How sharp should a childs first knife be?

BryFry

BryFry

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I have a question for you guys that pertains to another topic going on that asks "what is a good first knife for a child" -Well I would like to hear your opinions on the following:

How SHARP do you think the childs first knife should be?

We have all heard the old adage that "a sharp knife is safer than a dull one" (which I personally think should be more like "a sharp knife is a more usefull knife than a dull one") ...so with this in mind...

-Do you start them off with a freekishly sharp razor?

-A moderately "functionally" sharp blade?

-Or do you start them off with a somewhat dull'ish blade and let them work their way up to, or "earn" the right to use a sharper blade?
 
I say go with an edge that cuts paper but doesn't shave hair.
 
I don't have kids but as a boy of 8, I was started out on a regular SAK. I did get a few cuts from that blade, normally from closing or opening the knife but I learned quickly enough to keep my fingers clear of the blade.

I got my first sheath knife when I was 12. I think it was a USGI Pilot's survival knife that my pops got from an Army surplus shop.

I don't recall either knife being dull but Pop was good friends with a guy in the neighborhood who sharpened knives and shears for a living. Both would cut paper.
 
Very sharp, teach them what a sharp knife is and they will respect that for the rest of their lives.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
I say go with an edge that cuts paper but doesn't shave hair.
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Exactly, nothing freakish a good usable edge.
Everyone will cut themselves eventually when dealing with knives.
Even if you give your kid a dull knife and then later a sharp one, it's only a matter of time before he cuts himself, when he does, he'll learn from it.
A dull knife won't teach him to respect the knife and handle it carefully.

As far as scary sharp blades go, when he's experienced enough to know the difference, it's time.
 
Yeah, the cuts paper but does not shave sounds about right to me as well.

I think most factory edges seem to fit this description, as most of the knives I've had came with a somewhat obtuse, rough ground edge that will cut most things well enough, but not shave hair very well.

Problem is the first thing I do with a new knife is get out my sharpening gear and put a hair popping edge on it. :D

-But my first child is still an infant at the moment, so I have time to ponder these type of things for a while. ...Like at what age should they get their own knife, and what kind of knife should it be? How do I keep the hundreds of razor sharp blades I own out of their reach until then ....and will daddy have to cut back on "playing" with his knives in front of the kids??

...so many questions, at least my wife and I waited until we were in our 30's before having kids, I still feel like a big kid myself most of the time!
 
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knifenut1013 said:
Very sharp, teach them what a sharp knife is and they will respect that for the rest of their lives.
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+1

Teach them what to expect when it is done correct and show them what is wrong and how it can hurt them and why. My opinion is in agreement with knifenut.
 
Shogi said:
Yeah probably, but on the other hand, the sharper it is, the faster they learn what not to do.
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I think my main concern would be that when dealing with a child, even if they are well behaved and well meaning, you still have to worry about their level of coordination. Some kids just have naturally fumbly hands no matter how well taught they are.

Guess it probably depends alot on the child.
 
Give the knife a good working edge, something that you would use yourself. Let the young one use it until it feels like it needs a sharpening. Then the two of you should get together for a sharpening session so that he can learn how to sharpen the knife himself.
 
My first knife was given dull, but it came along with a lesson on sharpening, it was just up to me to get it as sharp as I could.
I feel it was a good lesson, I think it lead me to have more respect for a sharp knife, both for my own safety, and in regards to taking care of my tools
 
Well my experience with this subject is, my 7 yr old daughter wanted a knife when we went to bass pro a while back. I bought her the smallest Vic they had and showed her how to handle it. Within 5 minutes Of getting home she had cut her thumb deep. She told me I could have her knife crying. Every now and then she asks to see it again but is very respectful of it. I'm glad it wasn't any sharper or larger.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Very sharp, teach them what a sharp knife is and they will respect that for the rest of their lives.
Click to expand...

+1

Like many others, my first knife was a SAK and those knifes are very sharp when they are new. Never had very bad accidents, but I must admit that I did cut myself a few times and I believe that is part of learning how you should act with a sharp knife and appreciating safe cutting techniques.
 
Sharp, but not pointed. Surface cuts heal readily. Puncture wounds do not.

BTW, I think y'all are waiting for too long. Twelve is the age for deer rilfles, six or seven for knives.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Very sharp, teach them what a sharp knife is and they will respect that for the rest of their lives.
Click to expand...

+2 :thumbup:

My son just earned his whittling chip in Cub Scouts. Upon earning it he received his first knife from the pack. He was rather wreckless with it when he first used it. But that was his first and last time he treated it disrespectfully. He recieved a nasty cut from it and now he treats it with the utmost respect and uses great care!
 
im a firm believer that youre more likey to get hurt with a dull knife since you have to apply more force to cut than you would a sharp one. a child learning doesnt need to be struggling to cut anything imo. dull knife? NO WAY
 
I know this is old fashinoned, but...

Enough to sharpen a pencil including the lead.

If a kid can sharpen a pencil without breaking the lead, then they can control their cuts and the knife is sharp enough
 
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