Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack Review: Taking Wood Down To Size

Buyer's Guides

Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack Review: Taking Wood Down To Size

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)

April 22, 2023

Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack Review: Taking Wood Down To Size — The author’s handiwork with the Whittlin’ Jack resulted in a pretty cool wooden tanto.

When it comes to wood cutting, the Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack takes no prisoners.

The Whittlin’ Jack by Flexcut Carving Tools is the knife I wish I had when I was growing up. It would have made my outdoor life so much easier, not to mention much less painful. Granted, the blade edges are very fine and made for wood, so they tend to chip if you cut hard stuff.

Growing up a commercial fisherman on the Great Lakes, I was always cutting twine. The Whittlin’ Jack’s sharp blades would have saved me plenty of time resharpening and in doing such outdoor chores as marking sticks on a trapline. However, the best things about the knife are the sharpness of the edges during whittling, including for super fine cuts, and a very comfortable handle shape. The backspring holds the blade open tightly enough to stop accidental foldup while cutting, yet slowly closes the blade.

Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack Edge Test

Cutting paper — For the first edge-check medium, the author used his standard 20-pound bond copy paper. Both the roughing and detail blades zipped through the stationery way too fast. He just used the weight of the blade and pushed down.

For the first edge-check medium I used my standard 20-pound bond copy paper. Both the roughing and detail blades zipped through the stationery way too fast. I just used the weight of the blade and pushed down. I’m glad I had fingernails! Now I have four nicks in one. The knife was scary sharp from the get-go.

Whittlin’ Jack Vs Light-Duty Material

Next up was single-walled cardboard. The Whittlin’ Jack did not slow down one bit, though I did learn to move my finger faster. I could feel the blades cutting through the pockets in the cardboard. I made the longer cuts with the roughing blade.

I made some straight cuts in 8-ounce leather to see how thin I could get the slices without the leather folding over. These blades are so scary sharp that I really had to watch how much pressure I was using so I didn’t cut the leather in half. Both blades were very controllable.

Cutting the end of the leftover leather at an angle, I did some skiving. I could hear a very aggressive crunching sound as the Whittlin’ Jack bit into the material. The slices were so thin I could actually see the polished bevel cutting through. Very sharp indeed!

Whittlin’ Jack Whittling

The Whittlin’ Jack is the first knife to ever give me curly curly-cues. It was amazingly simple and easy to do. Fine cuts or deeper cuts, it didn’t matter. The whittling was so smooth the blades just slid through the wood. I liked the detail blade better for making curly curly-cues. The handle shape really excels as it fills your palm, making the blades an extension of your hand. This is an outstanding design to say the least.

For some extra whittling fun, I carved a thin tanto-style knife in less than 5 minutes. The roughing blade did its job very quickly, thinning the wood and getting the overall shape. The detail blade made short work of cutting in the bevels and choil. It was amazing how smooth every cut was. Controlling the blades was easy with the handle design. The Whittlin’ Jack is the perfect knife for the job.

Whittlin’ Jack Vs Sisal Rope

Cut Rope with the Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack — The knife crunched to 150 cuts in half-inch sisal rope in record time without any sliding. According to the author, it is the best overall Spec Sheet sisal rope cutter to date—that includes for both edge sharpness and handle comfort.

I used the roughing blade so my knuckles would clear the workbench. The knife crunched to 150 cuts in record time without any sliding. Since it would be a waste of sisal rope, I stopped cutting. The blade was still nasty sharp. This is the best overall Spec Sheet sisal rope cutter to date—that includes for both edge sharpness and handle comfort. Wow!

Recomendations

I might put a finer finish on the walnut handle inserts.

Bottom Line

Cutting leather with Flexcut Whittlin’ Jack — The author indicated the Whittlin’ Jack was the first knife to ever give him curly-cues that were actually curly. He preferred the smaller detail blade for the purpose.

The Whittlin’ Jack really impressed me in both sharpness and handle comfort. I’ll place it in the top
1 percent of knives I’ve tested. I will be carrying one.

Flexcut Carving Tools warrants its knives against defects as long as the knife is not abused. Remember, this knife is made for wood use only and the blades do not lock in place.

Flexcut Carving Tools Whittlin’ Jack Specs
Blade Patterns: Roughing and detail
Blade Lengths: Roughing 2” and detail 1.5”
Blade Material: In-house tool steel
Blade Grinds: Flat
Handle: Aluminum frame, walnut insert
Non-Lock Mechanism: Slip joint
Weight: 3 ozs.
Closed Length: 4.125”
Country Of Origin: USA
MSRP: $63.95
Flexcut Tools

NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine

BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.

Get your FREE digital PDF instant download of the annual Knife Guide. No, really! We will email it to you right now when you subscribe to the BLADE email newsletter.