First Fixed Blade for my Son

I'd go with something along the classic hunter lines... You know.. wood handle, 4" or 5", leather sheath, non-coated blade. I like carbon steel personally, but stainless is easier to take care of.

I'll bring something up that no one has yet. If he plans on carrying and using the knife all the time, stay away from anything tactical looking. While there is a huge COOL factor, I think it'll be more grief than it's worth.

Here's why in my area: KY's concealed carry law considers ALL knives weapons EXCEPT traditional pocket knives and hunting knives. Basically, anything tactical looking or a non-traditional looking knife is a no no. So are kitchen and butcher knives when carried on the person.

The "traditional" pocket and hunting knives are considered tools, even when/if concealed. Concealed could be something as simple as him having on a long winter coat and you guys stopping at the gas station while out hunting, and he's got the knife on his belt.

I'd look are an American made Schrade Old Timer, something from Puma maybe, or a Case. They're not the "in" brands any more, but they are still solid knives that last forever.
 
sambo. said:
for a first knife at that age, i'd suggest a carbon steel Mora (Clipper 840 or similar). something cheap he can beat on and not have you shedding tears of blood if he loses/destroys it.

once he's proven he can take care of that, then consider a really nice knife for his 16th birthday.

just my $0.02.
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YES. A Mora.

Let him make his normal boyish mistakes with an affordable $10 piece of Swedish steel. When he has learned to use fixed blades properly, retire it in favor of something nicer.
 
Alrighty folks, he made his decision.

OP, if the knife you get is actually the one in the pic than it IS an RC-3 (now ESEE3). The seller has it marked wrong. You did good.
 
i would definately go with getting him the becker necker bc i have one and it is great. the blade is thick for its size and it is very sturdily constructed i guess if that makes sense? its been very reliable to me and great for bushcraft and only cost about $ on amazon35
 
Well I knew it was a possibility... When the knife arrived, it was a like new....OKC RAT3.

I sent the seller an email letting him know what I thought about it and gave him 3 options:

appropriate partial refund (the total cost would have been $52),

total refund plus enough to ship it back to him or

send me the rc3 pictured in the auction.

To his credit he offered to do either of the first two. In the end I decided to get the full refund plus shipping cost to send it back. I have ordered an Izula with scales from Patriot Knives (Robert is great to deal with) to give my son for his birthday. I really liked the RAT3, and this was a pretty good deal, but I wanted him to have an ESEE knife.

I knew I was taking a chance, but it all worked out in the end.
 
bummer that it wasn't the pictured knife - good to hear it;'s working out.
Patriot has a sweet price on the Izula - good choice for a first knife.
 
Just out of curiosity why would you have preferred an ESEE-3 or RC-3 instead of an Ontario Rat-3? I was looking at a Rat-3 and considering the cheap price and the fact that a Tek-Lok was included that it might be a better buy? They all look like great knives.
 
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Would recommend either the:
- RAT RC3http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/ratknives/images/3pblog.jpg. Great warranty. What ever he does to it including cutting in half they will fix as long as they are in business.
- TOPS Wolf Pup. This has about a 3" blade but what I really like for kids is that it has a good hand choil and the blade is setup in such a way to provide more safety. It has a lot of belly on it and will not break the bank.
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glad it worked out. I would be so pissed when I opened the box to find it wasnt the knife in the picture.

It was nice of him to refund you but I'd leave him a bad rating.
 
noway said:
Just out of curiosity why would you have preferred an ESEE-3 or RC-3 instead of an Ontario Rat-3? I was looking at a Rat-3 and considering the cheap price and the fact that a Tek-Lok was included that it might be a better buy? They all look like great knives.
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Fair question. It came down to a few things:
Warranty on the ESEE
By many accounts better fit finish and heat treatment
Most importantly when it wasn't what had been advertised, it just left a bad taste in my mouth and I didn't want that.
 
bnole said:
Fair question. It came down to a few things:
Warranty on the ESEE
By many accounts better fit finish and heat treatment
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You got that right. Not to mention ESEE doesnt screw over their designers (tough cause it's themselves I guess)/partners.
 
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