Good general purpose knife for a 14 year old?

Honestly if i was 15 and my dad or somebody gave me a swiss army or some other farty old traditional knife i would just pawn it off for pot money. The one knife i have from that age i only used to clean pot resin out of my pipes. Still have it and since then cleaned it up but that's how much i cared about traditional knives then. If you want to get him a knife he"ll use and cherish and love you for get him a Benchmade Adamas or Contego or even Griptillian. Or Lionsteel M2 with Sleipner steel. Cheap small fixed knives with good steel BK24 D'eskabar or maybe Esee Izula anything besides traditional. He will sell it for pot.:)
 
As someone who fondly remembers his early knife carrying years, I've got to champion this kid.

Get him a quality, modern folder: The Kershaw Leak, Spyderco Delica, or BM Mini Grip. Or, if you have a knife shop near you, have him pick out exactly what he wants.

While some think he's going to lose it, or doesn't deserve it because of his age, or will pawn it for pot, I think you're best of betting on your grandson, then betting against him. If he loses it or converts it into something with a decent THC count then you'll know for next birthday, but this year I'd go for something nice.

Some of these suggestions are outright patronizing. Round tip knives, $6 chinese leatherman knockoff's, I'm surprised no one has suggested a $.99 snap off box cutter or folding fork&knife set at this point.

Lastly, avoid a fixed blade unless he's in a super rural area. It's questionably legal in Ohio to carry a concealed FB due to their vague "deadly weapon" statute, and from a practical standpoint, nothing is going to creep out the ladies more during a makeout session then discovering that the bulge in his pocket is actually a fixed blade knife. That's tactical cockblocking at it's finest.
 
Seconded on the BM Mini Grip, if you're considering folders as well as fixed blades. You could build one at the BM website with his initials on it, "Gifted By," etc. in addition to customizing the blade shape, handle color, you name it.

I think the Mini Grips offer a level of utility, strength, and safety that other folders might not.

In addition, of all the folders my 13 year old Son has "inherited," he likes his Axis-locking BM's the most, which the Mini Grip would have.
 
I have never had much use for a 'pocket knife' but I'd feel outright lost if I didn't have a SAK Spartan on me. These multi-tools are 'handier than a pocket in a shirt' and I can say that with conviction from 50 years experience. Kids with knives are frowned upon but SAKs are generally viewed as benign, especially by schools and law enforcement folks.
 
Professor said:
Seconded on the BM Mini Grip, if you're considering folders as well as fixed blades. You could build one at the BM website with his initials on it, "Gifted By," etc. in addition to customizing the blade shape, handle color, you name it.

I think the Mini Grips offer a level of utility, strength, and safety that other folders might not.

In addition, of all the folders my 13 year old Son has "inherited," he likes his Axis-locking BM's the most, which the Mini Grip would have.
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That's a great idea getting something engraved on the blade. Axis locks are my favorite also. Just got my mom a mini grip for mother's day and think it will be perfect for her. Small,lightweight,good steel. Think she's carry it and be happy. I'd go with something bigger if he's in the woods alot though like Adamas, Contego, Rift. And if he already has your old schrades and buck's might as well get him something different. Buck vantage pro is a more modern design and great value for money. S30V steel and very good lockup. But if was a kid and was handed a Benchmade Adamas it would blow my mind when comparing to older traditional knives and keep them interested in the aspect of knives and how purposeful they really are in everyday life.
 
hopefully this hasn't already been mentioned, but my son is 14 and the Kershaw OD-2 is perfect for his EDC.

KS1770.jpg

Description
KS1770: OD-2
Kershaw Knives

Kershaw’s OverDrive-2 was created to give you the “OverDrive” style you want at a value price. Designed by Lee Williams, this larger OD-2 has a blade of 8CR13MOV stainless steel to take and hold its edge well. The glass-filled nylon handle provides stability, rigidity, and a non-slip grip. Of course, the OD-2 is one of our Flipper knives. Just pull back on the blade protrusion and flick your wrist forward slightly and knife will open smoothly and lock in place. But the OD offers a twist on the basic Flipper. Once the blade is open, the blade protrusion folds into a recess in the liner to give the OD-2 a sleek, smooth line all the way down.

Specifications

Steel: 8CR13MOV stainless steel
Handle: Glass-filled nylon
Blade Length: 2-1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Closed Length: 3-1/8 in. (7/9 cm)
Overall Length: 5-1/4 in. (13.3 cm)
Weight: 1.4 oz.
Locking Mechanism: Locking Liner
Pocket Clip
Flipper
Click to expand...
 
Just my opinion, but it does depend on the young man's personality. At that age, I would think he would want something with a "wow" factor. To me, that means a knife with assisted opening, or something that can be flicked open easily -- OR -- it means a SAK or multitool that he can use for a variety of things.

I would have gotten tons of use out of a Leatherman or a SAK at 14. I was always tinkering with bicycles, skateboards, gokarts, whatever. I would have appreciated the coolness of an AO knife, but I would have gotten much more use out of a multitool or SAK.

What are his hobbies? What does he like to do? fishing/hunting/camping or playing video games? If he is an outdoorsey kid, maybe a SAK, Leatherman, etc. would fit the bill. If he plays all kinds of Call of Duty/Black Ops video games, then getting him some cool tactical folder.
 
The real problem with outfitting a 14 year old with an expensive or a 'cool' knife is there will be less scrupulous others that lust over it too, and will assist in helping to making it go missing. If all it has is a blade or two the usefulness is kinda limited to peeling oranges and scaring people whereas a SAK or even a Leatherman can actually perform innumerable useful tasks. And if he is embarrassed at losing it (happens all the time) he can sneak over to a hardware store and replace or upgrade it himself without you ever knowing.
And you gotta consider that some folks never develop an affection or use for pocket knives. I suggest you start off cheap and then progress!
 
At 14 I had a Buck Muskrat and a few beater sheath knives. I spent a vast majority of my time, along with my friends, hanging out down at the river fishing, swimming, hunting, etc. And the knives were used hard. I was also taught at an early age how to sharpen them. Got a leatherman when they first came out around 1975 and have been carrying some type of pocket tool or other since then. Get him a inexpensive but durable pocket knife and a small 4" or so sheath knife of the same quality. Teach him how to sharpen them and use them safely around others. Hopefully he will have an opportunity for practical use and not just a cool factor.
 
I like the spyderco delica idea, but I believe at 14 I would have lusted over the NATIVE more than the delica!
858D5118-5D92-4FE0-86CB-5CA90EF6FD95-576-000000D7399EEE04_zpse65c3e6e.jpg
 
I'd go with two less expensive but useful knives.

A SAK as one, a super tinker or an alox farmer/pioneer.

The other one being a quality but inexpensive locking folder like the rat 1/2 or utilitac 2.

Both together should cost between 50-70 depending on where you buy and shipping.

I think that these two together are a good choice for a teen because they allow you something bigger/stronger when you want it but also something smaller/more socially acceptable when you need to be more discreet while still being quality and cheap. They also are not super steels and will not be hard to sharpen and that makes them great learning knives.
 
I'm not sure about where you live. but in MN where I grew up a 14year old carrying something like a benchmade contego or any other large or combat oriented knife would get a lot of trouble from the cops. so a lot of these fixed blades or big knifes could be bad news. I would get him a kershaw or a mini grip something else in around 3 inch that can be easily seen as a tool.
 
I'm 14 myself, began collecting a little over a year ago, and I'd recommend the RAT1. I love that thing!
 
mybladesatool said:
I'm not sure about where you live. but in MN where I grew up a 14year old carrying something like a benchmade contego or any other large or combat oriented knife would get a lot of trouble from the cops. so a lot of these fixed blades or big knifes could be bad news. I would get him a kershaw or a mini grip something else in around 3 inch that can be easily seen as a tool.
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It certainly matters where you live I would think. If you live in the boondocks than you have nothing to worry about, but more of a suburban or urban area and you could be looking for trouble with law enforcement.
 
My son just turned 15 and he has a few different ones.

ZT 0350
Buck Vantage
BUCK BANTAM ORANGE CAMO
Spyderco Delica
Moras
And a few Chinese Kershaws

He uses the Buck Vantage and one of the Kershaws more than of the others.
 
Professor said:
Seconded on the BM Mini Grip, if you're considering folders as well as fixed blades. You could build one at the BM website with his initials on it, "Gifted By," etc. in addition to customizing the blade shape, handle color, you name it.

I think the Mini Grips offer a level of utility, strength, and safety that other folders might not.

In addition, of all the folders my 13 year old Son has "inherited," he likes his Axis

This^

The Grip or Mini-Grip are an excellent choice.
Click to expand...
 
A.P.F. said:
Professor said:
Seconded on the BM Mini Grip, if you're considering folders as well as fixed blades. You could build one at the BM website with his initials on it, "Gifted By," etc. in addition to customizing the blade shape, handle color, you name it.

I think the Mini Grips offer a level of utility, strength, and safety that other folders might not.

In addition, of all the folders my 13 year old Son has "inherited," he likes his Axis

This^

The Grip or Mini-Grip are an excellent choice.
Click to expand...

I am a huge spyderco fan and don't get too excited over most of benchmades offerings, but I do have a mini grip that my father gave to me and it is an excellent little knife. That would be at the top of my list of "non spydercos". :)
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