Whittling

A pocketknife is one of the oldest and handiest tools there is, and using one well starts with respect for the blade. The 1914 printing of the Handbook for Boys put the first rule plainly: “Whittle away from you, not toward you.” You'll begin with soap, and move on to wood only when a grown-up says you're ready.

For grown-ups: A grown-up decides when a child is ready for a real knife, supervises every carving session, and keeps the knife between sessions.

Things to try

In any order, at your own pace. Tick what you've tried if you like keeping track; ticks stay on this device.

1. Meet the knifeWith a grown-up, learn the parts of a folding knife: blade, edge, point, back, handle, and any lock. Practice opening and closing it slowly, keeping your fingers away from the edge. A good goal: you can open and close it smoothly five times.
2. Learn the knife rulesLearn the rules. Sit down to carve, keep a clear space around you, whittle away from your body, close the knife before you walk, and pass it closed or handle first. A good goal: you can say every rule and show how to pass a knife.
3. Carve soap firstCarve a simple shape, like a fish, a turtle, or a heart, from a bar of soap using a plastic knife or a vegetable peeler. Practice taking off thin shavings. A good goal: you've finished one soap carving.
4. Take care of the knifeKeep the knife clean and dry, wipe it after each use, and put a drop of oil on the hinge now and then. A dull blade needs more force, so it slips more easily. A good goal: you've cleaned and oiled it with a grown-up watching.
5. Sharpen with a grown-upWith a grown-up, use a sharpening stone to hone the blade at a steady, shallow angle. A good goal: the blade slices paper cleanly and you can explain how you sharpened it.
6. Whittle a simple stick projectUsing soft wood such as basswood or pine, whittle a tent stake, a point on a roasting stick, or a simple marker peg. Take small cuts, always away from you. A good goal: the project is finished and useful.
7. Carve a shapeWhittle a simple shape such as a fish, a spoon blank, a butter spreader, or a little bird. Sand it smooth and rub it with a food-safe oil. A good goal: you have a finished piece you're proud of.
8. Show a grown-up your routineShow a grown-up your whole routine: checking your space, opening, carving, closing, cleaning, and putting the knife away.

Read about it in the old books

• 📖 1914 Handbook for Boys: Use of Knife and Ax ↗