First knife for a 7 year old girl

[RX-79G]

I think it would be easier to just knock the point off a regular knife with a stone than to try and reprofile a round blade later on.

But if we are talking about a knife for whittling and wood carving, and not just a general kids knife, a point might be useful. No point, no point oriented cuts, no lock needed either.

I don't know about the suggestion of dulling a kid's knife made earlier, either. The adage about dull knives and safety doesn't just apply to adults. Kids do dumb things and use force when they are frustrated, and trying to cut wood with a dull knife (or a round one) is frustrating.


If this is just supposed to be a toy, not a wood carving tool, there are paring knives and plastic knives, too.

 

[ninjarabbi]

It might not be needed now, but in a few years a point will be real handy if she's ever opening anything in a blister pack.

 

[chiral.grolim]

I'll go ahead and respond for myself

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.

So your saying that a slip-joint is good because the joint, intended to keep the knife from closing on a user's fingers constantly (you do understand WHY slip-joints have the sping-powered "slip" at all, right?), can fail and the freak chance you describe might just so happen to be a good thing? Like someone not wearing their seat-belt getting thrown free of their car in a serious accident and miraculously surviving vs being crushed to death inside??

That...makes...sense to you

Limit your KoolAid and think for yourself. A kid's going to be more safety conscious learning on a traditional.

What "KoolAid"?

And as a former Boy Scout who DID learn on slip-joints like many others before me, I can assert that it most certainly does NOT increase safety-consciousness. At all.

Does this mean it is you that needs to "limit your KoolAid"?

You remind me of some of the moms I see...{snip}....

I remind you of this because....? This sounds more like a trolling rant, very much off-topic, and certainly without basis in reason, i cannot fathom what I might have typed that stimulated you to such a fantasy.

Manufacturers began touting locking blade "safety" as a marketing tool years ago. It also made those blades hazardous enough to begin being called "tactical."

(not my pic) = Spanish back-lock from 1770 AD. The design is very similar to what Buck calls a "strap lock". Other designs date back to the 15th century. Yup, very "tactical", a lock-blade of any kind just screams "tactical" like the locking opinel recommended in my first post in the thread... ?? Indeed, the lock-blade was popularized in the 20th century by Buck when, in 1964, they presented the 110 locking hunter - a hunting knife. Not a combat knife of any kind. When we went to war, most soldiers took along their own knives from home, and the modern "combat knife" is based off of the designs of hunting knives. Also, until very recently, "combat knives" were all fixed-blades, not folders. Go figure! It wasn't until the 1990s that Bob Terzuola popularized the "tactical folder".

To take such a nose-in-the-air attitude as you have over some magazine-born theory that is so facile is, well, absurd.

I hope you re-read my posts and your rant about moms and reconsider who might project a "nose-in-the-air attitude". I asked a logical question to an absurd assertion, and received a set of even MORE absurd assertions in reply.
What "magazine-born theory" are you talking about??

A lock on a blade, whether a weak one like a slip-joint or a friction-folder or a strong one like a 'Triad' or viroblock, is a "safety feature". Lock-blades have existed since the 15th century. Lock-blades prevent or reduce the severity of injuries to a greater degree than slip-joints. This is true among the very careful, experienced knife-users, and is ever more true among the inexperienced. What is "nose-in-the-air" about that?


One more: Case 2138LSS made 1971-80s (not my pic)

 

[RX-79G]

Here's a Viking knife with a "safety" locking clasp from the 7th century:

 

[craytab]

It might not be needed now, but in a few years a point will be real handy if she's ever opening anything in a blister pack.

Hopefully by then we will be done with those....

A lock on a blade, whether a weak one like a slip-joint or a friction-folder or a strong one like a 'Triad' or viroblock, is a "safety feature". Lock-blades have existed since the 15th century. Lock-blades prevent or reduce the severity of injuries to a greater degree than slip-joints.

Which one is locking and which one isn't?

 

[EChoil]

I'll go ahead and respond for myself



So your saying that a slip-joint is good because the joint, intended to keep the knife from closing on a user's fingers constantly (you do understand WHY slip-joints have the sping-powered "slip" at all, right?), can fail and the freak chance you describe might just so happen to be a good thing? Like someone not wearing their seat-belt getting thrown free of their car in a serious accident and miraculously surviving vs being crushed to death inside??

That...makes...sense to you



What "KoolAid"?

And as a former Boy Scout who DID learn on slip-joints like many others before me, I can assert that it most certainly does NOT increase safety-consciousness. At all.

Does this mean it is you that needs to "limit your KoolAid"?



I remind you of this because....? This sounds more like a trolling rant, very much off-topic, and certainly without basis in reason, i cannot fathom what I might have typed that stimulated you to such a fantasy.

(not my pic) = Spanish back-lock from 1770 AD. The design is very similar to what Buck calls a "strap lock". Other designs date back to the 15th century. Yup, very "tactical", a lock-blade of any kind just screams "tactical" like the locking opinel recommended in my first post in the thread... ?? Indeed, the lock-blade was popularized in the 20th century by Buck when, in 1964, they presented the 110 locking hunter - a hunting knife. Not a combat knife of any kind. When we went to war, most soldiers took along their own knives from home, and the modern "combat knife" is based off of the designs of hunting knives. Also, until very recently, "combat knives" were all fixed-blades, not folders. Go figure! It wasn't until the 1990s that Bob Terzuola popularized the "tactical folder".



I hope you re-read my posts and your rant about moms and reconsider who might project a "nose-in-the-air attitude". I asked a logical question to an absurd assertion, and received a set of even MORE absurd assertions in reply.
What "magazine-born theory" are you talking about??

A lock on a blade, whether a weak one like a slip-joint or a friction-folder or a strong one like a 'Triad' or viroblock, is a "safety feature". Lock-blades have existed since the 15th century. Lock-blades prevent or reduce the severity of injuries to a greater degree than slip-joints. This is true among the very careful, experienced knife-users, and is ever more true among the inexperienced. What is "nose-in-the-air" about that?


One more: Case 2138LSS made 1971-80s (not my pic)

All I know is you wanted an example, I gave you one. Many people DO survive crashes without a seatbelt; many burn because they are trapped afterward BY their seatbelt, most smokers will NOT die of lung cancer, the melting of sea ice does NOT raise the sea level....ra-dah, ra-dah, ra-dah..... KoolAid.

And I can tell YOU that as a former boy scout with a wilderness-savvy father, learning on a traditional DID increase my own awareness of safety consciousness (see my reference to muscle memory in a prior post).

Only one I see ranting and blowing off topic is you, for whatever reason attempting to constantly divert this conversation into a discussion of wood carving and relic knife history. Stick to the point--I contend it's better for a child to learn fundamentals on a traditional as opposed to a locking blade, or rounded off kiddie knife.

Uh-huh, Terzuola designs are some of my favorite knives. Not sure what your lectures on lock blades and the ancient Spanish knife were about, and has absolutely nothing to do with the quote of me to which you referenced it. But ... OK.

I'm not as prone as you to view a lockiing blade as a safety feature so much as just a feature. If you feel it makes a safer knife, fine.

Now, do you have any further pertinent suggestions about a knife for a 7 year old girl, or should we maybe start a new thread about woodcarving in the Peloponnesian War?

 

[EChoil]

Which one is locking and which one isn't?

Genius.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

All I know is you wanted an example, I gave you one. Many people DO survive crashes without a seatbelt; many burn because they are trapped afterward BY their seatbelt, most smokers will NOT die of lung cancer, the melting of sea ice does NOT raise the sea level....ra-dah, ra-dah, ra-dah..... KoolAid.

And I can tell YOU that as a former boy scout with a wilderness-savvy father, learning on a traditional DID increase my own awareness of safety consciousness (see my reference to muscle memory in a prior post).

Only one I see ranting and blowing off topic is you, for whatever reason attempting to constantly divert this conversation into a discussion of wood carving and relic knife history. Stick to the point--I contend it's better for a child to learn fundamentals on a traditional as opposed to a locking blade, or rounded off kiddie knife.

Uh-huh, Terzuola designs are some of my favorite knives. Not sure what your lectures on lock blades and the ancient Spanish knife were about, and has absolutely nothing to do with the quote of me to which you referenced it. But ... OK.

I'm not as prone as you to view a lockiing blade as a safety feature so much as just a feature. If you feel it makes a safer knife, fine.

Now, do you have any further pertinent suggestions about a knife for a 7 year old girl, or should we maybe start a new thread about woodcarving in the Peloponnesian War?

Nice display of ignorance.

I know what I'm about to do

 

[EChoil]

Nice display of ignorance.

I know what I'm about to do

Look, Conoco....what I see here is you asking permission of the mods here for you and I to let it go. Like you have something to bring. They're going to notice that statement by you and it's over the line.

If that link's supposed to be for me, let somebody else click on it. I'm not.

Not sure the roots of your anger here but I told you once before, gonna tell you one more time--you're way too interested in me in these threads. Bug the hell off unless I address you. You're trolling.

 

[craytab]

There is a lot of TL;DR going on here with not much on topic. All we need is another "slip joints shouldn't be used to carve wood" blast to make the thread derail permanent. Won't anyone think of the knife-less children!

 

[RX-79G]

There is a lot of TL;DR going on here with not much on topic. All we need is another "slip joints shouldn't be used to carve wood" blast to make the thread derail permanent. Won't anyone think of the knife-less children!

When do you ever post on topic? Talking about slip joints on wood is much more on topic than your endless commentary on the membership here.

Those of us that posted that the OP should consider a locking knife as the best possible folder for a 7 year old that wants to whittle just want the kid to get a useful knife. It isn't a point of view adopted to hurt peoples feelings. So you can relax and not worry about denouncing the terrible agenda of the locking knife people.

 

[craytab]

When do you ever post on topic?

I guess you missed when I gave my actual first hand experience picking knives for my 7 year old Daughter and our experience in her learning to use them. Those posts can be found just before you and the others started bickering. :thumbup:

 

[mec003]

Well, I ended up ordering her a pink opinel for kids. Almost went with the Case. Lots of great suggestions, some of which I probably get her if she stays interested in knives. Thanks for all of the responses everyone!

 

[craytab]

Well, I ended up ordering her a pink opinel for kids. Almost went with the Case. Lots of great suggestions, some of which I probably get her if she stays interested in knives. Thanks for all of the responses everyone!

Good choice. Enjoy showing her how to use it safely. And if you haven't already get her in the kitchen helping to prep. The opinel should do well there. The kitchen is a great place to learn good knife habits and once she is acclimated you have free labor!

 

[RX-79G]

Well, I ended up ordering her a pink opinel for kids. Almost went with the Case. Lots of great suggestions, some of which I probably get her if she stays interested in knives. Thanks for all of the responses everyone!

Good choice! In the future, if she isn't feeling pink, she has a sanding/refinishing project for herself.

 

[rschuch]

Cold Steel XL Espada. She'll grow into it! ;-)

 

[Rapt_up]

I always suggest a fixed blade as a first knife since they learn safe knife use without the risks of injury with folders. Also care of fixed blade is easier as is making sure it stays at home rather than being slipped in a pocket and taken someplace it shouldn't.

As adults we know the risks, and responsibilities, and its our job to make sure our kids learn them without undue risks, or longer term consequences. My daughter got her first knife at 9 and it was a smallish stainless fixed blade. Now at 16 she has two fixed blades and an opinel folder.

 

[Frotier76]

In my opinion first get her a slipjoint.Get her in the mindset of using a knife safely and not pursuing a locking blade as a 'quick fix' to knife use in general.You'd be surprised how many young people look awe struck when they see a slipjoint as a working man's knife.Second a stockman is a good choice.Get her familiar with the different blade types and that will help her understand the shape functionalities a good bit.

 

[GatorFlash1]

I think the best knife for a 7 year old girl are the plastic ones at McDonalds or BK, etc. checkout counter.

Probably the best way to learn is to use and sharpen the small knives used in your kitchen. That is how my three cuties learned knives, and cooking.

 

[craytab]

I think the best knife for a 7 year old girl are the plastic ones at McDonalds or BK, etc. checkout counter.

Probably the best way to learn is to use and sharpen the small knives used in your kitchen. That is how my three cuties learned knives, and cooking.

Sadly, most kids can't even use a plastic knife correctly.