One of the particularly unique knives manufactured by Case is the three blade Seahorse Whittler.
They have been manufactured with several types handle materials and a couple different blade combination/ variations of
the Case whittlers over the years. Still they are popular with todays knife collectors.
A history of the Seahorse Whittler, blades and their use might prove interesting to most knife collectors. Even the everyday
hunter who just looks at the Case knife from its dependable craftsmanship as a useful tool will be piqued by the story behind
this particular knife.
An antique advertisement from 1851 displaying a form of an early wharncliffe is easily recognizable when compared alongside
the current Seahorse Whittler. The knife has a wharncliff master blade along with pen and coping blades that open on the opposite
end.Wharncliff is the blade that is said to have hailed from an English Lord named Warncliffe. He sought ‘a knife that
was more for cutting than poking...’ Men of the era often carried some variation of the popular three bladed seahorse
whittler that resembles todays’ Case pattern. In those times a fuller bodied knife, manufactured to be thicker and heavier
in size and shape was made by popular knife makers of the day.
Wharncliff Blade
Blade has strongly curved back with a flat edge. The point is perfect for cutting intricate patterns.
Pen Blade
The blade is popular and very common. The back and the edge of the blade slope evenly (at the same degree) to the point.
Coping Blade
Narrow blade that has a sharp point. The edge is flat like a sheepsfoot, but the back angles sharply from the spine. Great
for cutting tiny details at sharp angles or in close spaces.
Streamlined size and thin sharp blades have made their way into the manufacture of the wharncliffe knife blade.
It is no wonder that the whimseys or wood carvings of the early nineteenth century were so ornate. With a three-blade whittler
in hand the possibilities of delicate carved creations were endless.
Todays pocket knives are exceptional tools for indoor or outdoor use. I’m thinking of taking up a new whittling hobby
just to put the design of the wharncliff, pen and coping blades to the test. I find that I enjoy using Case knives to work
with and my collectible Case knives are just as endearing.
