood sticks for the contest.  Read the rest of this entry »

The FOUR SEA CAPTAINS are the final results of the previous post entitled “Battle of the Knives.”  The sea captains have received the painting process called “Painting Softly,” as described in earlier postings. Read the rest of this entry »

Most carvers have more than one carving knife and if the truth would be known, we carvers have in unquenchable thirst for accumulating carving knives.  Among the several carving knives that a carver uses, which one is a cut above all the others?  Which knife maker makes the better knife is sometimes a question asked as the search goes on for the best knife. Read the rest of this entry »

A pipe smoker’s pipe carousel was rescued from an antique store for fifteen dollars.  The glass tobacco humidor was missing so in its place a piece of red oak was cut to fit the opening and seven 7/8″ holes drilled to become tool hangers.  Eight additional holes were drilled to make the second row  inside the outer ring of twenty holes making a total of thirty five holes to receive palm size carving tools.

The first photo shows the tool carousel holding thirty five Harman, Drake and Henry Taylor palm tools.  The second photo shows the carousel holding thirty five re-handled carving tools using Bud Murray designed walnut handles for palm tools.

The carousel has a built-in lazy-susan so that it can be rotated to find the tool the carver is searching to use next.  The base measures 11 3/4 ” in diameter and the top measures 9 1/4″ in diameter.  This Tool Carousel is a neat way to have carving tools at easy access.

Wood carvers of every level of experience soon come to have and use their favorite carving tool.  Old pocket knives reshaped and sharpened have long been the favorites for the WOOD BEE CARVER.  Ever since a boy growing up on a farm three miles south of Poneto, Indiana, a pocket knife has been used for whittling and developed into a style of whittle-carving. Read the rest of this entry »

The Classic Hobo is classic by his appearance of well worn face, tattered clothing and the far off and wondering look in his eye. Read the rest of this entry »

A basswood ostrich egg was used to carve this Santa using traditional carving tools.  Even though the WOOD BEE CARVER is primarily a knife carver, yet on occasions traditional carving tools will be used to carve larger projects.  Basswood hen eggs have been used for whittle-carving projects using only a knife using the Santa theme.  Under “NAVIGATION” on the left column of this web log there is a page entitled “WHITTLE FOLK EGGS – Carving a Wooden Egg” that shows the smaller version of egg carving.  Also in the posting for November 22, 2008 there are two styles of Santa eggs used for a class project. Read the rest of this entry »