Hey everyone! I'm about to dive into whittling and I need some advice on picking out my first knife. Since I'm based in Europe and want to keep my initial investment low in case it's not my thing, I'm considering budget options. I've found a Beaver Craft starter kit, which includes basswood, a leather strop, and polishing compound for around 30 Euros, plus 11 Euros shipping from Slovenia. As for the knife, I'm torn between the C2 and C8 models. I've seen that the C8 has a 1 3/4" blade length, but the C2 with its 1.57" blade also comes highly recommended, especially from the "Carving is Fun" YouTube channel. I'd love to hear from anyone who's tried either knife or has general recommendations!
2 Answers
I've found that Flexcut has some great budget-friendly knives, and honestly, I’m not extremely fond of Beaver Craft knives. For the blade length, a shorter blade makes it easier to carve fine details, but I wouldn't stress too much—especially if you're just starting. A 1 3/4" blade is versatile for rough and detail work, and if you end up loving whittling, you can always grab a smaller detail knife later!
I would recommend checking out Mstein knives – they tend to have better reviews compared to Beaver Craft in Europe. If Flexcut isn't an option for you, the N5 model could be a solid starter knife. Good luck with your whittling!
Great tip about saving money on the strop! You can actually make your own by using an old leather belt attached to a flat board.