First knife for 10yr old

D

DL Robin

Joined
Dec 1, 2007
Messages
614
I am picking up a lock back folding knife for my son. I am considering spyderco tenacious and ontario rat 1 folder. I wanted something sturdy, good lock, not too complex to open/close, and w/ some choil or jimping to prevent grip slip, lastly something that can be replaced w/o big loss of $$.
Thanks in advance
 
I always recommend a slipjoint as a first knife. Teach them to use a knife that has no lock and they will learn not to depend on a lock when they use a knife.

That being said, I think well of an SAK as a first knife. Very useful and non-tactical.
 
A SAK is a good option, also i recommend a Buck 110, start them the traditional way, not hard to replace any of these and not easy to break.
 
+1 to a SAK, it was my first too.

Along the lines your looking; kershaw zing, leek. spyderco persistence, delica, bird line. BM mini-grip.
 
+1 on a SAK, preferably in alox.

There is also the "mon premier Opinel" which has a round tip.
 
the kershaw junkyard dog 1 is a "neat" little folder for a 10yr old, and has all the features you have listed...
 
I really cannot see getting anything that is Tac. Looking. It really is going to keep him from using the blade. Look into the SAK farmer. It has everyhting a kid needs. A saw , openers, drivers, and a fantastic blade thicker than the standard sak. But a locker in those designs for him kinda limits his usage.
 
I think a 10 year old needs:

  • Inexpensive
  • Non-threatening Looking
  • Small
  • Easy to unlock
  • Fun/Cool

It's hard to beat a Swiss Army Knife. If you really want a lockback, Victorninox makes them in their larger (110mm) models and Wenger makes a couple, too.
 
Get him a SAK first. As good as a Buck 110 is I feel it would be too large for a 10 year old.
 
i'd say SAK with camo handles (how cool is this :cool:)
camotinkerfist.jpg


or a Spyderco Dragonfly, g10, frn, or wait for the new frn
 
I agree with many of the posters that a SAK or multi-tool of some sort would be best. Though I think a Byrd Robin would fit the parameters you have listed.
 
I just sent a friend of mine a G10 Kershaw Needs Work for his youngin'. It is a liner lock with a wharncliffe blade. A pure working knife with no real SD uses or intentions.
 
SAK is good option. My first real knife i got when I was 7. It was Buck 55 look-alike knife. Handy and safe. Loved it, lost it and still miss it...
 
My first knife was a Case medium stockman, with synthetic brown handles. I loved that knife and still have it. But if you have to have a lock on the knife, I would go with either a spyderco tenacious, or a spyderco delica4. Those are great knives for a young one, not so large handles, and both are simple.
 
Whatever you decide, get him a Sharpmaker or a DMT sharpening system or an inexpensive one that works, so that he can learn at a young age how to sharpen & how important a sharp knife is.
 
All my sons got Vic Alox Cadets as their first knives.
 
Sak for sure. Useful tools, cheap and non threatening. All really important with a youngin running around with a knife.
 
Swiss army knife is a good idea, preferably Victorinox. Non threatening looking, handy extra tools, great quality, and a whole bunch of different ones to choose from. I even remember seeing one called my first victorinox or my first swiss army knife, something like that. It had a rounded main blade, not sure if it's still around or not though.

The spartan is a good model and was my first SAK, it has a decent amount of tools but not too many, or the tinker which is like a spartan but has a phillips head screwdriver instead of a corkscrew which would probably be more useful because he's 10 and probably not drinking a lot of wine lol. The farmer is also a good model, my favourite at the moment, though some find the tool selection a little limited. They also have locking knives which are still non threatening looking which is important for a kids knife I think.

knarfeng said:
I always recommend a slipjoint as a first knife. Teach them to use a knife that has no lock and they will learn not to depend on a lock when they use a knife.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on that, if you use a knife properly, everything goes fine but if you use it wrong, the blade can close. Just because a knife has a lock doesn't mean the lock will never fail, so it's important to use a knife properly instead of depending on something like a lock. Sort of like a gun, just because the safety is on doesn't mean you can point it at someone.
 
My first knife was an SAK followed after a year by some kind of gerber lockback, don't know the model. I would definitely recommend a slippie as a first knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top