Giving your kid a knife

Expatriated said:
I've always taken the mysteriousness out of stuff like this. So, he's got absolutely no desire to do anything foolish with it, he's always had a knife and knows how to use it. It's no more taboo to him than a screwdriver, a hammer or any other tool.

This was how I grew up and it worked for me. Everyone is different.
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I'm the same way, be it knives, guns, whatever. He'd rather shoot my AR than any .22. That's how I was when I was his age. It's just how it was when we were kids. Hell, remember what most of us did on rainy Saturday and Sunday afternoons? Watched war movies! Could you imagine such heresy nowadays? :eek:

The Censor (my lovely bride) would break the "Edit" button!
 
I was 5 got it for christmas. It was a 2 1/2" Gerber. It was in mine carried it everywhere (but school not that old yet). I had my first gun at 8 single shot .22 I also had this on free rome just dont shoot a a person the road or the house. When your that young its a good way to learn a since or direction in the woods.
 
pretty sure I was around 5. a slip joint my grandma gave me. she gave me a hatchet when I was 3 1/2. it's still at my parents' house somewhere.
still have most of my fingers and toes.
 
I got my first knife at 7-8. A school friend wanted to buy me something for my bday, I told him I wanted a SAK. I've lost/found it numerous times over the years. It's still currently hiding from me.
I was playing with a pocket knife my dad had before getting my SAK and cut myself pretty good (didn't need stitches though).

I've always been fascinated by knives, flashlights, and guns.
 
Hello ESEE folks... nice to meet all of you.

I got my first knife around 4 or 5. My grandfather taught me how to use it. Taught me how to use a stone to sharpen it. It is one of my fondest memories of him. My mother cringed and said " I was gonna hurt myself." I got more cuts out in the back field on broken glass and sticks and thorns than I did with my knife because I was taught to respect it. Don't fear it but respect it or it would bite me. I do agree that it depends on the kid. Have to use your best judgement...
 
This really depends on the kid, like so many other things. My son was 8 or 9 when I gave him a Victorinox SAK. Now he's got all sorts of knives. It's all about how well they listen and pay attention.

SP
 
My 5 year old just got his first. I bought him a BRKT Journeyman. I liked the size, the fact that he wouldn't/couldn't close the blade on his fingers, and that it had it a fingerguard. I keep it in a safe place but he can use it anytime he wants, so long as I'm around. I was a little concerned that he didn't fully appreciate the dangers posed by it, until that it, his Grandpa, sliced his thumb open slicing into a cantalope. My son is now particularly cognizant of finger placement when using his knife.

I was probably about the same age when my dad got me my first knife, a SAK. I did close it on my fingers, a couple of times. It was the beginning of a long love of the steel, which resulted in my dad bringing many surprises home for me, usually in the form of bayonets from the pawn shop or surplus store. I grew up on an acreage which had a really deep shelter belt and a pasture with a creek flowing through it. I spent countless hours wondering about. I wish my sons had the same opportunities.
 
My oldest daughter Shyann got her first knife for Christmas this year, a pink Izzy. She's 8. My children have grown up seeing guns and knives everyday. No curiousity now, from either of them. I decided to get her a fixed blade first, my thoughts are is safer.

She has been using it under supervision, and has already gotten her first Izula bite. She's still using it, with no thoughts of being afraid of it. I was worried after the nick in her finger, but she climbed right back on, no worries.

Moose
 
My 12 year old daughter got her first at age 10.

My six your old son got his first at age 5.

Daughter got a Mora #1

Son got a Mora 510

Since then they have both been given SAK's, daughter has a JLT Woodlore clone and an Izula.

I have not had any issues with either of them being stupid with knives. They both respect them and know they must ask to use them. All of them are very sharp. I do not believe that a child should be given a dull blade because it is "safer". A dull blade is FAR MORE DANGEROUS!
 
i got my first knife when I was back in cub scouts, and started using them since around...8? sure I got a few cuts and bites, but nothing teaches you knife safety like a nice scar to show for it.

ya know?

not saying let your kids cut themselves, just my two cents.
 
I got what had to be a junior sized Bowie knife when in Indian Guides. Have a real old folder too. I think I was 7.

My daughter turns 5 tomorrow. I'll let her use my SAK smart card mostly for the scissors. But I think I have time.
 
I got my first knife at 7 or 8. Some sort of slipjoint folder. Then I got an off-brand SAK as a gift. Saved my own money for a $3 Barlow and then a K-Mart knock off of the Buck 110.

My daughter's first knife was a Vic Classic at 5 year old. She had already proven her responsibility and we told her that is why we trusted her with the knife. At first, she was only allowed to use it when I was there to help her. It's on a chain with a whistle and she carries it everywhere she goes.

She's 9 now and has a few knives. Her favorite is a Murphy sloyd with a guard. She's a whittling machine with that knife.
 
I appreciate all of the comments here. I decided to give my 8 year old daughter my old miniature swiss army knife last night. She has been begging for a knife so I dulled the blade and the point and showed her how to open, close, and use it properly (the old totin' chip boy scout lesson).

My first thought is, I'd rather give her a really sharp blade and teach her how to respect and handle it appropriately. But, If she is anything like I was, she'll end up with several scars on her hands and leg like I did. We'll see how this goes.
 
texastonydobbs said:
I gave my son his first around 6 . He is now 13 had has a few knives & an AK47 LOL :)
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My oldest was seven and I let him run amuk in the Piney woods with TTD's son. It was the first time i let him carry and use a knife unsupervised by myself....TTD's boy did a great job watching and helping him....He came back with all 10 fingers....(thanks Tony)...Like i said earlier it depends on the kid...Tony's boy and my oldest were responsible enough....now my 6 year old i won't give a butter knife to...he would sharpen it and shank me in my sleep....(to much like his damn momma)
 
I got my first knife when a Cub Scout. It was an unexpected bonus when I achieved some un-remmembered level. I could only carry it to scouts and camping which we did a lot.
My most memorable 1st came at eleven, On a trip thru Yellowstone in 1968,everyone (sisters) was getting a souvenier, I wanted a knife, my dad said ok, but not one of these (made in Japan, when that was not a good thing.) Several long days later when we had left the Park. My dad took me to a hardware store, picked a knife from the case, paid for it, handed it to me, saying "You know the rules." Solingen steel, stag handle, nickle bolsters baskete weave leather sheath, stitched and riveted, it was beautiful.
I got off topic with feel good memory, sorry
Back to the point, Do it for something special, whenever, you, feel its right. Best with the consent of their mother. make a good case.
 
I'm about to give my son his first knife and wanted it to be an Izula. He's five and will only use it under my supervision. I'm putting together a whole survival pack and figured the Izula would be perfect especially since I just purchased my first ESEE just after Christmas.
 
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