Kids first knife

I gave my kids (2 boys and 1 girl) Victorinox SAKs, KA-BAR Dozier Folding Hunters, and Mora fixed blades.
 
I agree with the guy who said Cold Steel, get him an Espada XL, that won't lock up on him. Maybe a Black Talon II, come to think of it. He'll be a cool kid, too. Put some sunglasses on him, give him one of them candy cigarettes... 😂

I could sit here and say what everyone else is gonna say all day. "Opinel 8, SAK, Mora", and those are certainly not bad ideas. But, when I was a swapmeet-sword-collecting hellion at 7 years old, I don't know if I would have appreciated a Mora as much. Go for the folder, I'd have at least thought "Whoa, look at this French wood knife" or "Whoa, look at this, a real Swiss Army Knife..."

Nah, I'd say something with a little bit more "fun" or "cool" or "fidget" factor to it. You want to inspire a little bit of awe in the kid to create love for knives, I'd imagine.
I know non-knife people who react like this... hand them a Native 5 (backlock), "Meh, okay". Hand them a Sage 5 (comp lock), "Oh, wow, look at that, that's fun!" and your finger is never in the path of the blade unlike a liner lock. I have been singing the praises of the K390 Wharncliffe Dragonfly since I got it, that is a beautiful knife. A little small.

I guess you could also do an Axis lock, but, meh. I think the kid would be more enamored by a compression lock and be tempted to use it more. Gotta spark the love for it. Maybe a PM2 with aluminum scales, bet you could look around for one of those, cheapest and lightest PM2 there is. Want smaller? Get a Para 3 LW (115-150 depending on steel). Want a leaf shaped blade? The mint-green Sage 5 from BHQ is so nice I had to buy it twice. Stronger and safer than a liner lock.
 
My boy’s got a SAK Tinker waiting in the wings when he’s ready for show time. Another excellent choice is a Gerber LST- it was my first, and good knife for any kid that … might do stupid things with a knife.

I also really like the Opinel #6 option. I carried one for two months recently, and I found the simplicity and inexpensive nature of the knife to be really nice. I could carry just that knife for the rest of my days and find it perfectly adequate.
 
11 yr old boy started with a gifted SAK Evo with the locking blade. Then at 12 he bought his own blade, a Baby Banter. Boy, i wish these blades were around when i was a kid!
 
My grandson’s first knife from me was an Opi. 7.. next year it was the Marttiini Little Classic., a smallish fixed blade that became his favorite whittling knife. He failed to bond with the SAK Cadet I gave him the next year. It was a couple of years before his fingers were strong enough to open the blades.
 
My nephew's first knife (age 6 with his parent's permission) was an Opinel "Carbone" N°7. 😇
His mummy and da received an Opinel "Carbone" N°8 at the same time.
They also received (one) "soft" (medium) DANS pocket Arkansas stone and a leather strop to keep them sharp.
Yes. His Unker Steve taught him how to use the stone (if needed) on an old paring knife, and the strop when the edge needed touched up, and the edge didn't need stoned. (which is 80 to 90% of the time.)
 
With my three kids, their first knife has been a kitchen knife. Started them all off when they were 4 or 5 years of age.
They have all learnt knife handling skills by cutting tomatoes, carrots, onions, meat etc. utilizing different cutting, chopping and slicing techniques.
By using extremely sharp knives on a regular basis in a controlled and supervised environment, they have all become efficient blade users and kept all their fingers.
Have also taught them how to clean, maintain and sharpen them - knife respect.
Now whenever they need a folder, multi tool or fixed blade, they just help themselves to any of my collection of users ( like any knife nut, I do have more than required - for the entire family ).
 
I just asked my daughter what she liked. The first one I bought her a little souvenir one with her name engraved on it from a gift shop on a fall break trip. It was dull, wobbled, and she thought it was the coolest thing in the world...and she handled it safely. She was about 10.

I quickly bought her an Explorer + in translucent blue scales for Christmas. She's since asked for (and received) about 4 more SAKs. Her favorite is a Leatherman Free K model. She likes the locking blade and the clip.

She's not a knife knut like me, but she appreciates them. She's nearly 12 now and won't leave the house without something in her purse (not at school of course). I'd like to get her a Microtech OTF when she gets a bit older.
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I just asked my daughter what she liked. The first one I bought her a little souvenir one with her name engraved on it from a gift shop on a fall break trip. It was dull, wobbled, and she thought it was the coolest thing in the world...and she handled it safely. She was about 10.

I quickly bought her an Explorer + in translucent blue scales for Christmas. She's since asked for (and received) about 4 more SAKs. Her favorite is a Leatherman Free K model. She likes the locking blade and the clip.

She's not a knife knut like me, but she appreciates them. She's nearly 12 now and won't leave the house without something in her purse (not at school of course). I'd like to get her a Microtech OTF when she gets a bit older.
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My son loves his Launch 4, but both my kids find a UTX-85 hard to operate. It doesn't seem like a lot of force is needed but they still have trouble.
 
My first and both my sons firsts were SAKs. Keep it simple with a 2 layer or add other tools (saw) to make it a knife they carry the rest of their lives.
 
Inspired by this thread I threw all my ideas and rules over board and started looking what models for children are offered by Victorinox. I have initially planned to buy my daughter her first knive at the age of 10. She is now 7.

So I have found the My First Victorinox H. My daughter choose translucent pink as the color and I instantly ordered.

I am very keen on what will happen. I hope she does not loose it immediately.
 
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I remember My 1st knife was a SAK climber, which my Uncle gave me when I was 13
 
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