what is a carpenters whittler?

rockgolfer

rockgolfer

Joined
Mar 1, 2008
Messages
4,555
What defines them? I have not seen a unique frame shape for them and I have seen some labeled such with a sheepsfoot and a clip for a main blade. I would love to learn more behind the name and style of this particular pattern.
 
Never seen that one. Have noticed Queen or Schatt with one. An old case marked as such. If anyone has some pics of any they know of this would be a great place to put them ;)

I will try to track down the ones I have seen but its harder from my phone(laptop has been dead for to long now)
 
Three variations pictured here, the top two (BSA & Remington) are Camillus #72 Carpenters Whittlers (so named by Camillus) and Schrade's version, an Open Stock 863. The distinguishing features are standard springs (no wedge spring or split spring) and a Coping blade pinned on the same end as the main Clip blade. OH

Camillus_Official_BSA_1047.JPG


Remington_Whittler_R14-D_Camillus_.JPG


Schrade_863_1_.jpg
 
Page 248, Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values, 4th Edition:

Whittlers range in size from ladies' pen knives under 2 inches closed, on up to practical wood-carving tools over 4 inches long. Larger whittlers were called "carpenter's knives" by some manufacturers.
Click to expand...

I think it was more a marketing term than anything. I have an older (circa early 1950s) Western "Carpenters Special" #6346 that is a 3 3/4-inch serpentine whittler. This is the only good pic I have at the moment. Bottom knife:

westernwhittler_zps91b77662.jpg
 
Different makers and merchants called them different things. Here is one from the 1941 Sears Catalog called a "carver" and the coping blade is called a "sloyd" blade.

8x9eyt.jpg


Here is a different frame from the Sears 1949 catalog called a "carpenter".

snl5pv.jpg


From the 1962 catalog, a "Whittler".

1zb5ern.jpg
 
Last edited:
If you want to go back a few years, the top knife in this page from the 1886 HSB catalog is called a Carpenter's Knife...
 
If you ask a Case collector, he'll tell you it's the 6380 pattern, like this one (not mine, pic lifted from the web).

delrin_6380.jpg
 
Here's some examples of the Case 80 pattern in red and brown bone. It's my favorite pattern because of it's smooth lines yet hefty size!







 
There are two totally different patterns of knives being shown here. One thing they have in common is the general type of blades they contain. Otherwise, totally different. The first few pics describe a knife about 3 5/8 inches, with a swell center, often with "balloon" bolsters. Schrade 863, Camillus 72, and others by Western, probably CASE, maybe more. The 2 springs are typical configuration for a slipjoint. They are often called a whittler, but do not fit the classical definition of a whittler, either by how the blades are let into the frame or by the springs, which are not wedged. As far as I know, the word "carpenter" to describe this pattern, was only used by Camillus, although I could be wrong.
The second pattern germane to the discussion is the one you see in later pics in this thread, about 3 7/8 inches long. Also made by all major companies, it is a true whittler in the classic sense, meaning that it has two springs, separated by a wedge. The master blade is by itself and rides on both springs. On the other end of the knife are two secondary blades which use only one spring each (obviously). This pattern was USUALLY referred to in the literature with the word "carpenter."
 
tongueriver said:
There are two totally different patterns of knives being shown here. One thing they have in common is the general type of blades they contain. Otherwise, totally different. The first few pics describe a knife about 3 5/8 inches, with a swell center, often with "balloon" bolsters. Schrade 863, Camillus 72, and others by Western, probably CASE, maybe more. The 2 springs are typical configuration for a slipjoint. They are often called a whittler, but do not fit the classical definition of a whittler, either by how the blades are let into the frame or by the springs, which are not wedged. As far as I know, the word "carpenter" to describe this pattern, was only used by Camillus, although I could be wrong.
The second pattern germane to the discussion is the one you see in later pics in this thread, about 3 7/8 inches long. Also made by all major companies, it is a true whittler in the classic sense, meaning that it has two springs, separated by a wedge. The master blade is by itself and rides on both springs. On the other end of the knife are two secondary blades which use only one spring each (obviously). This pattern was USUALLY referred to in the literature with the word "carpenter."
Click to expand...

If I am not entirely mistaken, "Balloon pattern" refers to a "Swell center" frame and not to the bolsters and caps.

2j67ha0.png
 
More shots of my Western "Carpenters Special" whittler:
western001_zps77d9908c.jpg


western002_zpsbd37afd3.jpg


western003_zps103aa5d8.jpg


western004_zps06a577c3.jpg


Next 2 photos are ads for the Western "Carpenters Special" from The Knife Makers Who Went West, Harvey Platts
westernwhittler2_zpsc4c16737.jpg


The second ad includes Mechanics, too :)
westernwhittler3_zpsf710579d.jpg



From Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values, 4th Edition, Bernard Levine

A whittler is a three-blade pen knife with a large blade in one end and two small cutting blades of equal length in the other end. Whittlers have two springs. Each small blade bears on one of the springs. The large blade is extra thick and it bears on both springs. The thick master blade bearing on two springs is the most distinctive feature of a whittler.
Click to expand...



A side note about whittlers:

Two-spring whittlers are sometimes inaccurately referred to as split-spring whittlers... they aren't really.

Here's a photo of a true split-spring:

jackson-146.jpg
 
Hey Al, I love that pic of the "true split-spring." Never seen one in person before, thanks!
 
Lots of great info, thank you. Here are two pics I stole of other carpenter whittlers


First is a schatt & morgan. In my limited experience, have never seen another whittler with a sheepsfoot main blade





Second is a case posted by arathol in another thread. Very unique master clip. Love the almost tanto/chisel like tip.
 
The original post did specify "Carpenter's Whittler" and two different patterns have been shown, as stated above.

Just to confuse things even further, here are two traditional cattle knife patterns from Robeson, but with "CARPENTER'S CHOICE" etched on the master blade and a serpentine patterned stockman with "CARPENTER'S KNIFE" engraved and gold filled on the front handle.







And here is a knife Robeson made in both two and three blade patterns, a serpentine stockman type knife, but with a specialized chisel type blade. The master is etched, "WOODCRAFT"



Here is a hefty Robeson true whittler with blades useful for wood work.

 
Jiki Jiki Nice hefty examples, kind of beefed up Seahorse :D How's the W&T on those Schatts?

My interpretation of Carpenter's Knife/Whittler was that the Master always had to be a straight blade, probably arbitrary though as a lot of these knife names are more styles or to do with marketing in catalogues, even in them days..;)

Thanks, Will
 
Will Power said:
Jiki Jiki Nice hefty examples, kind of beefed up Seahorse :D How's the W&T on those Schatts?

My interpretation of Carpenter's Knife/Whittler was that the Master always had to be a straight blade, probably arbitrary though as a lot of these knife names are more styles or to do with marketing in catalogues, even in them days..;)

Thanks, Will
Click to expand...
These are beefed up seahorses or even a geppetto.
These two have a pull of about a 9. Which is good on this knife IMO because I am using them at work.
They are also 1095 steel. I like Queen's 1095 you can get a really nice edge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top