Knife recomendation for my son.

S

Shawn R Sullivan

Joined
Sep 8, 1999
Messages
460
Hi every body.
My son is turning 5 soon and I told him that I would get him a knife for his birthday. He has been handling knifes for a while now, always with supervision. The supervision will continue.
I want to get him a small lock back, under three inches in blade length. What would you recomend, and why.
I am starting to have second thoughts about the lock back becuase when I let him use my Spyderco Dragonfly he cant release the lock. He is able to safely close my Old Timer.

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Shawn R Sullivan
~San Diego, Ca~
 
My first knife was a Victorinox Swiss army knife. It served me well for many years. And I still have memories (and scars) from my first lockback, a buck (the first time I tried to close it I dropped the blade right on my fingers!).

So, unless your boy is very graceful (I've always been a clutz), I would recommend a swiss army knife. Besides, what boy wouldn't take delight at all of the extras, like the scissors, the saw, and who knows what else.
 
MrCas:

Well I agree with thetoastmaster on the Swiss Army Knife, but another thought might be a Case Toothpick they are really nice little knives and I believe the blade is around 3" long. Maybe one with a nice stag handle or if you really want to go all out how about genuine mother of pearl. Just a thought. Hope this helps a little.
 
I'd suggest a carbon steel pocket knife of some sort, not a lockblade, as learning about it will provide more learning experiences for use, care and such. Also, in my opinion 5 is kind of young considering that they're often still pretty clumsy at that age and can't always appreciate consequences. Learning experiences are good but kids are also supposed to survive them, with a full set of fingers, toes, eyes, and a minimal number of puncture scars.
 
Thank you all for your suggestions. I had not even thought of a Swiss Army Knife. I failed to mention in my earlier post that my son will not be allowed to carry this knife with him. He will be allowed to use it, but only under supervision. He is a really good boy but I think that the temptation to use the knife in an unsafe or misappropreate manner will be to great for him to resist. The knife will be stored with my knives when not in use.


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Shawn R Sullivan
~San Diego, Ca~
 
What is important is the knife opens and closes smoothly. Most Victorinox SAK's are good and are easy to care for. The knife blades are scary sharp, but the spear point is a good compromise between safety and utility (compared to a really pointy blade).
A good series of lockbacks is the Buck 500 Slimline series. It might take a bit of effort to unlock it, though. But the drop points are nice and a simple, useful design.

Another good one might be the Schrade Old Timer Green Bruin lockback. This one has a drop point blade and rust-resistant steel.
Jim
 
I do not know what price point you are talking about. When I was young I did not have any locking knives, but certainly like them now. How about the newer lock designs that keep the fingers out of the way, the rolling lock, axis lock, or Gerber Paul knife. Of course, these are somewhat expensive, unless you find someone on the forum selling one in decent shape. It sounds as if what you are supervising now will eventually be a pocket carry knife later, so it should be something that will not upset you (and could be replaced) if he loses it.

Some Swiss Army knives do lock, but I do not know how strong the lock is. I do have a Rucksack model, but it is on the big side. A smaller knife, as you suggest is a good idea, as it is easier to control. I do not know if only the bigger models come with locks.

Among my earlier pocket knives was a Boy Scout knife. When I started going camping a lot in the Scouts, I also got a sheath knife.

I would check some other threads. Someone mentioned the older model Spyderco Endura at $30 from Smoky Mountain Knife Works. (on he web or at 1-800-621-4245) I have no idea what the size of it is though.

How about a knife with a sheeps foot blade. He might cut himself, but would be less likely to puncture himself.


[This message has been edited by Donald (edited 21 November 1999).]
 
My 2 got SAKs as their 1st knives. Decent quality, very useful and cheap to replace. I still carry one and use it a lot.
 
My index fingers both have many scars on them from folders. These all came from when I was younger. Mostly from lockblades, that I had to push hard to close. Perhaps for a first knife (that you will supervise use of), a small fixed blade would be in order? There are many inexpensive ones available, if that is the route you choose. If you choose small enough (better anyway for childrens hands) a custom may not be far out of price range. Just some thoughts. If you are going to go with a folder, I suggest against a locking blade. Keep it simple to start with. Choose something that does not require strength to close, or to keep from snapping close. I think a SAK would be a great first choice for a child (if you decide on a folder). I am sure what ever you give him, he will remember it always.

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Lynn Griffith
Available knives now listed on
My website
GriffithKN@aol.com

 
May I suggest the AG Russell Feather Lite One Hand Knife. The price is right. The lock is simple, strong, and his little hands should work it fine.
This is a lot better knife than people give it credit.

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Bill
Salem, Virginia

 
If you decide not to go with a lockback I'll 2nd (or 3rd, or...) the small Swiss army knife. That's what I always bought as a first - the 2.5", basic Swiss Army.

They're also < $10.00 so if he loses it, no big deal.

[This message has been edited by Jon (edited 22 November 1999).]
 
Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Alright, now I have changed my mind about a lock back knife. After all your suggestions and having my son try to close some of my other knives. There is absolutly no way he can close my Spyderco Dragonfly. He can not close my Benchmade Ascent, although he has no problem with my Axis 710. That knife is way to much knife for him. He is small for 4 going on five. He will eventually be carring this knife, so I would like to keep the cost down. $100 is quite a lot of money for his first knife. I dont think that what I get him is as importent as the fact that its his first knife. I remember my first knife, it was one of those all stainless steel knives that has a blade, a finger nail file, a bottle opener and a screwdriver on the bottle opener, it had a hole in the handle so that you could attach it your keys. That knife was very special to me.
I was thinking about some of the suggestions last night, and the thought struck me. How about a fixed blade? Then this morning I check my post and that is what has been suggested. So now I am looking for a folder or a fixed blade knife.
I would like to thank every one for the all the ideas and suggestion. I would like to hear some more ideas. You might know of a knife that would be perfect for him that I have never heard of.



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Shawn R Sullivan
~San Diego, Ca~
 
It's hard to beat a Swiss Army Knife. I like the Tinker. I've been carrying it for 15 years. Its good for the money and doesn't look in the least like a weapon.
IMHO sak'S are the plastic insulated drinking cups of the knife world. Not sexy, nor beautiful, but just real efficient and reliable at being there as a good and useful day to day tool
 
Shawn,

You might be interested in the replies I got, last year, when I was looking for my daughter's first knife. We finally decided on a Wegner SAK with a locking main blade and scissors. It is a bit smaller than my Victorinox SAK's and fits her hand well. I had the blade engraved with her name and birthdate.

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Clay
Sydney, Australia

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....here it's tomorrow already.


 
May I suggest something from the Buck #300 series such as the Lancer? It's good for small hands and seems to me, like a good first knife. My father bought me one of the #300's for my first knife.
 
For $90-$100, I can think of no finer "first knife" with a blade under 3 inches than the Benchmade 705, mini axis lock. It is available in multiple blade configurations, and has a very secure lock!

My next choice would be a Spyderco Calypso Jr. It has a blade under 3 inches, a mid-lock(lockback), and can be opened AND closed(just as with the 705) with either hand.

Good luck choosing the perfect knife
smile.gif
!

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Yeah! Drop the chalupa...


 
The three-bladed little stainless steel knife you started with was called a "Trim Trio". That's what I gave my first son. He used it to cut up the arm rest of our mini van. Yes, you want to supervise. One big advantage of the Trim Trios was that they were very easy to open and close.

I think a small Wenger SAK with locking blade is very good. I think they make one that has a kind of lock on the screwdriver as well as the knife blade. I had one of the locking Wengers 10 years ago and it was both easy to open and easy to close. Non locking knives are often very hard to open. (You don't want your children to use their teeth for this purpose). As I recall the one I had had two knife blades. I really like having a little one-inch blade for whittling.

The ultimate for a small blade that is easy to open and close, plus gives you the option of shortening the blade is the Christy Sliding Blade Pocket knife. See the following link. The handle is a little small for serious whittling, but otherwise it is a very handy little knife.

http://www.christyknifeco.com/

 
Thanks again for all of the great suggestions. In asking for your help not only did I get some great suggestions but also some safety concerns that I might not have thought of by my self, plus I finally found out what the name of my fist knife was and I get a link to a web site ( The Christy Knife Company ) that sells knifes similar to the ones that my Grandfather has. I plan on ordering him one of the Christy knives for Christmas. Sounds like in infomercial doesnt it? But wait theres more!!!! You get all of this and its freeeee!! Thank you all for the help.
The SAKs look good, I also liked the looks of the Buck. Decisions decisions decisions. I am going to go to the SAK web site and look around.

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Shawn R Sullivan
~San Diego, Ca~
 
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