Wood carving is an activity that involves cutting, shaping, and, of course, carving beautiful designs on wood either professionally or as a hobby. In order to carve a piece of wood into an intricate masterpiece, a woodcarver will need a carving knife.
Wood carving knives can be either foldable or non-foldable, but a more complex and in-depth carving task might require a professional non-foldable knife. To help you ascertain what kind of knife you might need for your new project, we cover the 6 best pocket knives for wood carving on the market.
1. Old Timer 24OT Whittling Knife
This product offers many features, including six unique blades of 1.5 inches, an ergonomic handle, and several safety features, making it a diverse tool for both professionals and home users. It’s able to carve out all necessary portions on your woodworking project within a minimal timeframe, making it seem like an effortless task.
The Old Timer 24OT will be efficient in serving your everyday wood carving needs for a very long time. Its framework can last without breaking or wearing off due to friction, making it a handy, yet sophisticated tool to have with you anywhere you might be.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 3.9 ounces
- Dimensions: 6 inches (overall length), 1.5 inches (blade length)
- Blade Material: 65 Mn high carbon steel
- Number of Blades: Six
- Style: Foldable
Pros
- High carbon steel blades
- Six unique blades for multiple purposes
- Ergonomic handle
- Several safety features
- Portable and compact design
Cons
- Doesn’t have any locking mechanisms
- Can be quite difficult to sharpen
- Although portable, it can feel small in hands above average size
- Bolters might fall off over time
2. Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack Knife
One of its blades measures 2 inches, while the other measures 1½ inches in length. With an overall length of 4.25 inches, the knife is lightweight at just 4.8 ounces, thereby making maneuverability seamless. The razor-sharp blades are made from a tough carbon steel material that guarantees years of operation and functionality.
This Flexcut knife doesn’t have any lock mechanisms, limiting its safety, even though it is a foldable knife. Regardless, this is a diverse, multi-purpose breed of knife ideal for professionals and beginning wood carving enthusiasts.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 4.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 4.25 inches (overall length), 2 inches and 1.5 inches (blade lengths)
- Blade Material: 65 Mn high carbon steel
- Number of Blades: Two
- Style: Foldable
Pros
- Two razor-sharp blades for multiple purposes
- Ergonomic design
- Lightweight and portable
- Easy to handle
- High carbon steel blades
- Hang package design
Cons
- Features only two blades
- Very little safety features
- No locking mechanism
- Can be quite difficult to sharpen
- Bolters might fall off over time
3. Imperial Schrade Congress Folding Pocket Knife
This awesome tool weighs only 3.041 ounces, is portable with an ergonomic amber handle with tight bolsters, and also features four razor-sharp, tough, stainless steel blades of 2.1 inches essential for multiple applications.
If you’re on a budget, or just an amateur wood carver, it’s always better to have a knife with multiple applications, especially for home users. This can limit your dependability on specialty knives for professionals. This knife by Imperial is one such knife that will last you a long time.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 3.041 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.7 inches (overall length), 2.1 inches (blade length)
- Blade Material: 3Cr13MoV stainless steel
- Number of Blades: Four
- Style: Foldable
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Four razor-sharp stainless steel blades
- Features a lock mechanism
- Easy for beginners to handle
- Ergonomic design
- Foldable design
- Multi-purpose application
Cons
- Can be quite difficult to sharpen
- Bolters might fall off over time
- Not ideal for heavy-duty wood carving
- Doesn’t have a pocket clip
4. UJ Ramelson Wood Carving Knives
Although not a full tang, the unique handles are ergonomic and point toward the base of the knife (the fishtail) to provide support for your fingers and palm, ensuring optimal comfort when maneuvering around your project.
This wood carving set is perfect for high-grade professional wood carving, but home users or beginners will also find this set very useful. In addition to providing durability and comfort, this set includes fine carbon steel blades with multiple functions, including a stabbing knife, slant chip knife, bench knife, hook knife, and large chip knife, all in a leather pouch for safekeeping.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 13.9 ounces
- Dimensions: 6.5 inches (overall length), 1.75 inches (blade lengths)
- Blade Material: 1095 high-carbon steel
- Number of Blades: Five
- Style: Non-foldable
Pros
- Compact design
- Five razor-sharp, high-carbon steel blades for multi-purpose applications
- Features a tool pouch for easy storage and carriage
- Easy for beginners to handle
- Applicable in heavy-duty tasks
- Ergonomic handle
- Quite easy to sharpen
Cons
- No full tang knives included
- Its size doesn’t fit well in pockets
5. UJ Ramelson Chip Wood Whittling Knives
These budget-friendly, wood carving knives use high-quality materials similar to other knife blades in their class. However, unlike foldable knives, the blades of this set are fixed and don’t retract. Like the other UJ Ramelson set, these are not full tang knives, but the blades and handles are durable enough.
We are certain you’ll love this tool, even if you’re a beginner, because of how sharp the blades’ edges are and how easy it is to produce that fine finishing you’ve always had in mind.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 13.6 ounces
- Dimensions: Average of 6.5 inches (overall length), average of 1.25 inches (blade length)
- Blade Material: 1095 high-carbon steel
- Number of Blades: Five
- Style: Non-foldable
Pros
- Applicable for heavy-duty tasks
- Five razor-sharp steel blades
- Ergonomic curved design
- Features a tool pouch for easy carriage and storage
- Ideal for both professionals and beginners
- Easy to sharpen
Cons
- Not very convenient as a pocket knife
- No full tang knives included
- Handles may become loose after extensive use
6. Old Timer 44OT Traditional Folding Knife
This foldable multi-purpose tool presents four solid, stainless steel blades that guarantee an efficient performance in wood carving. Its overall length is 5.6 inches with an average blade length of 2.2 inches. The handle is made of aluminum material with brass inlays and two solid bolsters to ensure an ergonomic and durable design for intricate artwork.
The primary blade of the Old Timer 44OT has a similar design to all other of its blades, however, this does not limit its functionality in wood whittling. The cutting edges of the blades are high-quality and can cut through hard wood effortlessly.
Product Specifications
- Weight: 1.8 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.6 inches (overall length), 2.2 inches (blade length)
- Blade Material: 7Cr17MoV stainless steel
- Number of Blades: Four
- Style: Foldable
Pros
- High-quality stainless steel blades
- Features several safety measures (foldable)
- Four special blades for multiple purposes
- Ergonomic handle
- Sleek design
- Portable and compact
- Lightweight
Cons
- Can be quite difficult to sharpen
- Not ideal for heavy-duty tasks
- Might require honing to retain a sharp edge after use
Buying Guide for Pocket Knives
One of the great things about wood carving is that you can do it anywhere. Hence, your knife should be fairly portable or pocket-sized and durable enough to cut wood without much effort when maneuvering. Below are some more buying tips to consider when choosing the ideal wood carving knife for you.
Foldable and Non-Foldable Knives
There are two types of carving knives, foldable and non-foldable, and several manufacturers produce brands with similar features and qualities. Non-foldable knives tend to be heavy-duty, professional-grade specialty tools, but if you’re on a budget or looking to do a little home carving, a pocket-sized foldable knife will come in handy for everyday use.
Type of Blade: Stainless and High-Carbon
The majority of foldable carving knives have stainless steel blades, but many, including the non-foldable ones, have carbon steel blades. Stainless steel blades don’t corrode and can retain an edge much longer without requiring frequent sharpening. Although stainless steel blades slowly become dull, it’s time-consuming to sharpen them.
Blades with high-carbon steel are more expensive than those with stainless steel, but are prone to corroding and are easier to sharpen. Many manufacturers combine these two types of blades (stainless and high-carbon steel) to create a high-carbon, stainless steel blade that has the best of both worlds.
Blade Location and Shape
Foldable knives with more than 6 blades tend to be more fragile and more of a hassle to use. You may find it difficult to control and maneuver just one knife amidst the other blades. We recommend purchasing brands with less than 6 blades for more convenience.
Remember to keep in mind the shape of the blades as well. This is essential, particularly when carving out delicate portions. Go for a model with at least a sheepsfoot and a drop-point blade.
Blade Safety Features
Look for safety features, such as locking mechanisms for foldable blades and storage pouches for fixed blades, to avoid accidents when using or storing the tools. No one wants to get cut!
Conclusion
Wood carving knives are flexible tools, but it’s easy to get bogged down by all the details when there are so many different models on the market. We hope that this guide has made it a little easier for you to find the best pocket knife for wood carving. Whichever knife you choose, always remember to keep it stored safely. Happy carving!