- Joined
- Feb 1, 2011
- Messages
- 5
Hello to All,
I've been a lurker for sometime, but reading (and a lot of rereading) Jacknife's posts, as well as the other informative posts here, has led me to realize that anywhere in the world, most (if not all) knife traditions are indeed universal. And as knife persons, one of the responsibilities that each of us have is to help spread what we have learned from our experiences with knives in order for the next generation to carry on with these traditions that we have made part of our lives.
I have been collecting for sometime, but recently, my interests have veered towards traditional style slipjoints, SAKs and fixed blades. I have a daughter, Iola, aged six (and going on seven this September), and recently, she got interested in "papa's knives", especially the SAKs. I noticed that for every new knife that I acquired, especially multi-bladed knives like the Stockman or multi-function knives like the SAKs, she would be quite interested in knowing what functions each of these knives had. I remember when I got an old SAK Explorer, and she was quite excited to discover it had Scissors and a magnifying glass, among other tools.
Now, my little girl recently asked for a knife of her own, and I was quite thrilled when she expressed such interest. Being an active Arts and crafts type, she expressed interest in a small knife with scissors, one that she could open by herself (she tried opening the SAK Explorer once, but she had difficulty with the spring being too tough for her little hands to open). I was only too glad to oblige, and I got her a SAK Classic, which she can open quite easily. She now uses the little SAK a lot, most of the time the scissors. I have tried my best to cover all the basics, such as teaching her where NOT to put her fingers, and not to point a knife blade at someone, how to open and close the blade and other tools, that a knife is not a pry bar, that she should not run while holding a knife, etc. I am happy to report that my daughter has been quite receptive of this instruction, and is quite proud to point out that she is doing something correctly ("Papa, I closed the blade properly!").
Looking back, I never would have thought of giving my daughter a knife of her own at her age if I hadn't started reading Jacknife's posts and the general agreement from a lot of the members here about starting kids early on knives, and teaching them how to properly use them so that they can grow into responsible adults with an appreciation and respect for knives. I will admit that a knife, even a small one, when used improperly, can hurt someone, especially children. So, starting them early seems to be the best way to build the knowledge base, so to speak.
Lately though, my daughter has been eyeing all my other SAKs, and pointing out which one she wants next
She has her eyes set on the Explorer, a Champion, and also on a Buck Stockman that she tried one time (she loves the look of the wood scales). So far, so good, I guess.
I would love to hear other members' thoughts and suggestions as to how to further educate our young ones.
Cheers
,
Chum (cuberootsam)
I've been a lurker for sometime, but reading (and a lot of rereading) Jacknife's posts, as well as the other informative posts here, has led me to realize that anywhere in the world, most (if not all) knife traditions are indeed universal. And as knife persons, one of the responsibilities that each of us have is to help spread what we have learned from our experiences with knives in order for the next generation to carry on with these traditions that we have made part of our lives.
I have been collecting for sometime, but recently, my interests have veered towards traditional style slipjoints, SAKs and fixed blades. I have a daughter, Iola, aged six (and going on seven this September), and recently, she got interested in "papa's knives", especially the SAKs. I noticed that for every new knife that I acquired, especially multi-bladed knives like the Stockman or multi-function knives like the SAKs, she would be quite interested in knowing what functions each of these knives had. I remember when I got an old SAK Explorer, and she was quite excited to discover it had Scissors and a magnifying glass, among other tools.
Now, my little girl recently asked for a knife of her own, and I was quite thrilled when she expressed such interest. Being an active Arts and crafts type, she expressed interest in a small knife with scissors, one that she could open by herself (she tried opening the SAK Explorer once, but she had difficulty with the spring being too tough for her little hands to open). I was only too glad to oblige, and I got her a SAK Classic, which she can open quite easily. She now uses the little SAK a lot, most of the time the scissors. I have tried my best to cover all the basics, such as teaching her where NOT to put her fingers, and not to point a knife blade at someone, how to open and close the blade and other tools, that a knife is not a pry bar, that she should not run while holding a knife, etc. I am happy to report that my daughter has been quite receptive of this instruction, and is quite proud to point out that she is doing something correctly ("Papa, I closed the blade properly!").
Looking back, I never would have thought of giving my daughter a knife of her own at her age if I hadn't started reading Jacknife's posts and the general agreement from a lot of the members here about starting kids early on knives, and teaching them how to properly use them so that they can grow into responsible adults with an appreciation and respect for knives. I will admit that a knife, even a small one, when used improperly, can hurt someone, especially children. So, starting them early seems to be the best way to build the knowledge base, so to speak.
Lately though, my daughter has been eyeing all my other SAKs, and pointing out which one she wants next
She has her eyes set on the Explorer, a Champion, and also on a Buck Stockman that she tried one time (she loves the look of the wood scales). So far, so good, I guess.I would love to hear other members' thoughts and suggestions as to how to further educate our young ones.
Cheers
,Chum (cuberootsam)
, my dad and I spent a lot of time whittling on balsa wood and ivory soap bars. He started me on my 4th birthday. That time with dad certainly served two purposes the most important of which was the strength of the bond to my dad at an early age which still grows today thankfully and the respect for the tools we love so much here. My dad was old school and started me with slipjoints (keep in mind this was the late 50's) and my first locking knife was a 110 in 1968 when I was 13.
