Note: Since the publication of this post, I have at the suggestion of a reader, settled on a drywall hole-saw as my Pumpkin Carving Weapon of Choice.
Fall is my favorite season of the year. There are hay rides, corn mazes, and rivers full of spawning brook trout. I can sit at home and watch the World Series – just like the Yankees. There is also the annual ritual of visiting the pumpkin patch with the family and carving our jack-o-lanterns . . .
I am by no stretch an artist. If I finish with 10 Band-Aid free fingers and a pumpkin with a vaguely recognizable face, I consider the endeavor a success.
This year I tooled up with my Mora Bushcraft and a 6″ Henckels filet knife from my kitchen block. I chose the Mora for the rough work because of the infallibility of the rubber grip when covered in any manner of slime. I used the Henckels for the detail work.
The Mora was adequate for circling the stem, but was really too thick to use for the face itself. It didn’t wander much, and the grip was everything I had hoped it would be. The Henckels did a fantastic job. Its thin and sharp blade would be easily capable of results much better than my pedestrian efforts.
So I ask our edged intelligentsia: What is your personal Pumpkin Carving Weapon of Choice ?
Did any of your results look like this?
Mine certainly don’t.
Sidebar question: Do any of you watch “Halloween Wars” on Food Network? It always amuses me how Forged in Fire is just like a cooking show except they are making knives.
The dullest butter knife I can find. I want that pumpkin to feel every moment of agony while I’m carving it. I want to see real pain, horror and anguish on that face when I’m done.
Wanna stop by my place for halloween?
A cheap “steak” knife from Sam’s Club for the heavy work, “Bakers & Chefs” I believe they’re called. They aren’t much to look at but they’ve got very deep serrations, those things are like handheld band saws. And some no name paring knife I’ve had in my kitchen for about 15 years for the finer stuff. Yeah, I’m no artist lol.
I went the Mora route (Mora 2000). Also the Kershaw Military Boot Knife.
Y’all are lame. Every year I pull out the Ka-Bar for pumpkin duty.
I’m planning on a little Ginsu paring knife.
Kitchen utility knife to open it up, then Xacto mini-saws.
Condor Bush Cutlass.
Drywall jab saw