Knife for a young Boy Scout

USS Worden 352 said:
I would recommend the Bear Grylls Scout knife. Not the sheath knife but the folding scout knife.
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You're playing with fire suggesting a BG product. But honestly it isn't a bad choice. The lockback is strong, the blade steel can take a beating although in hard use it requires field sharpening, high visibility colors, very grippy and ergonomic and no big problems if it gets lost. Personally I'd suggest the RAT 2 over it but it's still not a bad option. The compact scout makes a great backup as it weighs under an ounce, locks and can perform light duty tasks well. It can be attached to a zipper pull or keychain well too.

Still your best bets will be in the RAT 2, Zancudo and SAKs.
 
I also second not needing a lock for learning purposes, but if you really insist on a lock then I would go with a buck 112 or 110.
 
I agree with a lot of you all when you say the SAK Farmer is the way to go. That has been my go to knife for hiking for the last 30 years. I still have my original one.
 
TheRiverYeti said:
I won't claim to be an expert on all things scouting, but I've been involved in scouts at one level or another for many years now, as a den leader, cub master, assistant scout master, and merit badge counselor. Here's what I know or recall: There are very few rules at the national level regarding knives. Fixed blades are allowed but not encouraged. Many sources claim a 4 inch max blade length, but I'm unaware of an official policy on it. Same goes for locking blades: there is no rule regarding requiring a locking blade.
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The BSA in 2011 recognized its obligation to teach the safe use of all "legally-owned knives' (Guide to Safe Scouting).

While "large sheath knives" are discouraged, B.S.A., identified a short fixed-blade knife with a sturdy handle as the "best" knife for camping (Boy's Life, June, 2008).


Many scouts carry slip joints, and in fact most "official" BSA knives sold at scout shops are slip joints. (I would not recommend most of those knives though...you don't know who the manufacturer is, and while they are all stainless, most don't even tell you what kind of steel. There are plenty of knives from reputable manufacturers that also bear the official BSA badge if that is something you are looking for. Find a copy of Boy's Life or Scouting magazine and look in the ads in the back.)
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Case and Victorinox make official B.S.A. knives. All others, so far as I know, are presently made by "CHINA." The Case knives are priced for adult collectors. One of the Vic's is a very bright green/yellow. :thumbup:
 
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Speaking as an Eagle Scout I recommend a Victorinox Farmer. The tools are useful, the blade is stout, the spring is strong, and it teaches safe knife handling practices.
 
Styg said:
If it has to have a lock than a SAK is out. That would have been my recommendation.

Maybe a RAT 2?
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The Wenger S-111 has a locking main blade. Also Victorinox makes dozens of knives with locking main blades and they start at less than $30.


Wenger S-111
Wenger%2520S-111%2520Open.jpg
 
I started my son on an Opinel.

The reason is that his young hands weren't strong enough to manage a knife with a back spring safely. The Opinel lacks a spring and the blade is never active. Makes it very easy and safe to open and close. I would monitor the knife and be very sure that it's on the stiff side though. For a kid, I would go with an Opinel #8, which is about the size of a Buck 112. The #8 is at the bottom of this set.


Opinel by Pinnah, on Flickr


Those advocating a slip joint do raise a really good point. Kids can push limits and limits can be exceeded with locking knives. An Alox scaled SAK would be a safe bet.

If you go the way of getting a locking knife, I can't recommend current Bucks. Really, I've had 4 recent ones pass through my hands and they all developed or had out of the bubble wrap, bad vertical play. Not the Buck I grew up with back in the 70s.

That Zancundo looks pretty spot on.
 
Raymond1000 said:
Is the lock required by the local troop? If not, I would reconsider.
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To be honest, it isn't a rule, but it was my initial recommendation. After reading through everyone's response, I think that I'll reconsider though. Several folks made some good points in favor of a slip joint and/or away from a lock for a young user. I am an Eagle Scout as well, and to be honest, I don't think that I had a lock back until I was 15 or 16. Thanks for the feedback, all.

It seems like the Victorinox Farmer might be the favorite choice, and that fits the price range as well.
 
Opinel 8. Hard to beat. All my kids have one. The two oldest keep there own knives pretty sharp. Russ
 
newbie_nick said:
Most 12 year olds aren't really responsible enough to have a $130+ knife! Heck, I didn't break the $100 knife threshold until I got into my 30's!

Thanks for the recommendation though.
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I would recommend a nice, inexpensive older slip joint. That's what I learned safety, sharpening, proper/appropriate use on.

I'm an Eagle scout and all through Cub scouts I had used slip joints (Imperials, Camilluses/Camilli?, Westerns). My first 'dedicated' Scout knife was one of the 4 blade all metal military style knives. Don't remember the brand. I got my first fixed blade around 12-13 (Western L46-5). Carried the slip joints everywhere and only used the fixed blade on campouts/summer camps/Philmont, etc. Didn't get my first lockback (Buck 110) until I bought one for myself in 1974-75 as a Sophomore (aka Pxxxhead in Corps of Cadet terminology) at Texas A&M. My first $100+ knife?? That was about a year ago, when I finally spent more than that on a Western W49. Bought several since then. :o I guess once you break a barrier, it's easier to do it again later. :D
 
The other boys in the troop may have a BSA slipjoint or SAK, but the knife they really want is something with a tactical influence, at least that's my experience in scouting. If I knew a young man who needed a knife for scouting I'd probably buy him a Kershaw Cryo.
 
I thought SAKs with locks were all more spendy and not in range of a 30 dollar budget.

Guess I was wrong.
 
I would look at the Victorinox swiss army knife line and in particular look for one with the liner lock. I personally dislike liner locks, but they work. The SAKs are very traditional for scouts and I really like them. I EDC one every day (really). The Soldier would be a good choice (no lock) as would a regular Tinker.

Depending on the age of the scout, Victorinox makes a regular sized SAK designed as a first knife for kids that has a fairly blunt point and serrated edge. Think of it as you might a pair of scissors kids use now.

If you want a clip type knife, the Kabar Dozier Hunter folder would make a fine knife priced around $20. Frankly unless the parents are sqeemish about knives, I suspect the kid would love one. I really like these. http://www.tomarskabars.com/Dozier_Lockback_Folders.html But the various tools on a SAK are very appealing to kids.

On a fixed blade, I would look at the Mora Scout Knife model (~$25)or the Companion model (~$20). Another to consider is the SOG Field Pup which is a very nice knife but has a crappy but usable belt sheath.
 
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