I’ve spent well over $2000 in my journey for the best whittling and wood carving knives, and I have found the absolute best pocket knives you can find!
I have thoroughly tested and researched each and every one of the pocket knives listed below to ensure that I am providing you with the best possible options from beginners to the seasoned whittler.
For reference, I will be using Rockwell Hardness (HRC) to judge the steel hardness. Ideally, you will want to use a knife with a HRC between 58 and 62. This hardness range has the best balance of edge retention without becoming too brittle to carve with.
Video Review
Best Folding Pocket Knives for Whittling
The key to a successful whittling project is to use a quality made and well sharpened knife, but can you whittle with just a pocket knife?
Anyone can start whiting with just the pocket knife that they keep in their pocket. This is the simplest and most convenient tool that the majority of whittlers typically use. There are even specially made pocket knives that are designed for whittling, making it easier to slice through wood.
Not all pocket knives are ideal for whittling, but you can use any one of them to whittle if it is all you have. For best results, you will want to use a pocket knife that both fits your hand properly and that you are comfortable using.
Flexcut Tri-Jack
If you are looking for one of the absolute best whittling knives on the market, look no further than the Flexcut Tri-Jack!
| Steel | High Carbon Spring Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 59 – 61 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $72 – $85 |
The Flexcut Tri-Jack is a pocket knife that was designed to carve wood and comes honed razor sharp right out of the box. They come with 3 different sized knives and use a liner lock design to ensure the blades don’t close on your fingers.
The only issue you may have is a very slight front to back wobble on the blade when fully opened. This is primarily due to the tolerances of the liner lock and the blade but isn’t noticeable while carving. Even with this minor flaw, it doesn’t stop me from carrying it around with me every day.
There are two places I like to shop for the best prices, Amazon and Ebay. Make sure you compare prices from both locations and get the best deal.
Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vkJJdM
Link to Ebay: https://ebay.to/3483zvR
Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC) #62 Pocket Carver
If you are looking for a more classic folding pocket knife with multiple blades, The GEC #62 pocket carver may be the right choice for you!
| Steel | 1095 Carbon Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 57 – 59 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $85 – $90 |
The Farm and Field branded Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC) #62 Pocket carver is the perfect pocket knife for anyone who prefers the look and feel of a traditional whittling knife and prefers to have more than one blade. With its 3 carving blades made of 1095 Carbon Steel and comfortable handles, you will be whittling in no time!
If you do purchase a #62 pocket carver, I do recommend reducing the angle of the bevel grind to about 20 degrees to improve your whittling experience. This will provide you with a blade edge that will easily slice through wood and make cleaner cuts.
The best and cheapest place I have found to buy the GEC #62 Pocket Carver is on Ebay. They have the best prices and usually have better availability when compared to most other online stores. Pick yours up here: https://ebay.to/3lejdN9
MasterCarver Pocket Whittler 2
For those of you looking for a single bladed pocket knife with a classic look, the MasterCarver Pocket Whittler 2 is the perfect knife for you.
| Steel | 440C Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 61 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $45 – $50 |
The MasterCarver Pocket Whittler 2 is a single bladed pocket knife designed for whittling and wood carving. It uses a 440C blade hardened to a HRC of 61 and has a blade lock to prevent the knife closing on your hands.
From its perfectly designed blade with a slight upswept tip to its beautifully designed classic handle, this is a knife that you will proudly show off and want to carry around with you everywhere.
My only issue is availability. Due to the pocket whittler being such a popular knife, they tend to sell out quickly. So keep an eye on Amazon to see if they are in stock by clicking here: https://amzn.to/37V8MMf
Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack
If you need a more affordable multi bladed pocket knife designed for whittling, the Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack may be the right knife for you!
| Steel | High Carbon Spring Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 59 – 61 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $45 – $55 |
The Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack is a quality made whittling pocket knife that comes with two different blades. It is reasonably priced and comes honed razor sharp for immediate use.
I carried this pocket knife with me for a while before I picked up the Tri-Jack and can tell you that it is a very capable pocket knife. The only issue you will experience is that the blades are very stiff and can be hard to open, so take care when opening and closing the blades.
You can pick up your own Whittlin’ Jack on both Amazon and Ebay for a great price! It would be best to see who has the better deal as they tend to change from week to week.
Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/37V8MMf
Link to Ebay: https://ebay.to/3ahrScx
Sarge Vision Maker Carving Knife
If you are more into chip carving or want smaller blades, the Sarge Vision Maker is a great option!
| Steel | 440C |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 58 – 60 |
| Comes Sharp | Needs to Be Honed |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $18 – $22 |
The Sarge Vision Maker is a wonderful chip carving and whittling knife for the carver on the go. It comes with two 440C blades and has a lot of value for what you are buying.
This knife excels at being a perfect chip carving knife that just fits in your pocket. The wood scales on the sides are beautiful coloration and it sits very nicely in your hands.
Some issues you may see is that sometimes the scales could be cracked around the rivets as this seems to be a common issue. You could fill it with adhesive if you want but it is unlikely to break while using it. Also, it may be ideal to hone the blade before use.
The best place to pick up your Vision Maker is on Amazon as they usually sell them for less than $25, which makes it an exceptional price for the knife you are getting. To pick up yours, click the link: https://amzn.to/3O8Ad69
Victorinox Swiss Army Knives
If you are new to whittling or just want an EDC knife that you could use for whittling, Swiss Army Knives are the way to go!
| Steel | Martensitic Stainless Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 56 |
| Comes Sharp | Needs to Be Honed |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $20- $55+ |
Swiss Army Knives are perfect for new whittlers as they come in many different varieties to fit just about any need. With their affordable prices and endless utility options, you will be hard pressed to find a better universal knife that works well for whittling.
Just about everyone has a swiss army knife somewhere as they are super useful. If you don’t, they are readily available at nearly every hardware, outdoors, and big box stores.
The only thing you will want to do is hone the knife edges a little more as they don’t come whittling sharp, but just sharp enough for every day use. Also, I wouldn’t reduce the cutting edge angle too much as the steel is just a little softer than the targeted hardness range.
If you are going to pick up a Swiss Army Knife for whittling and wood carving, I suggest getting the Camper or Huntsman as they both come with two different sized blades and a wood saw to give you more options when carving. You can pick yours up on Amazon for a great price by clicking here: https://amzn.to/3O8Ad69
Schrade Old Timer 44OT Workmate
For those of you who want as many different blades as possible without spending a lot of money, check out the Old Timer 44OT!
| Steel | 7CR19 |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 57 – 59 |
| Comes Sharp | Needs to Be Honed |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $15 – $23 |
The Old Timer 440T Workmate is a traditional folding knife that comes with 4 different blades to maximize the whittling potential. One of the biggest draws for this knife is affordable price point.
Since it is a more affordable price, the overall build quality isn’t the best, but it is still a very durable knife built for every day use. You will also have to hone the blades as the manufacture edge is a little on the dull side.
You can pick up your 44OT both in the traditional brown or bright yellow for a steal of a deal on Amazon by clicking here: https://amzn.to/3uKZITd
Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Knife
If overall price is an issue but you still want a high carbon steel with a blade lock, the Opinel Carbon Steel folding knives will fit any budget!
| Steel | XC90 Carbon Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 57 – 59 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $12 – $17 |
The Opinel Carbon Steel picket knives are simple but quality made pocket knives that are highly affordable. They come with a single carbon steel blade that folds into a comfortable beechwood handle. With its twist lock collar, the knife feels just as ridged as a fixed bladed knife.
These knives come in various sizes so if you need a specific size, you have many different options. However, the knives that are size 5 and smaller do not come with the twist lock for the blades.
If you want to pick up one of these knives, check out both Ebay and Amazon for the absolute best prices anywhere.
Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JJVzTJ
Link to Ebay: https://ebay.to/2DAvbQu
Best Wood Carving Pocket Knives
For those of you looking for a pocketknife that has more tool options, you are in luck! Flexcut makes several high quality wood carving pocket knives that come with an assortment of different tools to give you more options when carving wood.
Flexcut Carvin’ Jack
The king of wood carving pocket knives is, without any doubt, the Flexcut Carvin’ Jack.
| Steel | High Carbon Spring Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 59 – 61 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $115 – $160 |
The Flexcut Carvin’ Jack comes with 6 different wood carving tools, providing the carver a wide variety of different carving options right in their pocket. All the tools come honed razor sharp and are made of high carbon spring steel, making it ready to use right out of the box.
Not only that, the Carvin’ Jack comes with a leather sheath and a specially made slipstrop to easily hone each one of the tools after use. Plus, they come in both right hand and left hand configurations!
The only real downside to these tools are the overall cost, so be prepared to spend a little extra for the convenience of having all of the 6 tools fitting directly into your pocket. You can pick yours up on both Amazon and Ebay, so compare the prices between the two to find the best deal.
Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/38NyliN
Link to Ebay: https://ebay.to/3gQv9C8
Flexcut Spoon Jack
For those of you who like to carve spoons and want a dedicated spoon carving knife that you can take with you everywhere, the Flexcut Spoon Jack is the perfect companion.
| Steel | High Carbon Spring Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 59 – 61 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $85 – $95 |
The Flexcut Spoon Jack is a dedicated spoon carving pocket knife that comes with one blade and two scoop knives that easily allow you carve a spoon anywhere you go. From its 3 locking high carbon steel tools to the comfortable grips, you won’t find a better option.
I really like how Flexcut made the handle. It comfortably fits in your hand at any angle and has the hatching pattern on the handle really grips your hands and prevents any slippage while holding the knife.
You can pick these up either on Ebay or Amazon and I highly recommend that you compare prices as sometimes one has a better deal than the other.
Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xs0uXb
Link to Ebay: https://ebay.to/2IHQ7HE
Flexcut Pocket Jack
If you really like the Carvin’ Jack but want a cheaper option, check out the Flexcut Pocket Jack!
| Steel | High Carbon Spring Steel |
| Rockwell Hardness (HRC) | 59 – 61 |
| Comes Sharp | Yes |
| Sharp After 30 Min | Yes |
| Average Price | $65 – $75 |
The Flexcut Pocket Jack comes with all the basic tools that any wood carving beginner will need. With its four locking high carbon steel tools and its comfortable aluminum handle, this pocket knife will easily fit in to your collection.
I consider the Pocket Jack to be the Carvin’ Jacks little brother. It has many of the same exact tools at half the price. You really can’t go wrong with how much value you get out of the Pocket Jack.
You can easily pick these up on both Amazon and Ebay for great prices. Make sure you compare the two places for the best deals as prices can fluctuate from month to month.
Link to Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uLm72X
Link to Ebay: https://ebay.to/3a5J86H
More Whittling and Wood Carving Tools and Tips
If you are new to whittling and wood carving and are looking for some other great options, check out my Ultimate Whittling Knife Guide to see what the absolute best whittling knives are.
https://carvingisfun.com/best-whittling-knives/
For more whittling and wood carving tips, check out my One Stop Whittling Resource for more information.
https://carvingisfun.com/Whittling/