Knife for a 12-Year-Old's Whittling Projects

I used to volunteer as a troopleader for scouts a while back. They were in the age of 11 - 15. We felt they were all ready (after proper instructions of course) for normal folding knives. It also teaches normal use and normal skills.

We often recommended Opinels because they are decent knives that are cheap enough that if they are lost it's no big deal. If your daughter is careful with her knives and spending more, you could look into getting her a knife with a scandi grind, such as the Casstrom Lars Fält lockback:

CM17004_01_casstrom


although a SAK with the extra tools might come in handier during a summer camp. Other popular choices are folders with multiple blades, or an additional pen knife. People like to sharpen the different blades differently so they have options.


Personally, I'd stick to something simple / basic so she can focus on developing her skills. You don't need a fancy knife for whittling, you need practice.

Good luck!
 
If she wants a Swiss Army Knife, then maybe you should get a Victorinox Cadet or something similar. The Cadet is fairly small, but for whittling projects I would suggest the Camper.
 
Hashishiin said:
I would normally rec a Mora 120 or 122 but they have no hilt in the smooth, round wooden handle.
I also use a Mora Precision. That is a grippy, small, fixed blade knife that is great at cutting wood. Did all my first whittling with that.
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I completely agree. Get the Morakniv carving knives that are designed to be used as carving knives. A puukko would be a compromise between a bush utility knife and a pure carving knife, but if the aim is wood carving get a proper wood carving knife and stay away from folders.
 
^^ 💯

The person didn't even specify that it had to be a folder. They just do not seem to be in the "fixed blade mindset" yet. Folks recommending slipjoints, too, as a first whittling knife... , it is not ideal. I bought a slippie (Old Timer Workmate congress) as a pocket whittler and that does not do a good job, I have mainly given up on the idea of small slipjoint pocket folders for whittling.
 
raindog308 said:
My daughter has been interested in getting a knife. She's a Girl Scout and has been through two separate knife classes as part of scouting and is very responsible for her age.

We're going camping this summer and she's expressed an interest in trying whittling. She has a Swiss Army Knife Classic SD (pink, with her name engraved, etc.) but that is not appropriate for whittling.

I'm thinking that one of those My First Opinel" knives would be good. They're the No. 7 with a rounded end. I have a zillion knives I could let her use, but I'd like to minimize risk and of course, she wants her own knife :)

Anything else I should look at?
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Mora knives! Doesn’t break the bank and everyone could really use one.
 
raindog308 said:
My daughter has been interested in getting a knife. She's a Girl Scout and has been through two separate knife classes as part of scouting and is very responsible for her age.

We're going camping this summer and she's expressed an interest in trying whittling. She has a Swiss Army Knife Classic SD (pink, with her name engraved, etc.) but that is not appropriate for whittling.

I'm thinking that one of those My First Opinel" knives would be good. They're the No. 7 with a rounded end. I have a zillion knives I could let her use, but I'd like to minimize risk and of course, she wants her own knife :)

Anything else I should look at?
Click to expand...
While I agree that a slipjoint knife is not as ergonomic or efficient as a specialized wood carving knife, I still feel it is the best option here.

You mentioned that you were going camping - your kid is going to want to have the knife with her in her pocket at all times in that case, to use for all sorts of stuff besides whittling, and a wood carving knife or fixed blade just doesn’t work in that role.

12 years old is plenty old enough to handle a slipjoint safely. I got my first one at age 5 - maybe a little too young, but I still have most of my fingers… Just teach her how to open and close it properly, and show her what happens when the blade gets bound up and how to free it without it closing on her fingers.

There is no hard fast rule against cutting towards yourself, either. Sometimes it is the only option to accomplish what you are trying to do. The paring cut if perfectly safe, and you can also pull the knife towards yourself no problem as long as you angle the tip away from you, so if it slips your hand hits your chest before the knife ever could.

My recommendations would be (in order of preference):
  • A nice stockman in carbon steel, or any slipjoint with a small sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe blade.
  • A Swiss army Fieldmaster (has a small pen blade as well as a saw and punch, and also she can watch Felix Immler videos for neat project ideas).
  • An Opinel 8 in carbon (great for gross material removal and general camp chores, but not ideal for detail work).
 
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I really like loom fixers That big roundish handle with no sharp edges make it ideal for long sessions. A good old 2 blade Barlow would be a good choice too.
 
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Mastercarver pocket whittler is a dedicated folding whittling knife.


It would still cut string or open a packet of marshmallows or whatever.
 
And now for something completely different:
There is a German knife company called "Schnitzel" and they make high quality knives for children...

1654784114179.png

Funnily enough, the name is NOT derived from the food, but from the German word for whittling - Schnitzen :)

Their prices are ok, and they thought about that topic quite some time. Just Google "Schnitzel, Gear for Kids" and you'll find their homepage. English version available.
 
I have given my grandson, now 13, a number of knives over the years: Opinel, Mora, SAK, and a few others that are not coming back to me right now (they will occur to me as soon as I “Post Reply”.

The one that seems to have stuck with him is the Marttiini Little Classic. He always knows where this one is, unlike his others. Rubber handle, bird’s head pommel, scandi ground stainless blade. It is a small knife, about the size of a Buck 102. His mom had been looking at the trainer version with the rounded tip, so when I showed her the Little Classic, she was all over it. If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy, and the converse is also true.
 
Hashishiin said:
^^ 💯

The person didn't even specify that it had to be a folder. They just do not seem to be in the "fixed blade mindset" yet. Folks recommending slipjoints, too, as a first whittling knife... , it is not ideal. I bought a slippie (Old Timer Workmate congress) as a pocket whittler and that does not do a good job, I have mainly given up on the idea of small slipjoint pocket folders for whittling.
Click to expand...
Back when I was troop leader, we explicitly told the kids not to go for fixed blade knives. The reason for this was the kids would play around a lot, climbing, sometimes rougher play. A folder slipping out of their pocket was one thing, but a fixed blade falling out of an unsecured sheath was quite another (remember, these were kids from 11 - 15, sometimes they would forget things). To be fair it was also the context and that there is less acceptance for fixed blade knives in this country.

I'll agree with you that a suitable fixed blade knives is more 'fit-for-purpose' when it comes to whittling, but my point is that OP also has to take the context of their kid into consideration. I think OP knows their daughter best, so would knwo best.

One other important tip I could give OP is to discuss the purchase of the knife with the scout troop first. Back when I was troop leader we occasionally had a very disappointed scout because they couldn't take their new knife with them because it didn't fit with our rules, like assisted knives. (Sometimes they would even have bought shady knives at a shady place that were even illegal). So best prevent that and confer with her scout troop, OP.
 
Are you thinking of a general purpose knife and some whittling or real carving? I really like the scout style knives for camping and EDC, but they are awful for carving.

I think a stockman would be good, but I really prefer a congress or split-back Whittler and find myself carving with the wharncliff/sheepsfoot blades most often. And don't forget a stone (or diamond hone)

Is she the type of girl who would be ok with a used carbon-steel knife or are you after something a bit shiny and new. You might try an used knife at home to practice some sharpening. Carbon steel sharpens so easily. You can grind that thing into oblivion having some father daughter time.


As for a real knife for her,
Maybe look at what Rough Ryder has and involve her in the color. Try for a Vg10, carbon steel or d2 steel. Let her also learn about knife steel if she wants. Try to steer her away from the cheap 440 varieties.

I personally don't own a Rough Rider yet, since I've been collecting Boker, Camillus and Schrade vintage carbon steel knives, but I haven't heard any horror stories about them.

The step up from Rough Ryder would be Boker or Case, and Boker has really cut back on multi-blade slipjoint knives other than their Chinese versions.

I really think your should involve your daugher in the choice. She might suprise you. A nice spyderco dragonfly is awful for carving but is a great camping knife.
 
Hard to beat a stockman. The comments against blunt pointed blades for whittling are not considering the need for hollowing.

A schrade old timer 5ot or similar, a buck 112 with drop point blade would do decent.

The worst cut I ever had was whittling with a victorinox electricians alox knife. The knife slipped around the stick and across my finger.



 
Whatever the knife - (I'm partial to a good old Barlow) - I like to see kids start out with carbon steel.
Carbon steel lets them get a nice sharp edge pretty easily & teaches them what happens if they don't take care of things.

After the Barlow - the 3 blade stockman - USA made Buck is a fine move up.
 
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