Buying first knife for a non-knife guy...suggestions?

I say peanut. Small enough not to bother him in his pants pocket and the charm of a traditional with bone or stag and nickel silver will win him over.
 
stdwdh16 said:
That is the guy that screams peanut. I would buy him one in stainless for his first knife. In an office setting its just the right size. Also look at the swayback jack for something a bit larger. I'm sure he will love whatever you get him.
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Amen and amen.

The big mistake would be to get him something too big that he wouldn't carry on a day-in, day-out basis. Let him opt for a big ole trapper or 4" stockman to carry on weekends later, after he's seen the light by carrying a peanut (or maybe a Buck 309) every single day.
 
What about an alox cadet. Comes in a variety of colors and is so thin its hardly noticeable. Plenty of tools on it too. Target usually has them on sale as well.
 
What I'd get which is not too costly,ostentatious or confusing for non-knife type would be a CASE yellow handle pen-knife in stainless.

Why?

Very slim so goes in the pocket well,two useful stainess blades,bigger than a Peanut totally un-menacing and shows up when left somwhere e.g. crowded desk.
 
Hi bgremill -

In a Case, I would get him a tiny trapper, and I like the pocketworn series if that is still available.

However, for an all around EDC, I really like a Vic Waiter - it has a bottle/can opener, screwdriver, corkscrew and tweezers to go along with a nice sharp blade.

All of that and it is light and comfortable in a pocket - yes, even in a suit or dress pants.

Good idea getting him the gift. I have bought a handful of Victorinox SD's to give out to a select few at work this year.

best regards -

mqqn
 
I've been thinking about this thread some more .... during The Black Years (the half decade I spent working in a very button-down office environment), I naturally carried a knife. 99 days out of 100, it was a knife-only knife - i.e. not a SAK. I never needed scissors as they're in no short supply in most offices, and I certainly never needed to open a bottle of beer (well, I needed to, sure; but I couldn't). Computer or printer problems? I'd call IT and tell them what's up, then head to the break room for some of that bad coffee, and they'd come find me when it was fixed.

Opening envelopes and boxes and packs of printer paper were typical cutting tasks.

Given all that, I still say go for a peanut or Buck 309. I also love my little Buck 526 Executive, but I don't think they're making them anymore, so you'd have to find one on a popular online auction site.
 
I agree with the Vic Classic, Perfect for this situation. If not, why not try a Buck Solo? It is a small, unassuming, and can be had for about $12. Classic, wooden handles, very traditional looking, and not very expensive. Doesn't look like a weapon, more like something grandpa used. Just a thought.
 
I think the Vic Classic is a great place to start. Being a confirmed SAK addict though, allow me to suggest a couple others if you're planning to go down that route. The Broker is nearly the same as the Classic, but it has beautiful tooled stainless steel scales. You lose the toothpick and tweezers but the scales are very durable and will wear much better than cellidor or alox. I also think they look very classy, classier than the plastic scales, but looks are subjective. The alox Classics are very nice, but I feel the Broker is nicer. I just picked one up off the familiar auction site for 16 dollars plus shipping. That's a great deal in my mind.

Another one to consider is the executive. It sports a 74mm frame which is a nice compromise between the 58mm Classic and 84mm Cadet. It has two pen blades, scissors, an orange peeler blade/ flat screwdriver, the best nail file I've ever encountered on a multitool and the tweezer/toothpick combo. I think it's a perfect lightweight, non-threatening EDC for office environments. They come in a variety of colours and can probably be had for about 25 dollars. There is also a tooled steel scaled version called the director, but those are pretty rare. That one is one of my favourite knives ever, bar none. Best of luck with whatever you choose and I hope your colleague will appreciate the gesture as much as any of us would!
 
bgremill said:
I'm not sure what knife to get him. It will be a Case for sure. Maybe the Peanut, mini Muskrat or Trapper, Stockman, Jack? I just got the Swayback Jack and it is probably the most comfortable to knife I've ever carried in my life. It's also GORGEOUS! We wear suits everyday, obviously, hence my post here in the traditional forum, so size and shape need to be primary considerations. If you're wandering why I'm posting it's because I've never "started" anybody on knife carry before. I've carried full sized knives since they filled my entire front pocket, so I've not thought about that before. Thanks for your thoughts!
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Any thoughts or descisions so far?
 
somniloquist said:
Another one to consider is the executive. It sports a 74mm frame which is a nice compromise between the 58mm Classic and 84mm Cadet. ... I think it's a perfect lightweight, non-threatening EDC for office environments. They come in a variety of colours ...
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A Victorinox Executive is a good suggestion. But a variety of colors? I've seen them in red or black, but that's it. Are you saying they offer other colors as well? Got a link?
 
I have seen Executives in red, black, white, blue and green. I sent you a link via email of a vendor I trust that has all those colours in stock. I'm happy to send it to others, if interested. Just drop me a line.
 
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Voltron said:
Doesn't look like a weapon, more like something grandpa used. Just a thought.
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I think that is a very good thought. No matter what knife is chosen, it has to be as low on the knife scale as possable for a office working newbie. If not a small sak, then it may have to look like something Sheriff Andy Taylor takes out of his pocket to open a package for Aunt Bea. :D

Really, to start off with, never underestimate the reaction to a 'knife' these days. In fact, it should be as high on the 'cute' factor as possable. Buck solo with nice red handles, a Case peanut or mini trapper in a nice pretty handle material.
 
Amazingly enough, the "reaction" to knives these days IS off the charts. I have actually had people look twice at my Classic and wonder why I would carry something like that? After all, it is a Swiss Army K-N-I-F-E. Strange. However, I have used a small, Peanut in front of said people, and nothing. Not even a second glance. Kind've makes you wonder, if non-knife people look at a knife a certain way, how can we get them to carry it, you know?
 
If you’re looking for an inconspicuous and useful Case knife, consider the Jr. Stockman. Highly versatile, vanishes in the pocket, nonthreatening. This subforum convinced me to try a peanut, but I stick with the Jr. Stockman pattern that I’ve carried all my life. I always carry a larger knife for heavy work requiring a good handle. But you can do a lot with a small stockman.

However in this case I’d agree with Jackknife. Get the guy a classic or some similar SAK.
 
Case Swayback Gent. Comfortable in the hand, and a single blade so it's thin in the pocket :thumbup:

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(not my pic)
 
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For non-knife folks , the smaller , simpler and less threatening looking the better.

I am a marching band parent (aka roadie ) who helps move , load , unload , setup and maintain band gear for a band with 150+ kids , and have been amazed at the number of times I have been at competitions , and something needs fixed and the other parents helping don't have something as simple as a pocket knife to cut something. Heck at night events , they didn't even have flashlights !

In my bag I carry a couple slippies ( among other gear , flashlights , batteries , multitools , screw drivers , etc ) and always have a sub 3" fixed blade on me.

If someone asks to borrow a knife in the pit , and I hand them a Yellow CV Sodbuster Jr , Remington Baby Bullet Trapper , Case Seahorse Whittler or Case Peanut , not a word or brow shows concern , but if I hand them the fixed blade (made by me ) or my Strider PT CC - they about go bizerk !

Keep it simple , keep it traditional. SAK or small Case would fit the bill.
 
Another vote for an SAK. Personally, I recommend the Alox Bantam. It's as thin and light as they get, so it doesn't print in dress slacks, and provides man's most essential tools: a knife blade and a bottle opener.
 
The SAK executive would be a good choice, or maybe the pocket hunter. Different blade shapes, still pocket friendly and not menacing. You might try letting him see you using a different knife and see how he reacts. Just a thought.
 
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