Knife for my 13 year old

M

Mrbladedude

Joined
Aug 2, 2010
Messages
756
Im looking to get my son a small fixed blade for his 13th birthday coming up in a month. I had him using my IZULA 2 but he didn't really care for the carbon steel blade seeing that mine is stripped and it rusted up ALLOT. In fact even when the blade wasn't stripped the edge would rust very easily. Also something a little larger than the IZULA 2. No bigger than the Fallkniven F1, in fact that is about the perfect size. Blade has to be stainless or a very rust resistant steel as my son will not be oiling it and all that. Knife has to come with a sheath. Leather or kydex it doesn't matter.

$100 MAX

Any ideas?

Also I want him to have this knife for ( hopefully ) the rest of his life so quality is important as well as some thickness to it.

Main usage will be bushcraft and hunting.

Thanks!
 
How about a Becker bk24? I think it's a little longer than the izula 2 and has the same handle! D2 is a wear resistant steel so it should hold an edge longer but it will be harder to sharpen. Many call it a semi stainless steel so it will be more rust resistant than 1095. I think they're about $50 and I would invest in a custom kydex sheath from azwelke (just google him) and a $1.50 bottle of bottle of mineral oil :). That should be under you $100 budget. Why can't he oil a blade?
 
The DPx Gear HEST II is $100 delivered if you get the black PVD blade and G10 scales. I like the beefy 0.19" thick blade that's only 3.15" long of Niolox Stainless Tool Steel (61 RC). Also, Hollow handle, Unique wire stripper jimping and hard lashing points, Thumb grip/bottle opener, Black CORDURA® sheath, Lifetime no-questions-asked warranty, 304 stainless steel hybrid slotted/Allen screws, 1/4” hex driver, prybar. Quality made by LionSteel of Italy.
 
Hello,

I would look at a Scrap Yard SYKCO 411. Its $100 but dose not come with a sheath. The good thing about that is you can make or have one made to fit his needs. I have noticed most of the sheaths my fixed blades have came with aren't very good and now I just make my own out of kydex. Scrap Yards warranty is awesome and if he is anything like I was he may need to use it someday. I can send you my kydex press and tools if you want to make your own sheath with your son. Its really easy to do and if you use a tek-lok you have a lot of carry options. PM me if your interested.

Have a good one,

Chris
 
Cold Steel makes the Master Hunter in San Mai III stainless, can be had much lower than $100. 4 inch blade, perfect size for most tasks in deer camp or on the trail. Proven design. SOG also makes a few in that size range that would do the trick, mostly in AUS8-A stainless with a good heat treat. I am an unashamed fan of the old Seal Pup with semiserrated blade. I don't carry it much anymore, but whenever I go fishing, it goes into my waistband or onto my pack strap.
 
You are asking a lot. Stainless steels suck. Under $100 doesn't get you too much that will last a lifetime. I think you should focus on teaching your son to care for his things. Besides, a little rust on the edge is nothing to worry about. Just go use it a little and the rust will come right off. If you are really worried about it, force a patina or rub some cold blue on a carbon blade. If you want a blade that will last a lifetime, get Scrapyard or Swamp Rat. There is no blade better than a Swamp Rat Ratmandu. Yes it's over $100 and carbon steel and doesn't come with sheath but it will last a lifetime and has the best warranty in the industry. You won't find a single person that has held a Ratmandu and doesn't think it's one of the best knives ever made. Isn't it worth the extra money if it's going to last a lifetime? Most factory sheaths suck anyway. You can get a Specops combat master sheath or a custom kydex from Azwelke, Buy Brown, Okuden, Mashed Cat, etc.. There are certain things I believe buying cheaper is good. A camp knife isn't one of them.
 
Its way UNDER budget but why not get him a mora? If he hates it throw it in your glove box or use it as a loaner at outdoor activities, its 13 bucks if he hates if who cares.

I considered myself a very responsible kid, I took care of my things and kept track of them very well (for a kid) but I lost more knives than anything else as a kid (and I loved my knives). My parents were very smart for not buying me an expensive knife.
 
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I agree with Cereal Killer, a stainless Mora will run $12-30 and gives alot of bang for the buck!
Or how about the $40-50 Ontario Air Force Survival knife? I know it's carbon, but I got one when I was 14 and was told I would find it small and lacking when I grew up...14 years later and I own 2 (the original and the new black SP model) and still love them!
 
al g blenny said:
You are asking a lot. Stainless steels suck. Under $100 doesn't get you too much that will last a lifetime.
Click to expand...

What he's asking for is perfectly reasonable. Many here have knives that would cost well under $100 that will out last them. I have but one knife I spent more than $100 on, and they'll all outlast me. The blanket statement that "stainless sucks" isn't helpful or even truthful either.


To the OP, also look for an A.G. Russell Bird and Trout. Blade is a 3" drop point blade on a knife just under 7" long. It's light too. Japanese VG10 stainless and can easily last anyone a lifetime.

If you want something REALLY handy AND inexpensive also look at the A.G. Russell Woodswalker with an AUS8 stainless 2 3/8 inch blade on a knife 6 inches long.

Get him something like these and a hachet.

The pics are hyper linked from the A.G. Russell website.

Bird and Trout.
AGBT-VG10x.jpg


Woodswalker
AGPRS.jpg
 
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For 99% of America a mora will last a lifetime. And work better than most other knives at 10 times the price.

But then again I know kids like fancy stuff. So maybe a Stainless Kabar?

Seriously though, if you don't teach the kid to take care of his stuff then Nothing you buy him will last a lifetime.
 
A 10 dollar mora and a 90 dollar sharpening kit. That way he'll have a sharp knife for all his life, even if he ends up upgrading the mora somewhere along the line.
 
Buy him something bigger and replaceable. A Buck 119 fixed blade, something with a good grip and handle for safety. If he is ready for a folder, then a Buck 110 might be a good choice.
 
Yep!
Stainless sucks so much that's all I use for my custom knives! LOL.
I agree with other Posters that Buck knives makes several models to look at in a quality stainless for around $100 bucks.
Made here in the USA.
if you make the move to Ca before the birthday and you are in the area, come by the shop. I have many knives in that price range.
 
I second the Cold Steel Master Hunter. I'm not a fan of CS but there is something satisfying about that knife.
I gave the one I had to a good friend and miss it enough to want another.
Its hard to beat for $84
 
The1trueBeavis said:
How about a Becker bk24? I think it's a little longer than the izula 2 and has the same handle! D2 is a wear resistant steel so it should hold an edge longer but it will be harder to sharpen. Many call it a semi stainless steel so it will be more rust resistant than 1095. I think they're about $50 and I would invest in a custom kydex sheath from azwelke (just google him) and a $1.50 bottle of bottle of mineral oil :). That should be under you $100 budget. Why can't he oil a blade?
Click to expand...

This is gold ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Cereal_killer said:
Its way UNDER budget but why not get him a mora? If he hates it throw it in your glove box or use it as a loaner at outdoor activities, its 13 bucks if he hates if who cares.

I considered myself a very responsible kid, I took care of my things and kept track of them very well (for a kid) but I lost more knives than anything else as a kid (and I loved my knives). My parents were very smart for not buying me an expensive knife.
Click to expand...

This is good advice:thumbup:
 
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