Man whittling wood with a large knife

The Best Whittling Knives for Woodworking

Woodworking is an up and coming hobby for a lot of reasons, like its calming nature and the beauty of its finished products. Woodworking projects can range from large pieces like decorations or canoes, to medium-sized ones like tables or chairs, to small pieces like spoons or ornaments.

Best Whittling Knives: Reviews

For your benefit, we have put together 6 reviews of the best whittling knives available on the market today.

1. Old Timer 24 OT Splinter Carving Folding Whittling Knife

This 6-inch knife from Old Timer comes with a folding system and all the available blades are about 1.5 inches long. The blades are made out of high-carbon steel and the handle is made out of sawcut wood.

The knife has 6 different blade types that can be folded out for use, with 3 on each side. This includes nail pullers, a straight gouge, a hook blade, a v-scorp, a gouge corp, and a chisel, making this knife system ideal for all types of carving and whittling projects.

Specifications

  • Number of knives — 6
  • Item length — 6 inches
  • Blade length — 1.5 inches
  • Item weight — 3.9 ounces
  • Blade material — High-Carbon Steel
  • Color — Black, Silver, and Brown
  • Bag included — No

Pros

Pros
  • The blade system has 6 different options in it, making it an excellent choice for all sorts of whittling needs.
  • With a convenient double sided knife system, this product has managed to fit multiple options into a compact design.
  • The back springs of the blades are heat-treated and are durable for a small chance of slipping.

Cons

Cons
  • The blade size is only 1.5 inches, and this might not be the best fit for people looking for larger blades.
  • Though the double-sided design is convenient, you will have to keep switching between the two sides if you’re working on a project that requires tools located on opposite sides.

View On Amazon

2. Similky Wood Carving Knives

This set of wood carving knives from Similky comes with a set of 3 knives for all sorts of whittling projects. If you’re new to your wood carving journey, it will be easy to figure out which knife to use for which purpose with this set. The set comes with a leather strop for sharpening and a convenient tool pouch for storage and safety.

Besides a detail knife, cutting knife, and roughing knife, the set also comes with a leather polishing compound, cut resistant gloves, and a spoon carving block for you to begin your whittling journey right away.

Specifications

  • Number of knives — 3
  • Item length — 6 inches
  • Blade length — 1.5 inches
  • Item weight — 1.09 pounds
  • Blade material — High-Carbon Steel
  • Color — Silver and Brown
  • Bag included — Yes

Pros

Pros
  • This set is a complete kit in itself for beginners, as it comes with a wooden spoon block as well to get you started immediately.
  • The set has safety precautions, as it comes with cut resistant gloves to make sure you’re safe while whittling.
  • If your knives get blunt, you have the option of sharpening them with the items provided in the box.

Cons

Cons
  • The blade sizes are on the smaller side, and this might not be the best fit for someone looking for a bigger carving knife.
  • The blades are not heat-treated, which means that they may blunt easily with long-term use.

View On Amazon

3. Sywan Wood Carving Tools Set

This set of wood carving tools from Sywan comes with three whittling knives, including a detail knife, a whittling knife, and a hook knife. The set also includes oil wax and a polishing strap to make sure that your knives stay in good condition. The handles on the whittling knife and the hook knife are normal, straight handles, while the detailing knife has a more curved, ergonomic handle for better use.

Along with these materials, the set also includes a pair of cut resistant gloves to ensure your safety. The set comes with a pouch with compartments for easy storage.

Specifications

  • Number of knives — 3
  • Item length — 135 millimeters t0 178 millimeters
  • Blade length — 29 millimeters to 60 millimeters
  • Item weight — 5.6 ounces
  • Blade material — High-Manganese Steel
  • Color — Silver and Brown
  • Bag included — Yes

Pros

Pros
  • The cut resistant gloves included in the kit give you a safe experience if you’re new to wood whittling.
  • The hook knife included in the set is a great option for activities like Kuksa Carving.
  • The set comes with oil wax and a polishing strap to make sure the tools stay in good condition

Cons

Cons
  • Unlike other kits, there are no woodblocks included in this set, and you will have to order them separately.
  • The pouch included with the kit is made of cloth and should be stored away in a safe place to avoid possible injuries.

View On Amazon

4. BeaverCraft Whittling Wood Carving Kit

This wood carving kit by BeaverCraft comes with three knives for all sorts of small woodworking projects. The kit includes a detail knife, a cutting knife, and the roughing knife. It also comes with a sharpening leather strop and a tool pouch for safe and easy storage of the knives when not in use.

All handles on the knives in this toolset are curved and ergonomically designed to fit well in your hands and give you the best whittling experience. The sharpening leather strop can help you keep your knives in good shape after multiple uses.

Specifications

  • Number of knives — 3
  • Package dimensions — 10 x 3.6 x 2.3 inches
  • Item weight — 8.8 ounces
  • Blade material — Steel
  • Color — Silver and Brown
  • Bag included — Yes

Pros

Pros
  • The package comes with three knives for your whittling needs ranging from simple carving to detailing.
  • The leather strop included in the package makes it easy for you to keep your knives in good condition, even after using it multiple times.
  • The handles on all three knives are curved and ergonomically designed to fit well in your hands and get the job done.

Cons

Cons
  • The kit does not come with safety gloves, so you might have to order them separately if you’re new to woodworking, for your own safety.
  • The kit does not include sample pieces for woodworking, so you might have to order them separately before you can start your projects.

View On Amazon

5. UJ Ramelson Set of 5 Wood Carving Knives

This set of carving knives by UJ Ramelson comes in a set of 5, with each knife in a different shape to suit your whittling needs. The handles on the knives are made out of colored wood and are curved in shape, and ergonomic in design to give you the best whittling experience while avoiding fatigue when working on your woodworking projects.

The set also comes with a leather holder with 5 pockets for each knife, which can be easily folded and stored in your bag or out of the way if not in use. The blades are made out of high-carbon steel for strength, sharpness, and durability.

Specifications

  • Number of knives — 5
  • Package dimensions — 14.92 x 5.08 x 3.19 inches
  • Item weight — 13.6 ounces
  • Blade material — High-Carbon Steel
  • Color — Red, Silver, and Brown
  • Bag included — Yes

Pros

Pros
  • The set has 5 different knives of varying lengths, making it convenient for you to pick whichever tool you want according to your benefit.
  • The blades on the knives are made out of high-carbon steel and will retain their sharpness even after multiple uses.
  • A thick leather pouch for the tools is included with the set, which will help you stow them away safely and easily without the tools poking out and causing damage or injuries.

Cons

Cons
  • The knives included in the set are all of similar shapes, so if you’re looking for options like hook knives, this might not be the best fit for you.
  • The set does not include any sharpening or protective equipment, so you might have to order it separately.

View On Amazon

6. UJ Ramelson Set of 3 Whittling Knives

This set of whittling knives from UJ Ramelson comes in a pack of 3, including whittling knives and detailing knives. The knives all have straight, wooden handles, and are perfect for people who want to get started on small woodworking projects at home.

The knives all have a dual tang design and are embedded about halfway through the handle to give them a stable and sturdy feel. You can use the knives not only for whittling wood but also for roughing and detailing. The sharp edges on some of these knives can be a great option for detailed woodworking.

Specifications

  • Number of knives — 3
  • Package dimensions — 8.07 x 2.87 x 0.87 inches
  • Item weight — 4.4 ounces
  • Blade material — Steel
  • Color — Silver and Brown
  • Bag included — No

Pros

Pros
  • The whittling knife included in the set is a good option for carving wood.
  • The detailing knife has a sharp point at the end, which can be great for carving details into your workpiece.
  • The knives come with multicolored wooden handles, giving them a great look and sophisticated feel while using.

Cons

Cons
  • There is no bag included in the package for storage.
  • The set does not come with a sharpening instrument, and you might have to purchase it separately.

View On Amazon

Buyer’s Guide

These were the best whittling knives available on the market today, so you can get started off with your woodworking projects! If you’re still confused about which set to get after knowing about their specifications, pros, and cons, we have also put together a buyer’s guide for you to pick the best option for you based on your preferences.

  1. The Beginner’s Kit: If you’re just starting out on this hobby, you should check out the UJ Ramelson Set of 3 Whittling Knives or the BeaverCraft Whittling Wood Carving Kit.
  2. The Complete Kit: If you want something that includes multiple knives for your benefit, check out the UK Ramelson Set of 5 Whittling Knives or the Similky Wood Carving Knives.
  3. The Compact Kit: If you do not want to mess around with multiple tools and just want one knife for everything, check out the Old Timer Folding Whittling Knife.
  4. The Comfortable Kit: If you’re someone who enjoys working on their own time and wants a kit that mirrors that aspect, check out the convenient Sywan Wood Carving Tools Set.

Wrap Up

Whatever the project is, woodworking is becoming more and more popular every day, and so are the products you need for it. The good part about woodworking is that if you’re interested in the field, you do not need a large investment to start working on it.

There are several large, high-powered machines that you can use in your garage for big projects, but if you’re looking for something as a beginner and want to create smaller projects with more intricate details, a whittling knife is enough.

Wood whittling is a fun and interesting hobby, and we hope that you do take it up. The knives mentioned in this review are of the highest quality and will all get the work done, but we hope that you found the right fit for you according to your needs after reading this review. We wish you all the best on your beautiful art projects with these tools!