Best Carving Pocket Knife | 5 Must Have Blades [UPDATED]

Last updated on November 18th, 2022 at 11:43 am

Are you looking for the best carving pocket knife? With plenty to choose from, you can find yourself overwhelmed. Add that to some smart marketing that may deceive you into choosing a product that is not right for you. We will review some great picks and provide you with tips! This post will help you choose the ideal carving pocket knife.

While there are many pocket knives on the market, not all of them can help you carve and give you the shape you need. Let’s take a look at the best carving pocket knife. We will look at the essential features of a good carving pocket knife and what makes a pocket knife a good carving knife.

Our Top Pick for Best Carving Pocket Knife

In a Hurry?

Do you just not have the time to go through everything being shoved your way in terms of pocket knife information? Here’s a quick guide as to what you need to look for. The first thing is that it needs to be portable and safe to carry around. You will need to check on how easily it fits in your pocket. Inspect the blade size and design.

Also, check on the folding mechanism. You want a knife that is easy to open up and locks in place to avoid injuries. Also, make sure that it is made of durable material. The blade width influences the amount of control you get with the knife. The thinner blades give you the excellent control required when carving. Check on the number of blades that it comes with.

Round Up of the Best Carving Pocket Knives

FLEXCUT Pocket Jack for Carvin’

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Flexcut makes great pocket tools, including the pocket jack for Carvin’. This knife has four specific carving blades, which all fold in. The four blades are a detail blade, a straight gouge, a V-Scorp, and a gouge scorp. Each of the blades is hardened and sharpened before the knife is sold.

As a safety feature, all four blades lock in place. This will allow you to carve, knowing that your fingers aren’t in danger of being snipped by a blade out of place. The knife has a black handle with gold trimming in terms of looks. The blade shafts are flexible, giving you more control over your work.

Pros 

• It easily fits in a pocket, measuring a little over 4 inches. 
• The blades lock in place.
• It has four blades which makes it a convenient and versatile knife
• The blades all fold back in, making it a safe pocket knife to carry

Cons 

• It can be challenging to open and close, with some users saying the blades all pop out at once when you reach out for one. 
• The pins that hold the handle together could be smoother.

FLEXCUT Whittlin’ Jack JKN88

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This jackknife has two specific blades, a 1 1-1/2 inch detail knife and a 1/2-inch roughing knife. The entire knife measures just over 4inches, making it portable enough to fit in your pocket. The handles are silver and made of aluminum with a wooden inlay. The handle has an ergonomic design, which is comfortable for the carver and helps to avoid hand fatigue. 

The blades are long enough and proportional to the handle, offering reasonable carver control as you work. This is a good feature, especially when working on projects requiring more detail, such as figurines. 

Pros

• It is easy to take with you and use, making it the perfect pocket knife.
• It is comfortable to hold handles, and you can carve for long periods without hand fatigue. 
• The knife is well proportioned and has reasonable control
• The blades fold in, making the knife easy to carry in the pocket

Cons 

• The blades do not lock in place
• It is on the high end in pricing, especially compared to other knives that do the same job.

Fury Nobility Raindrop Razor Edge Blade Folding Knife with Rose Pakka Handle

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This knife is our top pick for the most affordable. It is much smaller than many pocket knives, measuring over 3 inches. The blade is curved slightly, and the handle has an ergonomic shape, making it easier to carve for long periods. The knife’s small size also gives you more control over your work and enables you to get into hard-to-reach places. 

However, the knife is not as sharp as it could be. This limits the wood that you can work on. It is a major disadvantage that some will shy away from. This is also why it is so important to know the type of projects you want to work on and the wood you will be using.

Pros

• It is compact and will nicely fit in the palm of your hand
• You get reasonable control over the knife because of the proportion
• It is very affordable

Cons 

• The blade does not sharpen easily nor entirely
• Some say that it is too small

Queen Cutlery Four-blade Congress

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As the name suggests, this knife has four blades. These blades fold in, making it easy to carry around your pocket. The knife is designed so that whichever way you use the blades, you still have a comfortable hold over the knife and the blades. Added control and comfort also means better projects.

The blades are made of D2 steel, which is semi-stainless European steel. The blades, however, brush up against each other. If this is not something you are willing to put up with, you must look for another knife.

Pros 

• It’s a good looking knife
• Offers various shapes and sizes of blades
• It is compact
• The blades are sharp

Cons 

• The blades brush up against each other
• For some, the extra blades can get in the way

Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife with Beechwood Handle

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This knife folds in, making it an easy pocket knife. When it is open, it measures 7.59 inches. The blade is made of carbon steel, a very durable material. The blade has good resistance as well as good cutting quality. It is large enough to do the job but still small enough to fall within the guidelines of not being a weapon in most countries.

The blade length on its own is 3.28inches. It is versatile, and it has a strong vibroloc safety ring that has one fixed section and another sliding section so that you can lock securely. The handle is made of beechwood from France. Some of the characteristics of this wood are that it is hard and durable, which is a feature you want in a carving knife.

Pros 

• It is durable
• It has a locking system that you can adjust as you see fit. 
• This is a versatile knife
• It is compact and fits nicely in a pocket.

Cons 

• The locking collar can be tough to use
• At first, the blade can be difficult to get out of the knife.

Buyer’s Guide

What is the difference between carving and whittling?

Carving is about forming shapes and designs from a piece of wood. It usually involves detailed carvings. Whittling refers to the removal of large chunks of wood. These two words are often interchanged, but they are not identical. The major difference is that you now use more specific tools to get more defined designs when you carve.

What type of pocket knife should I get?

There are a few things that you need to look out for in a good carving pocket knife. One of those is the blades and how they work. There are different pocket carving knives, including knives with blades that fold into the knife.

These are great because they do not take up too much space, and they can fit even in the smaller pockets of your luggage or clothing. The downside with these knives is that they can be challenging to open and close, which can be a potential risk. 

Then there are pocket knives that do not have a retractable blade. Instead, the knife has a sheath to protect the blade and your fingers. The good thing about these knives is that you will not have issues with opening and closing mechanisms, nor will you have to worry about it giving in to you. The downside is that the total length of the knife is cumbersome. There must be a balance between the knife’s blade and the handle. 

Durability

This is a key feature to check on. It is important to know how well the material used can hold up. Find out about the blade’s material and also the handle. Some materials can not withstand the pressure of carving through the wood. 

Does blade sharpness matter?

Yes, it does matter. Some brands make sure that the blade comes already sharpened and stays that way for more extended periods. Flexcut is one such brand. 

It is important that you can sharpen the blade to a razor-sharp point. This way, you can cut through both soft and hardwood. Find out if the knife comes with any sharpening tools and, if not, what the manufacturer recommends.

Does skill level count?

Buying a specialized tool such as a knife helps find what skill level is required. This way, you will not be fumbling for a tutorial when you have already bought the tool, only to realize that professionals best use it. Try to look for a knife that matches your skill level. 

What does the blade look like?

Check on how the blade or blades are constructed. The smallest blade should not exceed 1 1/1inches long, while the longest blade needs to be between 2 and 21/2inches. While these are not the rule of law, finding blades within this range would be ideal. 

Also, ensure that the blade has a notch or lever to pull it out if it is a retractable blade. The blades need to be shaped like a spear or have pointed tips and should not be too thick. This will enable you to carry out a variety of tasks. While it is not necessary to have additional blades, they can come in handy. 

Final Thoughts

The best carving pocket knife fulfills requirements such as size and portability. To know what type of knife you will need, look at the project you want to do, and then think about the type of wood you will be using. This will be a guideline for the strength and versatility you need in the knife.

As with all knives, it is important to keep all the necessary safety precautions in mind. Once it is in your care, keep the knife clean and sharp, as a dull or blunt blade can be a potential risk.

We have looked at five of our best carving pocket knives, and we hope this helps you find your best. We recommend the FLEXCUT Pocket Jack for Carvin’, Carving Specific Jack knife Style Tool, as we think it’s a good buy. Happy shopping!