GSO 3.5 for kids?

Shotgun said:
It's easier to cut yourself with a sharp knife. It's easier to STAB yourself with a dull knife. I have a scar that I can show you. ;)

In either case. Whether the knife is dull or sharp, a kid shouldn't have a knife outside of adult supervision until they've proven they can handle it safely.


All that said. Yes, the 3.5 would be awesome for a kid. The handle is a little too small for me and I'm in between a medium and large glove size. Wish my dad would have bought me something like that. Nice!
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My wife says I spoil our kids:) I just picked up a GSO 5.1 and told the kids that they have a smaller version that's suppose to arrive any day. My youngest is really into it and every day after I get home from work he asks if we can build a fire in the backyard. He's been using my Fallkniven F1 and Bark River Bravo 1LT. I allowed him to try out the GSO 5.1, but with me holding the blade because it's too big for him. The way I look at it is the GSO 3.5's cost as much as two new videogames, which they would play for a few months. The knives can be used for a life time:)
 
supertac916 said:
The way I look at it is the GSO 3.5's cost as much as two new videogames, which they would play for a few months. The knives can be used for a life time:)
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Good way to put it. Reason I got out of video games is because they're expensive (when new) and lose their entertainment/resale value quite fast.
 
supertac916 said:
My wife says I spoil our kids:) I just picked up a GSO 5.1 and told the kids that they have a smaller version that's suppose to arrive any day. My youngest is really into it and every day after I get home from work he asks if we can build a fire in the backyard. He's been using my Fallkniven F1 and Bark River Bravo 1LT. I allowed him to try out the GSO 5.1, but with me holding the blade because it's too big for him. The way I look at it is the GSO 3.5's cost as much as two new videogames, which they would play for a few months. The knives can be used for a life time:)
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Cool! Yup, knives are better then video games. I haven't found the knife hobby to be cheaper though LOL.
 
I bought my then 6 year old a 3.5 when they come out. He has used it some and handles it well. It replaced a spyderco mule I was letting him cut things with just to start developing some fine motor skills. He is now 7 and 52 inches tall and the size is just right.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Other have thought about the same issue.

http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Whittling_Chip_Course
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The above link refers to smaller "pocket knives with a can opener on it which is an invaluable back country tool.", as in a knife suitable for a Cub scout 7-9 years old.
The article in the link clearly states "Avoid large sheath knives", while some of us adults may not consider the GSO 3.5 a "large knife", it's definitely larger and seriously sharper then a small folding Cub Scout knife.
 
Indeed it does. After some thought, and over a century of experience, BSA does not want pre-Scout kids involved with sheath knives. As a parent, you have to make up your own mind.

BSA does suggest that a "short sheath knife with a sturdy handle" is the "ideal woods tool" for Scout-aged youth. Neither "large" nor "short" are defined. The examples of a "short" sheath knife given by BSA were the Buck Diamondback Guide and the SOG Field Pup Interestingly, a filleting knife is expressly excused from the "large" category without reference to length.

BSA also recognizes an obligation to Scouts to teach the safe use of all "legally possessed" knives.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Indeed it does. After some thought, and over a century of experience, BSA does not want pre-Scout kids involved with sheath knives. As a parent, you have to make up your own mind.

BSA does suggest that a "short sheath knife with a sturdy handle" is the "ideal woods tool" for Scout-aged youth. Neither "large" nor "short" are defined. The examples of a "short" sheath knife given by BSA were the Buck Diamondback Guide and the SOG Field Pup Interestingly, a filleting knife is expressly excused from the "large" category without reference to length.

BSA also recognizes an obligation to Scouts to teach the safe use of all "legally possessed" knives.
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I wouldn't put them at the top of my list for dealing with kids.
http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2015/02/19/trial-begins-for-parents-suing-boy-scouts-for-50m/23697387/

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765667205/Lawyer-Boy-Scout-files-depict-sordid-history-of-abuse.html
 
Thanks guys for all of the info and feedback. I got their GSO 3.5's and they are very sharp. I showed the boys how sharp they were by cutting some paper. They told me they arent ready for them yet. I will keep them in the safe next to the AR's I built for them last year:) Wait till they are ready, but I'm glad they know their comfort levels. They're nice little knives..
 
supertac916 said:
Thanks guys for all of the info and feedback. I got their GSO 3.5's and they are very sharp. I showed the boys how sharp they were by cutting some paper. They told me they arent ready for them yet. I will keep them in the safe next to the AR's I built for them last year:) Wait till they are ready, but I'm glad they know their comfort levels. They're nice little knives..
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Yep, sharper then a scalpel.
Smart boys.
 
supertac916 said:
Thanks guys for all of the info and feedback. I got their GSO 3.5's and they are very sharp. I showed the boys how sharp they were by cutting some paper. They told me they arent ready for them yet. I will keep them in the safe next to the AR's I built for them last year:) Wait till they are ready, but I'm glad they know their comfort levels. They're nice little knives..
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I looked back through and couldn't see where you stated your kids' ages. Mind sharing? I am asking because if they are old enough to tell you the knife is too sharp, perhaps they need to understand that a dull knife is actually more dangerous.
 
bladeflana said:
I looked back through and couldn't see where you stated your kids' ages. Mind sharing? I am asking because if they are old enough to tell you the knife is too sharp, perhaps they need to understand that a dull knife is actually more dangerous.
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They are 6 and the oldest is turning 8 next month. We keep their Buck knives sharp, but I picked up a 5.1, 4.1, along with two more 4.1's on order. They are some of the sharpest knives from the factory that I have. I'm sure they'll end up trying them out this summer under direct supervision on some of our camping trips. That being said, they've also tried out their AR's once and decided that they want to stick with their .22lr's for now. I'm in no rush and want to make sure they are comfortable with the basics first. However, the folders make me more concerned because I find myself not wanting them to close the blade on their fingers. I don't know what it is, but putting a fixed blade in a sheath makes me more comfortable.
 
I'm in the dull knife is more dangerous camp.
But, you can always dull a knife. Not that hard, in fact it's easier than sharpening a knife.
 
dynamicmoves said:
I'm in the dull knife is more dangerous camp.
But, you can always dull a knife. Not that hard, in fact it's easier than sharpening a knife.
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I agree. I'm helping my 14 year old grandson work on his knife collection which he started when he was 12
and I usually dull his really sharp blades just for safety.
 
Here is what generations of working with kids and knives tells us.

When kids try to cut something and it's hard to cut, they typically respond with greater force.

When the knife slips, because it's dull and will not bite, the greater force results in a more violent loss of control.

The knife may be too dull to bite the wood, but when it encounters the kid, driven by the greater force, it tears nicely.

Someone likes to post that knowledge comes from experience and much of the experience if bad experience. Scars are the souvenir that you never misplace.

Your kid.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Here is what generations of working with kids and knives tells us.

When kids try to cut something and it's hard to cut, they typically respond with greater force.

When the knife slips, because it's dull and will not bite, the greater force results in a more violent loss of control.

The knife may be too dull to bite the wood, but when it encounters the kid, driven by the greater force, it tears nicely.

Someone likes to post that knowledge comes from experience and much of the experience if bad experience. Scars are the souvenir that you never misplace.

Your kid.
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This is one of the best explanations I've seen.

Sharp is fine, but I'm still not totally convinced that a "Guy sharp" blade is good for kids.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Here is what generations of working with kids and knives tells us.

When kids try to cut something and it's hard to cut, they typically respond with greater force.

When the knife slips, because it's dull and will not bite, the greater force results in a more violent loss of control.

The knife may be too dull to bite the wood, but when it encounters the kid, driven by the greater force, it tears nicely.

Someone likes to post that knowledge comes from experience and much of the experience if bad experience. Scars are the souvenir that you never misplace.

Your kid.
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Yes. I had no idea how to put that into words. Well said.
 
Silver Needle said:
This is one of the best explanations I've seen.

Sharp is fine, but I'm still not totally convinced that a "Guy sharp" blade is good for kids.
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+1 on "Guy sharp"... whole other kind of "sharp".
Bottom line is the children were presented with the knife/s (3.5), they saw just how sharp they are, then they thought about it and politely told supertac916 (their Dad) they "aren't ready for them yet."
Perhaps in the future.... but I would not give an SK! 3.5 to a 6 or 7 year old child.
 
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6 or 7? Nor would I.

In Scouting, the fixed blade waits until Boy Scout age - 10.5-11. And even then, the Scout must pass a training course on safe usage and, in most troops, is subject to loss of the privilege to use any knife if he is seen violating the rules repeatedly or in a serious way. In most troops, he then has a cooling-off period and must pass the safety course again.
 
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