Technically, a knife with three blades and three backsprings cannot be a whittler because it violates the basic principle of the master blade riding simultaneously on two backsprings. However, because collectors like whittlers and want as many as they can get, the “three backspring whittler” has become a ‘thing.’ These do, at least, fulfill the criteria of the master blade falling between the smaller two blades, but they use a separate “cap-end” (single-ended) backspring for each blade. These were often made in larger patterns and as such are very collectible. See also: WhittlerIf one were to take a three backspring whittler and place blades on both ends of the outer springs – a “five bladed whittler” has been created. See: Whittler, Five Blade.
Whittler, Three-Backspring (Three-Backspring Whittler)
