What One Whittling Knife Should You Get?

Many of you who watch this channel are on a budget and are only able to pick up a single whittling or wood carving knife. This video goes over several excellent options for beginners who want to choose the best knife for them without spending too much money. The video covers both standard fixed bladed knives as well as pocket knives that are great for beginners.
Where to find the knives shown:
Flexcut Roughing Knife: amzn.to/30uqray
OCC Knives: treelineusa.com/occ-knives-fo...
Beavercraft Cutting Knife: amzn.to/3HqrBnW
Mora 120 Sloyd Knife: amzn.to/3HrEYnV
Mastercarver: amzn.to/3Cn1N8C
Oldtimer 3OT: amzn.to/3wPY7er
Rough Ryder Swayback Whittler: amzn.to/3qIDIXB
Swiss Army Knife: amzn.to/3FiDElt
Opinel Carbon Steel: amzn.to/3wPTwbY
Links to Amazon are affiliate links, for more information click here: carvingisfun.com/affiliate-li...

[@hawkeyesplace7442]

I did it! I made my first ever carving! And it actually looks like what it is supposed to be! Woohoo! I made a very small mushroom. I used the small blade on my Swiss Army knife. I had some issues with pushing too hard and the blade wanting to close. I also used my Mora companion. I made it from green Bradford Pear. Thank you for your encouragement to all of us who are fascinated by whittling!

[@CarvingisFun]

Excellent!! Taking the first steps is always the most difficult part. Keep walking forward and there's no telli g what you will create!

[@BUILT2KEEL]

I also did my first carving! A little bird, worked out really good, as a knife collector im glad i had more options for knives but when you learn to strop its a game changer. Razor sharp knives are a must ❤ i had a mora basic and an opinel no8, along with the given blade

[@averagestegosaurus2000]

I love your vids! it seems like u have a video on everything i'm wondering as someone who is looking to get into whittling

[@grahamparr3933]

The opinel number seven is great as you can buy a few and modify the blades yourself to various sizes, I have modified two, one to 1.75 inches to rough out, and the second to 1 inch detail knife.

[@CarvingisFun]

Very true! I actually bought a #9 as I want to see what mods I can do with it.

[@harvestblades]

Opinel are fantastic pocket knives. Now I really don't whittle, but have purchased the #7 for my kids when they were a bit younger & could see them working well. I own the #8 & 9 & have used it as an edc knife, light camp chores, basic carvin etc, but itbreally has become my food knife when working or as my steak knife when going out to eat because I'm not using some ugly saw to cut my steak. I've known guys who have modified the blades of the #8 & #9 & coukd see that making a great economical whittling knife.

[@cobbler88]

I've got a No. 7 as well. I really like it and I can see how, if modified a bit, it can be a great carver. I think for a beginner, he needs something more out-of-the-box sharp so he can worry about the details without having to bother so much with the instrument itself.

[@RodMarkins1965]

I bought a hutsuls sloyd and a detail knife. Tried them for a while. Am very happy with the purchase. Less than beaver craft. In cost.

[@whittler0507]

Very well done young man ..good explaination of a budget choice ..I find the OCCT a good knife for all around ..easy to sharpen ..Thank you for the info

[@CarvingisFun]

Thanks Gene!! I do enjoy my OCCT knives, I usually grab my OCCT tool kit and throw it in my travel bag or backpack if I'm going somewhere and want a good set to work with.

[@elim7228]

OCCT make excellent knives. I have their Wharncliffe grind 2 and 1 and 1/4 in. Their O1 steel is pretty good too. Easy to resharpen. I mostly ever use the bigger one.

[@tomevans4402]

I have most of these including a Halvie inch and three quarter, I find I reach for my Occ inch and three eights the most. Beaver craft knives and tools are great.

[@CarvingisFun]

Sounds like you have all of your bases covered :) It's interesting what blades you naturally gravitate towards, even with my pocket knives I pull out the smaller blades the majority of the time.

[@bwxbwx6453]

I always gran a victorniox to carve with you just kinda find what you like after a while Great video

[@CarvingisFun]

Very true! You just eventually gravitate towards your favorites :)

[@justinator1010]

Hey Brian I've been watching a bunch of your knife videos recently and own a flex cut 3 pack of knifes as well as a few cheap pocket knifes that all do a great job. I just ordered a opinel #8 carbon and happened to come across a svord whittling knife that's full tang with plastic handles and I was wondering if you've come across it or tried it?

[@CarvingisFun]

Svord has been on my list of knivrs to try out. I am personally skeptical on the stability of the pladtic handles and think they may have a blade thst is a bit thicker than I personally want, but i think it will work fine if it's all one had.

[@haroldmiller6853]

I personally love my spoon jack pocket knife probably my favorite go to for carving everything from a tent peg to a spoon or small cup .

[@CarvingisFun]

The spoon jack is an outstanding tool and is perfect for someone who wants to make a utilitarian item on the go!

[@haroldmiller6853]

@@CarvingisFun I got it on your recommendation in the spring and fell 100% in love with it

[@giiian23]

Hi, great video! I'm just getting started on this wonderful hobby and bought an opinel knife. You suggest putting your own edge to it. Is a leather strop enough or do I need a whetstone?

[@CarvingisFun]

I reccomend using 800-1000 grit then 2000 grit before hitting a strop. You can do this with a whetstone or do what I do and use some wet/dry sandpaper glued to a block of wood

[@giiian23]

Thanks, I will try it!!

[@giiian23]

@@CarvingisFun if you had to choose between the flexcut, like the one in the video, and the pocket whittler II, what would you choose? I do like how the pocket whittler 2 looks, but if the blade is worse than the flexcut I won't buy it

[@CarvingisFun]

If you are whittling at home most of the time, Flexcut. If you plan on whittling while camping or out and about, the pocket whittler. You may just need to touch up the pocket whittler on some 1000 grit stobe and hone sharp is all.

[@PK-se2jh]

Thankyou

[@stillincompetent347]

Do you know any alternatives for knives in the UK? Beavercraft seems tempting but also that delivery time is a little off-putting (off a quick search anywhere from 11-45 days, not exactly appealing)

[@CarvingisFun]

Ray Ilse is a nice brand. I have a few of their tools and like them quite a bit.

[@Erwin_AMS]

Nice

[@nicholaskrut3008]

What size Opinel do you recommend for whittling? Can a number 8 still be good for detail work?

[@CarvingisFun]

The 8 is significantly thicker than the 7, personally I find the 7 to be just a bit better for whittling

[@nicholaskrut3008]

@@CarvingisFun Thanks!!!

[@propblast82nd]

Great video . Have you ever tried the Cold Steel mini tuff ?

[@CarvingisFun]

I've seen them but never actually used one. They look like a decent short bladed folder.

[@stephenwhittier6439]

OCCT 1.5 is what I use most, sometimes their 1.7/8 .

[@CarvingisFun]

Always a good choice!

[@cobbler88]

The Opinel is fine, but based only on my experience it's not for a beginner carver. It's a great knife. It just doesn't quite get sharp enough for someone just starting out, who has so many other things to learn, practice, etc., to also have to struggle with a knife less sharp than, say, a FlexCut that only costs a few dollars more. Experienced whittlers likely CAN use any of these knives because they know how to work around just about any deficiency it might have. Beginners don't have that.

[@brianedwards7142]

Is there a reason you didn't mention any of the flexcut jacks?

[@CarvingisFun]

I considered it, had it on the table, reorganized what I was going to say, and then promptly forgot to put it back on the table. Complete oversight on my part and didn't notice that I forgot till now! This is what I get for my sleep depravation.

[@bookoo0193]

I don't think you've done a proper review on the rough ryder whittler, any good?

[@CarvingisFun]

You are correct, I havent publicly done one. However I did do an unboxing video on it and after using it for a while I really like it for its value. The unlisted video is here, the video is a lil rough but its a good ryde :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWaWh6eQqcxoras

[@murrayberger4344]

I made a set of knives for woodcarving.

[@nicholaskrut3008]

Can I whittle with just a flexcut DETAIL jack? Or is it too small?

[@CarvingisFun]

I did for a good long while, its a great lil knife!

[@lake8889]

1:50 occ tools

[@averagestegosaurus2000]

I live in Finland. There is no official flexcut partners here. 1 finnish site had it for 38€ + 10 € shipping. A site in Germany sells it for 20€ + 19 € shipping, but the 3x knife set (roughing, detail and cutting knife) would be be better value. That would be 55€ + 19 € which is 25 € per knife instead of 39€. Or I could buy the beavercraft roughing knife for 27 € total in Finland. Regarding the wood I think beavercraft is the best option I know so far. But considering they are in Kiev, Ukraine I'm not sure it will work bcz of the war.

[@CarvingisFun]

Surprisingly enough Beavercraft has found ways to keep the flow of product shipping out to customers recently. I've been paying attention to them the last few weeks and they have been working remotly from various parts of the world and getting product shipped to customers. It just seems like nothing can stop these people!

[@magnuscarlsenbutdumb]

man i just use my good old morakniv. best knife ever cheap AF

[@bigbossignition]

Costs $50+ where I live...

[@AJHart-eg1ys]

@@bigbossignition Where do you live? There are certainly Moraknivs that cost that and more. But the cheapest (I think the 511) starts at about $10 when I look it up from the US.

[@aussiegordon847]

Is it better to get one quality knife instead of a set of medium-quality knives?

[@CarvingisFun]

Absolutely!! For most of my whittling projects I just use a single knife. One good knife will last you a long long time

[@handbdxcf]

you should add a pinned comment to explain your videos

[@CarvingisFun]

Thats not a bad idea! Thanks for thr suggestion :)

[@grahamparr3933]

Dad’s Dad? Would that be your Grandfather🤔

[@CarvingisFun]

Yep! My brain went to saying my dad as he was the one who gave me the knife but my brain did a silly. So now its my dads dad :)

[@KE-cq5pn]

Give the Flexcut a miss, rubbish

[@CarvingisFun]

Of those on the video I usually pick up my OCC first myself :)

[@Wreckz_Tea]

You seem kinda nervous on camera. Relax

[@CarvingisFun]

Just introverted is all :) Im reaching way outside my comfort zone doing this channel.

[@Wreckz_Tea]

@@CarvingisFun I understand how it goes. Keep it up youve got tons of knowledge to share

[@no-gh8br]

@@CarvingisFun you're doing amazing, i enjoyed the video and it helped me. Thank you😊

[@kxshiamv5834]

@@CarvingisFun You are doing great! Love your work!!