Knife for nephew?

trkJr

trkJr

Joined
Jul 4, 2007
Messages
1,184
My nephew is turning 14 end of next week, and he's asking for a folding knife for his birthday. he's a good kid, responisble, a boy scout, gets good grades, listens to his parents, all the right stuff, etc....

We've been looking through knife options, and since we live in Kalifornia, I've been making him aware of knife laws here. Also, that being that age, he has to recognize that the impression people have of your knife is sometimes as important as your intentions.

he knows he can't carry to school, but wants the knife for summer, and scout trips, etc.

given that budget can't really exceed about $70-80 max, I've sort of narrowed it down to a couple of models.

SOG trident, or BM mini-griptilian. I'm leaning towards the BM, as it's got the axis lock, good steel, and doesn't look to imposing.

any other reccomendations out there?
 
If those two are the only choices, I'd pick the Griptilian, but why such a limited selection? My idea for a first folder would be more along the lines of a Case trapper or stockman, Victorinox Soldier or Harvester, something along that line. Especially a yellow handled Case, the CV stockman or trapper are excellent little knives, durable, visible, non offensive to sheeple, exceptionally usable, and most importantly, inexpensive. If it happens to get lost or the young man isn't strong on maintenance or loses things, it won't be a disastrous expense to replace one. A sodbuster would be a fine first knife too. I guess you can tell I am not that keen on the modern styled stuff. :p
 
I'm with Phil on this one
Bring it back Old Skool!!!!
I vote get him a Buck 112 Ranger :thumbup:
Nice leather sheath :thumbup:
Nice Buck Knives box with papers to keep in :thumbup:
None of this fancy, smancy, tactical looking, micrata, G10HC+ handled folder stuff :barf:
He's a Boyscout right? ;)

Or a nice Camillus Boy Scout knife from Ebay.............
 
A knife for your young nephew? Personally, and speaking from experience, I don't think you could do any better than one of the Victorinox SAKs with an Alox (solid aluminum) handle, especially if he is a scout. In order of preference, I would suggest these models:
(1) - Farmer
(2) - Pioneer
(3) - Soldier
I buy all my SAKs from www.eknifeworks.com and I get good prices and good service from them always.
 
I'd recommmend the SAK Farmer or Soldier ( I'd get the Wenger Soldier as it has a bail for a lanyard)

Great knives that your nephew will use and cherish as he gets older and easily replaced if he loses them :eek:
 
I recomend a Buck 303 Cadet. Great knife for under 30 bucks. He would love it. I like the traditional for a first knife.
 
I'd go with a sak. Something like a Recruit or a 84mm tinker, for the following reasons; nothing is as recognizable and innocent in its aura as the sak with the red handles and white cross. Like you say, you live in the peoples republik of kaliforia, and appearence can mean alot. And those sak's will do alot of things a regular pocket knife can't, not to mention that they will do just about everything he will have to do on a scout trip. If his appitite is whetted for knives, then theres always something else down the road more traditional.
 
No, those aren't the only two choices, but just thought to start somewhere, and gage reactions of all the experience here on BF.

all are valid choices, and I was leaning to buck or case, or even a barlow for tradition's sake. Like the starting off small and traditional, as a two handed opener is FAR less alarming and highly usable anyway.

Kept away from folders with sheaths, as he wanted something for the front pocket.
 
I'll throw out another vote for a sak,some thing usefull but basic like a farmer or hiker,the saw comes in handy more than you would think.
 
Whatever you buy, just make sure he can open it easily. My first knife was a Wenger Swiss Army knife (Classic 11) that was nail buster tight. I hated that knife and it made me stay away from carrying a pocket knife until I was in my early 20's.
 
i also regard the sak with a saw as perfect for a scout.i'm sure are very pleased to have such a fine nephew.
 
SAK One Hand Trekker (?) is a great knife I got for my nephew a couple of years ago.

I also picked him up a Soldier SAK this year.

He loves them both.
 
Start him off right with a USA knife so he can say "My uncle got this for me when I was 14" about 20 years from now, still in his pocket. Like a Buck 301. :) ss.
 
Anything from the BudK Catalog should do just fine. Remember to tell him to take the knife to school everyday and use it to threaten any school official that tries to confiscate it. :D

Uh, nevermind. Get him a Swiss Army Knife. :thumbup:
 
i noticed no one mentioned a delica. but i also have to agree with alot of SAK votes. soldier and farmer are good ones to start with as well as a mini grip
 
the BM mini-Griptillian would be a fine outdoor knife.

if he's in scouts or does a lot of hiking, the victorinox one-hand trekker would be a better choice. the can opener, tweezers, and other included tools could really come in handy.

since its a gift, i would also suggest a traditional knife with natural handles - something with some class.

-bob
 
I would go with two knives. One good knife like a Spyderco Military or delica. Then a cheaper one that he can afford to lose, because chances are at some point he will take it to school where it may be stolen/confiscated.
 
Is he a tinkerer or mechanically inclined? I would have loved a multitool when I was his age.
 
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