Kids first knife

I gave my daughter a purple Spyderco Ladybug when she was 8. That turned out to be a good choice. I agree w/others about choosing a locking knife.
 
scdub said:
If this will be the first knife they’re using and/or it’s a younger kid, I would suggest either a fixed blade or something with a lock.

I consider slip-joints to be better for experienced users. I cut myself at least a couple of times while making a mistake with a slip joint.

I also suggest a guard or substantial choil on a first knife for similar reasons.

In the Netherlands they have “Forest Schools” and at least some of them give the kids Moras with guards for craft projects. Something like this:
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That guarded mora is a good idea. Saving index fingers all over the world.
 
I got my grandkids started off with a Buck Bantam Nano. They are lock back with 1.8 inch 420hc 🇺🇸 made and low cost so if they loose it it’s not a big loss. Then after they show they have gained trust and respect they get a Buck 55 or a 112 slim select.
 
Boattale said:
For a first knife my suggestion is Opinel.
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For a folder, I think this is about as good of a suggestion as you’re gonna get. I’m starting to work with my 5 year old granddaughter on knife safety, and unlike my own girls, I don’t get as much time to “practice” with her. She has a little pink Vic classic I bought her for her birthday, but so far it’s just the scissors that she thinks are neat.

Anyway, I took her fishing yesterday, and of course she wanted to carry a pocket knife like her papa. No problem, so I pulled open a dresser drawer and started looking thru my various small folders, taking one thing into consideration…will it snap shut on her fingers. She doesn’t have the experience my daughters had at this age, and I didn’t want the chance to use a knife to be a traumatic experience for her. And then it donned on me…the “pretty” #6 in Bubinga would be perfect. A simple lock to use, fits her hand well, and closes at her pace, with no spring to surprise her causing it to snap shut. It was an uneventful day of fishing, we didn’t catch much, but that gave me plenty of time to show her how the Opinel works, and how to safely use a knife. Her next knives will probably be one of my 84mm SAKs and an Izula, but the Opinel turned out to be a great start for the little pipsqueak.
 
I still have my first knife, which I got gifted by my dad about 30 years ago. It is a Victorinox, but I do not know the model name. It is basically a Recruit without the tweezers.
I loved it, still do, but don't use it anymore.

My daughter's first knife will be a Victorinox. I think this says enough ;)
 
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Evolution S101 or S111? Both lockable
 
Swiss Army Recruit or Tinker, maybe an Alox Pioneer X, or a Buck 112 slim.
 
TC said:
May possibly not yet need the corkscrew at that age. Not judging! (I've been to southern Europe.)
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There are some other uses for the cork screw unrelated to wine but I do see your point

My bad. Lets say s111 then😅
 
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My son has long been fascinated with my Para3 LW. I bought him a cheapo colorful back lock at a gun show and an even cheaper extra dull OTF, just to test the waters.

I’m planning to gift him my beloved Para3 for his birthday. Compression lock is safe and the sharp blade cuts easily.
 
I bought my daugther a MORA SAFE (so she can slice her tendons and veins as much as she wants but not self-stab her to death) and a KBar Dozier Hunter in blaze orange scales. If she managest to break (unlikely) or loose either one, is not the end of the world.

Beware of locking blades. On one hand, once opened, they are much safer to use. But the closing process can get tricky because many of the locking systems out there require you to put your fingers in the path of the blade.

Kids usually lack gripping strength, so depressing a lockback or linner lock or whatever... will require extra effort for them.

As suggested, the viroblock system of the Opinel knives... might be the ticket.

Mikel
 
Mora as already mentioned with a guard great first knife for a child. Back in the 70's here in the UK we were a little less "risk" adverse. I remember carrying my dad's Army Golok to the woods as a child, still got all my fingers!
 
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