I'd like your input. (your kids first knife)

VictGerbSogCamill

VictGerbSogCamill

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Feb 19, 2010
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I have loved knives since I was 8-10 years old. I have brought my daughter up outdoors and she has seen many of my knives and asks when she will get one. I cant wait to get her, her first knife. I don't necessarily think there is a specific age at which a kid gets a knife but rather you kind of know when that child is ready for their first knife.

My daughter will soon be ten and I thought she would have had one by now.:( But I know my daughter and just don't think shes ready (clumsy at times and doesn't think things through) cause and effect. I also don't know if I'm just being overly cautious or protective.:confused:

I know she will eventually have an accident and get a cut, the majority of us all have. But my daughter freaks out if she sees a tiny prick of her own blood, so I don't want her to get a knife too soon, have an accident and then be turned off to knives.:(

So my question to you is - at what age did your child get his/her first knife?
What knife did you choose for them? (pics welcome)
Do you think there is an advantage to fixed blade over folder for a child's first knife?
Any regrets/accidents?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, incites, and suggestions.:thumbup:
 
I think it's more about the ability to have controlled practice with cutting and safety. I have a 4 year old that we are working with using simple paper cutting first to show control and ability to cut where I tell her to. She goes hunting with me all the time, so I want her to know the basics for now.

To me, a great starter is the CRKT Nathan's Knife Kit. It's a wooden folder, very cheap. Shows how a knife works, and a great trainer. I'm sure I'd be corrected, but to me a folder is safer, as when it's folded if the child falls they won't have as much of a danger of being hurt. They have to deliberately open it to use it. Buck 110 would fit the bill, and be so similar to the CRKT Knife kit.
 
A Swiss Army Knife usually lends itself well to be a good first knife. It also has other tools should your daughter need to do other things than cut.

Personally I got my first knife when I was around 12 or 13, it was a junk liner lock (I can disengage it with one hand without touching the liner) that was pretty awful but at the time I didn't know better. Soon after that I started watching knife videos on Youtube (I'm not that old :p) and bought a Tenacious. So far my highest end knife is a Spyderco Sage, but I'm moving up slowly.

Although I've always tried to be careful when cutting things, I've cut myself quite a few times, none too badly though. It's helped me learn how to handle injuries that aren't too serious (I'm not even close to squeamish).

I'd personally recommend a folding knife as a first, since it can be carried without a sheath, is more compact, and can teach her to keep her hands out of the way when using (or closing) knives. Plus, I can imagine for a younger child it might be easy to miss the sheath should she try to put it back quickly and could curt herself that way too.

The Nathan's Knife Kit is also a good idea to teach her the mechanics of a folding knife, as well as provide some fun father/daughter time.
 
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I gave my 6 year old son (now 8) a Wenger highlander as his first knife with the instructions never to use it unless I was present and NEVER to take it out of the house. It is a perfect knife for him as it has a Phillips screwdriver which he uses all the time to replace the batteries in his gadgets and electronic gear. He now uses it unsupervised around the house and can often be heard saying "I need my knife, anybody seen it?" Music to Dad's knifenut ears.:D:thumbup:
 
one thing you need to remember is that children might have trouble with using locks on folding knives. I remember it was really hard for me as a kid to disengage to lockback on one of my knives.

swiss army like knives worked really well for me as a kid.
 
Yo Mama said:
To me, a great starter is the CRKT Nathan's Knife Kit. It's a wooden folder, very cheap. Shows how a knife works, and a great trainer. I'm sure I'd be corrected, but to me a folder is safer, as when it's folded if the child falls they won't have as much of a danger of being hurt. They have to deliberately open it to use it. Buck 110 would fit the bill, and be so similar to the CRKT Knife kit.
Click to expand...

That's cool!!! I have never seen that before, defiantly something I might get her.
 
Agreed in full on the SAK recommendations. In particular, the "Tinker" model has everything one really needs IMHO in a nice, pocketable/purseable, compact package. Kids don't need a corkscrew, and can find plenty of things to disasseble with the Phillips that's in its place.

Prof.
 
Morkte said:
I'd recommend a SAK
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sogflash said:
one thing you need to remember is that children might have trouble with using locks on folding knives. I remember it was really hard for me as a kid to disengage to lockback on one of my knives.

swiss army like knives worked really well for me as a kid.
Click to expand...

I love my SAK's as the first part of my name implies.:D But When I was younger and even now, they are hard for me to open (nail bitter) my daughters nails are short too. SAK blades are thin and razor sharp.

An SAK is what I would like to get her, so many styles/colors/etc. Just not sure, I think I worry / over analyze too much.:o I should probably just bite the bullet, and get her an SAK along with the CRKT training knife.
 
Kids don't have great manual dexterity yet , so I recommend something with a lock to prevent the blade folding on their fingers. Kabar's Dozier knives work simple and are inexpensive if lost and are good general purpose lockbacks that are simple to unlock.

Fixed blade I'd go something like the CS small Pendleton hunter.
 
My son has had knives of his own since he was born. Of course he didn't get to use them, still doesn't but the time is close.

The first knives I picked for him:
Youth model Opinel (like a regular Opinel but with rounded end)
A youth model Victorinox
Mora with guards.

I'm especially excited about working with him on the Mora. The handle is raw wood and the leather is untreated, so getting it finished will hopefully be a nice togetherness project.

Your kids are probably too old for this, but my boy has played with this since he was 2:
41NATSNFF7L._SS500_.jpg
 
I don't have children, but I was lucky enough to buy my nephew his first knife... a SAK hiker. SAKs are great first knives because they can last a lifetime if you teach your child to take care of things. It will never go out of style or utility, and it will be cherished as a first knife.

However, they will bite if you are careless. Maybe put some tape on the blade and teach your daughter to properly open and close the blade? Otherwise I'd go with a small fixed blade knife, like one of those A.G. Russell fixed blades. You can also get a colorful handled paring knife from the supermarket that comes with a sheath. Here is a Mora that is intended for kids (you see the sheath is cut for the guard):
73-164ps.jpg
 
Sak for sure. Locking knives can be extra dangerous as unlocking the knife can be a real problem for young kids. A sak is great because it has many tools so that the child can further develop motor learning in unque ways. Everyone gets cut but it is usually better to learn young than later when you have much more strength and can do much more damage.
 
My first knife, at the unsupervised age of five, was a small (4" blade) Western Bowie. At that age, I was pretty much just exploring the local woods and cutting on trees. I had no need for a SAK nor would I recommend one under similar circumstances. Once the child gets to be eight or ten, they tend both to use the tools on a SAK and exhibit the care necessary to avoid being cut badly--but they will get cut. At the advanced age of ten, a child ought to have both. : )
 
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If a SAK is too hard to manipulate (I have to keep my nails short or they get torn off) I recommend a Leatherman (probably the new Sidekick or Wingman, cheap and USA made). There will still be the things in the handle that are a little difficult to get, but the blades are as easy to access as any regular folder.
 
How about a Svord Peasant?
You can get it in all kinds of colors, it has no lock; so it's easy to open and close.
And if your daughter holds it correctly, the lengthened tang would stop the knife from ever closing on her!

I was 7 when I got my first knife, I think it was a Buck 110 (or something like that). Thing was HUGE for me! It was also IMPOSSIBLE to close! :D
 
sak classic w/ dulled blade :D
Was my first blade at apx 8-10, only with a sharp blade. Still got a scar to prove it
 
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