Good first knife for $50 and under

SAK for sure. But get the regular scales, not ALOX. A kid needs to have the tweezers and toothpick for the cool factor.
 
Get both. Inexpensive SAK, and a Joe Pardue Utilitac II. Bust the budget by $5 and do the kid a favor.
 
Here is a suggestion that has yet to be presented.

Case 035 Medium Stockman in Yellow Delrin covers in CV.
Found for around $35
Made in the USA
Will last a lifetime
Patinas Well
Perfect size for teens and adults alike
 
For a full pocket knife, it's really hard to go wrong with a Skyline - very basic, but nice steel, made in USA with a great warranty (if this is his first knife, he's probably going to beat the crap out of it) and a flipper is just fun. If you're not sure about trusting him with a regular pocket knife (this really varies from one 15-year old to the next), a SAK is pure utility, probably a cadet.
 
I'm 15 and I carry a manix 2 it is my one and only "good" knife and I expect to carry it for a very long time.
 
For about $30 I would highly recommend an ESEE Zancudo. It's my main EDC blade and I couldn't be happier with it.
 
How bout a Delica? A SAK was my first at about 10 years old. The spyderco got me into knives though.
 
You might consider a Leatherman multitool. He could find many more uses for it.
 
I would say it needs to be a modern folder. While she may not catch the details and the recipient might not care she liked the PM2 you were carrying and most teens want something "cool". The SAK or stockman might have more utility but she will think the gift should be something in the same type of knife she has seen you carry. I am thinking you are right on track with the leek.
 
Victorinox Pioneer or Farmer. It'll last him his lifetime so buy a knife he'll use a lifetime. Don't buy for the teen. Buy for the man. He won't be a teen much longer, and he'll be a man much longer than a boy. And he will use it across his lifetime.
 
A Spyderco Cat fits the bill and will introduce him to good knives. ($44.13) (I have one)
Kershaw Needs Work ($26.95) made in USA.
Cold Steel Mini Recon (Special Price $31.95)
Kershaw Blur Tanto (currently $56.95) made in USA
Benchmade Lone Wolf Mini Landslide (salt water rated) ($37) (I have 2)
Buck Vantage Force Select ($36)

Since he is not into camping, he will want something cool.
 
SAK. Any thing with a lock is just going to teach the kid the wrong way to use as knife.

They are great. I'd suggest Super Tinker if he's not outdoorsy.
 
leatherman sidekick. My son just used his for a week camping on the beach(he's 13) and he was " the man" all week.
He bought it with his own $$ and when someone looked to me for a knife or tool usage issue, I referred to him.
Really a nice tool for the $$. Worked on a bicycle, cut open stuff, used the saw to notch wood.
 
Leatherman Skeletool
Spyderco Tenacious
Ontario Rat 1/2
ESSE/BRK Zancudo
Kershaw Cryo 2
 
Peak_Oil said:
Get both. Inexpensive SAK, and a Joe Pardue Utilitac II. Bust the budget by $5 and do the kid a favor.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The concept of two knives for him is a sound one. Don't be suprised if he does not carry the SAK much at this point in his life. He will grow into it. Have his name engraved on it and he will keep it for life.

A Utilitac would be a good choice for the second blade. So would a Rat or something like it. An orange Avispa maybe. A non-assist Kershaw would also be good. A CRKT m16 series knife would also work. The flipper would give him the cool factor and the AutoLAWKS is a nice touch for a teen.

If he is like many teens, he will trash whatever knife you give him.

My nineteen year old daughter takes great care of her first knife (Kershaw Vapor) but always grabs my EDC to use. Why? When ask, she told me," I don't want to ruin my knife."



Please let us know what you buy your son.
 
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