First hunting knife for a kid...

Macchina

Macchina

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I have a family friend I've been encouraging to get his hunting license and he just finished hunters safety. He's 12 and I'll be taking him and his Dad small game hunting this Spring.

He's more mature than half of the people in know in their 30's and his parents allow him to have and carry a cheap folding knife. I'll be asking his Dad before giving him anything.

What do we think a good first hunting knife will be? I'm thinking a 3"-4" blade, natural handle material, leather sheath.
 
I don't know what types of game this knife may be used on but I saw you mention small game and that he is a young hunter. I prefer fixed blades for hunting but I have used folders in the past.

I like a smaller blade especially for small game and at his age a smaller knife may handle better. I would look at Knives of Alaska they have some nice options. I like the Jaeger, Alpha Wolf, or even the Cub Bear great for small to medium game and I use the Cub Bear for a lot of small game as well as caping out deer also. I have used several of the KOA knives and been happy with them. My nephew started with an Esee Izula for smaller game might be another to look at unless you want stainless. And as mentioned already Buck has several options.

Good to see younger hunters get started and a good knife will add to their excitement to get out there.
 
For a 12 year old I’d go 102, or if he’s bigger for his age maybe even a 117.

You can never beat a 110/112 for a folder, whichever size you/he prefers.

I really like the 117 and the 1/692, but the latter might be a bit big in the handle for a 12 year old. Again, totally depends on his size.
 
Small fixed blades would be my recommendation. The smaller Bucks are the best first knives available now a days.

I personnally would have recommended a Western B&T if they were still being made. A model 28, 48A, or 48B of the L/F/H handle type made a great first knife for youngsters from the 1930s through the Coleman and Camillus years.
 
All good choices mentioned here. While I have a Cold Steel Drop Forged Hunter and it's truly one of my very favorites - it is a bit heavier than what a 12 year old would need for small game hunting and the Buck suggestions are perhaps more suitable. While a 12 year old would adore a 112 and likely have it for life, a fixed blade is just all around better for hunting if for no other reason, easier to keep clean. You may even consider a small gamed sized fixed blade and something like a 110 Lite or a KaBar Dozier for a small, easy to handle and lightweight folder.

Good on you for helping your friend and his son!
 
SALTY said:
BTW, The Buck 102 is a dandy sized knife for small and medial game.
It's also great for a 12 year old and ... the 12 year old in all of us!
Click to expand...

I love mine. I would’ve been over the moon to have one at 12!

10797029-FA56-4-DA5-A40-E-D998-A8-A19-ED8.jpg


I would’ve also recommended a Schrade Sharpfinger, but the new ones are total junk.
 
SALTY said:
While I have a Cold Steel Drop Forged Hunter and it's truly one of my very favorites - it is a bit heavier than what a 12 year old would need for small game hunting and the Buck suggestions are perhaps more suitable.
Click to expand...
I know how serious and mature I was for my age when I was 12-13yo... then at 14 it slowly started to change, and I was batshit crazy at 15-17.
This is main reason why I mentioned the thickness and steel choice. That knife is built like a tank. And about weight - once his T levels go up during puberty he'll very soon be handling even heawier blades like nothing.
I also remember 16yo me buying heawiest wood splitting maul because I recently strarted going to gym and I wanted wood splitting to be some kind of training too :D
I got used to that maul pretty fast BTW :D
 
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