first knife suggestions

With my kids I started with a 2.5" Locking blade from SMKW though I really wanted a SAK. A locking blade is safer in a childs hand than one that can close easily. If "My First SAK" was a locking blade it might be perfect. They have rounded points and lanyards that can be clipped to a belt loop. They have one model with a saw that would have seen a lot of use when I was a kid. I started carrying a Japanese made slipjoint when I was around 6 (this was back when Japanese Steel was considered "China" type crap). I learned the do's and don't do's at an early age. It was a good experience and I think, like my Dad thought, that if you want to teach kids to respect something then you have to expose them to it. Give them the rules when you give them the knife. Putting a knife up for a day or a week for abusing it is also a good training tool. Good luck in your choice.
 
Locking SAK and a set of throwing knives. :eek: Yep, that's right. They will be throwing knives anyway, might as well give them cheap throwers so they do not destroy the SAKs.

When I was young I bought myself a set of shoemaker's blades and learned to throw them like nobody's business. All kids do that. You might as well teach them to use proper tools for the job. ;)

Oh, and don't forget about a nice hatchet for the 10th birthday. :D
 
My first knife was a SAK, my dad gave it to me when I first joined the boy scouts. You cant go wrong with a SAK.
 
Hey Band Aid..

Personally I would suggest a Locking SAK..

RUK SAK or OHT would be my choice,,and probably what I will be getting my twins (7) next year..
Wife is cool with it,, and Actually suggested it... Cool Wife Eh !!

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
my first knife was an SAK classic. i remember closing it on my fingers a few times. a locking blade is definitely a safety feature. not sure i'd give a 6 year old a pocket knife, i think i actually agree with your lady. they will absolutely be cutting themselves, the question is how bad.
 
My fist knife was a promotional two blade folder that my dad got free somwere. I remember knives at this age being lost, stolen or "borrowed" by freinds and never coming back.

I think you should think about giving them a knife but only allowing them to carry it for.certain days like on camping trips or day outings until they prove responsible use. especially if it is a good knife.


I am getting a "My First" Sak For my neice this year for chrismas. I gave her a schrade 2 blade on christmas Eve a year ago snd she stabbed herself in the arm opening a Barbie on christmas Day. Boy did my sister in law love me after that one:p
 
Hey Guys..
EMS...

Sorry,, but thats funny....

My son when he was 8-9 wanted to carve a stick with his new Buck that one of my customers sent for him..

Ok,, I said,, you can carve it her on the family room floor,, we'll vacume it up later...

Watch TV, and be Careful,, I'll be right here if you need me...

About 10 minutes later, here he comes cupping his hands together blood dripping out the bottom..

Holy $hit! I yell..
My wife comes running,, Freaks out and now there blood all over the floors,,walls and ceiling...

She takes him to the bathroom,, nearly passes out,, I take over...
Lets see what we got,, there was so much blood,,and hands in the way I couldn't see the cut..
I run it under the water..

Ohh ya,, That's a good one!!
My wife is on the phone with 911.... LOL

We wait outside on the picnic table 10-15-30 minutes..
WTF,, so I go in and get my keys...Just then EMS pulls up..

Sorry we were at a car accident..
She puts my son in the back,, unwraps his hand..

Ohh ya,, thats a Good one , She says... Wife Looks at me (Lazer Eyes! )

EMS says you can take him yourself.. She fixes him up and we leave for the hospital...

Holy cow,, did I hear about it,, All the Way There,, The Entire time at the hospital, and All the way Home!!!

LOL

His first Knife cut,,and Scar.... :)

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
Normark, I bet he's a bit more careful with them after that ....My first knife was a little sak-like thing my aunt bought and had my name engraved on. I got it when I was really little, and all I remember of it was waving it around :rolleyes: ....after that I got a Gerber harsey air ranger when I was like 8 or 9. I beat the crap out of that thing, and other than the fact that I cannot for the life of me get an edge on it, it still functions like a knife...maybe a crappy one, but it still cuts things...kinda...I threw it more than once, whittled through quite few sticks, dug into things, pried things, and just generally did things with it I try to keep from doing now. Id probably buy them sak's, or small cheap walmart stuff. They're bound to cut themselves, so dont buy them stuff thats going to be overly sharp, but in a way they need to cut themselves a few times in order to develop a respect for them....a little supervision makes helps make sure the cuts arent too bad ;). I would keep the knives to yourself and allow them to use them at certain times, especially when you can supervise them well, and as they get a bit older and become more responsible just let them have the knives....thats what my dad did, and I still have all my fingers ;)
 
Well Normak

I laughed after i got over the initial "Oh crap I Broke Your Kid" Reaction. ( a common reaction i find as a non parent uncle)

My brother laughed.:)

My mother laughed:)

My Neice Laughed:)

My sister in law... Not so much laughing at the time. She laughs now but still gives me dirty looks:grumpy:

Wait till she sees the "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun with the compass in the stock" that i have planned for next year:eek:

"Youll shoot Your Eye Out":D
 
I would give them something that you don't mind them losing. My kids will lose almost anything they're already on there 4th mobile phone each. Incidentally, i let my 12yr old handle a SAK and he had big problems trying to open it and close it if i hadn't of intervened there would of been red stuff dripping for sure, same thing happened with a Gerber ridge knife except red stuff did appear. I reckon the best way to go is give your kids something cheap, easy to open and close, something more ergonomically suited to small hands, starting young is probably the thing to do ,in retrospect this is what i should of done. Also train them in the fact that a knife is a tool, give them projects to do, under supervision, whittling etc etc etc. I guess the other thing to remember is that eventually they will cut themselves and not to freak out when the inevitable happens.
 
Another vote for a cheapie knife. At that age you know that things gets misplaced or lost. Then when they get a few years older, a Spyderco Manix would fit the bill..j/k!
 
Yeah, definately agree with the 'cheap' sentiment going around - my first knife ended up in a teachers drawer many years ago.
 
SAKs and Leathermans aren't knives, they're useful multi-tools.
For befriending kids or any other newbies with knives, by rec as always: Kershaw Ken Onion Speedsafes. Come in all sizes and prices, and are always worth more than their money, as well as bringing beauty and good handling and fast opening and sheeple-friendliness to the concept of knife-carry.
 
Smoky Mountain knifeworks has a "My first SAK" and "My first Opinel" special made knives with a safer tip, but still sharp. You can get the SAk with, or without a saw.
 
This might be of interest.. or it might not. I personally think it's a little bit silly, but it could be exactly what you're after. or not. if you laugh your ass off, I totally understand.
 
(jeff) said:
That is a horrible suggestion, only because of the fact that it is HUGE compared to a little kid's hand.
Click to expand...

Yes...I am 16 and i had the cops come up on me when i was whittling with one at an empty park...:rolleyes:
Damn conservative city...(cincinnati).
 
I suggest a Leatherman Juice Pro or a SAK. It might be a good idea to give them a cheapo knife to see how they take care of it first, but if it were me, I'd just go straight to the quality knives and teach them how to respect the tools from the start. I might not be so comfortable with them at those ages, but you're the parent and you know your kids more than any of us.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top