First knife for my little girl

Buffalohump

Buffalohump

Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
6,175
Hey guys,

I want to get my daughter her first knife. A special occasion as you can imagine. :)

I'd like it to be a Spydie (well, duh) and I've had a look at the line-up and narrowed it down to two models - the Dragonfly and the Cricket.

I think she'd like the Cricket and it looks like a good solid knife to me.

The Meerkat would have been good too but I don't think its available anymore.

She's only six but she's turning seven soon and I want her to grow up without a fear of knives.

Anyone have any comments/suggestions?
 
I've taken some thought to buying my daughter a Dragonfly.
She has a little experience with a couple of mine, and knows
how a lockback functions. BTW, she's eleven.:)

The small integral lock Cricket scares me some with the little ones.
It's bit more difficult to manipulate IMO for inexperienced hands.
I would go with the Dragonfly FWIW. The Cricket sure is cute though.:D
 
I suggest a ladybug, they make nice pink and purple ones now adays.

If she can handle it, a poliwog would be much cooler!
 
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Of the two, the Dragonfly would be the better choice. Handle shape makes it easier to use safely than the Cricket. More conventional blade shape makes it better suited to the type of cutting a youngster would be doing. For a six year old, a Ladybug would probably be even better.

Paul
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Well, I took her through some options and she liked the Dragonfly best of all - the stainless one, which surprised me.

Although I think the FRN will offer a better grip I can see the stainless steel clip lasting a lot longer.

I thought she'd go for the Cricket but she didn't like the curved blade.

Always interesting to get their perspective, and they are very smart about these things I find.
 
Spyderco Bug $5. Great little cutter and she can lose it over and over. Do remember, it's still almost box-knife sharp. If you can find one used, a Ladybug II with the Rescue-type blade is a very cool knife too. Full serrated and no real point on it to jab herself with. Once again tho, it will still destroy a seatbelt so caution should be taken.

I think a Cricket would be a nice pocket knife someday tho. Very cute little knife. My vote also goes to the: Lava, Dragonfly (I like the white one), or Spin.

Knives are very useful and shouldn't be feared.
 
Sometimes I think a first knife for a child should be a knife that does not have a snappy detent when closing. So I wonder if a lock back with a strong spring or even a snappy slip joint is really the best idea.

That whole thing about making sure your fingers are clear when closing would give me pause with a child.
 
Yes, its a good point to consider. But if you think about it, most mass market knives use this method of lock-up. Whether it be SAK or Spydie....

I'm going to school her pretty strictly on keeping her fingers clear of the blade. She's as smart as a whip though, and quite cautious by nature.

I don't think it will take much to get her to be careful with it. Its not the girls you have to worry about so much, its the boys. ;)

At this age anyway. :(
 
I showed her the Spin, but she didn't like the blade shape.

The Lava is something I wouldn't mind for myself. :D

Snagblade said:
I think a Cricket would be a nice pocket knife someday tho. Very cute little knife. My vote also goes to the: Lava, Dragonfly (I like the white one), or Spin.

Knives are very useful and shouldn't be feared.
Click to expand...
 
Forgot about the Ladybug for a moment. That would be a great choice too.:):thumbup:
 
Gave my 22 yr old a lava - she really likes it. Comes home and brags to me that she got to use it at work. This is my middle daughter that goes out shooting frogs on Saturday nights with her "guy friends". I told her I was going to have to get her something bigger if she was in charge of removing the legs.
 
My Daughters 1st knife was a gift from a friend, a Lava, when she was 6 or 7 yrs old (She's 8 now). Since then, she has several more, including the Spyderbug, a Poliwog (Which she traded the Lava for), & an orange Lady Bug 3, which she really likes.
 
Man, I work at a daycare in the city here in Columbus, Ohio, and half of the Kindergarten class is six. I could never imagine one of those kids in possession of a knife. Rich, white, city folk spoil the hell out of their kids.

Sorry, just reflecting. I hope to give my children knives at similar ages. I hope I can be a good enough parent to have them ready at that young age.

I think a Ladybug would be a great start, but the Dragonfly is even better. The Cricket is too specialized for a first knife. More of an enthusiast model.
 
Snagblade said:
Spyderco Bug $5. Great little cutter and she can lose it over and over. Do remember, it's still almost box-knife sharp. If you can find one used, a Ladybug II with the Rescue-type blade is a very cool knife too. Full serrated and no real point on it to jab herself with. Once again tho, it will still destroy a seatbelt so caution should be taken.

I think a Cricket would be a nice pocket knife someday tho. Very cute little knife. My vote also goes to the: Lava, Dragonfly (I like the white one), or Spin.

Knives are very useful and shouldn't be feared.
Click to expand...


she might swallow the spyderco bug though (that one might be too small.)
 
Been having similar thougts... my granddaughter is turning 10 and is very keen on my Spydercos. Holding on to a Ladybug II for her for her birthday as it is a safe option. If she doesn't hurt herself or anyone else in a year, we can upgrade to a FRN Dragonfly.

PS, I don't think the Cricket is a good choice for such a youngster.
 
Andre said:
Been having similar thougts... my granddaughter is turning 10 and is very keen on my Spydercos. Holding on to a Ladybug II for her for her birthday as it is a safe option. If she doesn't hurt herself or anyone else in a year, we can upgrade to a FRN Dragonfly.

PS, I don't think the Cricket is a good choice for such a youngster.
Click to expand...

Grab the Dragonfly while you can. I think it's getting disco'd for the G-10 version.
 
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