how young is too young nowadays

I got my first knife at 8 or 9, it was just a cheap little knife with no brand, then got a better one (Victorinox spartan SAK) a few years later. I never had a problem with it but I was a pretty responsible kid and was out in the woods quite a bit. If I didn't hang around in the woods as much as I did I probably wouldn't have gotten a knife.

There are still plenty of things that need cutting in a city but a kid with a knife in a city could get into trouble. Now I don't know where these kids live (city/country) but either way, if you get them a knife a few lessons should come with it no matter how responsible you think they are, teach them what to do and what not to do with it.

I'd also recommend a Swiss army knife as a first knife more than a locking folder. Not that a locking folder is a bad first knife but a Swiss army knife isn't mistaken for a weapon as much as a folder is (more "sheeple" friendly I guess) and it also has extra tools that could let them use their knife more than just to cut things, that might make them like their knives more.

I say if you think they're ready and their mom approves, get them a knife. They'll learn a thing or two about responibility and you might become the cool uncle. :D
 
It's a good gift, and that age is not too young in my book. If they are inexperienced, that knife should come with a lesson in knife use, knife responsibility, and knife safety though.
 
If we want young people to develop skills and an ability to fix or make things we have to give them the tools. Knives are great tools and boys love them. I have an 11 year old and 10 year old that we gave knives to for Christmas. They got quite a few presents. I'm not sure that they remember most at this point, but they can both tell you where there knife is right this minute. I love that. They are learning to be responsible and value useful things. My 2 cents. Well done.

Did I mention that they have both been through the learning curve for sharp knives?
 
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FWIW, I'm nearly 17, got my first real knife at 15, and had a handful of crappy ones before then. I can remember having a knife as early as 5 and I used to whittle crayons after they became too small to draw with. My dad offered me the option to have his cheap knock-off SAK at any age I wanted, I decided I was responsible enough at 5 to handle it. I wasn't your typical little kid though who fascinated about zombie killing.
But having that knife as a kid and it being semi sharp was enough to teach me how to handle a knife without getting scared of the edge. It helped develop maturity and a sense of resposibility. I still own the knife and it's a great memory.
Get them started as soon as you think they're ready, yes, they'll cut themselves, but it will also teach them a lot. As long as they can operate the lock and open it safely I think they're old enough. But I plan to give my future kids the same option my dad gave me and let them have a knife as soon as they can handle one safely and think they're responsible enough to own one.
But I'm old school and believe in starting kids very young because it helps develop their maturity IMO.
 
My first knife, I was 7 and it was a cub scout knife. I wish I still had it. First lockblade knife, I was 12 and it was a Queen Rawhide Paul Revere and it is sitting 18 inches away from my elbow. Get the boys a knife and teach them how to use and respect it.
 
I guess you could call me a country kid. (: At 13 I have been into knives since about 8, been on here since I was 11. I don't think Im too young for knives. I think it all comes down to their parents wishes, IMO.

Btw- I support getting more younger kids into knives, and I recently bought a spyderco persistence for my 10 yr old cousin. He loves his knife, And I sharpen it for him about once every 6 months.

I guess Im more then just "into knives though", as my current EDC is the Kershaw Titanium junkyard dog 2 with the ti framelock and SG2 blade. (:
 
Ya they know not to mess around because I lead by example with saftey and responsabilty.but when they get the knives I will show them more lessons on how to operate and handle there tools
 
I bought my first sword on my 10th birthday. I was in martial arts though I suppose it may be different.

I think 13 is fine, I had a reverence for my knives at that age but I was in bad shape. I think you are fine as long as the parents approve...
 
I got my first knife when I was 7. It not as much about age but maturity of the people, parents wishes and so forth. There 7 year olds who show great responsibility and can be trusted a knife and there are adults whom I would not trust a butter knife.
 
I got my first knife at about 8. An imperial scout (bsa) model. Still have it and use it, lots of fond memories and I can spend time remembering where every scratch and dent came from! Depending on the kid I think a knife is a great gift, even more necessary in today's world of some scout troops even having absurd knife rules. I get a kick out of people who would never give a 16 year old a knife, but would gladly hand them the keys to a car.

Gotta get a decent made knife first though, best to have something that'll hold up over the years of memory making.
 
Hi Folks, just joined BF. This is my first post. I feel kinda old 'cause my first knife was an Imperial Fish Knife with the beverage can opener that my grandpa gave me at 6. I used it to open the first can of sodapop I ever opened by myself and to clean the first fish I ever cleaned. Still have that knife today. That was 45 years ago. My only advise for the young'ns that I haven't read yet is to make sure they don't tote it to school. They take a dim view of that nowadays. WB2
 
I had a little slipjoint boyscout knife when I joined the weeblo's, but I didn't buy my first locking knife until I was 17.
 
How many adults get bit playing with their latest and greatest toy, that results in Fallkniven trail bowies embedded in achilles tendons or the removal of the tip of a forefinger.. I don't think when it comes to toys and tools we really ever grow up-we just learn to accept the consequences more quietly because we know we're responsible for it :D I say teach em while they're young-with proper instruction on tool safety and responsibility, I don't know why 6 or 7 would be too young...
 
I got my first knife when I was six. My first shotgun when I was seven. My daughter is 10 and she has a small collection of pocket knives growing rapidly. She hasn't cut off anything important yet........ nah, she knows what she's doin'. I think one of the best things about bein' a kid is cuttin' stuff. Pretty cool when you are older too.
 
I Got my first knife when i was 7, through the cub scouts. It was a SAK Pocket Pal Cub scout.

I've still got it, and it's actually in my pocket now. it's the perfect little knife for boys that age if you ask me.

I think the persistence would be a bit too big, and aggressive as a first knife, not because of age, but because experience. I say get'm some pocket pals, or something akin to a SAK, and then in a couple months give them the persistence.

When i got my knife, our pack leader was very tool savvy (he was a hobbyist wood-worker), and trained us all in handling a knife. It's skills you don't realize you have/need when you're older.

For example:
-Where it is appropriate to open a knife (ie. not in a car)
-When to use a knife, and appropriate uses
-The blood circle (1.5 arms length in diameter safety circle)
-Maintenance (cleaning safely, sharpening)

All skills that are safe to learn with a SAK.



AS for uses, i lived in a suburb then, and being 7, i didn't have a whole lot of uses. Mostly i was tickled carrying it around like something important, and would whittle a stick whenever possible. Of course, camping with the pack, and later the troop SAKs would be used for food prep and such. But really at that age, a pocket knife is more for the lessons learned and maturity gained through the responsibility.
 
I bought a Helle scout knife for my sister when she turned 9 :). Razor sharp of course:D
 
I believe the minimum age in NY is 16 years old. Having said that my now 13 year old granddaughter have been involved in knife self-defense training since she was 10 years old. She is very mature for her age (straight "A" student, playing the flute since she was 9 years old, athletic, etc.) and understands the serious nature of handling a knife and the prohibition of carrying a knife until she is 16 years old.

As others have said it depends on the maturity of the kid and of course local laws. There are some adults I don't trust be responsible with any weapon.
 
laplaga said:
Hey guys
So I'm a fairly young guy 23 and I have a 13 year old nephew and a 11 year old nephew by so I thought I would be a cool uncle and get them a cool pocket knife for there birthdays.Now both of them are very responsable kids and know how to handle and use knives safely so I assume no big deal.So I got them both spydercos persistance models any thoughts on tthis.


Also what age did you receive your first knife? Mine was a case yellow jacket I think I was 6 when I got it



Thanks guys should I get them something safer?
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1) I'd clear it with the parents first.

2) I started both my kids with slipjoints. IMO you should learn how to handle a slipjoint first rather than a locking folder. If you learn to handle a locking folder first, you learn to depend on the lock and do not learn safe cutting practices.
 
I was about that age when i got my first knife, but i was using others' knives earlier than that. I'm 22 now so it wasnt that long ago. My first knife was a swiss army knife i had picked out with my grandfather at an army surplus store.
 
I got my first knife well before 9 years old. Of course I bought my first hand gun at 12 with lawn mowing money (my dad had already given me my "starter kit" for guns which was a Ruger 10-22 and Marlin 30-30.

Just make sure you run it by the parents first.
 
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