Gift for Nephew

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ErikD

Joined
Dec 5, 2000
Messages
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With the holiday season coming up I have been thinking it is time I get my nephew a pocket knife. He will be 9 in February, and am thinking a smaller traditional knife will fit the bill nicely. Also thinking more stainless just for ease of maintenance (my brother is not at all into knives or tools). Any interesting options/recommendations I should be looking at? My initial thoughts are something along the lines of a Case peanut pattern.

Thanks
 
I find that young kids often can't handle a knife with a spring of any sort in it. Hard to safely close.

I started my kids with Opinel #6, which can be opened and closed without the blade being active in any way.

When they got older, they moved up to slip joints, like SAKs and scout knives. My son has moved on to lock backs.

But IMO the Opinel is the place to start.
 
Several years ago I gave my two nephews matching Case Peanuts for graduation presents. One nephew was graduating high school and the other was graduating 8th grade. The 8th grader cut himself (not bad) the first time he opened the blades. He tried to open the pen blade while the clip blade was at half stop and you know the rest. I just realized that I did the same thing when posing these knives for the photo. :)

Anyway, these are the knives I chose. Can't believe I still have this picture.

 
I gave my nephew/God Son an Opinel #7 last year (age 8). This year (age 9) I gave him the BSA Scout knife I won in a GAW by Al, and for a "beater" a new Buck 389 Canoe.
A 4 blade scout knife is a good traditional traditional for a youngsters first knife. The SAK "RECRUIT" is a good one for not a lot of money, it also has tweezers and a (reusable) toothpick in addition to the 4 blades. No awl/punch though.
 
I recently gave my 6-year-old grandson my 40-year-old Opinel No. 7 when he started to show an interest in whittling. Followed that with a Marttiini Little classic for his birthday. I thought about a RR Camp Knife next, but I think the springs are a little fierce.

There is a Marbles version of the dimpled steel scout/Army knife I had as a kid. I would consider that if the springs are OK; otherwise an SAK.

Take the opportunity to pass along a bit of your wisdom, including the cardinal rule: "Whatever you do, don't take it to school".
 
ErikD said:
With the holiday season coming up I have been thinking it is time I get my nephew a pocket knife. He will be 9 in February, and am thinking a smaller traditional knife will fit the bill nicely. Also thinking more stainless just for ease of maintenance (my brother is not at all into knives or tools). Any interesting options/recommendations I should be looking at? My initial thoughts are something along the lines of a Case peanut pattern.

Thanks
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I'd talk to his folks first to make sure they are cool with it.

I'd also look at a knife like a Sodbuster Jr, rather than a peanut. Larger blades are easier to manipulate than smaller ones. Less chance of control issues. Also, the Sodbuster is pretty non-pointy. That helps train young folks that knives are for cutting, not poking.
 
Opinel makes a kid-friendly knife with a rounded tip, though 9 years old might be old enough to handle a regular pointy Opinel (depending on the 9-year-old). I agree that springs and small knives are less than ideal and provide more chance for injury for a kid.
 
Frank - good point and I have checked with my brother and no issues.

Funny, a Sod Buster Jr. was also on my mind, but guess I am a bit biased as I have recently started carrying and loving my Case CV in Yellow Delrin. The other idea I have been kicking around was to pass down a Hoffritz SAK classic which my father passed on to me when I was his age. I have a few Opinels, but have never really liked them as much as the traditional American patterns. Another favorite of mine has been the Canoe pattern.

In all honesty when my brother first said that he was asking for a knife, and was good to go with the gift, the first thing which came to my mind was a Stag and Damascus Peanut, but then I stopped for a minute and thought something a bit more subtle might be the better route for a first knife. I will never forget my first knife, a Buck 112 knock off which my father had and used for years, and when I asked him if I could have it he just handed it to me. Had it for a good many years, and it traveled across the country with me at least once, until one day I decided to "improve" it and refinish the handles but instead destroyed it.

Thanks for all the advice so far, I will let you know what I decide to go with in a week or two.
 
My first knife was a Buck. I was eight or nine. I believe it was a 301 or 303. Not sure but I do recall it had a clip and a Spey blade. Wish I still had those. I can't recall cutting myself with it.

I know it's not stainless but a good Buck is worth consideration at least.

On the same point. My son's first pocket knife was/is a SAK Alox Cadet. He likes it very much. He's 14.
 
Rough Riders look good from the cost and variety point of view. But I wouldn't recommend their Camp Knife (4-blade scout/utility pattern), even for adults. Its springs are just way too firm, including the can opener (which even has a protruding peg) and in particular the cap lifter, which is hopeless. (A shallow nail-nick on it certainly doesn't help.)

Maybe other RR models would work. But I think the scout/camper/utility pattern is a fine choice for a first knife for kids of about 10 years old. Some kids would be OK at a younger age, others should wait a few more years. Any good parent will know when it's time.
 
I just recently went through this and KSF has a wonderful "first knife" program. My brother in law and I both thought a locking knife would be better for a first knife. I also considered if he lost it, for pricing. I'd have to get him another one, if he did. Seriously, KSF nails the "first knife," IMO.
 
A CASE jr Sodbuster in Yellow delrin would be a good idea: not too heavy, plenty to grip so a young boy would be safe with it.:thumbup:

Better than a Peanut (rather fiddly & quite strongly sprung with half-stops, best avoid these) would be a CASE Penknife in Yellow D too. Very easy to open and you get two blades!:cool:

Many kinds of SAK could be tempting ....

I got my first pocket knife at 7. My family were never interested in knives, I saved money and bought it myself, great feeling even if it was some cheap little thing. Don't remember harming myself either:D

I think Queen Cutlery were recently running a programme of knives for kids, perhaps you could check their website?
 
pinnah said:
I find that young kids often can't handle a knife with a spring of any sort in it. Hard to safely close.

I started my kids with Opinel #6, which can be opened and closed without the blade being active in any way.

When they got older, they moved up to slip joints, like SAKs and scout knives. My son has moved on to lock backs.

But IMO the Opinel is the place to start.
Click to expand...

There is special children range for children, with rounded end. In fact this is what I intended to gift my grandson, but this summer someone gave him a SAK, IMO he is a bit young (he's 6) and that is also his mother's opinion, so for the moment the SAK is more often in the drawer.
 
I took my son (9 YR) to a large knife retailer, and he had trouble opening almost all the knives that I liked.
We settled on a Case 405L with the black handle. He had no trouble opening it, but it took a week to operated the lock mechanism.
Also very inexpensive, although he has only been allowed to take it out of the house once (camping trip). If lost it can be easily replaced.
And yes I had the school talk with him.
He now uses it to open letters and packages on his own.
 
ErikD said:
With the holiday season coming up I have been thinking it is time I get my nephew a pocket knife. He will be 9 in February, and am thinking a smaller traditional knife will fit the bill nicely. Also thinking more stainless just for ease of maintenance (my brother is not at all into knives or tools). Any interesting options/recommendations I should be looking at? My initial thoughts are something along the lines of a Case peanut pattern.

Thanks
Click to expand...
How about a Case Mini Copperlock
 
I think he find find a peanut a little difficult to open:) I got my first SAK around that age, they are tough and easy to maintain! If you want something easy to open and close I would look at the buck lock back knives.
 
Another vote for bucks lock backs. I got my first knife when i was 6, it was a made in pakistan duke copy.
 
At the moment leaning towards a Case Sod Buster Jr. in CF and a Sharpmaker to help teach him about care and maintenance. Still plenty of time to change though.

As far as a lock back, in theory I like the idea, however thinking back to my first knife (which as mentioned was also a cheap 110 copy) I recall having some trouble operating the lock. Now having a few true Buck lock back knives I can't help but think that he would have a pretty difficult time operating safely.
 
pinnah said:
I find that young kids often can't handle a knife with a spring of any sort in it. Hard to safely close.

I started my kids with Opinel #6, which can be opened and closed without the blade being active in any way.

When they got older, they moved up to slip joints, like SAKs and scout knives. My son has moved on to lock backs.

But IMO the Opinel is the place to start.
Click to expand...

I bought my sons a GEC 73 pattern with two blades. A Schrade Fire and Ice model. The older boy (10) still can't open it. Younger (5) I've never let try. They are gator snappers!

So I grabbed him an Opinel. That, he had no problem opening. It has a lock, and it does not snap closed.

Another vote for Opinel. I also got one for my younger son. He was 4 at the time. He could still open and close it. (I took the edge, and the point off for the younger one).

Their stainless steel is great. For the price of a Case, you could get two, in different sizes. They make them for fishing too!
 
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