First knife and what age?

I was seven when I got a little schrade knife, three blades...I forget the model, but still remember the knife fondly. Oh, good 'ol carbon steel.

Whatever age you decide, I'd get the kid something more traditional...this promotes the idea of "knife as tool" rather than "knife as weapon." We all know that knives certainly CAN be weapons, but they are tools first and any kid would be less tempted to act irresponsibly with a small traditional lockback or slippie rather than a 10-inch, serrated dagger. Just my two cents.
 
When I was 6-7 years old, my dad gave me a little red Vic SAK Classic; loved it.
 
I have been carrying a pocket knife since I was 10 years old. I learned proper knife handling in the Cub Scouts. As has been said previously, when a child is ready to be trusted with a knife is a function of maturity.
A great first knife is a Victorinox Tinker.
 
I was 8 years old and got one of those little plastic-handled Buck keychain knives
 
I gave my daughter and oldest son their first knife at 7 and 8, respectively. Actually, I gave them each a Gerber LST and a SAK Soldier. I chose the Gerber as it was sized for them, with a locking mechanism that they could operate. The SAK...well, everyone needs to start with one.

Along with the knives they received lessons in knife safety and use. I started them off at the kitchen table wittling baby carrots, and later moved them on to shaving/slicing unshelled peanuts. Notwithstanding, they have still cut themselves (as I continue to do:o). To their credit, when they do get cut they tend to the wound and don't freak out.

My six year old boy is salivating for his first knife, as is my oldest boy for his first hatchet...

Chris
 
I got my first Dick Tracy pocketknife when I was in the third grade. My reluctant dad said I would probably cut myself. Second day, he was right.

Who says a kid's first knife has to be sharp? I just got my 3-year old grandson a small Opinel, then took off the edge. He can't cut himself, but can butter and cut his pancakes and cut hot dogs and donuts, due to the narrowness of the blade.

He loves to spin the locking mechanism, and does it faster than me. When he's older, I will sharpen the blade in steps.

He keeps the blade folded, only uses it when I'm right there, and I "keep it for him" the rest of the time.

With it is a larger Opinel I sometimes use when he uses his. He'll get the "Grandpa" knife one day, and will still have his "Grandson" knife as a memory of all those pancake breakfasts as a boy.
 
I got my first knife when I was 6 or 7. It was a "barlow" with brown plastic scales. I think that having slipjoint knives when I was young taught me to handle knives properly, I think a young kid could develop bad habits depending on the lock of a knife to keep the blade off of their fingers. I plan on giving my child a knife of her own around 5 or 6 with adult supervision, I'll probably let her keep it when she shows me that she is responsible enough.
 
I was 6, knife was a Vic SAK. I promptly did something stupid with it, and it was taken away until I was 7. after waiting an entire year to get my knife back I had much more respect for the responsibility that comes with owning a knife, and a clear understanding of the consequences of misusing it.
 
I know I was about 7. It was a kinda cheap Case lockback with brown FRN handles. I really started carrying a knife everywhere with me when I was about 12 though. My first EDC blade was a CRKT M1 designed by Greg Lightfoot.
 
mine was a 4-blade "forest master", cheap knife, but good steel. it was basically a boy-scout knife, one blade, an awl, a can opener, and a screwdriver/bottle opener. i was 5. still have it, and it's still sharp. got my first hatchet at 3 1/2... my dad uses that for splitting wood when he barbeques.
 
I can't remember the first knife I ever had--that's too far in the past.:(

The first knife I ever bought was a "Trim Trio", at about 8 years old--Wharncliffe blade, screwdriver/bottle opener, and nail file. It came off a cardboard card in the local shop and cost about 49 cents.

I've carried a pocket knife or fixed blade ever since then, and despite the dire warnings nowadays, I haven't killed anyone with any of them, or cut off any appendages.

Greg
 
I got my first knife at 7. My mother bought me cheap slipjoint along with other office supply for school: boy need to sharpen pencils. At my time all boys had knives to sharpen pencils at school.
I bought my son Imperiial Schrade Old Timer when he joined cub-scouts at age of 7, SAK when he was 10. Now he is 20 and has Caly3.
 
My father gave me knives long before I was 5, but I did not start to carry on a regular basis until I was 5 years old.

That knife was a promotional gift to my father by a salesman, and it was a real strange folder.

It was all steel. The blade folded sideways into a u-shaped handle and then a another piece of metal rotated over that. The style must have a name, but I have no idea what it is, and I have not seen one for decades.
I gave the knife to my grandson.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. Great ideas for ways to properly introduce knives to children. I guess this gives me an excuse to buy a SAK for later on.
 
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