Daughter's first knife....

Daughter's first knife?

  • Case Peanut

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Opinel

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • SAK

    Votes: 1 100.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    1
Mongo

Mongo

Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Messages
8,969
Greetings all,
I have two wonderful daughters, eldest is 12, the youngest is 8. BOTH are giving me periodic grief about getting their first knives. The eldest actually has her own fixed blade, a Scandanavian blade modified with a convex edge. But, it resides in the safe. She doesn't have daily access to it. Lately, the youngest has been after me for her very own knife. She says she is ready.... I plan on keeping it in the safe still. So.... I think I am going to bite the Fatherly bullet and get them a folder that they can have access to 24/7. This is a very big step in my mind. And, yes... they will get all the necessary safety instruction before getting them. (even though I know they will probably hear about one out of every 10 words I say, with all the excitement)

Here are my potential choices: Case Peanut in SS, smallest Opinel in SS, some sort of small Vic SAK. Since Carl corrupted me some time ago, I am leaning towards the Peanut, but then again... the Opie rocks in it's simplicity, and the youngest has really admired my little SAK that has the scissors, small blade, and file, along with the toothpick and tweezers. (Executive?) What says you esteemed fellow Traditional fans?
 
Why stainless steel? I'd suggest a first knife be made of good old trusty carbon steel so they also learn to care for their knives! My first knife was a Camillus Boy Scout trapper in carbon steel, and I've been a fan of 1095 ever since.

My Grandpa who worked at a hardware store after he retired from the Navy bought my Dad a Schrade-Walden H-15 to carry in Vietnam ("You'll need a good sharp knife!", he told him). It is 1095 carbon steel, and now I have it, fantastic knife. I really despise a lot of stainless steels used today because they are very hard to sharpen properly in the field.

The only exception I've found so far is Sandvik 12c27 stainless steel, it has similar edge holding and ease of sharpening properties.

Morakniv just came out with a new "Magenta" version of the Companion in 12c27, if you aren't truly set on a folder:

http://www.baryonyxknife.com/mocost3.html
 
How do you delete a duplicate post? I was a professional web developer and can't find the option, not very user-friendly forum coding... lol
 
I recommend the smaller SAK classic possibly in a unique pattern, because having the nail file/scissors and tweezers turns out to be mighty useful for most anyone.
 
The first knife I gave my daughter was the short version of the Tinker. (There are two sizes of Vic Tinker. One is the regular size with 3" master blade. The other is the small one with 2 1/2" master blade.) It's big enough to handle easily, small enough to fit easily in a purse. The blades were easy for her to open. (and still are.)
 
I would recommend an Opinel, but a No. 6 for several reasons. The round handle ensures a firm grip (Going too small makes it hard for a new user to control a knife, I have found.) It's the smallest one with the locking ring. Yes, it's important to learn how to handle a knife so that it doesn't close on you, but rather than throwing everything at them at once, I think it best to let them develop one skill at a time. Also, since it has no backspring, there is no danger of it snapping shut on a finger even while opening and closing, as especially peanuts have been known to do. I think I am more concerned with the new user learning how to actually hold and cut with the knife at first. After they develop some skill and confidence, they won't be afraid that they will fumble the opening/closing on a knife with a spring.
 
I vote stainless opinel #6 because of the simplicity, ease of operation, tolerance for abuse, and low cost.
add to that the lack of guilt associated with blunting the point until you're confident of her safe handling skills - after which it could be modified again into a drop point for better carving performance.
 
I voted a SAK for the youngest if that is what she likes. But I have heard some good arguments for the opinel.
Congrats Dad!!

Dave
 
All my four Girls carry a SAK Classic on their keyring (along with an emergency whistle)
It has a nail file, sissors, tweezers, and a small blade that cuts well
Gives them everything they need
They tell me the sissors are more useful than the blade

And then for camping, they have a SAK Tourist (the smaller 3 1/4" version of the Sparten) with a lanyard attached
And this gives them all they need for being out and about

I buy the Sparten as Bar Mitzvah gifts for 13 year olds, and they love it

I once bought a Opinel #6 for a kid, as he specifically wanted a knife for carving
But it is a lot of knife for younger hands
 
All three options in the poll would make good "first knives," just get them the ones you think they'll like best.
Another thing: Surprises are nice, but have you though about just asking them what they want? I'd definitely want to pick out my own knife if I was in either of their places.
 
My first knife was a Camp King. It came with a leather loop to bo on your belt and a snap to attach to the bail so we could find in out pocket easy. It resided in Dad's sock drawer for quite a while and we knew not to even dream of getting into the drawer with out his permission.

I would go for a simple knife of a size large enough to not fumble with. If you don't want to go with any of the least expensive scout knives on the market right now I'd say get them something they will like. Sounds like the youngest really wants a SAK and you can get them as small or as large as you like. I'm leary of the Peanut but I have larger hands that don't handle them well.

Have you seen the Victorinox Day Packer or Floral knives? They might be a good first knive fit. If I read it correctly, they are 4" closed with a single 2 1/2" blade and come in several different colors for covers/scales. It looks like the Day Packer has a clip blade and the Floral has more of a sheepsfoot or wharncliff.
 
My daughter got carbon steel Opinel at the age of 12, easy to use and handle and she got responsibility of taking care of the knife and oil it.
Mike
 
I bought my older son and younger son GEC made Schrade #73 scout patterns. Some day, they may be able to open those bear traps! They are 7 and 3 right now, so it is going to take some time.

Then I bought my 7 year old a #6 Opinel (carbon). So stinking cheap! He can open and lock it with ease. Honestly, he does not use it much! He is very cautious with knives (he was with me when I cut the dickens out of my thumb once. Severed the nerve and cut a 180 degree cut to the bone!) He went with me to the ER, and still remembers it!
 
the SAK classic range has so much variety, not just in tools, but also scale colours and patterns, its these sorts of details that would make the first knife special for a kid.
 
Dan57 said:
All three options in the poll would make good "first knives," just get them the ones you think they'll like best.
Another thing: Surprises are nice, but have you though about just asking them what they want? I'd definitely want to pick out my own knife if I was in either of their places.
Click to expand...

^
This
 
I got my first knife when I was 8. A victorinox standart. I kept it in my nightstand drawer and used it for everything. Small blade for whittling large for food and other tough jobs, awl for drlling holes and corkscrew for untying knots. The screwdrivers and bottle openers were used as well for opening cola bottles and dismantling everything with screws. The only thing I haven't used until my military days was the can opener.

My vote goes to the victorinox spartan closely followed by a peanut or a victorinox classic.
 
I would go with a SAK because of all the other useful tools you get and they're easy to open/close. Opening the pen blade on the peanut can be a bit fiddly at times (but maybe small fingers would be better at this, not sure) and they do have a tendency to snap shut.
 
I've never had a Peanut (on the way) or an Opinel, but I have had a couple of SAK classics around for years. Recently on another thread here in traditionals, someone was talking about their thin blade being heat treated correctly, then they showed the blade being pushed to bend similar to a fillet knife.

Seeing that made remember one day that I was cutting against a piece of plastic over the cutting board when the knife slipped, and the tip went into the cutting board causing the blade to flex momentarily.

I know saying that the knife blade flexed doesn't sound like much, but I was shocked that it could bend that far. It then returned to its original form. I think I'm lucky that the blade didn't close, but then again, I wonder if I had a little lock back with out safety glasses on if the blade could have snapped and gone flying.

I still vote SAK though, it's what I have had the most experience with.
 
bwperdue said:
I would recommend an Opinel, but a No. 6 for several reasons. The round handle ensures a firm grip (Going too small makes it hard for a new user to control a knife, I have found.) It's the smallest one with the locking ring. Yes, it's important to learn how to handle a knife so that it doesn't close on you, but rather than throwing everything at them at once, I think it best to let them develop one skill at a time. Also, since it has no backspring, there is no danger of it snapping shut on a finger even while opening and closing, as especially peanuts have been known to do. I think I am more concerned with the new user learning how to actually hold and cut with the knife at first. After they develop some skill and confidence, they won't be afraid that they will fumble the opening/closing on a knife with a spring.
Click to expand...

I agree with this post. The Opi #6 should be perfect.

Ed J
 
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