How to talk mom into letting me get a spyderco I'm 13

[Ocelot85]

I received my first knife when I was 8 as a Christmas present from my father, I also received my first pellet rifle around the same time. I suppose things are different in the country. I had also been raised around both knives and firearms my entire life and was taught from a very young age to respect both of them, and I'm teaching my son the same way.

 

[leghog]

actually i was but dropped out after webelos and was involved in sports. today's boy scouts, forget it. i wouldn't put any kid of mine in boy scouts with the decision to allow gays in. there are other upcoming organizations besides boy scouts.

Were you not trustworthy as a teen? Could you not be trusted with a knife? I find your questioning of a teenager owning a knife or getting a driver's license at 16 quite disturbing. Many 13 year olds use axes, knives, and saws. 13 year olds hunt too --- that must really give you the shivers.

I must assume you've never reared kids, or if you did, you felt you couldn't trust them. Regardless, it's quite apparent you forgot what it is to be a teen. Could you be trusted with a knife at 13 or a driver's license at 16?

 

[Morrow]

The off-topic and in some cases stupid comments will stop. Stay on topic or don't post.

 

[harcourt22]

I can speak from LOTS of experience in this area. First off, if your mother doesn't think you should have a knife she obviously has her reasons (Whatever they may be) I would start by taking a while to cool down. Don't mention the knife for a while as pestering will only make her become more convinced of your lack of maturity. Piece together an intelligent argument stating things like "a knife is a tool"

Then, and most importantly, ask your mom if you can possibly WORK to earn the money. Offer to mow the lawn for $5 toward the knife. Wash the car for $5 toward the knife. Help with grocery shopping, clean the kitchen, wash the windows, etc. At the end of the month you will have EARNED the knife. This shows maturity and initiative. If your mom is still wary, lay off. Just drop it and move on. whatever you do DON'T ARGUE.

This is what I did when I was your age and it helped show my parents my willingness to obey and take initiative.

Good luck!

 

[zerkom122]

it would draw up a question as to what exactly you will be using the knife for? are you working somewhere or fishing?

I may go fishing sometime this year but I don't know if we would be doing catch and release or not.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

What did you do? There were times in my 20+ year career a pocket knife was absolutely necessary.

Can you tell me what a regular use for a pocket folder would have been in your 20+ year career.
Also any thoughts on why most regular armies don't equip their guys and girls with such pocket folding "tools" would be interesting.


I was Armored Infantry (panzer grenadiers)
Mortar shooting, tank driving, camping, walking, eating, cleaning, camouflaging, spreading NATO wire, setting timers on grenades, digging trenches, nothing needs a pocket knife. Modern army's are kind of that way. Even MREs can be opened by hand, no tins to open. Firewood was dead stuff of different sizes lying on the ground and who would want to chop wood with a pocket folder anyways?
Yep still had folders and used them for fun but there was never a need!

There are fun, wants and then there are needs. With 13 and actually every other age It might feel like a need, but is it really?

 

[Chalet]

It'll come in due time. You'll be glad in the future that you listened to them. Her giving you the multitool would seem to indicate that she just wants to see that you're responsible before letting you carry something different. Just be patient, it won't be long

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Actually, that is a good angle. Tell her you want to whittle some wood, to give you a break from TV and the computer. She might jump at that.

Time to stop typing...you aren't winning the thread. :foot:

On topic, I had sharp knives before age 13. I used them for cutting stuff, and attempting (poorly) to whittle.

 

[JP Chestnut]

what would a 13 year old like yourself use a spyderco for?

I agree. There's not a lot of good reasons to have one, and many many many reasons why you shouldn't. When you need to "convince mom" about something, it's probably not the right thing to do - wait 5 years and do whatever you want.

 

[leghog]

Can you tell me what a regular use for a pocket folder would have been in your 20+ year career.

Notching stakes for antennas, cutting twine, 550 cord, zip ties, railroad ties, rope, and most anything that needed cutting in a soldiers daily duties.

Also any thoughts on why most regular armies don't equip their guys and girls with such pocket folding "tools" would be interesting.

Can't speak for most armies, but the U.S. Army issued pocket knives in the millions and millions and has for decades. This one was standard issue and is dated 11 years after I first entered service. Certainly there was and is a need.

What's this "fire" you speak of. Never had fires in the field.

 

[McVeyMac]

Notching stakes for antennas, cutting twine, 550 cord, zip ties, railroad ties, rope, and most anything that needed cutting in a soldiers daily duties.



Can't speak for most armies, but the U.S. Army issued pocket knives in the millions and millions and has for decades. This one was standard issue and is dated 11 years after I first entered service. Certainly there was and is a need.

What's this "fire" you speak of. Never had fires in the field.

I was never third on a light either, LOL.

 

[jwh]

I grew up in the country on a farm. First knife came in Cub Scouts, a nice blue Barlow though I forget the make. I hunted squirrels at around 10 or 11 years OF age. Yes I was using my own 20 gauge. The farm had about 5 or so ponds filled with sunfish and big Largemouth Bass as well as many cotton mouths. Lots of cutting and trimming line. Hatchet, of course. It would be hard to make a teepee without a hatchet. I survived as did my son who had about the same schedule. Point being there are many reasons a boy that age could use a knife.

JWH

 

[RevDevil]

My answer is:
You will not convince her by talking, you will have more impact based on your actions. Keep your grades up, help out around the house, be polite, respectful, responsible, and accommodating at all times. Not because there is a knife at stake, but because that is the best way to be as you grow into a good man. After you've done this for a while, then you can ask for permission and you can have a good, solid, irrefutable case.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[jimh0220]

You have to prove to your Mom that you are as safe as you say you are. Start by proving you can handle the knife in the multitool. If you prove that you can handle the knife you have, then maybe you can work your way up to another knife. BTW, who do you expect to pay for the Spydercos you want? If you want it, you better be prepared to buy it yourself. Pretty high sticker prices for you to ask a non knife person to pony up the cash for. Buying the knife yourself with money you earn shows more responsibility.

 

[Allen R.]

actually i was but dropped out after webelos and was involved in sports. today's boy scouts, forget it. i wouldn't put any kid of mine in boy scouts with the decision to allow gays in. there are other upcoming organizations besides boy scouts.

What does homosexuality have to do with this thread? I had my first knife at 5 years old it was a gift from my father , It was dull, but I had to show I was responsible enough to use it and not do anything stupid with it. The benefits of edcing a knife are great, Just don't take it to where you cant have it like school or other places, but If your mom says no , then respect the decision. I would just try to show her you are responsible enough to own one, That IMO is going to be the only way.

 

[Allen R.]

You have to prove to your Mom that you are as safe as you say you are. Start by proving you can handle the knife in the multitool. If you prove that you can handle the knife you have, then maybe you can work your way up to another knife. BTW, who do you expect to pay for the Spydercos you want? If you want it, you better be prepared to buy it yourself. Pretty high sticker prices for you to ask a non knife person to pony up the cash for. Buying the knife yourself with money you earn shows more responsibility.

pretty much sums it up right there!

 

[Jens Schuetz]

Notching stakes for antennas, cutting twine, 550 cord, zip ties, railroad ties, rope, and most anything that needed cutting in a soldiers daily duties.

Can't speak for most armies, but the U.S. Army issued pocket knives in the millions and millions and has for decades. This one was standard issue and is dated 11 years after I first entered service. Certainly there was and is a need.

What's this "fire" you speak of. Never had fires in the field.

Thank you for taking the time. This sounds like fun stuff we would have liked to do too But to be honest there was no need for ropes to cut, no zip ties. When patching up clothes we had tiny scissors to cut twine.
There were officially looking military folders with logo and green and everything but not standard issue. I once wanted to buy one but all they had in the base camp shop were rusty or slightly broken in one way or another...
We had fixed knives but again being honest, never a "need" to use them even in basic training. As any "training" always assumed that you have your equipment on you. So we built tents instead of cutting some branches and building a roof. But even if you need some branches for shelter, just break and kick them off. No need to go for the branches which are thick as arms if you don't want to build a bunker for you whole platoon. Hunting or making traps? Its unlikely and if you are down to that you will be busy just to survive and are basically useless to any army as a fighting asset. So why should they waste time teaching you. Now if you are some fighter pilot or any other specialist who takes lots of money to train then they might prepare you to survive on your own until you can get rescued and I can imagine that this would involve some knife tasks
Luckily we had some sergeants who taught a bit more than the official stuff and days of shoveling trenches. :thumbup:
My different experiences can also be due to the fact that I was in a very dense populated country and our forces used to stay in our own country... Thus worst case realistic "survival" would mean walking 10 miles in any direction and finding some city or farm.

Fire? No clue how else to call this warm flickering thing to cook raw food and stay warm at night. Even that wasn't really needed. Never froze while being active during the day and in the night even at -5 Fahrenheit sleeping bags and tents were sufficient. Raw food isn't that bad either. Just slice the steak into very thin stripes (with a pocket knife) Even a few days without food aren't pretty but doable. I just got very tired after 2 but still functioned ok.
So yes there is lots of stuff we think we need but do we really?

I also like to shop at REI and get all kinds of stuff but like to believe that I can do without most of it even when in the woods.

Now no more off topic here from me. I promise.

 

[dozer2025]

actually i was but dropped out after webelos and was involved in sports. today's boy scouts, forget it. i wouldn't put any kid of mine in boy scouts with the decision to allow gays in. there are other upcoming organizations besides boy scouts.

I know! Imagine your kids being in proximity to (gasp) gay people! it might negatively influence their choice of sexual orientation! It's bad enough they let Jews and colored kids in public schools, but now this?! My God!

 

[leghog]

Fire? No clue how else to call this warm flickering thing to cook raw food and stay warm at night.

You can call it a signal to the enemy.

 

[Morrow]

I know! Imagine your kids being in proximity to (gasp) gay people! it might negatively influence their choice of sexual orientation! It's bad enough they let Jews and colored kids in public schools, but now this?! My God!

Did you not see my post? Just in case you missed it.

The off-topic and in some cases stupid comments will stop. Stay on topic or don't post.

I saw the comment and dealt with it. That means move on and don't continue with the off-topic nonsense.