About a boy's first knife ...

I got my first knife when I was in Cub Scouts which was about 8 years ago. It was a SAK Sentry that my dad bought me. I carried that knife to my Eagle Scout ceremony.

You really can't go wrong with any of the SAK models, teach him how to use it properly and he'll appreciate it for the rest of his life.
 
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My First Victorinox is a great first knife,round tip(but blade is sharp),saw,opener,tweezers and toothpick .
my daughter was seven when i gave her one:) (with instructions)
 
cmeisenzahl said:
My son just turned 12 and seems reasonably mature for his age. Given that's he's a 12 year old male, you realize that's not saying too much. ;-)

I figure it's time to give him a pocket knife and teach him to use it safely, emphasis on the safety part. But frankly, it scares the cr@p out of me. I still worry about turning him loose with one.

Looking back, I remember on my 8th birthday my dad gave me a Ka-Bar fixed-blade knife for my birthday and just said "be careful," that was it. In retrospect, I'm amazed he did that. Fortunately nothing bad happened. I was in scouts from 8 until about 16 and always had a pocket knife, learned to use it safely.

So other than the usual safety lessons and instructions, anyone have any other thoughts or anecdotes on this topic?

Thanks!

Chris
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/speedmaster
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SAK is a good choice.

My parents bought me my own first pocket knife when I was 7. I was playing with knives even before that.

I gave many knives to a 6 year old. Many crappy cheap folding knives (he kept loosing them :)) and one fixed blade (cheap and crappy too). I think I gave him first SAK look-a-like when he was 4 or 5. He wanted to have a knife so he is "like me", even though he couldn't really open it, he carried it till it got lost.
If the child is Normal, there is not much to worry about. Supervision is important at first, but don't worry too much. Let him cut himself once, it will teach him the most valuable lesson how to treat knives with respect.
 
Funny, you guys and your kids who never cut themselves or did anything inappropriate with a knife as a kid are making me feel bad. Even though my Dad allways tried to teach me propper gun and knife safety, the "a knife is not a toy" thing never quite took. :D I cut and stabbed myself so many times "playing" with blades it's not funny, and I'd allways try to make up some lame excuse as to how I got hurt so my folks wouldn't freek out and take my knives away. (which they did, but I would just go buy more;))

...Anyway, I like the idea of that starter SAK with the rounded tip.:thumbup:

-And I hope my kids turn out to be more responsible than their father!
 
A buddy of mine got Opinel folders for his nephews when they reached the age their parents said it was ok.

There's also a rounded tip but sharp Opinel. Decent knife but not a tragedy if they lose it.
While I like SAKs and those kinds of blades, (Carry them myself) the Opinel locks. (Most of them) I'm not sure about the smaller ones or the rounded tipped one but it's another option to consider.
 
I got a SAK when I was about 8 years old, and sure enough, I cut myself bad enough to need stitches. I was trying to cut open a toy truck so I could load it with little green soldiers. The truck was plastic, tough and smooth, which caused the blade to slip. Still have that scar to this day.
 
I am loving this thread! So many great memories. I can't remember my first knife, but my collection is in the upper 60s now.. Lots of benchmades, emersons, gerbers, 1 microtech :) and a whole lot of other folders, with a few old fixed blades for skinning and camping.

My first knife I really used and got to know was the Victorinox huntsman, as a young scout out camping or around the house there was nothing that knife couldn't do. Handled everything I threw at it.

When I got eagle my dad bought me a BM 940, but obviously your son would do better with a more "tool" resembling knife than a 200 somewhat "tactical" (hate that expression) folder.

If I were you I would definitely go with a nice SAK, and he'll probably keep it forever, I know I did.
 
The first knife I ever used was my grandfather's, under supervision. The first knife that was 'mine' was my cubscout folder. It was tiny, and mostly dull.

The first real knife given to me, was a SAK by my grandfather, a very tiny one. While I used and abused it, I kept it many years and cherished it until it was lost.

The first knife I ever bought, was also the first knife I cut myself with...badly. I still have the scar.

The second time I cut myself with a knife, was accidentally with my Izula.

I don't know a damn thing about parenting, but I think the best approach is:

Put the kid in situations (camping etc) where the knife has to be used as a tool. Show them how to use it, care for it, and respect it.

When they have earned it, purchase them their own (SAK would be great).

This is how my grandfather taught me how to handle a rifle, and I never ever forgot it. I am a city boy in most respects, and without his advice/boy scouts I would know nothing about firearms, or how to handle them in the safest manner.


-Freq
 
The first knife I got was from my grandfather (my parents would never have gotten me a knife or any other potential weapon, granola to the max). I think it was a Buck folder. It had jigged bone scales. I beat the crap out of it learning how to sharpen a knife and learning how to clean a fresh-caught trout. Yes, I did lose it somewhere along the line, but the lessons I learned from it were carried on for a lifetime. When I close my eyes, I can still see that knife!!!

That said, I think a nice Case folder would be a great choice. Multitools and Swiss Army style knives are multitools. Case folders are sharpened steel, plain and simple. There is a great deal of difference at the base/gut level...

Edge tools forever is my motto, just ask me about my handplanes and chisels for woodworking...:):):):)
 
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I bought my first knife when I was 8 or 9 years old (my parents were with me), it was a cheap little lockback from Canadian Tire, just plain metal handle and everything. I actually didn't like it much, I just bought it to make a wooden spear and after that plan didn't work out due to the dullness of the knife I abandoned it in my room somewhere. I also wasn't really taught safe knife handling apart from "don't cut towards yourself" and definately no knife maintenance instructions.

So I think the knife you give your boy should definately be decent quality. If you give him a cheap, dull piece of metal that doesn't look that good and isn't built well because you're afraid he might lose it or something, chances are he won't like or use it and that could put him off knives for good. If you give him a decent quality pocket knife and teach him to use it responsibly and safely and also teach him how to take care of it (sharpening, oiling, and to not lose it) then he'll have more respect for the knife and maybe not as prone to losing it or using it irresponsibly (well you can only hope).

A few years after my first knife I was given a SAK as a christmas present and I used that thing a lot and loved every minute of it. I personally was (and still am) big into Swiss Army knives so that was a great knife for me, and I think it would be a good first knife for a lot of other kids. If your son doesn't like SAKs though, then it's the same thing as getting him a cheap piece of junk. You should get him a knife that he likes, so like Raining suggests, maybe have him look at some of your knives (depending on what kind of knives you have) and find out what kind of knife he prefers.

Some kids like the traditional stuff that their grandfathers might have used but I'm guessing more kids today would like the more modern folders. It would be great if we could start them off with similar knives to what we had (and some of you might be able to with good results) but kids are different today and it would be best to get them a knife that they like instead of the other way around.

On the other hand I think non-locking knives like slipjoints are good as starting knives because it doesn't teach them to rely on a lock and instead teaches them that if you use your knife wrong, bad things can happen. Cuts are just a part of the learning process, but still supervise so those cuts aren't too bad.
 
Gave my sons their first knife when they were eight. They own three each now (a year later, lol)
They are still kids, but they don't mess around with their knives. Knives and guns are deadly serious in my house, and they know it.
What I did to test them was, I lent them a folder of mine for a week. There are a few basic rules to follow. If they violated them, they'd get another chance... a year later.
There were no problems, and they got their own first knife. The rules still apply, and sanctions are harsh.
There have been zero violations. :D
 
Ditto all the other Swiss Army Knife recommendations. I think an 84mm SAK Tinker would fit the bill nicely. They're a bit smaller than standard SAKs (though not small, mind you - I EDC an 84mm model), and you can find 'em for around $15 on a popular online auction site.

As you can imagine, I'm looking forward to getting my boy his first knife. He just turned 5.
 
I think a SAK Would be a wonderful choice. Imagine all the fun a boy could have with one. All those tools would be very useful to a child i know they were to me. Im sure they would keep it for ever too.
 
My first one was a Case 3 blade, which I loved. Somebody stole it from me, though, and it still pisses me off. I got it when I was about 8 or 9, but I already had access to all the knives my father had laying around (mostly slip joints). My second one was a SAK w/ the saw & the scissors, which I still have 30 years later.

Re the safety thing, reinforce it, but expect the kid to cut himself. I did so many times, whittling on sticks, and doing all sorts of things the knife was designed to do, and also many things it was not designed to do.

Also don't be under the false impression that a kid that's 8 or 9, and even 14, is 'responsible & mature'. Think about all the stupid stuff you did when nobody was looking. I know with me, luck did have something to do with it, as it did for all my friends.

Talk to the kids about how to use the knife, when to carry it (never to school, etc.), and help them understand it's a tool, not a weapon. Unless you only let them use while you are watching, you'll have to trust them, but don't be under the false assumption that a little kid is 'mature' enough to make all the right decisions sans your input.

Look at it this way, you survived, as did those of us who are typing (albeit some may be typing with some scars on their hands/fingers, like me).
 
Heh, my first blade was a camilus camp knife that my father was issued when he was in the service. I'll need to add a couple of those to my collection now that I think about it. I loved that knife.

Anyway, as far as the righ age goes, I would think by 12 you could trust a child to use a knife safely. Assuming he has the mental capacity and understanding that it is not a weapon and not to be used as a toy, he should be fine with whatever folding knife. But really, it's all up to the parents if they are ready.
 
Mine was a genuine USMC pocket knife that the Sarge gave me when I was ten. Great knife. These days I vote for the Victorinox Explorer. Very utilitarian with plenty of lessons to be learned with all the tools provided in one handy package. I just gave my nephew one of these for his 10th B-Day and he was blown away. Dosen't get any better than this: http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-Swiss-Explorer-Scout-Pocket/dp/B0007QCOX8
 
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mnblade said:
Ditto all the other Swiss Army Knife recommendations. I think an 84mm SAK Tinker would fit the bill nicely. They're a bit smaller than standard SAKs (though not small, mind you - I EDC an 84mm model), and you can find 'em for around $15 on a popular online auction site.

As you can imagine, I'm looking forward to getting my boy his first knife. He just turned 5.
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I agree
A 3 1/4" SAK with a double spring is thicker for smaller hands and is easier to hold
A Recuit does not have the uncomfortable back tools
http://www.swissarmy.com/multitools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=everyday&product=53241&

There is also a single blade with a rounded tip and a bottle opener
http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=36002

Both have a ring for a cord to help the knife not getting lost!!!
 
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