Hardware store find!!!

SAK Climber II was on sale for ~$14 yesterday on the big river site. Would have made a better gift for your son (well, I missed the deal too).
 
Hickory n steel said:
Many many kids started out with slipjoints without cutting ourselves, because we were taught how to use them.

Oh, and I think closing an assisted opener that takes a bit of force to push closed could present just as much danger.
Especially since it's a linerlock that requires you to put your thumb in the path of the blade while closing it.
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Slipjoints comprise the bulk of my knife purchasing and I am usually purchasing a few every month. I have an 11 year old and a 9 year old, both of them have been taught to use a knife safely and they both have a few knives in their collections already. That being said, a slipjoint can be difficult to operate and that has proven to be the case for both my kids with several of the knives that I bring into the collection.

Every time I get a new knife, they want to check it out. Sometimes they can operate it with ease, sometimes they can't. I don't think it helpful to just assume that slipjoints are the best knife for a kid to have. Practice with any style is good, but that can be applied to just about every knife out there.

I think the OP did great. He is getting his boy a knife that he can practice with, learn to use responsibly, and possibly kindle a continued interest in cutlery in general. My son's first knife was a Vic Huntsman. Is it his favorite knife? Nope. In fact, his favorite is a Kershaw Blur and it is the one he grabs whenever he goes outside. Currently his preferences are for the modern aesthetics and as long as he continues to demonstrate that he can operate knives safely, he can carry whatever he wants. He can operate that Kershaw far easier than a lot of my GECs that have moderate to firm pulls.
 
For an 8 year old, I don't think you could do much better. I mean at least I remember when I was that age I was not the most careful kid with my "toys". I would use my hammer on little snap popping fireworks(I have no clue what they're called now), I would chuck my GI Joes out the second story with only a tissue as a parachute, I'd throw my knives straight into the dirt trying to make em' stick. Kid stuff, haha. Real glad I started out with the fairground ring toss type knives instead of a Victorinox and such. I'm sure he'll love it, OP.


I should add, though, that one knife I got from my Dad I still own and use to this day, a Victorinox Super Tinker. I got that when I was closer to 10-12, and by that time I was a little more cautious with my stuff, just a little, haha.
 
The first knife I was given as a kid is looooong gone. Nobody I know holds on to stuff that long. H&S, even if you had a Sebenza as your first knife you wouldn't have it now. Nobody I know would.

OP - your son will cherish the memory long after that knife is broken and forgotten. Good decision. :thumbsup:
 
Personally, I agree with shinyedges. Ignore the naysayers; I'd guess many of them don't have kids (or even much experience with them). You know your boy infinitely better than any poster on a web forum. That makes you the best qualified to know what he likes and will appreciate most. Get him what you think he will like and can handle.

And a very happy birthday to your son! I hope he loves his new knife!
 
Hickory n steel said:
My thoughts are that he'll be happy to have it, but like me he'll eventually look back and wish his first knife was something of more quality that could still be around.
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No he wont. He will look back and thing "This is my first knife, the one my dad gave me on my birthday." and cherish it.

Sorry to hear that a "first knife given by dad" holds no sentimental value to you. You are missing the whole point about knives in my opinion. They mean things to us.
 
Perfect knife for an 8 yr old:thumbsup:
Not so different in design from the knives a lot of us carry, seems to be a perfect budget knife. A knife your young man can learn with, and help him decide what's important to him in his next knife:cool:
Your a good dad Dallas
 
if I were 8 again I'd be a happy kid with that knife.

all this get him something better folks........my grandfather gave me a buck 110 and I broke the tip off not long after and eventually tossed it as I didnt realize I could get it replaced. my old man got me a swiss army not long after and like a dumb kid I lost it. so much for those first knives.

you did good for your boy. just make sure to train him well on safe handling and use etc. nice job Sir.
 
I gave both my Godson's Puma folders as Christening gifts (much to some people's horror :D) those blades were cared for by the fathers until the boys were old enough to appreciate what they were. In the years between being born and getting the Pumas (both are adults now) they had lots of other knives to dick around with and start to understand the tool.

You choice for your son is about perfect at this point mate.
 
LEGION 12 said:
My first knife , only reason I still have it is because it was taken away , then given back when I was more responsible. Not that long ago . :)
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Same thing kind of happened to me. Only reason I still have my first knife is because it was taken away as well for reasons that I cannot recall.

I only got it back when I was going through my Dad's knife drawer after he passed. I thought it long gone but he kept it and he sure put it to use. The edges and tips are all messed up but it still has good snap to the blades. :)

O1fJZ1Y.jpg
 
Hickory n steel said:
My thoughts are that he'll be happy to have it, but like me he'll eventually look back and wish his first knife was something of more quality that could still be around.

Knives like this are notorious for falling apart, if the screws will come out without stripping then I'd recommend putting loctite on every single screw so it stays together.
Personally I would've spent $17 on a Victorinox recruit , but this will do just fine if you loctite every screw.
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I actually think much the opposite. My first knife was an old Buck that my father had carried for years. Being a kid, I lost it and that's one of the few that hurts. I wish he had given me something like this and saved the Buck for when I had more sense.
 
You mean you didn't get your eight year old son a Sebenza for his first knife? What is wrong with you?!

On a more serious note, I think you chose perfectly. At eight years old, there is a solid chance that the knife could end up being lost/broken/traded/etc... I certainly wouldn't spend more than $10 or $20 for a first knife for a kid that age. It looks like a good knife for the price too. Good looks and a nice usable blade shape... And it's an assisted flipper! He's going to find that so cool! I'm 34 and I still constantly play with my assisted open Leeks. His friends are going to be jealous.

As far as I'm concerned, the real gift is that your son is going to know (or will come the realization later) that you trust him enough to let him own his first knife... Not to mention all the lessons you and the knife will be teaching him. That's huge and something that will be cherished forever. You did good.

We'll reserve your son a spot on the forum for when he inevitably becomes a "knife knut." :)
 
Fixall said:
You mean you didn't get your eight year old son a Sebenza for his first knife? What is wrong with you?!

On a more serious note, I think you chose perfectly. At eight years old, there is a solid chance that the knife could end up being lost/broken/traded/etc... I certainly wouldn't spend more than $10 or $20 for a first knife for a kid that age. It looks like a good knife for the price too. Good looks and a nice usable blade shape... And it's an assisted flipper! He's going to find that so cool! I'm 34 and I still constantly play with my assisted open Leeks. His friends are going to be jealous.

As far as I'm concerned, the real gift is that your son is going to know (or will come the realization later) that you trust him enough to let him own his first knife... Not to mention all the lessons you and the knife will be teaching him. That's huge and something that will be cherished forever. You did good.

We'll reserve your son a spot on the forum for when he inevitably becomes a "knife knut." :)
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Love it just go ahead and buy em a gold membership lol!
 
Dallas T said:
Thought of slip joint worried me for his little fingers.
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I dont really like slipjoint knives either, precicely because i cut myself with them a lot as a kid haha. I think you did pretty good, i dont know why people are saying you should get a more expensive one. Its the skills he'll learn that he's going to hold onto and keep forever, and most likely not the knife.
 
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