Guardless Knives for Younguns

[Triquetra]

I am looking for opinions on starting kids with guardless knives like the Moras and Scandi style knives. I bought my son and daughter, ages 7 & 13, Scandi Wood Jewel knives from Ragweed for Christmas. From the picture it looked like it had a grove right before the blade but it's actually straight. How big of a deal do you think it is for a knife to have a guard? I plan on starting them off slow and showing them different methods to cut and warning them of their hand slipping on the blade and they won't have access to them unsupervised. I don't know that I've every had my hand slip up on a blade. Is the guard or contored handle more of a mental thing or a true safety necessity? I've also got each of them a 12" Khukuri but that's a little different animal because it's more of a chopper.

 

[Chris_Norden]

My first knife was a SAK when I was maybe 9 or 10. No guard, unsupervised use etc. Didn't cut myself until I was 13 or so when I started carving wood - before that the knife was used for cutting fishing line and bait etc. You here many people say a sharp knife is the safest - this is true to a point. A kids first knife should, I think, be use-ably sharp but not the scary-shaving sharp that most of us have. Also getting them to cut easy things like rope and veges is a good idea, I'd want any kids I have to be safe knife-users before carving wood. As long as the kids no not to stab, they should be fine.

Some think slipjoints are too dangerous, but I disagree. Teach a kid to use a slipjoint safely, and they'll never run into problems later. I continually read people saying they don't use folding knives that won't lock because they are dangerous, but this isn't true. And the way knife laws are heading in much of the world, being able to use a slipjoint safely may be very important.

Hope this helps

Chris

PS I've also never cut myself from my hand slipping up on the blade, and over 90% of my knife work is with guardless knives, a lot of that carving hardwood.

 

[Triquetra]

Well these are definitely scary sharp like most of the scandi grinds that I've gotten. Like you I grew up using non locking folders unsupervised. I got cut several times when I was young but it was never due to the lack of a guard or lock on a folder. It was alway due to stupidity. I hope to save my kids from those lessons though.

 

[angle iron]

I got cut several times when I was young but it was never due to the lack of a guard or lock on a folder. It was alway due to stupidity. I hope to save my kids from those lessons though.

I hope to do the same, nothing hurts nearly as much as seeing your child get even a little boo boo.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

If I remember correctly, the Scandinavian tradition is to start kids off with a knife with a guard. It's sort of a right of passage when they proved themselves skilled/mature enough to have the guard removed.

 

[koyote]

I'm ambivalent. The knives I sent to coaldigger's boys are technically guardless (shortfingers) but the fat palm handles keep them fairly safe for proper use.

My son has one guardless and two dropped edge blades (he's 6) and it doesn't matter, the only time he cuts him self is on the hand holding what he's cutting- same for me, for that matter.

I think overall, for most cases proper handlling of the knife is the most important thing.

 

[notos&w]

Obviously tactics trump equipment. The guards certainly wouldn't hurt but they aren't absolutely necessary. I just bought my son (6) his first knife. After a lot of thought I purchased a slip joint without any sort of guard or choil (My First Victorinox - rounded blade tip). I have the same concern as you do but think it can be overcome by proper instruction and supervision. Again, though, a guard can't hurt if it is available.

 

[R.H.Clark]

I know it would look bad but if you are really concerned ,a couple pieces of leather and some electrical tape would make a temp guard that would easily come off later.

 

[Thalestin]

Well these are definitely scary sharp like most of the scandi grinds that I've gotten. Like you I grew up using non locking folders unsupervised. I got cut several times when I was young but it was never due to the lack of a guard or lock on a folder. It was alway due to stupidity. I hope to save my kids from those lessons though.

I think part of using a knife is getting cut. Thats how you learn respect for the tool. Its for this reason I also agree that scary sharp isnt a great plan. I think working sharp is much better.

I think every singe knife user has got cut once or twice. Ive never been cut bad but ive had my share of cuts.

 

[stingray4540]

Teach them how to use a knife properly right from the start! They don't need a guard, it is a "mental thing", as you put it. When using a knife properly there is no need for a guard.

My first knife was also a SAK, never cut myself with that knife. But, it's ok if they cut themselves, it's an important right of passage and lesson, if they get cut they will have more respect for knives and how to use them properly.

 

[Triquetra]

Teach them how to use a knife properly right from the start! They don't need a guard, it is a "mental thing", as you put it. When using a knife properly there is no need for a guard.

My first knife was also a SAK, never cut myself with that knife. But, it's ok if they cut themselves, it's an important right of passage and lesson, if they get cut they will have more respect for knives and how to use them properly.

I agree and I know that it all about common sense. I guess that I'm just more protective of them than myself. I want to teach them to properly handle and use knives in the wilderness and a small cuts no big deal and a lesson in being careful. I just keep having these visions of being out miles from nowhere and them slipping with the blade and getting a major cut. However, I guess teaching them proper handling is the best way to avoid that.