"Freya," my drawknife

Whittlin' is done mostly with one knife, but there are times when a more specialized tool is called for. A drawknife makes shaving larger pieces quicker and easier, such as shaping the outside of a large bowl, or debarking a limb for a walking stick project.



My drawknife, affectionately dubbed "Freya," due to her her good looks and Scandinavian origin, is made by Frost's Mora and purchased from Ragnar's Ragweed Forge. It's handles extend straight out from the blade on either side, unlike traditional drawknives who's handles are mounted almost at 90 degrees. I find the Frost's style very comfortable and natural to hold, especially for longer carving sessions. I grasp both handles and rest my thumbs on the flat of the blade, then slice away long curls of bark and wood with a pulling motion similar to using a rowing machine.





Since it came without a sheath, I made a blade guard from some basswood (with the bark still on it!) and used a woodburner to apply her name. The guard fits snugly and she's never looked better.

Review: Case XX Seahorse Whittler

I really like my Seahorse Whittler. I purchased it a couple of years ago on a visit to the Case/Zippo headquarters in Bradford, PA. (About one hour south of Buffalo.) It's a nice drive especially in the fall. The Zippo/Case museum is well worth the trip.

The Seahorse comes equipped with three blades: a pen blade, a coping blade, and a wharncliffe master blade. The master blade does the heavier carving, while the two smaller blades are excellent for detail work and for getting into tight spots such as carving a ball-in-cage.

For this knife Case uses it's "tru-sharp" surgical stainless steel, which is as good as any stainless I've used. I find it easy to sharpen and maintain, and while I'm not as hardcore about steels as some people, I do wonder what a difference a Seahorse in Case's classic Chrome Vanadium might be. They have yet to release a CV Seahorse, and there's no word of any plans to do so.

I've done plenty of carving with my Seahorse and have few complaints. The master blade's wide spine gives my thumb a comfortable place to press, and it's straight edge is a snap to sharpen. It is a folder, so it's grip size is small compared to my larger fixed blade knives. Small grip size can contribute to hand cramping during long-term use. My solution to this is simply to take frequent breaks for stretching. Also, holding a hot cup of tea or coffee seems to ward off muscle fatigue.