child's 1st knife suggestions

B

blunder

Joined
Dec 6, 1999
Messages
16
Any thoughts on a decent 1st real knife for a 9yr old boy? He's been through cub scouts and is very aware of safety. The scout knife is pathetic (no lock, lame quality). What type, size, style would you learned scholors suggest?
 
I agree, a Swiss Army Knife is a great first choice. Make sure you go with Victorinox and not Wenger(better quality in the Victorinox).
They have an unbelievable number of styles and sizes to choose from as well.
Good luck.

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The vague and tenuous hope that GOD is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the conscience of millions.

*A. W. Tozer

2 Cor 5:10

 
We seem to agree. A swiss army knife is what I just got my 9 year old girl for Christmas.
 
Thanks for the swiss army knife suggestion. Do you think a model with a "grillion" gadgets is best or just a few of the more useful ones?
 
A Victorinox Tinker. Any bigger and they get too thick and heavy to carry in a pocket comfortably
 
I bought a first knife last year for my Godson of the same age. I thought of a SAK but I wanted a lock to save his fingers, I also wanted something traditional looking for his first knife. I settled on a Buck Prince lock back. He was very happy. This year for his birthday I kicked it up with a Spydie Native.

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LD
"Every Dog Has His Day"
BFC Member Since October 2, 1998

 
If you want something a bit longer than the average SAK and with a lock, try the Victorinox Adventurer model. It has the same tools as a Tinker, but has a locking 3.25" blade. The nice thing about an SAK is that you can use it a lot more than a cutting only type knife. If you give a kid a blade-only knife he's likely to go cut something that shouldn't be cut since he's looking for more oportunities to use it.

Another choice is a stockman's knife and some good whittling wood.
 
i'll have to agree with the SAK. the first knife i give to my kids will have no lock. they must learn responsibility and if they cut themselves, well the lesson is learned. they won't have the strength to really hurt themselves too bad and they knives will be only marginally sharp, not like mine. and as someone else said, there is plenty of stuff to keep a kid busy besides the blade.
 
If want something with alot of tools and locking blades, look at a Gerber mini multipliar. Its about 4 inches closed. They have it at www.gerberblades.com . I carry the full size gerber every day and its a great tool.
If you want just a knife, I would go with a good lock back. Maybe a buck. Try and find a size that you think will be comfortable for his hand.Good luck.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
You must mean the blue Cubs' knife. The Boy Scout knife is exactly the same is the Camillus US Army knife. Only difference is handle material. Army version is all steel. I suggest that. There is nothing wrong with tha materials on that knife. I've had one for years (well, someone threw one over a cliff), and carried it almost every single time I've gone camping in the last 6 years. Swiss Army knives are good as well (like everyone said, Victorinox), but most of those don't have locks. There are some though. There is also the possibility of a multitool of some sort. I have a feeling, though, that what you mean is a "tactical" (large, single locking blade) knife. He doesn't need something with too many components yet, so stay away from the fancy shmancy liner locks, etc., by which we've all been pampered, as this thread suggests. After all, you don't ALWAYS need a locking blade. If you DO mean a "tactical" folder, how about a Spyderco Native. I ordered one last Friday, and I'm almost MORE excited about that than the BM 710 that I ordered with it. Alas, TOT was out of 710's, so it didn't get shipped out til today.

Like I said, that Camillus US Army knife shouldn't be put down; it has never failed me in any way, even once. God, we're spoiled.

Howie
 
You must mean the blue Cubs' knife. The Boy Scout knife is exactly the same is the Camillus US Army knife. Only difference is handle material. Army version is all steel. I suggest that. There is nothing wrong with tha materials on that knife. I've had one for years (well, someone threw one over a cliff), and carried it almost every single time I've gone camping in the last 6 years. Swiss Army knives are good as well (like everyone said, Victorinox), but most of those don't have locks. There are some though. There is also the possibility of a multitool of some sort. I have a feeling, though, that what you mean is a "tactical" (large, single locking blade) knife. He doesn't need something with too many components yet, so stay away from the fancy shmancy liner locks, etc., by which we've all been pampered, as this thread suggests. After all, you don't ALWAYS need a locking blade. If you DO mean a "tactical" folder, how about a Spyderco Native. I ordered one last Friday, and I'm almost MORE excited about that than the BM 710 that I ordered with it. Alas, TOT was out of 710's, so it didn't get shipped out til today.

Like I said, that Camillus US Army knife shouldn't be put down; it has never failed me in any way, even once. God, we're spoiled.

Howie
 
I hate to say it, but do not buy him a Swiss Army knife!!!

Unless you find one with a lock-which there are I have had one-never buy a young'n a folding swiss army, and I 'll tell ya why.

My brother and I got knives in boy scouts with all our buddies. My brother and two of our friends received Swiss Army knives; within a month the blades had snapped closed requiring at least one of them-my friend-to get stitches!

Any non-locking folder is best kept for someone who will respect the knife's capabilities. I am not saying your boy is lacking in any way, hell we were shooting guns at 6 in the yard! I am saying that why not avoid something if you can???

I received-and still have (some twenty years later) a locking lightweight Buck Folder. Hardly ever rusted, sharpened easy enough, and the lock never failed!!! And we tried some stupid things to get it to close back then. Though I am sure your or I could make it collapse now, I am confidant that any of the new lightweight Bucks will provide a good tool from which any young person can learn the responsiblity of owning and maintaining a knife.

Another thing; although Spydies are great values, try and stay away from serrated as a first piece-teaching how to sharpen a serrated knife isn't as much fun or as straight foward as doing so with a serrated blade!
 
I got him a Victronix Tinker with the Boy Scout emblem, along with a belt sheath, for the transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. Also gave him an Arkansas stone for sharpening.
Figured he could learn the "old way" first before moving up to a Sabenza & Sharp Maker <grin>.
Some good points made about the blade folding on his fingers but I guess that's the way you learn.
 
SAK, for sure, keep it simple, like the Spartan. He will still be carrying it when he has children of his own.

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA


 
Although I gave my two older kids Swiss army knives last summer they seemed to like the small Old Timers that I recently gave them even more. A carbon steel knife will teach them more about care, it'll whittle better, and I definately didn't want them using a lockblade yet as they'll have to learn how to safely use more traditional knives. It's been fun teaching my daughter how to do things like designing and cutting a custom sized box out of cardboard and taping it up with the handyman's secret weapon - duct tape :^) Sometimes I'll go in the garage and they will be just whittling on sticks.
 
You don't really need a lock on a small pocket knives. There's nothing wrong with a boy getting a finger cut, even if it takes stitches. It just improves the educational value of the knife.
 
Good advice and I thank you all for responding. It was the Cub knife that I referred to and although there is merit in learning the extra care needed with a non-locking knife, I think I'll forgo having a son nicknamed "Nub". I understand there are now several SAK's that have at least one lock so I'll check them out. If they are too big, I'll go with a Buck. I have both and they were both given to me more than 25 years ago. Thanks again for the help.
 
Hey Walt! You gave your 7 yr old son an UMFAAN?! I wish you were my dad!
wink.gif


When my son was 9, I gave him a Spyderco Dragonfly, plain edge. When my daughter turned 9, I gave her a Spyderco Ladybug. My 6 year old has a SAK. Last Christmas Santa gave my son a Benchmade Mel Pardue. None of my kids hve cut themselves yet. Mostly just sharpening pencils...
 
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