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First knife for a 7 year old girl
- Thread starter mec003
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Kershaw Shuffle 
[video=youtube;lPK6cwB_yvw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPK6cwB_yvw[/video]
[video=youtube;lPK6cwB_yvw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPK6cwB_yvw[/video]
This is an interesting knife here.
https://www.paknives.com/survivor-s...th-fire-starter---brown-pakkawood-handle.aspx
https://www.paknives.com/survivor-s...th-fire-starter---brown-pakkawood-handle.aspx
In what case is it NOT a safety feature?
I learned to ride a bicycle without a helmet, so did lots of other kids, rode around in cars that lacked harnesses, lots of other things. I didn't get seriously injured. But you know what? Some other kids did. Chance injuries that could have been avoided entirely.
I've cut myself a number of times on slip-joints closing suddenly/unexpectedly, cuts with fixed-blades and lock-blades have been very few and never in a way that wasn't ALSO a hazard with any slip-joint.
Show me a case where a slip-joint is EVER safer than a lock-blade with otherwise similar structural properties and blade-geometry. I am curious to hear examples of this...
And I've seen times a kid will slip with a blade, come back across their hand in jerk-reflex with the tip, on the spine and the blade gives way preventing a hell of a gash. It works both ways. Limit your KoolAid and think for yourself. A kid's going to be more safety conscious learning on a traditional.
You remind me of some of the moms I see, standing around fretting and wringing their hands because Junior is on his skates in the driveway wearing every protection pad and device known to man, from helmet to support arches in the Rollerblades, and she's scared to death he's going to fall and hurt his precious little body in some way....
Then she takes off ALL of the protective gear and throws him in the car for an afternoon of errands---by far the most dangerous thing they'll do all day.
Then she takes off ALL of the protective gear and throws him in the car for an afternoon of errands---by far the most dangerous thing they'll do all day.
Manufacturers began touting locking blade "safety" as a marketing tool years ago. It also made those blades hazardous enough to begin being called "tactical."
To take such a nose-in-the-air attitude as you have over some magazine-born theory that is so facile is, well, absurd.
Prayers....
There is no theory to the fact that wood carving tools are traditionally fixed blade knives, not slip joints. The OP asked for a folder for a child to carve wood with, and as wood carving involves using the blade in a way that is NOT typical of how one slices with a pocket knife, a locking folder is the best possible replacement for a fixed blade, in this case.
Turning this into some sort of anti-PC "sheeple" crisis is the absurdity. Wood carving with a slip joint isn't a great idea for anyone, let alone a child.
Knives have had safety features like guards and various ways of keeping folders locked open for thousands of years. so this concern about nannying is several millenia too late.
I've known many a wood carver who uses a traditional....some of them regional and national champions. These guys can sit around a cup of coffee and carve an elephant in royal regalia from a peach seed and then a fully detailed walking stick over hot chocolate. But since you seem prepared to relate to me the entire history of woodcarving and the tools used therefor, maybe you'll tell me they run such contests by category??
Who cares what the state of wood carving tools is? The thread is centered around a child's first knife. I stated my opinion, he stated his.
As far as "anti-PC sheeple" anything, I've no clue what you are talking about. If you mean my proclivity to poke a little fun at parenting-PC, I think saying it invokes a crisis is a bit rash, don't you?
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Spydetco Dragonfly Tattoo:
They're a bit pricey, but for your daughter, she's worth it. And since she'll be under supervision, it'll be taken care of, but it's a real knife, a good Steel (vg10), and the multicolor Dragonfly etching will really be something a seven year old will appreciate.
My wife really likes the one I bought her for her 2 week business trip to Chicago, it's a nice little knife the a little person with little hands will be able to handle easily together the feel for handling "real" knives.
Chances are she'll be taking it with her to college a decade from now.
They're a bit pricey, but for your daughter, she's worth it. And since she'll be under supervision, it'll be taken care of, but it's a real knife, a good Steel (vg10), and the multicolor Dragonfly etching will really be something a seven year old will appreciate.
My wife really likes the one I bought her for her 2 week business trip to Chicago, it's a nice little knife the a little person with little hands will be able to handle easily together the feel for handling "real" knives.
Chances are she'll be taking it with her to college a decade from now.
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- Nov 20, 2005
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I think the Dragonfly would be a good choice even though I don't own one. I normally don't recommend knives I have not owned or used. They aren't cheap especially when you consider that a 7 year old is likely to loose their first knife. But I never did at that age, so you can't generalize.
The business about a lock on something like a Vic Sak for kids is just parental preference. Kids WILL cut themselves with their knife if they use it. Adults WILL cut themselves with a knife if they use it. It is all a matter of degree. A middle sized SAK (Tinker size) would be a reasonable choice. I personally like the Bantam and she can open bottle caps with it. I think the Classic is too small to cut stuff beyond the occasional envelope.
The Kabar Dozier folding hunter is a good choice for inexpensive. I suspect it would do all that needs to be done with a smaller knife. I just gave one away to a neighbor kid.
The business about a lock on something like a Vic Sak for kids is just parental preference. Kids WILL cut themselves with their knife if they use it. Adults WILL cut themselves with a knife if they use it. It is all a matter of degree. A middle sized SAK (Tinker size) would be a reasonable choice. I personally like the Bantam and she can open bottle caps with it. I think the Classic is too small to cut stuff beyond the occasional envelope.
The Kabar Dozier folding hunter is a good choice for inexpensive. I suspect it would do all that needs to be done with a smaller knife. I just gave one away to a neighbor kid.
Wonderful knife.... but the price! This would be a great choice, though, as a first knife. But not for whittling.
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OMG! Lol. Did you just say that? Quoted for posterity. That is the silliest thing I've heard in a while. The traditional guys must love your opinion on the matter.
SAKs are the most widely sold and used pocket knife in the world, ever. God forbid someone carve a piece of wood with one! Lol!
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I agree. Slip joints have been used for carving, whittling, and general cutting for centuries. Like all knives, you need to understand their weaknesses.
You know..... 7 year old (=2nd grade).... still pretty small. That is when I got my first knife which I purchased myself by the way. Keep it small and as she grows and with interest, she will want larger folders as her hands get larger. It is like recommending a kid sized 22 rifle which I generally say..... get a full sized one and grow into it. But the popular thinking today is to buy the child a rifle fitted from them and then get another later.
I have to recommend a medium sized SAK and she will cut herself. She will also learn about knives and sharp things. This is what I would do with my child or grand child. They need to learn and you learn by doing.
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Yeah Cray, I got a good chuckle out of that entire post of his.
Strategy9's suggestion looks doable. I've never owned a Dragonfly, but Spyderco's reputation is sound enough. Looks to be something a little shiela would like.
OP - I've also got a 7yo daughter who shows interest in knives...she asked for a fixed blade for her last birthday, likely because Daddy collects fixed. 4 of our 5 kids have their own knives, & our only teenager has about 3-dozen of his own, & yes, I do occasionally check on him after he's gone to sleep, & cry like a baby when I see he's fallen asleep with his new custom fixed 9.5"OAL, 4.5" 1/8" CPM-S90V FFG tapered-tang blasted finish blade, W/Manzanita bolsters & black G10 scales & liners & mosaic pins still on his belt, in the rad leather sheath that he made 100% by himself - I'm a crier. Our 2yo girl doesn't yet have her own knife...& it isn't because she's 2, it's because the Government has asked us not to arm her.
The knife I got for my little girl was the popular Companion by Evans K&T, with every single set of different colored scales available. However, she very sweetly asked if she could trade her new knife for my L.T. Wright Coyote as it fit her hand perfectly. Now I own a new Companion. I love that my kids are at least showing interest in knives, & I esp. love sitting down with my little girl & two pieces of wood, & whittling away at them until we've both got something. She's nicked herself once, & it allowed me to reinforce the importance of slowing down/paying attention/griping properly/etc...it was a good owie.
So, I happen to think that a small fixed blade, with a handle that fits her hand as close to perfectly as possible, is the very best knife option for your daughter. However, I totally get why a lot of members would & are saying that a folder is best...& then "discussing" the virtues of locking vs. slip. I happen to like & respect Chiral a lot, & he's a scientist, so he thinks & writes like a scientist...which to some, & certainly to EChoil, comes across as "nose-in-the-air". The whole back & forth thing between a few guys that happened after that was an interesting read, but it's just guys being passionate about whatever they happen to prefer.
22-rimfire (love your fake name btw!) - Your above post is a bit confusing to me. I'm not sure if your opinion is that the OP's daughter should get a knife that fits her hand, as her hand is now, or if you're saying it's better to get a bigger knife that she can grow into? Again, I would personally suggest a knife with a handle that fits her hand now...I share your "old-school" mentality of not buying a new thing so often, when one would do...but for me & mine, I'd rather her have a knife she's very comfortable with now, even if it means another purchase down the road - Her Coyote will likely suit her well for a lifetime, as it fit my hand just fine before I passed it on to her, so I guess I got lucky there! And 22-rimfire, it made me smile when you included that you purchased your 1st knife yourself, at age 7 - that's awesome brother!! If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to hear how you financed it...if you had a paper-route or something at that young age?
The knife I got for my little girl was the popular Companion by Evans K&T, with every single set of different colored scales available. However, she very sweetly asked if she could trade her new knife for my L.T. Wright Coyote as it fit her hand perfectly. Now I own a new Companion. I love that my kids are at least showing interest in knives, & I esp. love sitting down with my little girl & two pieces of wood, & whittling away at them until we've both got something. She's nicked herself once, & it allowed me to reinforce the importance of slowing down/paying attention/griping properly/etc...it was a good owie.
So, I happen to think that a small fixed blade, with a handle that fits her hand as close to perfectly as possible, is the very best knife option for your daughter. However, I totally get why a lot of members would & are saying that a folder is best...& then "discussing" the virtues of locking vs. slip. I happen to like & respect Chiral a lot, & he's a scientist, so he thinks & writes like a scientist...which to some, & certainly to EChoil, comes across as "nose-in-the-air". The whole back & forth thing between a few guys that happened after that was an interesting read, but it's just guys being passionate about whatever they happen to prefer.
22-rimfire (love your fake name btw!) - Your above post is a bit confusing to me. I'm not sure if your opinion is that the OP's daughter should get a knife that fits her hand, as her hand is now, or if you're saying it's better to get a bigger knife that she can grow into? Again, I would personally suggest a knife with a handle that fits her hand now...I share your "old-school" mentality of not buying a new thing so often, when one would do...but for me & mine, I'd rather her have a knife she's very comfortable with now, even if it means another purchase down the road - Her Coyote will likely suit her well for a lifetime, as it fit my hand just fine before I passed it on to her, so I guess I got lucky there! And 22-rimfire, it made me smile when you included that you purchased your 1st knife yourself, at age 7 - that's awesome brother!! If you don't mind sharing, I'd love to hear how you financed it...if you had a paper-route or something at that young age?
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I got $0.50/week allowance. That started in the 2nd grade and I felt rich. A knife was sort of important living in a rural area. I later purchased a Daisy BB gun. As you can see, I was putting that allowance to good use.
I guess my post was sort of waffling. I certainly have mixed emotions about choosing a 22 rifle (kid size). I feel differently about a knife. It is a parental decision or at least they need to approve of the knife. I do believe a Vic SAK is a good starter knife, but you have to know the child. A small fixed blade might be good if they spend time in the woods. The Mora Scout Knife might be a consideration, but it depends on the experience level and likely uses. I was very happy with a small slip joint back then as my first. As I grew, my experience and knife size grew. There really isn't that much to cut as a little kid but we (brothers and sisters) spent a lot of time out in the woods and over time developed a serious appreciation for the outdoors and natural things. I purchased a non-pointy SAK for a grandson and it was poo poo'd by my wife and I guess his Mom. I still have it and will likely just give it to somebody who might appreciate it.
The knife should be a good value knife sized about right for small hands and fitting of the environment they live in.
Bigfattyt
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For my younger son, I took the Opine 6 and took the edge and point off with my stone. I can re sharpen later, and put the point back on. I did not take off much. A sheep''s foot opinel would be even better.
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The Kids Opinel does look like a good option, though I do with it had a little bit more of a tip. I think something with a steep sheepsfoot blade would be good. It still has a tip but its not really "stabby." Personally when it comes to kids with knives, its not just them getting cut that worries me. If they're taught properly it should be fine. I just worry about them somehow falling on the blade. Obviously many kids versions of knives have rounded ends to help mitigate this, but that might get in the way when they're older and want to use the knife to open a blister package or something and it would be nice to still be able to use the same knife. The Kids Opinel does look a bit easier to sharpen/grind and add more of a tip to than something like the "My First Victorinox" as its more squared off.