knife as a present for a 12 yr old

[gentleman_edc]

If you go back and read the original post, the poster was not related to the 12 year old, but the parent asked the op is a knife was appropriate.

That gives a lot of context to the question.

 

[Aaron880]

Many years ago, when my now 34 year old attorney son turned 10, I gave him a Vic Swiss Champ for his birthday. I also gave him instruction on it’s safe use, etc. My wife, not usually a shrinking violet in any respect, was not pleased. She asked me ,if among all the other tools ,there was a knife blade. I said yes, in fact there were two , one full length and one about half length. With arched eyebrow, she asked if the blades were sharp. I said ,of course they’re sharp. Of what use is a dulll knife? Now a bit agitated, she said , accusatorially, that he would end up cutting himself. I said, of course he will. Isn’t that how we all learned knives are sharp and stoves are hot? I added that he was going to end up cutting his thumb or forefinger testing the blade, not cut his throat. ( He was and is a smart & sensible kid.). Not satisfied, but outmaneuvered, my wife chose a tactical withdrawal. Actually, I have no memory of him actually cutting himself, but it’s been a lot of years. I’ve had victories in appellate courtroooms in State and Federal courts in my almost 50 years of practice, before my recent retirement. But winning that argument was one of my most cherished oral argument victories!

 

[KMG723]

Someone asked me being ex-army and an outdoors person whether a knife is an appropriate birthday gift for their sensible lad of 12 years. I thought I would throw it out to you guys for comment too as I am only a 3 or 4 knife guy and no kids. I was thinking of suggesting maybe a multi-tool type knife like a smaller leathermans or even a cheaper victorinox.Their family is not overly outdoorsy themselves but the kid has shown an interest in hiking and field craft with his dad recently. What sayeth the learned members on this one?

Recently was asked this although for an 11 year old girl , she has her head screwed on right and isn’t likely to go waving it around or taking it to school . I told her mom to go with a sheepsfoot spyderco , she loves it and hasn’t cut her self as of yet !

 

[vjb.knife]

I was a Boy Scout and later as my Sons grew up I became a Boy Scout Leader. Boys can join in the 5th Grade and age 11, I think, so 12 is good for a knife but they had to have a bit of training in order to carry one and if they made more than 4 safety mistakes with it, they loose their knife carrying priviledge, and must redo their training. The rules are made clear to them at the start.

• A knife is a tool, not a toy.
• Know how to sharpen a knife. A sharp knife is safer because it is less likely to slip and cut you.
• Keep the blade clean.
• Never carry an open pocketknife.
• When you are not using your knife, close it and put it away.
• Keep your knife dry.
• When you are using the cutting blade, do not try to make big shavings or chips. Easy does it.
• Make a safety circle: Before you pick up your knife to use it, stretch your arm out and turn in a circle. If you can't touch anyone else, it is safe to use your knife.

A SAK is a good place to start or a medium size single blade lockback.

 

[Chronovore]

There has been some great advice already. While some kids are ready before the age of 12, it seems a popular age to get a pocket knife. I know I got one on my twelfth birthday. A Swiss Army Knife is perfect. Pliers-based multi-tools are great but the larger EDC footprint might not make it the best way to start for every kid.

Which SAK can be tricky. The Tinker is decent. I like the screwdriver but I feel that can openers are less important than they used to be. The Farmer is popular and the little saw can be handy. The SAK scissors are great so I tend to recommend the Farmer X or Super Tinker. Those have just enough tools for the wow factor without being overly big or heavy.

 

[The Grendels]

Someone asked me being ex-army and an outdoors person whether a knife is an appropriate birthday gift for their sensible lad of 12 years. I thought I would throw it out to you guys for comment too as I am only a 3 or 4 knife guy and no kids. I was thinking of suggesting maybe a multi-tool type knife like a smaller leathermans or even a cheaper victorinox.Their family is not overly outdoorsy themselves but the kid has shown an interest in hiking and field craft with his dad recently. What sayeth the learned members on this one?

It sounds like you've got the right instincts on this one. A Victorinox would be a good choice and there are so many choices that you can find one that would fit their personality (for scales decoration) or interests (in terms of tool choices and design).

 

[vjb.knife]

There has been some great advice already. While some kids are ready before the age of 12, it seems a popular age to get a pocket knife. I know I got one on my twelfth birthday. A Swiss Army Knife is perfect. Pliers-based multi-tools are great but the larger EDC footprint might not make it the best way to start for every kid.

Which SAK can be tricky. The Tinker is decent. I like the screwdriver but I feel that can openers are less important than they used to be. The Farmer is popular and the little saw can be handy. The SAK scissors are great so I tend to recommend the Farmer X or Super Tinker. Those have just enough tools for the wow factor without being overly big or heavy.

I have taught literally hundreds of boys to safely use knife, axe and saw in my 10 - 12 years in the Boy Scout Program and I can not think of one even non-serious accident in those years. As far as which SAK to pick I would say just keep it relatively simple and consider what activities the boy will be using the knife in. Does he need a saw or a file or a bottle opener, etc.. A four blade / tool model is usuallly all they need.

 

[mickb]

I was a Boy Scout and later as my Sons grew up I became a Boy Scout Leader. Boys can join in the 5th Grade and age 11, I think, so 12 is good for a knife but they had to have a bit of training in order to carry one and if they made more than 4 safety mistakes with it, they loose their knife carrying priviledge, and must redo their training. The rules are made clear to them at the start.

• A knife is a tool, not a toy.
• Know how to sharpen a knife. A sharp knife is safer because it is less likely to slip and cut you.
• Keep the blade clean.
• Never carry an open pocketknife.
• When you are not using your knife, close it and put it away.
• Keep your knife dry.
• When you are using the cutting blade, do not try to make big shavings or chips. Easy does it.
• Make a safety circle: Before you pick up your knife to use it, stretch your arm out and turn in a circle. If you can't touch anyone else, it is safe to use your knife.

A SAK is a good place to start or a medium size single blade lockback.

Delivered the knife to the young fella today, a victorinox hiker. I wrote down the above for him in conjunction with some of my own. Thanks!

He liked it, did notice he found it hard to open a few of the implements. To be honest so did I with sausage sized fingers and short fingernails lol. I assume he will get the hang of it.

Thanks again all for these couple pages of suggestions, was a great help.