Help me decide if I should get my nephews their first knife

abo4ster

abo4ster

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I am sure this has been discussed before, but I kept getting the dreaded "Page Cannot Be Displayed" when I used the search function.

My twin nephews will be 8 in January and I was thinking about getting them thier first knife if it is O.K. with their mother. I know every child is different, but I believe they are responsible.

Do you think 8 is still too young?

Other than a SAK, what would be a good first knife?
 
Eight is old enough, but there are other issues involved. How do their parents feel about this, and who will take the time to teach them proper respect for a knife?

Along with a SAK a Boy Scout knife would also be a good choice.
 
First question would be is "are they already knife friendly?" My 6 year old has been trimming his toenails with a VIC Classic for quite some time now and can safely 'handle' a knife. he's not quite ready to cut open a toy package yet, however.The 8 year old lacks the interest and thus hasnt learned the coordination to safely open a small pocket knife.
My personal suggestions are Vic classic, Buck Minibuck, Buck Cadet. I received my first fixedblade at 10 and my first slipjoint at 12.
take care
guy
 
Do they live in a setting where they can use and learn about knives? Will you accept the rsponsibility of teaching them the safe and proper ways to use and care for the knives?

I think they are at a good age to learn about knives-and guns-if trained and supervised. If they get much older before learning, they may be more willful and influenced by their peers and not learn as well.

I got my first knife and a BB gun for my 6th birthday and did the same for my son, who is now 25. Neither of us has ever gotten in any trouble with either guns or knives(although I have and continue to cut myself frequently while building knives).
 
I got my first knife, a Cub Scout knife, when I joined the Cub Scouts at 8. It really depends on the kid and the parents. The kid needs to be responsible and taught knife safety and the same goes for the parents. I've seen many adults do stupid things with knives that they only get away with because of luck or dull blades. If the kid sees his mom using her palm as a cutting board when cutting apples or potatos he has a bad role model.

Another factor is finding a knife that will work for the kid. I was going to buy a knife for my nephew who joined Cub Scouts a year or so ago but he is small for his age and was not able to safely open and close the Victorinox Recruit I had him try. He was able to easily open my CQC-7 but not operate the liner lock, though I wasn't about to get him one of those anyway. ;)
 
8 years isn`t too young. I was about 6 when I got my first knife from my parents. All thats matter is that they behave responsible when carrying the knife.
My first knife was a Scout knife from Helle. A crappy knife, but I treasured it as gold those days:) .
 
Assuming their parents are okay with it. I started my twin daughters at 7 with SAKS. They didn't take actual possession for about a week, and not before they could recite and demonstrate rules of safety. I continued to hound until I was certain they were certain. One daughter kept at it and now has a nice little collection, the other didn't. But both (now 11) know how to properly handle a knife, and that's both a life skill as well as peace of mind for Mom and Dad.
 
I got my first when I was 8, a cheap boy scout pattern my dad gave me, If I remember correctly by then I already had used other pocket knives and knew how to sharpen and care for it. This was in rural Mexico and knives were quite common then.

If you have doubts perhaps you can get them started in some proyects like soap carving (which can even be done with something dull for safety), making things with paper, wood and string, or let them help opening cartons or whatever, let them borrow the knives to use under supervision, and take them back.

Teach them how to use a knife; open and close properly, every time you cut imagine where the knife would go if it slipped, remember it will close on your fingers if pull or push the wrong way, it is not a toy, etc..

After you see them use the knives you´ll get a much better idea of whether or not they are ready for their own.

For a first knife I suggest a simple SAK such as the Spartan.

I believe I have seen guidelines for using pocket knives for the Boy Scouts somewhere around the web, a Google search might get you some good info.
 
In cub scouts, Bear scouts (8-9 years old) can earn their whittling chip card. This satisfies that they have learned the proper use and care of a pocket knife. That doesn't mean that the kid won't cut his finger off, though. As a den leader, I am doing the whittling chip requirement with my den (my son included), but I am waiting till the end of their Bear year, so that they will be a little older. Even then, I defer to the parents, letting them decide if they want their son to work with the pocket knives, and then after presenting the parents with the boy's knife to keep safe.

Every boy is different maturity wise. Give the knives to the boys, but let the parents make the decision on when they should have them. Offer to work with the boys to teach them knife safety. Either way, you are not the bad guy. Let the parent be one if they want to. Your nephews will know that you gave them a cool gift, and that you trusted them enough to have a knife.

Oh yeah...any SAK or multitool/blade type of knife would be a great choice IMHO.
 
Are they responsible? Are their parents responsible? Are they in a school district that won't expell them and call for chemical castration of closest kin if caught with a k-nife? What made my Cub Scouts knife so safe for me was how boring it was compared to a bowie knife. My bowie knife was safe compared to my cutlass. My cutlass was safe compared to my katanas, but the case of my kukhri bit me a little.

Quiet Bear,

You just made me realize how much my parents trusted me back then. Thanks!

Anyways, at 8, what would they appreciate more? There are so many cool toys out there as well as all kinds of camping gear (holy cats! My folks trusted me with my magnesium firestarter even though I loved idly sparking it against its starter steel and the pavement! Maybe my folks were just seeking to shrink their family and giving me these tools was their attempted method! :eek:), that they may really enjoy other gifts even more. Just, if it's a three way time between the savings bond, clothes, and a slipjoint, get the knife.
 
I, too, got my first knife at 8. They'll be fine, just make sure that they know it's ok to come to you with questions about the knife, its use, and if they get into trouble with it. They only real wound I received was when I tried to use the awl.

A standard Jack Knife, or Swiss would be good. Perhaps, a mini lockback.
 
One thing that Thom pointed out is something that I'd like to reiterate.

Be sure that they and their parents know the do's-and-don't's of their local school district and any afterschool social programs regarding knives.

In today's ultra sheepish society, unfortuantely, this cannot be over-stressed.

However, this is also an important and *_APPROPRIATE_* lesson to teach the kids at this young age due to increasing safety concerns at public venus (i.e. Courthouses, airports, etc.), where more stringent enforcement of "no weapons" rules can cause one's treasured knives to be confiscated.

:)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
Thanks everybody!!!

Thier mother likes the idea and the game plan is I will teach them safety before they take possession. In addition, they will only be able to use and carry when I am supervising. After time, probably a couple of weeks, and if they demonstrate responsibility, they will have to check in and check out their knife from their mother and she can use her discretion if they need to be supervised.

Still going to have to decide what to get them though.
 
Originally posted by Quiet Bear
Still going to have to decide what to get them though.
Click to expand...

That's easy! Matching Microtech Makuras! Those kids will be so impressed by their childhood knives that they won't be crazy knuts like the rest of us, but they'll think nothing of getting high-end knives for their friends!
 
mini griptilians or SOG Sculptura, locking blades that they should be abl to unlock easily.
 
I was raised in a very "blade oriented" family and learned to properly respect blades froma very early age. One of my first knives I was given as a child is a small handmade butterfly knife from Batangas, Philippines. It had a 2 3/4" drop-point razor sharp blade, a brass frame, and narra wood hanles. Overall length is @ 3 3/4". An unobvious and impractical choice for some because of its association with combat and intricate design that focuses on skilled manipulation, but for those very same reasons, an excellent choice.

I had already learned to properly handle a fixed blade by the time I was 7. I did not begin balisong training until more than a year after receiving the knife and when I did, a length of electician's tape over the blade kept my fingers safe. Prior, I was taught to open the knife with both hands. When opened and the handle lock in place, there was no chance that the blade could close on my small hands and do damage. No other folding knife available was as fail safe. Perhaps a lockback might have been a choice but I don't think most children have the necessary hand strength to disengage the lock.

Dayuhan
 
Hi Quiet Bear

my kids are now 8(boy) and 11(girl)
and i gave them their first knives too early (obout 3Y ago)
and the wrong knives too! (Cheap SAK klones with dull blades)

About 1 1/2 year later they got better knives, small Opinels
and they (and i) had much fun with them, (sharp, folding,
OK i have to cleen them up after use, but no blood taken till now.

They are not allowed to carry/use any knive without me bevore they can make first aid for cuttings !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
SAK is a good 1st. Step up to a Buck 110 or Gerber LST/EZ Out later. I taught my self and learned what not to do quickly. If they do get bitten, they'll know what not to do.
 
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