Boy's Knife, child's first knife

5K Qs said:
I'll join those who recommend some kind of scout knife or Swiss Army Knife as a first knife for a kid. I got my first knife when I was 9 or 10, and it was my only pocket knife from about 1960 until 2014. It was an inexpensive Colonial Forest-Master with a spearpoint blade, a punch/awl, a flathead screwdriver/bottle opener, and a can opener. I grew up on a dairy farm, and having that little "pocket toolbox" was perfect for a kid working on a farm - all of the tools got plenty of use.

Many posters have mentioned that a kid's first knife is likely to end up getting lost. I didn't lose my first knife, and I think it was a at least partly due to the fact that the knife had a bail/shackle (as I think every camp knife should - what's GEC thinking with their Johnson the Spot?? 🤓 ), and I almost always had it attached to a belt loop by a 2'-3' lanyard of some kind: baler twine, cloth shoe lace, leather boot lace, etc.
(I think I was born a grumpy old man, and even as a little kid, was much more responsible about keeping track of my stuff, putting tools back where they belonged, not getting distracted while doing daily chores, and so on than my 2 slightly younger brothers were. I think that "OCD personality" also helped me keep that first knife all my life - so far.)

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- GT
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“I think I was born a grumpy old man” describes me.

I have lost only 1 knife. It was when I was young. A Congress pattern. I had both large blades open and was throwing it up and letting it stick in the ground. I lost it in the yard and looked for days afterward.

I used to do the same thing with my cub scout knife by opening the blade and awl at the same time. I was cool.

That cub scout knife and all the other early knives got swapped off when I got a little older. I didn’t know I’d miss them.
 
btb01 said:
I think that’s a good idea. Opinel makes a decent one, which I got for my daughter last year when she was 5. It has a rounded tip, a ring built into the handle for the index finger to keep their hand in the right place, and comes with a finger guard for the opposite hand. We’ve only used it a few times (she just hasn’t shown much interest in it using it yet), but it’s worked well the times that we have used it, and I think it will be a good tool for teaching her to use knives safely as she gets more interested in helping out in the kitchen.
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My daughter has one of the Opinel kitchen knives for kids, and it is actually a good little kitchen knife. We keep it on the magnetic strip in the kitchen, and I honestly use it more than she does these days. It is an excellent option for teaching knife skills.
 
abbydaddy said:
My daughter has one of the Opinel kitchen knives for kids, and it is actually a good little kitchen knife. We keep it on the magnetic strip in the kitchen, and I honestly use it more than she does these days. It is an excellent option for teaching knife skills.
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I assume you are speaking of le Petit Chef. I have never seen that before. Seems pretty cool, great idea. The finger ring on the chef's knife is a bit odd, depending on the technique you are teaching. I guess rocking would be a good one for that. But I would almost rather see a hole big enough for 2 or 3 fingers and try to teach them classic technique. But, I am probably overthinking it. Anything that gets the veggies cut without the fingers is a-o-k to me!! Wanna see a fun flame war, ask about proper grip of the french chef's knife in one of the cooking channels :)
 
My three kids each have a couple knives, and each has a favorite. My 13 year old daughter uses a Case barlow most often. My 11 year old daughter uses a Case mini trapper. My 9 year old son loves his SAK Tinker. I gave all of my kids a Tinker a few years ago for Christmas and spent some time showing them soap carving, and how to apply band aids. Most people get a knick now and then. They also help out in the kitchen quite a bit, so I trust them with sharp tools. I guess it all depends on the kids. I have some nephews that are younger, and really proficient with kitchen knives. They've used my pocket knife on hikes to strip bark from a walking stick. One nephew, however, doesn't have very good spatial awareness and I wouldn't hand him anything sharp. There doesn't seem to be an ideal age.
 
My godsons by now are expecting something like this for their 5th or 6th birthdays:
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For their first day of school they all got one of these (together with a strip of bandaid):
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No complaints from parents, so far. Only one pre-school kid left by now. I'm sure if I gave him something else he would feel cheated.
I always make them quote four safety rules, before they can receive the knife:
- I'll never walk around with an open blade, I'm going to close it first.
- If I'm handing the knife to you, it will be handle first.
- I'm going to carve away from my fingers.
- I promise not to stab somebody ("does he think I'm stupid?", that's what their eyes say on this last one)
One can personalize these knives with names on the cover. I always do this, to discourage theft.
 
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FranklinG said:
soap carving
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Soap carving is great. When I was a kid there was a jail break with a false gun carved from soap and blackened with shoe polish. I'm an old geezer now, and sometimes can feel a bit bored. So I've been collecting bits of soap to make a fake gun. This is going to be a project for one of my nieces, who is rather artistic.
Please folks don't consider this too odd. I could ask her to carve a rabbit or a horse, as well, only it wouldn't engage her as much. Kids these days get plenty of training for their brains, what they need to learn is the dexterity of their fingers.
 
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I have heard of the fake gun carver from soap. I wonder if it’s the same one. I think they made a movie about it?
 
Luke_Chambers said:
Soap carving is great. When I was a kid there was a jail break with a false gun carved from soap and blackened with shoe polish. I'm an old geezer now, and sometimes can feel a bit bored. So I've been collecting bits of soap to make a fake gun. This is going to be a project for one of my nieces, who is rather artistic.
Please folks don't consider this too odd. I could ask her to carve a rabbit or a horse, as well, only it wouldn't engage her as much. Kids these days get plenty of training for their brains, what they need to learn is the dexterity of their fingers.
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What about the bird thingies. It's like an emotional support bird or worry bird, I can't think of the proper name.
 
Luke_Chambers said:
Soap carving is great. When I was a kid there was a jail break with a false gun carved from soap and blackened with shoe polish. I'm an old geezer now, and sometimes can feel a bit bored. So I've been collecting bits of soap to make a fake gun. This is going to be a project for one of my nieces, who is rather artistic.
Please folks don't consider this too odd. I could ask her to carve a rabbit or a horse, as well, only it wouldn't engage her as much. Kids these days get plenty of training for their brains, what they need to learn is the dexterity of their fingers.
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What about trying the comfort birds.
 
JM2 said:
M Mr. Chips When you advocate kids being 9 for whittling class, does that mean you think kids can’t safely use knives below that age for other things? Or is it whittling only?
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The main problem is that pre 9, kids have a hard time actually remembering to put concepts that they have seen, and been guided to do, into action without one on one supervision.
For example, you can explain to them why cutting down on their leg to cut a piece of string or rope is a bad idea. They understand it, and even get squeamish when the consequences are described, but leave them alone with the knife and they will do it.
It is hard for them to put concepts into action. It has to do with brain development.
Hurting themselves with a knife certainly reinforces learning, but even when that happens, they often don't get the connection.
I have no hesitation working one on one with an 8 year old, but I can't have them in my classes, because they take too much time away from the others.
 
I’m thinking a schrade USA 5ot would make a good boys knife. I’m intending to find an example for my boy in fact. Drop point so not a needle sharp point, locking blade, something not everyone else has.

And of course he’ll have a sak for the tools. That will give him blade assortment. And hopefully not ruin a fine vintage old timer.
 
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