Best first SAK for 8 year old?

rye_a

rye_a

Joined
Apr 27, 2007
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I have a tradition where my kids get their first knife on their 8th birthday along with a series of knife safety lectures. My daughter's birthday is on Monday, and I'm trying to decide what the best Victorinox will be for her. I would like for it to have scissors, so I'm down to the Super Tinker or the Compact, although I'm not sure that it makes sense to have a corkscrew on an 8 year old's knife. Any other recommendations?
 
Like I said in the first knife thread I think mine was a Victorinox Classic. I think it's a nice simple knife, I certainly enjoyed mine.
 
ALLHSS said:
Like I said in the first knife thread I think mine was a Victorinox Classic. I think it's a nice simple knife, I certainly enjoyed mine.
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In my experience of giving SAKs as presents to children (several, at least), I have found that girls generally prefer the smaller ones. However, that can include the Manager and especially the Minichamp models, which boys also like. Lots of implements to play with. Classics are good, too, but to make them more festive, you will find some interesting Classic scale art on the Vic web site. Those go over big with boys and girls.
 
Super Tinker should have a Philips not a corkscrew and if scissors are a priority I think that's a great choice. It's big enough that if she doesn't lose it she won't outgrow it.
 
74mm is great size for kids. Easy in the pocket. Nice non agressive tool sets for small stuff electronics and toys.
 
I would vote for the super-tinker, but the mini-champ would also be handy with the blister-pack opener.
 
I would go for the super tinker or the camper. A small "keyring" size tool seems like its a good choice but the larger 91mm frame is easier to manipulate by a childs hands witha reasonably light pull and enough leverage on the blade to actually open it easily. Just my two cents
James
 
When I was around 8 years old my grandfather gave me my first knife, it was a Vic Tourist. That knife was perfect in any way. I loved that thing and was devastated when I lost it (it had a metal inlay that read HILTI, a company he had worked for). I was about 18 when I lost it and have been looking for an exact match ever since. Today I still have a Tourist in my pocket. What ever you decide, it will be a cherished rite of passage :thumbup:
 
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The Victorinox Evolution Junior 9 was designed for the young adventurer. This fully-functional Swiss Army knife features real tools, including a large, sharp, locking blade with a rounded tip for additional safety for younger users.
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I suggest the classic, its small but not too small, it has scissors, and it comes in lots of colors.
 
I'll add another vote for the Classic. I use mine all the time, and the scissors are fantastic!

(I like the looks of that Evolution Junior 9, which I've never seen before either. But no scissors, and I'm a little wary of a saw blade on a kid's first knife. I'd have LOVED a saw on my knife as a kid, but as an adult, the saw is the blade with which I'm most likely to cut myself. :eek:)

- GT
 
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To ensure their first encounter with a pocketknife is not too challenging, It has a short blade which does not have a pointed tip but is, nevertheless, very handy for day-to-day use.
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The rounded tip blade keeps them from trying this:

[video=youtube;Pp8vbwz0Teg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp8vbwz0Teg[/video]
 
I gave my eldest a Fieldmaster a year and a half ago. I too wanted one w/out a corkscrew. Since we go camping at least once a year, I wanted a saw and scissors. I found that this was a great model, and he was as fascinated w/looking at all the tools, as he was using them. His favorite was/is the saw.
 
My first sak was a wenger pocket pal. I had to keep it tied to my pants. So I made sure the string was as long as my arm. Probably why I still have it. My only memories are of cutting cheese, and whittling. My older brother had a camillus Boy Scout knife and I thought that was way cool, that a knife could open cans and soft drinks. I think I preferred his knife to mine. So I'd suggest the pioneer.
 
Back in a former life, when I used to teach skiing, and as a part of that, had to take my turn teaching young kids, I learned that age is a very crude way to think about the muscle and coordination of children. The question isn't at what age should a kid get their first knife, the question is do they have the hand strength and coordination to close it safely?

I started my kids with Opinels and the Vic Classic. The Opinel lacks a spring and because of this, is safer to close. The Vic Classic is so small and the spring so weak (a good thing) that I think it's inside the range of safety. Both of these knives lack the "cool factor" that larger SAKs have.

If you go with a larger SAK, my recommendation would be to watch and monitor to ensure they can safely close the knife without loosing control of the blade's snap.

Another option you might consider is the Leatherman Leap, which is designed specifically for young kids. It features a removable knife blade, so you can add the blade or take it out depending on the situation. If you have a kid who caaaaan't quite manage the knife blade safely without being monitored, this gives you the option of putting it in only when you can monitor their use and then take it out so they can safely play around with other tools, which helps them develop the coordination they need.
 
My First Victorinox Plus

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Available from European dealers with ruby and sapphire scales. I think Swiss Bianco uses them to make alox Lumberjacks.

Inside the gift box:

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I'd like to suggest the Ambassador model. Kinda like a classic but a little larger.
Has a better nail tool and better scissors too. It'd be a good compromise between
a full size model and a classic. Whatever you get, I hope she loves it.
Good luck to you and happy birthday to her. :)


Classic=58mm
Ambassador=74mm
Camper=91mm
 
I gave all of my kids Classics and they all did well with them. Now they all have multiple knives.
 
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