Boy's knife...

P

PayetteRucker

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Aug 4, 2009
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My uncle just sent me this...
37593_141957535830467_100000486631144_347196_6333617_n.jpg

My 6 year old nephew. Apparently he's into .22 caliber revolvers and Pendleton hats. Got me thinking... as broke as I am it sure would be nice to build him up a field kit.
Something like this...
http://www.duluthtrading.com/search...px?feature=product_6&kw=bag&processor=content
and this...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...fd33a50&itemid=220411907169&ff4=263602_263622
And some kind of Boy's knife. Folder, fixed, both... maybe a hatchet... at six years old he's got the Nessmuk thing down better than I do. Recommendations?
 
I'd get him both. Get him a swiss army knife for sure, when i was that young i loved my dads schrade folder (based off the 110) and swiss army knives. But i'd get him a small fixed blade to get him started. Hatchet i'd pass on for now. Let him use yours if you're going to get one for him and make sure he can use it safely, or buy him shin pads :-) lol. Get him a bird call also, in my hometown of newington, ct there was a guy who made them for the audubon society, look up audubon bird call. They're fun to play with, i still have mine its 15+ years old now. I think that's about it, i was 6 16 years ago lol but i still remember it like it was yesterday. Oh, a compass too!
 
I think a swiss army knife is a good starter, I would also suggest a locking blade like a Spyderco Ladybug H1 or a Dragonfly, it will fit his smaller hands

I know I had my first knife around 7 from the Cub/Boy scouts. This kid is an old soul based on looking at his picture and what he's into, I'm sure he can handle it if guided properly.

Let us know how it goes
 
I always recommend kit knives in these cases, provided people have the right tools on hand. Assembling a nice little AUS-8 boy's knife can be a great father (or uncle)-son project, and you can get some decent models from the usual online suppliers.

Otherwise, I would join the others in recommending a SAK. Maybe look at a Grohmann No. 2 (bird and trout) as well - it has a thin handle profile that works well for small hands, and it's a solid knife.

So glad to see a young fellow enjoying W&SS stuff.

Best,

- Mike
 
Folders, even SAKs, can cause kid's fingers to get bit by the closing blade. I started my boys at age 5 SAKs, and they had trouble with opening and closing them so I went with these:
http://www.marttiini.fi/in_English/Marttiini_Shop/Marttiini_Junior.iw3

They have been very good knives that are cheap too. I think we paid 10 bucks for them and that includes a very nice leather sheath with plastic molded insert.

I got my oldest boy a SAK last year and he loves it. He's 8 now, and just now has the motor skills I think he needs to open and close the knife safe.
 
How about a Leatherman? I'm thinking a Fuse would be a good mid-priced model.

Good to start him on knives, but keeps him focused on it as a tool.
 
I suggest a simple Pioneer Solo, Cadet or Farmer.
As a young kid, I remember the first time a blade folded on my finger even after being warned. As a rite of passage, I never made that mistake again.
 
I think kids are better off with a fixed blade than a folder for safety reasons. A Mora would be a good choice (I can't believe I actually said that:eek:), or even an Izula.
 
A SAK is a great knife for kids. I plan on gifting one to my nephew when he turns 5 in December. I have been slowly teaching him, and feel confident that with parental guidance he will use it properly when allowed. A small fixed blade may be cool, too. Just make sure there is some sort of finger guard on it so he doesn't cut his finger. As the others have said, I would think a hatchet would be a little ways away.
 
bacman99 said:
Vic farmer or a fixed blade with a finger gaurd. And I agree hes to young for a hatchet
Click to expand...

Any smaller camp folder like the Vic mentioned. I'd personally be wary of a fixed blade at that age. As for the hatchet, to a kid with a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
 
I bought a Mora 546 for my 6 year old nephew. Its the stainless (because he wanted the blue handle) version of a 510, with a guard. He's done really well with it. When he masters that we'll add a SAK to his kit.

Brandon
 
Well, from the looks, the kid seems capable of handling a knife. My son is eleven now and has been using knives since around that same age.

I started with a plain Mora clipper, but Milani's suggestion of the "Junior" model is a real good one.

Teaching basic safety and knife use is much better with a fixed blade. Kids (at least mine:D), often leave tools laying around and don't police them up; chances are a folder will quickly disappear. Knowing that a fixed blade is either in hand or on the sheath is much easier to teach. Being able to get a full grip allows you to teach proper hand holds and how to safely cut away from the body.

Lastly, where Mora's benefit the most, is that they are inexpensive...this makes them easier to teach sharpening and blade maintenance. My son's best lesson was leaving a wet Mora carbon steel blade in it's sheath over-night...the colorful rust was a good visual of poor blade maintenance. After a little admonishment, he quickly learned to care for his blades!

Axes and hatches are excellent tools, just not at that age. Even if they could be trained well, I've found most young boys lack that dexterity and control needed to properly and safely use an axe. Even with my boy, I closely monitor his use with an axe at age eleven. I know it sounds stupid, but I feel more comfortable with him and a small machete than an axe:o

Here was my son's first folder, a Benchmade Mini-Grip:

KidsEDC.jpg


His first fixed blade was a Mora Clipper with kydex sheath:

KidsFB1.jpg


KidsFB2.jpg


I gave him my old Air Force Survival knife that I'd had since I was about his age. Cleaned it up, sharpened it and picked up a new sheath and it's as good as new!

BSAScoutPouch-1.jpg


Lastly, like Fixer's picture, I decided to get my son a "real" bushcraft blade. I Went with Brian Andrews and couldn't be happier. Just a word of advice, measure the boy's hand...Brian's standard model is sized for about a 6 or 7 year old, but it was a little too small for my son. After Brian made a switch for me, it actually works for me quite well also, so it'll last him a lifetime! Brian's knives are top notch like all the makers here on WSS and there's nothing more lasting for a boy than a custom made knife:D

Here was what Brian Originally sent me (the one that was a tad too small):

DSC03396.jpg


Brian was very gracious after I made my mistake in measurements, so he replaced the smaller one with one a little larger:

DSC03708.jpg


As to folders, I really liked the Mini-Grip when he was younger. He has since saved up $$ and purchased an Emerson Horseman which is his pride and joy. If you go with a SAK, make sure it's a locking blade version and the One-Hand-Trekkers are much easier to open for kids.

I would suggest a quality, inexpensive fixed blade...something to learn about safety, responsibility, accountability, maintenance, sharpening, handling, etc. After a few years, a nice WSS-member custom blade would be a real gift:thumbup:

ROCK6
 
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I bought a Entrek Backup knife for my daughter when the turns six -- in five years eleven months! :-). For a first fixed blade I believe it is hard to beat.

I also bought her a benchmade griptilian with the pink handle.

-Stan
 
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