First knife for son

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Ruger 44 Redhawk

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Feb 19, 2021
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So, I've been revisiting an old question I think I posted years ago about thoughts on a first knife. With camp trips and mountain trail hiking and exploring, I think it's time to get my eight year old son his first knife to carry as a tool for general outdoor tasks. Also, every boy wants one. As a Boy Scout in Missouri, I had an old well used leather stacked fixed blade from the 40's or 50's, a large Swiss Army Knife and a Buck 110. I had seen some nasty cut injuries to fellow scouts from folders. So I am ruling out folders and slip joints. My criteria, therefore, for his first fixed blade is a 4" or 5" blade, tough carbon steel, USA made, a good guard for safety, full length and width handle tang, a handle that will fit his small hands and something that won't be expensive. ESEE, Ontario, Buck, Kabar and many others I have been considering. But I think I'm going vintage with the older Schrade 165OT. It checks all the boxes I'm thinking of and it will last him his entire life. The 1095 steel will be easy to maintain an edge, has a significant guard and the handle is skinny enough that will fit his hands. On top of that, It will fit in an Ontario 499 leather sheath that has the metal back for protection. Only thing the 165OT lacks is a lanyard hole. Now, just have to find an old one in fair condition and of course, put an edge on it.
 
Sounds awesome! How exciting. 4"-5" is bold imo, but nobody knows your boy like you.

My son is about his age and has a little collection of folders and fixed. Plus uses most of mine. lol

The David Mary baby bird is the best fixed for him. He's competent with it in most tasks and has a good safe grip. It's small but works circles around lots of bigger blades .

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Ozmose said:
It wouldn't hurt to check out TOPS. They have a huge variety of fixed blades, every shape and size. They're all USA made as far as I'm aware, and the prices are pretty good considering.
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Yes, TOPS is here in Idaho and they were another one I was considering. But their prices are pretty outrageous. I'm looking for something less than $80 which you can find the old 165OT's for. The skinny handle is also perfect.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Mora or a smaller Buck FB. And a DMT Diafold so he can sharpen it. Cold Steel Compact SRK would work, too.
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I did consider the smaller SRK. Handle looks to be about the same width as the 165OT and steel is similar to 1095 and it's well under the $80 max price. My only beef with Cold Steel is that I hate that they are made in Taiwan or China.
 
oldmanwilly said:
LT Wright and Battle Horse Knives also come to mind for USA made with carbon steel and a decent guard.

You could also order some Green River blanks and fashion your own handles for a fun project.
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I'll check them out. The price range I'm looking at is under $80 which you can still find the older 165OT's for well under that.
 
Ruger 44 Redhawk said:
I'll check them out. The price range I'm looking at is under $80 which you can still find the older 165OT's for well under that.
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You could probably find some Kabars (Mark I) and Beckers for around that price, even on the secondary market.

You might also look up Anza Knives, although I'm not up to date on their prices.

I know you said you want carbon steel, but a Buck 119 seems to check all of your other boxes and the 420HC is pretty easy to maintain. I think of it like 1095 that doesn't rust.
 
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oldmanwilly said:
You could probably find somebody Kabars (Mark I) and Beckers for around that price, even on the secondary market.

You might also look up Anza Knives, although I'm not up to date on their prices.

I know you said you want carbon steel, but a Buck 119 seems to check all of your other boxes and the 420HC is pretty easy to maintain. I think of it like 1095 that doesn't rust.
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I keep buck 119s in stock, usually get them for $35-45 off eBay. I hand them out regularly to adults and kids when camping. Lot of my buddies kids still have them years later.
 
Ruger 44 Redhawk said:
So, I've been revisiting an old question I think I posted years ago about thoughts on a first knife. With camp trips and mountain trail hiking and exploring, I think it's time to get my eight year old son his first knife to carry as a tool for general outdoor tasks. Also, every boy wants one. As a Boy Scout in Missouri, I had an old well used leather stacked fixed blade from the 40's or 50's, a large Swiss Army Knife and a Buck 110. I had seen some nasty cut injuries to fellow scouts from folders. So I am ruling out folders and slip joints. My criteria, therefore, for his first fixed blade is a 4" or 5" blade, tough carbon steel, USA made, a good guard for safety, full length and width handle tang, a handle that will fit his small hands and something that won't be expensive. ESEE, Ontario, Buck, Kabar and many others I have been considering. But I think I'm going vintage with the older Schrade 165OT. It checks all the boxes I'm thinking of and it will last him his entire life. The 1095 steel will be easy to maintain an edge, has a significant guard and the handle is skinny enough that will fit his hands. On top of that, It will fit in an Ontario 499 leather sheath that has the metal back for protection. Only thing the 165OT lacks is a lanyard hole. Now, just have to find an old one in fair condition and of course, put an edge on it.
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If you want a USA Schrade, you will need to find a used one on one of the sites that sells used items. Schrades have been made in China for almost 20 years now.

The Buck Compadre is 5160 steel and is designed specifically to be a camp knife.

420HC is as easy to maintain as carbon steel. A Buck 119 with it's 6" blade is on the large side for most things, IMO. But you might look at the Buck Brahma with a 4 1/2" blade.
 
knarfeng said:
If you want a USA Schrade, you will need to find a used one on one of the sites that sells used items. Schrades have been made in China for almost 20 years now.

The Buck Compadre is 5160 steel and is designed specifically to be a camp knife.

420HC is as easy to maintain as carbon steel. A Buck 119 with it's 6" blade is on the large side for most things, IMO. But you might look at the Buck Brahma with a 4 1/2" blade.
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Yes, the older 165OT's you can still find for less than $80. I'd prefer to get a vintage one that has history and then he can pass it on to his kids. I have a vintage USA one in great condition and it does fit his hand perfectly.
 
Along the same lines as what knarfeng knarfeng said.. I got my nephew a Buck 105 Pathfinder for his past birthday and he uses the hell out of it. 5in blade so a little more manageable than the 119, and 420hc is still easy enough to keep a good edge on. KC has them for $79.

Love 1095 as well, but I know how I was with knife maintenance when I was just starting out. But I guess it would be a good learning opportunity lol.
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Ruger 44 Redhawk said:
So, I've been revisiting an old question I think I posted years ago about thoughts on a first knife. With camp trips and mountain trail hiking and exploring, I think it's time to get my eight year old son his first knife to carry as a tool for general outdoor tasks. Also, every boy wants one. As a Boy Scout in Missouri, I had an old well used leather stacked fixed blade from the 40's or 50's, a large Swiss Army Knife and a Buck 110. I had seen some nasty cut injuries to fellow scouts from folders. So I am ruling out folders and slip joints. My criteria, therefore, for his first fixed blade is a 4" or 5" blade, tough carbon steel, USA made, a good guard for safety, full length and width handle tang, a handle that will fit his small hands and something that won't be expensive. ESEE, Ontario, Buck, Kabar and many others I have been considering. But I think I'm going vintage with the older Schrade 165OT. It checks all the boxes I'm thinking of and it will last him his entire life. The 1095 steel will be easy to maintain an edge, has a significant guard and the handle is skinny enough that will fit his hands. On top of that, It will fit in an Ontario 499 leather sheath that has the metal back for protection. Only thing the 165OT lacks is a lanyard hole. Now, just have to find an old one in fair condition and of course, put an edge on it.
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How about an ESEE Candiru?

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