8 year-old daughter might be angling for a tactical folder...

[Smaug]

We were at the forest preserve last night, having a picnic dinner, driving an R/C truck and enjoying a fire. She found a branch that was long enough to be a staff, and it has a fork at the top for a possible slingshot. She was whittling on it with her Swisschamp, not making much progress.

She asked to borrow "that knife you had the other day" (Benchmade Mini Grip) "She said that one cuts so nicely!" I said the Swisschamp cuts just as well, maybe better with its thinner grind.

I think the issue is that the Swisschamp is GIANT in her little hand and just not comfortable for whittling. It's more just for a quick cut here and there and to have tool options.

Nevertheless, she has her eye on my Mini Grip now...

 

[RoyalHolic]

Before you know it she will want a CRK.

 

[abcdef]

That's great.

 

[Lee D]

Rat2 in Aus-8. It might be time to start teaching her the basics of sharpening and it’s a far better choice than D2 for a beginner.

 

[jfk1110]

Better a knife that locks especially in the dark! Little fingers somehow manage to get in the way of slipjoints!!

 

[Smaug]

Rat2 in Aus-8. It might be time to start teaching her the basics of sharpening and it’s a far better choice than D2 for a beginner.

Good recommendation, re. the RAT2. I think AUS8 is a good budget steel. I remember when it was considered high-end. (my Endura 1 was in AUS8 with the integral plastic clip...) I'm not sure why it would be a better choice than D2 though. She'll need to learn to take care of her knives. I just found her Opinel #8 Inox was closed with apple juice on the blade. It's going to take some doing to get it all off now...

Good point about the sharpening, too. If she's going to be a Knife Girl, it's a skill she'll need to have.

I might just give her my A.G. Russell K-31 in AUS8...

Better a knife that locks especially in the dark! Little fingers somehow manage to get in the way of slipjoints!!

A very good point. There have beem some close calls with her Swiss army knives...

 

[c7m2p3]

Good recommendation, re. the RAT2. I think AUS8 is a good budget steel. I remember when it was considered high-end. (my Endura 1 was in AUS8 with the integral plastic clip...) I'm not sure why it would be a better choice than D2 though. She'll need to learn to take care of her knives. I just found her Opinel #8 Inox was closed with apple juice on the blade. It's going to take some doing to get it all off now...

Good point about the sharpening, too. If she's going to be a Knife Girl, it's a skill she'll need to have.

I might just give her my A.G. Russell K-31 in AUS8...



A very good point. There have beem some close calls with her Swiss army knives...

My guess is that the assumption being an 8 year old is going to struggle to put a decent edge on D2 compared to a much softer AUS-8 that can have an edge thrown on it with some simple ceramic crock sticks. That and AUS-8 is going to be a bit more resistant to things like the apple juice scenario compared to D2 which will start staining and rusting far faster than AUS-8.

AUS-8 is still a fairly capable steel. To this day I will still reach for the RAT1 in AUS-8 to break down boxes. Even after some significant cutting it is so easy to restore the edge with 5 or so passes on a leather belt on the WorkSharp BGA loaded up with some diamond paste. The steel is serviceable enough that getting it ready for the next day of cardboard takes mere moments compared to getting a diamond plate out for rolled D2.

 

[Dogdrawz]