Good First Knife....?

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wilson091406

Joined
Oct 17, 2008
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4
My nephew's 10th birthday is coming up and its about time that he gets a knife of his own.
What would be a good starter knife for a little boy?
 
I'm thinking a whittler or a butterbean canoe from Rough Rider. They're inexpensive, they're sharp, they're stainless, they look good and they come in a nice box. Let's face it, he's probably going to lose it within a year. I know I lost several before I learned to take care of them. This is no time to be buying an heirloom :D
 
Kershaw Skyline is a great little well made knife that might
just hit the sweet spot for a 10 year old.
 
i would have to say a sak
sparton or camper with a saw
2 blades
1 larger blade for cutting big sticks etc
and a small for finer cutting
awl for making holes
a saw
E

that small opi might be good

i am partial to sak for kids it feels more like a tool
(which it should feel like)
still got mine from many years ago
broken scale and all still havent fixed been in a keep box:D
 
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My first knife was a SAK at about age 8 or 9. It is rare for me not to have a SAK in my pocket now. Can't go wrong with this recommendation.
 
SAK for sure or some other small slippie can`t go wrong with a buck trio or trapper all good learning knives and not going to get anyone kicked out of school .
 
Another vote for SAK

Altenatively, you might get a Buck 303 Cadet (medium stockman pattern) or a Case yellow medium stockman.

All are good starter knives. For that matter, they are good no matter what your age or experience.
 
I would say a SAK, leatherman, or other multitool. I agree with edgreywolf. A kids first knife should be seen as a tool.
 
1. Make sure its cool with mom and dad first of course. :D
2. Boker Subcom/Wharcom or a Byrd Robin/Finch/etc.

I love SAKs but most 10 y.o.s might not practice proper cutting techniques all the time, so I'd vote for something with a lock. A Buck 110 might be too big. The choices in #2 have locks and are sized for a 10 y.o. imo. I understand he won't always be 10, but you can deal with that later.

EDIT: I also forgot some SAKs lock. Either way, I can understand a SAK as a 1st knife too.
 
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I am going to agree with gaz that a 110 is probably too big. In terms of needing a lock, this could backfire. If he doesnt need to use safe cutting habits, then he won't. A slippie necessitates them. You just need to make sure he learns to be safe and treat it with respect, from either yourself or his parents. Supervising him for a while at the start wouldn't hurt either. My suggestion would be a SAK or opinel, although it doesn't need to be a tip-less one IMO. The SAK is good for portraying it as a tool, as mentioned, as well as just adding functionality. I have a swisstool which has tons of the SAK tools and the ones I use most, aside from the blades, are the awl and saw. Although, the opinels are so cheap you could buy a couple, because there is a good chance he will lose the first. Imagine his delight when you give him another present to replace the one he lost.

EDIT: If you really want a tip-less blade, you can also get a SAK without a tip, I believe it is called "my first victorinox" or something along those lines.
 
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