boy's first knife suggestion

J

jvong

Joined
Aug 25, 2007
Messages
33
Hi Everyone,

Pardon me if this is not posted in the correct area.

I am looking to buy my 8 year old son a traditional folding knife (USA). Any ideas or suggestions based on what you picked or what you WISHED you picked. I'm sure he will do the same stuff that we all did with it (turn big sticks into small sticks, cut his PBJ sandwich, fight off hordes of imaginary enemies, etc). It would be good to know what style or sizes your sons and daughters used.

I intended to purchase a knife last week at a gun show, but realized that i needed to do more research. In the meantime, my boy talked a good deal (actually just stood there and looked excited)on a SKA classic (3 bucks).

Thanks in advance
 
Welcome to the forum.

It'd be tough to beat any SAK as they provide a high quality knife for a small investment.

I'd recommend something with one or two blades max to make it easier for him to manipulate and less likely for him to have an accident.

A small Case peanut or similar might be a good choice as well.
 
My boy is only a year old, but he already has a small stash of knives for when he gets older. So far: a USA-made Schrade Old Timer just like the first knife I ever had, a "My First Knife" from Opinel, and a youth model Mora.

The only knife he's allowed to use at this point is a plastic toy Victorinox. :)
 
jvong said:
Hi Everyone,

Pardon me if this is not posted in the correct area.

I am looking to buy my 8 year old son a traditional folding knife (USA). Any ideas or suggestions based on what you picked or what you WISHED you picked. I'm sure he will do the same stuff that we all did with it (turn big sticks into small sticks, cut his PBJ sandwich, fight off hordes of imaginary enemies, etc). It would be good to know what style or sizes your sons and daughters used.

I intended to purchase a knife last week at a gun show, but realized that i needed to do more research. In the meantime, my boy talked a good deal (actually just stood there and looked excited)on a SKA classic (3 bucks).

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Im kinda going through the same thing with my 11 year old, i actually dont worry about him so much as some ill informed parent, etc. I dunno i have a few SAK's in mind, havent decided, he loves the SAKs and the "cool" looking knives while i marvel and ramble on about the traditional patterns, etc.
Good luck with your decision, either way its a big deal for both you guys:D
ivan
 
Get him a new Case XX, something in the 3.5" closed or smaller range. I'd say get him CV steel rather than stainless. Why? 'Cause it'll rust if he doesn't care for it. In other words, it'll teach him something about the need to care for tools. Also, I like the idea of getting a kid a slipjoint knife. It's counter-intuitive, I know, but - assuming you're going to put in some time teaching him proper knife technique and safety - I think in the long run it's actually better for safety. He might get a nip or two early on, but he'll someday be a man who knows how to use a pocketknife safely.
 
I recently had the honor to buy my nephew his first pocket knife. I settled on an SAK Tinker. I struggled with getting him that or a bone handled stockman.

I settled on the Tinker because I thought it would instill the notion that a pocketknife is a tool, not a weapon. Since it has screwdrivers, bottle and can openers, etc I figured having this as a first knife might reinforce this concept. Plus, I love mine.

Welcome to the forums! Hope you stick around!
 
I started out all my kids on a small Victorinox tinker. The 84mm one not the 91mm.

One reason; its a slip joint, and they had to learn to use the knife with care. I wanted to get the habit into their heads at a young age to move carefully with a sharp tool and have to think of what they are doing. There was a nick here and there when they got a little careless, but once learned they did'nt make that mistake again.

Second reason; I wanted them at an early age to learn to think of a knife as a tool. With a phillips and two flat screw drivers and a bottle opener, (not alot of twist tops back then) and awl, they used the knife as a tool to open sodas, fix and maintain their bicycles and lawnmower, as well as cutting jobs.

Third reason; even when my oldest boy was joining the boy scouts there was already a sort of mild knife thing starting to go on, and the sak is a universal innocent item. Heck, all the nieghborhood kids watched MacGyver!

Fourth reason; I wanted to teach the kids a practical approach to things, and pick equiptment that has multiple functions and compact design. A minimalist outlook, like a compact binocular rather than a full size, or even a monocular to save weight sort of thing. Maximum function for minimum size. When we went backpacking as a family, it paid off. If later on they got interested in knives, then they could buy anything they wanted. If not, at least they had a sak.

Fifth reason; I wanted them to have a benchmark. Victorinox makes some of the most consistantly well finished smooth operating pocket knives on the planet. Blades not too hard to pull out, but not too easy. Polished inside and out well. The kids found out a pocket knfe should not be a nail breaker nor the opposite.

Now two out of the three are knife knuts.:D
 
I think sak's are pretty tough to beat for a first knife, however when I was 6 years old I was given a mid sized Victorinox and didn't carry it until I was about 16. It just wasnt my style, I carried imperial,Schrade, Camillus instead. So I guess it depends kind of on what your kid likes, and his interests. If he will like a SAK and carry it then it is a good choice. The past few youths I have started out with knives I have given case sod buster jr's and they all have liked them. Joe
 
longbeachguy said:
I recently had the honor to buy my nephew his first pocket knife. I settled on an SAK Tinker. I struggled with getting him that or a bone handled stockman.

I settled on the Tinker because I thought it would instill the notion that a pocketknife is a tool, not a weapon. Since it has screwdrivers, bottle and can openers, etc I figured having this as a first knife might reinforce this concept. Plus, I love mine.

Welcome to the forums! Hope you stick around!
Click to expand...

It seems some of us are like minds!:D
 
longbeachguy said:
I recently had the honor to buy my nephew his first pocket knife. I settled on an SAK Tinker. I struggled with getting him that or a bone handled stockman.

I settled on the Tinker because I thought it would instill the notion that a pocketknife is a tool, not a weapon. Since it has screwdrivers, bottle and can openers, etc I figured having this as a first knife might reinforce this concept. Plus, I love mine.

Welcome to the forums! Hope you stick around!
Click to expand...

Very good point:thumbup:

How about CASE peanut for the traditional approach?

If this doesn't appeal then Böker Sub-Com folder is a lot of fun and a safe useful knife/tool esp in sand colour:thumbup:
 
My daughter is only 18 months, but I'd like to give her my trusty SAK Huntsman when she's older. I've had it since I was twelve.
 
This is good stuff guys, i really appereciate it.

I guess as Dads, we all kinda want our kids to discover things with the same wonder and excitement we did.

He bought himself a little SAK (misspelled it last time) last week, but I wanted to get him a quality American made trad folder as something he can keep and remember. My Grandfathers Old Timer Stockman is too big for him to handle just yet.

On the other hand the comments about the other tools available on the SAKs
make a LOT of sense as far as teaching him.

I think I will enjoy the buying process more than he will receiveing the knife.

Ill keep listening and keep you posted.
 
3 young men in this house.....a 13 year old and 2 ten year olds. The 13 year old started with a SAK Tinker and the two little ones have SAK as well. They have the "My First Victorinox" model which I like very much....rounded tip. The funniest part was the two 10 year olds arguing over which on they wanted (one was red and one blue). The argument was won because one had already cut himself and both agreed you automatically own it if you cut yourself with it.
 
Morrowj, Thats a great story my wife was looking over my shoulder and even she laughed out loud. BobW I agree with you my son is only 16 months old and he has more knives than I did at 20. every thing I can find a double of thats of some desent quality I stick it in a lock box in my room for him and someday he can have a pre started collection. Not sure how safe you wanna be but I just got my 9 year old nephew a Opinel "my first knife" from SMKW (smokey mountain knife works) for around $10 and its pretty simple and pretty cool knife and has the rounded tip wooden handle maybe worth checking out. Have a great one. here is a link. http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/eCommerce/product.jsp?Mode=Text&SearchText=opinel&SKU=OP1221 not sure if its ok to post links like this but I dont work for smkw and Im not trying to sell anything. -Joel
 
jvong said:
This is good stuff guys, i really appereciate it.

I guess as Dads, we all kinda want our kids to discover things with the same wonder and excitement we did.

He bought himself a little SAK (misspelled it last time) last week, but I wanted to get him a quality American made trad folder as something he can keep and remember. My Grandfathers Old Timer Stockman is too big for him to handle just yet.

On the other hand the comments about the other tools available on the SAKs
make a LOT of sense as far as teaching him.

I think I will enjoy the buying process more than he will receiveing the knife.

Ill keep listening and keep you posted.
Click to expand...


Well, if he now has a Vic, and you want to get a classic American pocket knife, get him a Buck pocket knife. A 303 Cadet or a 309 Companion would be about the right size.

Case is pretty classic, too. I'd go for the stainless models though. Less chance of rust. And the yellow ones are easier to find when dropped outside.
 
I go along with all of the utility knife comments over the other patterns suggested. But in fact, rather than an imported SAK of whatever fine quality and materials, I'd suggest an old fashioned cub scout or boy scout knife (Camillus made great scout knives and they are still quite available and inexpensive from primary dealers). Not only does he get a knife with tools built in for all sorts of projects, but an introduction to a fine organization which the knives represent. I'd even go so far as to suggest a dual-knife gift. One a used but perfectly presentable knife, and the second a new in the box example of the same. Learn and earn.

Codger
 
Here's a couple that have been mentioned:

Camillus Scout Knife
BSA885.jpg


SAK Tinker
BoyScoutSAKTinker.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top