First knife for my son

I hate the Boy Scout rules about knives the most Annoying one and I quote
The Blood Circle
Before using a knife, a Scout must establish a safety or "blood" circle. This is an area surrounding the Scout no one else is in, so there is no chance of anyone else being cut by the knife. To do this, the Scout must extend his arms and turn in all directions. The Scout must also arc their arms upward, to make sure that there is nothing above them that they might be hit.
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there whas this one scout dad that whas a real **** about this and every time he saw a kid using a knife "you know your not supo............" The best part is his son had no idea how to use a knife....................sigh



But i think a Vic tinker or super tinker would be good.
 
9blades said:
I hate the Boy Scout rules about knives the most Annoying one and I quote


there whas this one scout dad that whas a real **** about this and every time he saw a kid using a knife "you know your not supo............" The best part is his son had no idea how to use a knife....................sigh



But i think a Vic tinker or super tinker would be good.
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I understand the "blood circle" safety rule, but sometimes it is not practical. I have used knives while working part-time jobs during my college career. A Gerber FS II opened many boxes of canned goods at the supermarket where I worked and sometimes a "blood circle" was impossible to establish. When I began working in a restaurant kitchen, using much larger knives, same deal. The small kitchen in the restaurant/lounge where I worked make a "blood circle" just about impossible. I did exercise all precautions, though, to protect myself, customers and co-workers. Safety first, safety always.
 
Tom1960
Your right it's un practical any one that is competent enuff to use a knife safely shouldn't need a "blood circle" to be safe just common sense (not so common any more........sigh). I think the reason the rule whas made is because a lot of people just don't know how to use a knife safely. The hardest part for me is that boy scouts is ment to to help a boy acquire the skills he needs to become a man but most Boy Scouts don't even know how to use a knife let alone sharpen one or cook for that mater...............rant over. Thanks guys!
 
I'd go with a moderately equipped Victorinox SAK. Not the ones that have 500 accessories, like folding coffee maker, sewing machine, etc. :) I got my kids Buck 110's when they were about the same age for hunting, and they had a hard time unlocking the blade. I think a 112 would have been better, but as a former Boy Scout myself, I'd say I used almost all the accessories in my SAK. Carried it everywhere.
 
I have a Buck 112 that would be a very nice first knife for your boy. It's not new but in excellent shape, and in perfect mechanical condition. If you think it's something he will use let me know, and I'll send it for your boy.




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I would have loved a Ladybug or Dragonfly Salt as a Cub Scout. I was always a little afraid of the slip joints my Dad lent me, and he got mad that I let them get gunked up. A rustproof lockback would have been perfect.
 
When you have a group of 8 year old Cub Scouts with their pocket knives out working on projects...Blood Circles are an amazing thing! Keeps the adults safe! ;)

I was a Boy Scout (Eagle), am a ScoutMaster and have a Boy Scout and 2 Cub Scouts for sons.

I took them over to A.G. Russel's store (yes, I'm spoiled...it's literally down the street) and told them to "pick one". They always start out with the biggest, scariest looking ones. We talk about it...about carrying it...using it...etc. I let them heft it. That usually changes their minds. They end up narrowing the list down to Leathermans (and their variations), SAKs and a simple 2-blade slipjoint.

3 boys = 3 different knives.

But they each shared one thing in common - they wanted "extras"....scissors, saw blades, etc. Scouts love their gadgets.

I have the larger version of the Adventurer and was thinking the boys would like the smaller size. Nope. They thought the handle was shaped weird and it was too big to go in/out of their pockets (to their liking).


Personally, I feel the Opinel series is the perfect first Scout knife. Inexpensive. Quality steel. Warm wood handle. Can take a beating. Kids love the ring to secure the blade. Can even get one with a rounded tip. But I've yet to convince anyone else of this. *groan*


When my son turned 12, I made him his own knife. One of these: http://www.knivesshipfree.com/product_info.php?cPath=815&products_id=21356
I made that design to appeal to Boy Scouts. So far, so good.


I think your son will be happy with whatever you get him as long as it's lightweight and has gadgets. :D :thumbup:

Best of luck!

Dan
 
A one hand opener would be my suggestion - Makes it easier without as much of a chance of the blade(s) closing on his little fingers. Also maybe a Spyderco Squeak? It's a slip joint that stays open great, a good steel with good edge retention, sharpens easy, and is small but cuts like a big knife.

Other than that, pick up an SAK, or maybe a one hand folding knife(like the Squeak or maybe something like an Ambitious(Squeak has better steel and is just a great little knife)) and an SAK.

So I would suggest:
Spyderco Squeak for a knife with better steel.
Spyderco Ambitious - If you don't mind sharpening more cause he'll use it until it can't be used lol.
Victorinox Super Tinker
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker
Victorinox Huntsman
Victorinox Fieldmaster
Victorinox Explorer

I would pick him a nice little one hand opening knife and a SAK. He'll be set for anything. One hander for simple easy use for any cutting chore. And an SAK for the blades and all the other excellent implements.
 
The German Army knife is what I had in mind too. I think that would be great for a first knife.
 
I wasn't quite comfortable with my 8-year old using a folding knife, so instead I picked up a small fixed blade blank from an online knife making shop. He helped install, shape and sand the scales (made from some scrap birch) and helped make a wet molded leather sheath and I've started teaching him to sharpen it as well.

I guess I should say "helped," because he was mostly in a managerial role at the time. :-)

But it was still a fun project and he really likes the end result.

No clue what scout rules on fixed blades are though, he wasn't happy in the Cub Scout pack, so we're doing more scout-like things at home instead.
 
My first knife was a Mora Of Sweden Scout, but I don't know if Boy Scouts allows fixed blades.
 
Victorinox Alox Pioneer. Has only a few tools,all scout useful and on one side and will probably last until he is your age and beyond.
 
If you do get him a SAK, which I think would be great, get him a red one so when he drops it in the grass it is easier to find.
 
dougkn said:
Looking for a first knife for my son, curretly 8 but will be 9 next month.
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Too old. Should have started younger.

:D


My son received his first knife, a SAK Tinker, for his 6th birthday. Until he's at least 8 or 9, the knife stays in my desk drawer, and he's only ever allowed to use it when I'm supervising him. I let him pick the specific knife he wanted from a few different options, including a lockback and a few other SAKs. He chose the Tinker because it had screwdrivers, and it came in blue :)

SAK-Tinker.JPG



I think the SAK was a good choice. My son has only had it for about six months, but so far, he plays with the other tools much more than the knife blade. I'm sure that will change in the summer when we go camping, and he gets to carve on something other than scrap wood or soapstone. Speaking of that, the SAK is great for soapstone carving; soapstone is soft enough that the blunt tools work nearly as well as the blade, and they're a lot safer. So far, my son has carved soapstone polar bear, a wolf-kind-of-thing, and a something that he calls a T-Rex :)



T.L. said:
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.
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A locking knife would probably be safer, but injuring yourself is part of the learning process, right :D Seriously though, a yellow DF2 with H1 sounds like a really good idea. My son already has his eyes on my knives "with the spiders on them"...
 
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