Best Spyderco for whittling?

[Soanso McMasters]

I have a few woodworking knives for hand carving (I’m not good at it but it’s fun) but I also enjoy setting on the patio and aimlessly whittling a stick with a pocket knife. What Spyderco(s) would be best suited for this task? Thanks in advance!

[yablanowitz]

Nilakka if you can find one, the Wolfspyder works well. I've also used the Calypso jr., Native 5 and Kiwi quite a bit. If you can find a Des Horn, it makes a very nice whittling knife aside from the blade being a bit long , at least for me.

[Manifestgtr]

I’ve actually searched the forums for this topic a couple times in the past. I’ve seen two responses that stick out…”get a mora sloyd” and “the native 5”

The former, I can’t argue with…I have several mora sloyds and they’re phenomenal for that particular task. That being said, I would like a Spyderco folder for carving and I might actually try to grab a dedicated carving native 5 at some point.

[Bolster]

I think the Air Bradley does well as a wood carving knife.

[Pokey]

Sal has said he's used the Mini Paring knife for whittling.

https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/detail ... e-Black/68

[Doc Dan]

I think a knife with a Ladybug blade and a long handle would make a good whittling knife. I don't know. The only whittling I ever do is sharpening a stick or something.

[on_the_edge]

Nilakka if you can find one, the Wolfspyder works well. I've also used the Calypso jr., Native 5 and Kiwi quite a bit. If you can find a Des Horn, it makes a very nice whittling knife aside from the blade being a bit long , at least for me.

How long have you been whittling? Are you using just the knife to create those skulls? Your skill set is nothing short of amazing!

[FK]

I like a thin small blade,, the Spyderco Mini Paring Knife would be excellent.
In addition, a small strop with diamond paste to maintain the razor sharp edge.

Regards,
FK

[capt.carl]

Even though it’s kinda big, the swayback is fun to whittle with aimlessly. The deep hollow grind and nice reverse grip handle are a pleasure

[Soanso McMasters]

Thanks so much for the recommendations!

[Soanso McMasters]

The Spyderco Squeak seems to have potential depending on just how much hand you can get on it. It’s definitely got a good blade size.

[tonijedi]

Nilakka if you can find one, the Wolfspyder works well. I've also used the Calypso jr., Native 5 and Kiwi quite a bit. If you can find a Des Horn, it makes a very nice whittling knife aside from the blade being a bit long , at least for me.

That's amazing.

[yablanowitz]

Nilakka if you can find one, the Wolfspyder works well. I've also used the Calypso jr., Native 5 and Kiwi quite a bit. If you can find a Des Horn, it makes a very nice whittling knife aside from the blade being a bit long , at least for me.

How long have you been whittling? Are you using just the knife to create those skulls? Your skill set is nothing short of amazing!

I've been whittling for a bit over 50 years. All my projects are done with a knife, often entirely with a single one. Those in the second picture actually got sanded and urethaned since they were done as gifts, but generally once the knife work is done, the project is done as well. The skulls with writing on the base were all single-knife challenges. The chain and pendant in the top picture were done from a block like the one they are laying on entirely with that Des Horn.

[James Y]

Nilakka if you can find one, the Wolfspyder works well. I've also used the Calypso jr., Native 5 and Kiwi quite a bit. If you can find a Des Horn, it makes a very nice whittling knife aside from the blade being a bit long , at least for me.

That is high-level art!

Jim

[Airlsee]

I've been whittling for a bit over 50 years.

Very impressive whittling!

[Dazen]

It would be awesome if Spyderco made a dedicated whittling knife like the K09 in a steel like 52100.

[Sharp Guy]

Baby Horn seems like a good one.

If you're just peeling wood off a stick (or block of wood like I do) any sharp Spyderco will work pretty well. I do it all the time to kind of test how the edge cuts. I keep a block of hard wood on my work bench at home and a small one in my desk at work. I often whittle for a few minutes just to mess around

[yablanowitz]

Yep. For casual stick shortening and shaving production, anything with a sharp edge will do. If you're going to do it for very long, the handle is more important than the blade, which is where the paring knife falls short for me. I need something a bit wider for long sessions. Detail work is where long blades like the Des Horn and wide blades like the Native and to a lesser extent the Calypso Jr. become a hinderence. I picked up a jigged bone Kiwi at a seconds sale that the bone scales were crumbling, replaced to scales with ironwood, thinned out the blade a bit and made it into a pretty decent whittling knife. The handle is still a bit small for me, though.

[elena86]

It would be more interesting to debate which steel is better for whittling ...

[JD Spydo]

Nilakka if you can find one, the Wolfspyder works well. I've also used the Calypso jr., Native 5 and Kiwi quite a bit. If you can find a Des Horn, it makes a very nice whittling knife aside from the blade being a bit long , at least for me.
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Yeah I think you're on to something there Yablanowitz. I would add the Spyderco Warren Thomas Karambit to that Des Horn model if I was into whittling. Also I might try that Dragonfly Hawkbill as well.