First knife for my son

D

dougkn

Joined
Sep 17, 2012
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Looking for a first knife for my son, curretly 8 but will be 9 next month. He is a cub scout and they will be doing their "formal" knife training shortly.
I'm sure this has probably been covered before but I did a search and really didn't find a thread.

Would like something decent, something in the <$50 - should be able to find something in that range.

Case? GEC? BUck 379 Solo looks like it would fit the bill.

any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks
Doug
 
Do the scouts not allow locking knives?

As someone who grew up learning on slip joints, I certainly HATED it. One of my childhood memories that'll last forever is the saw blade of a Victorinox nearly closing over my fingers.
 
I believe they are OK....a small Buck lock back might be the right idea....like the 505
 
dougkn said:
Looking for a first knife for my son, curretly 8 but will be 9 next month. He is a cub scout and they will be doing their "formal" knife training shortly.
I'm sure this has probably been covered before but I did a search and really didn't find a thread.

Would like something decent, something in the <$50 - should be able to find something in that range.

Case? GEC? BUck 379 Solo looks like it would fit the bill.

any suggestions would be welcome.

Thanks
Doug
Click to expand...
When he qualifies for his "totin chip", it would be hard to beat a medium-sized SAK or the Victorinox German military knife (very similar; spear-point blade, saw blade, punch, screwdriver, bottle/can opener) as a "first knife". The only real difference is the color of the handle. German military version has an olive-drab handle while the traditional SAK is red. Very good, reliable tools that will serve him well in his scouting career. Just a friendly reminder not to take it to school under any circumstances!
 
TOM1960 said:
When he qualifies for his "totin chip", it would be hard to beat a medium-sized SAK or the Victorinox German military knife (very similar; spear-point blade, saw blade, punch, screwdriver, bottle/can opener) as a "first knife". The only real difference is the color of the handle. German military version has an olive-drab handle while the traditional SAK is red. Very good, reliable tools that will serve him well in his scouting career. Just a friendly reminder not to take it to school under any circumstances!
Click to expand...

Like this one? http://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-On...1-1&keywords=Victorinox+German+military+knife

We are very active with the local German - American club, he would proabbly love a knife with the German Eagle on it
 
So you're looking for a traditional folder and nothing like a Delica? I'd get him a case, buck, or a SAK
 
dougkn said:
I believe they are OK....a small Buck lock back might be the right idea....like the 505
Click to expand...

If a lock is allowed, something like a 505 or 112 would be great.

I liked SAKs when young because I watched MacGyver, but in hind sight leaving a kid to test the limits of a slip joint before it folds isn't safe.

Slip joints make others around the knife feel safer, not the user.
 
Get him a yellow Spyderco Dragonfly2 in H-1 steel. Yellow so it will be easier to find if misplaced and H-1 steel so it will be 100% rust proof so you and him don't have to worry about it rusting. That is what I would buy my son along with an SAK like the Fieldmaster.
 
Thanks everyone for your ideas and tips. You have giving me a lot to think about. I do appreciate it
 
My very first knife, as a scout, was a Boy Scouts of America knife. It was made by Imperial but looks like a Victorinox with the traditional red scales, Boy Scouts logo, and a bail. I think the one-handed Victorinox knife you listed would probably be perfect... while a nice lockback is a good choice (one I'm considering) the Victorinox just has a million uses.I may catch flak for this but I think slipjoints are just as good as lockbacks for everything except prying and for this the Victornix has a screwdriver blade.

My son is really young still but I've been thinking that whatever his first knife is, it should be capable of lasting his whole life but still be inexpensive enough for me to not worry about him damaging/losing it. I get tempted to just go cheap but someday I'll be gone and it would be nice if he could look lovingly upon his first knife like I still do today.
-StaTiK-

P.S.- I don't have the knife you linked to but it might be a bit big for 8yr old hands and 8yr old pockets.
 
Hey Doug,

my first knife was (and is) a Victorinox Tinker. My father gave it to me the first Christmas after I joined the Boy Scouts. He is named Nick (after Saint Nicholas). He still lives in my "junk" drawer. I loved that knife so much, and I even have a scar to remember him by on my left thumb. This is the knife I would recommend. They even make one with the Boy Scout emblem on it.

They did NOT alloy locking knives to be carried until attaining the rank of First Class in the Boy Scouts, but the rules may have changed since my day in the early 1990s. Thus, I would not recommend a locking knife until you confirm what the rules are.

Please let us know what you decide, and then upload a picture of him with the knife! I know he will love whatever you decide to give him.
 
dougkn said:
I think I'm leaning towards this SAK [link to Vic Adventurer]
Click to expand...
I'm a knife guy and think knife decisions are very personal (especially if you're the sentimental type) but I'd rather have the one-hand blade with the saw that you linked to first (any of the One-Hand Trekker variants). It's been a long time since I've been with the scouts but they used to recommend sawing branches rather than cutting them, and the Victorinox saw gets very good reviews.

I can't post a link but if you do a search for "Boy Scout Knife" a couple of official knives with logos pop up. Just an idea.

But again, there is no wrong answer as long as the knife is good quality. Your son will love it.
-StaTiK-
 
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