Calling all parents!

All my girls have knives, except my 11 year old.
She is not pleased, and wants a VIC Classic on her keyring.
I think she will get more use out of the sissors than the blade.

All my girls have been drilled about a knife is a tool not a weapon.
Opening and closing, and how to cut with it.

AARP,
I don't know what a Calypso jr is.
But if it is a locking type knife, it is not a turn on for parents.
Try a small SAK, or a small slippie.
Both are real knives...and have enough blade to do all you need for EDC.
Of course not for school.

So if you can say to your folk, 'look at this cute little knife', you will have more of a chance.
 
neeman said:
AARP,
I don't know what a Calypso jr is.
But if it is a locking type knife, it is not a turn on for parents.
Try a small SAK, or a small slippie.
Both are real knives...and have enough blade to do all you need for EDC.
Of course not for school.

So if you can say to your folk, 'look at this cute little knife', you will have more of a chance.
Click to expand...
Calypso Jr is a 2.88 inch ZDP-189 blade BLK handle Spyderco knife. And I'm pretty much past an SAK and slippie considering I have a locking SAK 3 1/2 incher and a Leatherman Wave. I just want something light and practical like a Calypso Jr. And California makes their knife laws at school VERY clear.
 
If you think it is worth a try, then it probably is.
Give the proper lessons on knife care and handling and if need be, supervise use for a while.
Also, give a knife that has other tools as well, a small SAK is ideal. The other tools are so he's not too tempted to use the blade as a pry or screwdriver, or a fingernail cleaner. This teaches 'use the proper tool for the job'.
I'd also recommend a slippie, so he learns proper handling, and not to rely on a 'safety' that might fail at any time.
Greg
 
AARP said:
It's funny because I'm on the exact opposite end of this discussion. I'm 13 (although most people say I act like a late teenager, very laid back, very conservative) and have been trying to get my parent's to get me a spyderco calypso jr and sharpmaker for Christmas, but my parent's are very liberal and I live in California. My dad does not have apocket knife so I don't have any support from that. I got my first knife, a lockback SAK, at age 11. Then last birthday I got a Leatherman Wave. The reason I want a Calypso jr is because 1) My Leatherman is way heavy for EDC 2) I want a real knife, not a multitool. What arguements can I present to persuade them to get it for me?
Click to expand...


AARP; go look into the Spyderco factory website. They have a section on locks etc. and their company philosophy. Show your parents, the features such as the locking blade, and the Boye dent which give you the benefits of safety to use this tool.

Also you chosen desired knife costs a bit more than your previous knives so perhaps cost may still be an issue. Don't loose heart if you don't get it. Just work on being a good kid. :)
 
I think it depends on the child. And as others have said here, rules should be set and enforced. Moreover, you should be a good model for your child.

Calypso Jr. seems like a lot of knife for a 12-year-old. I like the idea of a small SAK.
 
Not really got much advice to add to this thread, as I think most posts have already given good advice :). I agree that it depends on the child.

In my case I let my children use my knives under supervision from around the age of 7/8 when I thought they showed enough maturity and had enough dexterity to learn knife skills.

Getting your kids to help with kitchen chores like peeling potatoes and slicing meat and vegetables is an excellent way to teach knife skills, carving potato shapes and wax candles is also good.

My kids got presented with their own knives when they moves up from cubs to scouts at the age of 12. I took them to our local huntin' shootin' fishin' store and my son chose a no.8 Opinel and a SAK Pioneer. When her time came my daughter chose a no.7 Opinel and a SAK Spartan.
 
zenheretic said:
AARP; go look into the Spyderco factory website. They have a section on locks etc. and their company philosophy. Show your parents, the features such as the locking blade, and the Boye dent which give you the benefits of safety to use this tool.

Also you chosen desired knife costs a bit more than your previous knives so perhaps cost may still be an issue. Don't loose heart if you don't get it. Just work on being a good kid. :)
Click to expand...
Heh cost isn't a factor. Compared to my Leatherman that broke my bank:)
 
DaveinNY said:
12 is plenty old enough to take responsibility of a sharp cutting tool as long he/she understands that it is a tool and not a toy. In my youth, many moons ago, this question would not even be raised. Having a pocket knife around to use was no different than borrowing Dads screw driver, wrench or hammer. If we needed a knife to cut rope to make that old tire swing or whittle a marshmallow stick, we just went to the drawer and got it. I never got bit by the knife, but that old hammer had done a number on my fingers a few times. I would wait until he is around 15 to buy him his first hammer.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Dave for a great laugh. Brings back some great memories.:D
 
I rec'd my first pocket knife when I was a Cub Scout. Back then, early '60's, it was more of a requirement for a scout to have. It was a 4 bladed scout style knife. I don't know whatever happened to it, but to this day I love the look of black, jigged bone or composite. It was probably composite, maye a Kamp-King (?). I wish I still had it. I have a knife my dad gave me when I was in my twenties, a Schrade Old Timer, large stockman. I never really liked the delrin or the logo on the shield, but carried it a lot anyway. Now it's 30 some years old and a classic. He passed away earlier this year and the knife is a treasured keepsake along with a Sabre, Monarch peanut that belonged to him.

I think a SAK of some kind would make a good first knife for a 12 yr. old boy, providing they can handle it responsibly. We bought our 10 yr. old daughter a pink, Miss Army multi-tool knife. She asked for it for Christmas last year. It's kind of like a SAK, not as well made though.
 
This question has come up before, and I am of the opion that a kids first knife should be a SAK or similar slip joint. They should have to learn to use a knife properly instead of relying on a lock to save them from being cut.

Come to think of it, quite a few adult should learn the same lesson.
 
This thread is timely for me. My 9 year old daughter and I were in the woods last weekend, and she helped me collect some wood, which I chopped and split to make a small fire. Now she has decided she needs a sheath knife for our next trip, so she can help. She has a SAK Classic, and has been helping in the kitchen, cutting vegetables, and is mature for her age. It seems to me that a fixed blade with a guard might be safer than a folder. I found some Moras on the Ragweed Forge site that might work, but the shortest blade is 3 3/4". Anybody know of an inexpensive fixed blade, with a good guard, with a 3" blade?
 
A timely thread indeed. I gave my oldest a knife a couple months ago (A Kershaw Scallion), & I just gave my youngest daughter (7) a SAK. She's in Brownies, so I told her I'll look around for one or get her a Girl Scout knife when she becomes one.

Just like I've done with BB guns & firearms with them, you just teach them about safety, etc. & don't be afraid of repeating the safety rules, etc.

Good luck.
 
I don't have any kids yet, but I have knives set aside for them already. :)

I think knife knowledge is all about the place you grow up. If you live on a farm or so a knife is a tool like everything else and does not really have any "magic" features. It is there on the work bench with all other tools.
If you live in the town on the other hand a "real" knife is rarely used on a daily basis in an apartment or town house so they might still be treated as something" magic".
If you are used to have knives everywhere the "coolness" disappears. Like someone would bring friends home to look at dads new shovel or hammer or wheelbarrow or whatnot.

I read somewhere that a guy who is a hunter taught his kids that the "outdoor" knife is only to be used for hunting and camping so when he locked his guns and radio and hunting knife and stuff in the gun safe, the kid put his knife there as well, "dad has his knife there and so shall I". When visitors come by they get big eyes when a six year old girl is slicing tomatoes with a 300 bucks hand made kitchen knife. Then when the caring visitors tries to stop what they think is becoming a carnage of blood and scream and tries to get close to the kid, she just put the knife down and say "SHARP, stay away".

The knife issue is hard for most people, parents or not. Today I had a discussion with someone at work where he stated that my Fallkniven U2 was illegal to carry around, then he was babbeling about 5 centimeters and crap. I tried to quote the law to him, but I will email him the text tomorrow, just for fun. So for him a knife is still magic, not for me.

Hey, if I needed a knife for "protection" (only a lowlife carry a knife for protection in Sweden) and to impress the less bright kids I would get something black with serrations and a cool name printed on the blade. Like a chinese copy of a CQC-7.

Get your kid a REAL knife. It does not have to be a 100 bucks knife. It can be a Mora or something but it is his/her knife and should get a special place where it sits when not used. It is a maturity thing. Maybe one of the locking blade SAKs with some extra tools on them.
 
the thing I WOULDN'T get a young kid is a slipjoint. I've had too many good cuts from that. Maybe I was just an idiot. My first was the little old timer. I think I was 7ish.
 
I agree with it depending on the child, but 12 certainly seems old enough. I got my son a SAK last year when he turned 8. He also got he rules and understands the concept safe handling.
 
Ultimately, you know how responsible your child is. If you have no reason not to give him a knife, then let him have one. Start with a SAK or a small fixed blade. I don't think 12 is too young; my six-year-old daughter has several knives.
 
ginshun said:
This question has come up before, and I am of the opion that a kids first knife should be a SAK or similar slip joint. They should have to learn to use a knife properly instead of relying on a lock to save them from being cut.

Come to think of it, quite a few adult should learn the same lesson.
Click to expand...

+1. My first knife was a scout camp knife (slipjoint). I still carry a SAK (farmer) and have never felt the need to carry anything bigger. I don't know how much safer they are, but Victorinox does offer a rounded tip version called "My first Victorinox". I had another idea while reading this post, having my first knife engraved(blade or handle), would have been much more special to me.

Here is an add for "my first Vic"
http://www.eknifeworks.com/webapp/e...=0&list=50&range=51&order=PriceAsc&SKU=V53565

Always remember, 2 rules in life never to bend. Never whittle towards yourself, never pee against the wind.
 
go with your gut feeling, if you strongly think their ready then a simple knife, SAK or slipjoint. My 11 yr old loves his SAK collection, kids must be drawn to them even more than knife knuts. Either way your choice will be better than my first slip joint, at 14 was given my grandads old Camillus #26 Hunter, one big A$$ pocket knife. try explaining that your carrying this massive knife for sentimental reasons, had to do that to a rent a cop at the local mall when i was 16 or so, its a long story ;)
i guess i was a traditional mall ninja way before there was mall ninjas:D
all the best
ivan
 
JackBauer24 said:
the thing I WOULDN'T get a young kid is a slipjoint. I've had too many good cuts from that. Maybe I was just an idiot. My first was the little old timer. I think I was 7ish.
Click to expand...

I couldn't disagree more. Your first knife must be a slipjoint, like your first car should be a manual. My son is 4 1/2 he has a SAK that he can use when I am around, other than that it stays in the drawer with my knives. I had him cutting stuff from about 3 yrs old (toast mostly) its great to see him put a knife down on the chopping board with the edge away from him facing the wall. He has been bit a couple of times, all very minor and it really gives me a rush of pride to see the way he handles closing his SAK with real care, not fear of it snapping closed, just respectful of what it can do. :)

I got my first slippie at 5, I was shown by my dad how to use it and what not to do, I can't remember ever cutting myself with it from user error.
 
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