Just bought my daughter her first knife

bulgron

bulgron

Joined
May 19, 2005
Messages
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My oldest daughter will be 9 in January. I've observed that she's reasonably responsible (for a 9-year-old) and has good manual dexterity skills. So I decided to buy her her first knife, a Wenger Handyman. I'm going to give it to her while we're all on Christmas vacation in Tucson. That way I'll have time to start teaching her about knives, what they're good for, and what NOT to do with them.

My wife thinks I'm nuts, is of the opinion that a 9-year-old is too young for a knife, and that only chaos and pain can ensue from giving a kid that age a knife. I pointed out that I got my first knife when I was 9, and though I cut myself a time or two, I certainly didn't end up maiming myself or anyone else with it.

So she's grudgingly going along with my plan. However, I did promise that I wouldn't let my daughter use it unsupervised until I was absolutely convinced that she knows what she's doing. That's fair, I think. As I recall, I wasn't allowed to run around willy-nilly with the jack knife I was given at age 9 either.

I'm of the opinion that we're raising a generation of drones who are so muffled by their parent's fears that they don't learn any self-reliance, independent thinking skills, or responsibility. To me, a knife has something to do about all of those things. If you use it unwisely, it will bite you. If you use it unthinkingly, you will lose it. If you use it irresponsibly, it will let you down.

Owning a knife seems to me like the very first step in independence.

So maybe I'm crazy for doing this. Still, I can't wait until I'm hanging out with my kid in a national park, teaching her how to whittle.

So what do you think? Am I nuts?

Flame on, if you've a mind to. I can take it. :D
 
No flames here. I started collecting knives when I was 7 (admittedly most were crap and none were expensive). By the time I was 10 I had my own machete, hunting knife, hatchet, etc. If you're going to show her how to use it responsibly too... well, you're probably one up on my parents. :)
 
bulgron said:
My wife thinks I'm nuts, is of the opinion that a 9-year-old is too young for a knife, and that only chaos and pain can ensue from giving a kid that age a knife.

I'm of the opinion that we're raising a generation of drones who are so muffled by their parent's fears that they don't learn any self-reliance, independent thinking skills, or responsibility. To me, a knife has something to do about all of those things. If you use it unwisely, it will bite you. If you use it unthinkingly, you will lose it. If you use it irresponsibly, it will let you down.

Owning a knife seems to me like the very first step in independence. :D
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Not only do I NOT think your nuts, I agree with your statement above. Good for you, and great for your Daughter.

I have three Daughters. My oldest (7) has displayed a significant interest in the outdoors. We went hiking quite a bit this Summer, and She will have a SAK of some flavor by the time She is 9-10.

Good on ya.:thumbup:
 
nope...you are not NUTs. I gave my Niece and Nephew , Mora Clippers when she was 9 and the boy 8. I spent a great deal of time teaching them how to use them, and they had to use them in my presence. I would usually be working on my knives or some, knife related project...and they would sit nearby and whittle. They both cut themselves on one occasion each. They learned the hard way, that they should follow direction, and not do something silly with any tool...and that was that. I think its great. Gene
 
I'm glad you're doing it. I did it for my kids when they were around 7 years old. Same with firearms. I taught them early on, before they were influenced by the Sheeple, about the responsibilities of their tools, be it knives or firearms. I never made it a "taboo" for them, so that no "evil seeds" would be planted; I made it a "common place" situation to have firearms and knives accessible, in case they're needed.
However, especially with firearms, I put the "fear of God" into them regarding safety. We routinely go into the woods behind the house and practice woodcraft and fire skills, and they maintain their knives after use.
I've never had a problem with my kids' use of knives...and I'm glad that I taught them young.
 
A friend just gave his two daughters (6 & 7) their first knives. They are not allowed to use them unsupervised. I think I was seven or eight when I got my first knife.

You're a good dad!
 
No problem here but.....

My brother gave my son who was 5 at this time last year a Daisy Red Rider BB gun. I love guns, have several and want my son to grow up using them. 5 YO is way to young for a BB gun. Needless to say it has been put away for a couple more years. Now if it was up to my wife the gun would be put away for a couple more after that say oh about 24, lol.
 
Briggz said:
No problem here but.....

My brother gave my son who was 5 at this time last year a Daisy Red Rider BB gun. I love guns, have several and want my son to grow up using them. 5 YO is way to young for a BB gun. Needless to say it has been put away for a couple more years. Now if it was up to my wife the gun would be put away for a couple more after that say oh about 24, lol.
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My Grandad bought me a Daisy air rifle when I was 10 against my Mothers wishes.

Best present EVER. My Grandad laughed and laughed when he saw my Mothers (his Daughter) reaction.

I wish I still had it. Great memories there.
 
My childhood's "most awesomest presents ever" list, by age:

Schrade 3 blade jack knife - age 8 or 9
pump action BB/Pellet gun - age 9 or 10
.22 lever action - age 12

You're a good Dad - pat yourself on the back.

D
 
I think it is GREAT. My question is to your wife, when is a good time? We need to teach our children when they are young how to use tools and to share responsibilities. I have two boys and both have knives. How many kids wish they had a dad who cared and could show them these things.
 
does your daughter like knives?

some of my girl friends think im weird when I show or tell them I like knives.

but maybe its different when you have a dad as a knife nut (:D)
 
BlazenGem said:
does your daughter like knives?

some of my girl friends think im weird when I show or tell them I like knives.

but maybe its different when you have a dad as a knife nut (:D)
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My daughters both keep asking me why I have so many knives. All of mine are users, or are intended to be users, so I've already had conversations with them about the appropriate tool for a given job. I think they understand.

As for my eldest daughter, what happened is earlier this year I mentioned that one of these days I needed to get her her own knife so she could learn how to use one. She got quite excited at that, and has reminded me repeatedly over the months that I promised her a knife. So I guess I'd better make good on that promise.

Plus, at school earlier this year they gave a "zero tolerance" talk. My daughters both said that the school has zero tolerance for "bad things." Well, what are bad things? "Knives, guns, drugs ...." So that lead to a conversation about how things aren't bad, but how you use them might be. And, for example, children should never bring knives to school because that would be bad. "Why not daddy?" Because the school has zero tolerance for knives, daughter of mine. "Why is that daddy?" Because the people at school are afraid of their own shadow, daughter of mine. "Did you ever bring a knife to school, daddy?" Yes, I carried a knife every day, daughter of mine. "But I can't take a knife to school daddy?" No, daughter of mine, the school has zero tolerance for these things now. "That's not fair, daddy." I agree, daughter of mine. "So when can I get my own knife, daddy?" When I can get around to it, daughter of mine. :D

Around here where I live, most people would probably think I'm psycho for having the knives I have, much less buying one for my kids. And you should see the shocked expressions when people find out I own guns. But what are you going to do when you're surrounded by a bunch of fearful suburbanites?
 
tarmix101 said:
My Grandad bought me a Daisy air rifle when I was 10 against my Mothers wishes.

Best present EVER. My Grandad laughed and laughed when he saw my Mothers (his Daughter) reaction.

I wish I still had it. Great memories there.
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My dad bought my daughter a Daisy when she was 3 :eek:

We shoot it together everytime we visit her Grandpa :thumbup:

I think 9 is a great age to learn the fun and responsibilities of knife ownership. Good luck with your wife!

Stephen
 
dave mastrianna said:
I think it is GREAT. My question is to your wife, when is a good time?
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Yes, I agree completely.

Apparently my wife got her first knife when she was 12 or 13, that being when the Girl Scouts allowed girls to carry knives. When I said I got my first one when I was 9, she was mollified a bit. But then, she married me knowing about the guns and the knives, so I suppose she's been bracing herself for this day for a long time.
 
Troop said:
I'm glad you're doing it. I did it for my kids when they were around 7 years old. Same with firearms.
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Yes, I've spent some time showing my kids firearms just to demystify them, but I haven't taken them to a range yet. This is largely because where I live a range is hard to come by (I certainly can't shoot in my backyard). Plus, both my girls seem a little apprehensive at the idea of shooting.

It is my intention to buy a .22 revolver sometime next year (2008) and find a way to introduce my kids to using it. But that's another conversation for another day (with my wife....)
 
Its funny to think that it was not too logn ago where almost every ( year old had a pocket knife, and they all brought them to school, no problem at all...There was an age when knives were only vied as tools, a time where a kid and a knife was just fine...but this day and age only about a hundred years later is so taboo to give a child a knife...what a shame, I wish I grew up back in the old days, even with wars going on it seems like it would be such an easier more innocent time to live, you know...I commend you for your tryign to break the social taboo, I see nothing at all wrong with this idea, and I hope your daughter loves her new knife! If she really gets into it maybe she will become a memeber, possible start a nice little collection!

Also, they make a few different knives for younger kids, such as the opinel, "my 1st opinel" it has a rounded tip, so a child will not accidentally stab themselves with it, a good idea for a 1st knife...or this victorinox safety knife with a blunt tip...

corvi22363.jpg



opinel link....

http://www.saddler.co.uk/acatalog/Round_Tipped_Opinel_Safety_Knife_001202.html
 
cutlerylover said:
Also, they make a few different knives for younger kids, such as the opinel, "my 1st opinel" it has a rounded tip, so a child will not accidentally stab themselves with it, a good idea for a 1st knife...or this victorinox safety knife with a blunt tip...

corvi22363.jpg
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Yeah, I thought about something like that, but I decided in the end to get her a knife that would "do it all." Basically, the Handyman has way more features than she needs to start, but I'm of the opinion that you should buy more than you need and then grow into the knife.

Frankly, I think she'll find the nail file and scissors just as handy as the knife blade, maybe more so. And, of course, I won't buy a SAK without a saw if I intend for it to be used as a camping tool, which this one will be, since woodcraft is high on my list of things to teach my kids.

The Wenger Handyman:

Wenger-Handyman-Lg.jpg
 
I think that it is great....I have been forbidden by my sister to give my nephew a knife.....he is 14, no dad and deemed to irresponsable to have a knife. Next spring is when i am going to start taking him into the high country for some camping and survival type weekends. That is if i can get him away from the video games long enough. But, he will be responsable enough by next year.
 
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