Little boys, sticks, and knives.

Way to go, flyfishrman. You're going to be a hero to a young boy.

A sak is a good choice with a low radar profile in this PC day and age. I'd probably go with a tinker as the most ubiquitous sak in circulation. It would be great to give him a cut down Eze-lap model L to go with it, and teach him to sharpen it as well. The little Eze-lap will teach him the value of free hand small easy portable maintanence.

Every boy needs a mentor sooner or later to guide him in the right direction.
 
flyfishrman said:
Knowing that the boy lacks a man in his life to help him along in his journey I asked the mom if she would mind him having a pocket knife. She told me it was funny I asked because he'd been wanting one. Well I get the privilege of getting him his first knife. ... I've been running through the talk I'm going to have with him about properly handling it, how to keep it sharp etc. In any event tomorrow a boy gets his first knife and I get to give it to him. I'm honored and probably more excited than he is. I'll let you know how he reacts when I give it to him.
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Hats off to you, flyfishrman. You're a great guy -- this is something that boy will remember for the rest of his life.
 
You know fly, that you're going to have to take the lad fishing now?

At 13 years of age, he's arriving at a very dangerous time in his young life. Peer presure, boredom, exposure to the wrong stimulus from video games or such can lead him off in a bad direction. With no dad in his life, he needs to be groomed for outdoor activities very carefully at this point.

I have a private theroy that exposure to the outdoor sports at this critical age can be a life saving experiance for some kids. There is few things that teach personel responcibility and values like a camping/fishing trip with an older mentor, and lots of time to talk in the serinity of the woods with no interuptions.
 
What a wonderful thread, full of wonderful tales. Great writing Jackknife! Great Tale!
Flyfisherman, your story left me with tear-filled eyes. Both boys are lucky to have you two in their lives.
 
Well I settled on a Wenger SI and for something smaller he can pocket when not in the field a Vic Manager which is the same size as a classic. Thanks for the mention of a flat stone jackknife. I don't have time to head to the store again, so I'll probably give him my flatstone and pick up another. Unfortunately the little guy lives in Tulsa and I'm in Memphis. I'm going to talk to his mom about letting him stay with me for a week during deer season though. I'm also going to recommend scouts to her, I think he would love it. As promised I'll post about how he reacts later. Thanks for all of the wonderful posts folks. And jackknife as far as my selection of of the SI for him to carry in the field. That had a little something to do with an old timer that has been known to post in these parts from time to time;).
 
Well I had the chance to give my new friend his first knife. First time ever a smile exposed every single tooth in a person's head. He was really excited. I spoke to his mom about getting him hooked up with a scout troop, hope she does. She was appreciative as well. We agreed to keep in contact and to try to get him back in town during deer season. I'll keep you posted and thanks again for the nice posts.
 
flyfishrman said:
Well I had the chance to give my new friend his first knife. First time ever a smile exposed every single tooth in a person's head. He was really excited. I spoke to his mom about getting him hooked up with a scout troop, hope she does. She was appreciative as well. We agreed to keep in contact and to try to get him back in town during deer season. I'll keep you posted and thanks again for the nice posts.
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Don't forget dove season, and squirrel season, and...:D:D:D
 
Well Done FF.
This boy will look back with fond memories of the day you gave him his first knife!
Bill
 
I had the pleasure of meeting this boy at FF's sister's wedding this weekend. I asked to see his new pocket knife he pulled out three! One of which was a small red SAK which I had in my pocket as well. I pulled mine out and told him that I don't leave home without it. Maybe he'll be posting somewhere 30 years from now about the knife Ron gave him.
 
Another great story by jackknife and I really like seeing the goodness/blessings being poured out by FF and other fine BF members to those in need. KUDOS!!!
 
On a related but tangential note.

I can remember as a child (5-6) playing on my grandparents farm...one thing we used to do, me and all my male cousins of approximate the same age...was to sharpen popsicle sticks, into assorted knives, stillettos, daggers and dirks. (Later in life we'd take 1x2's and make swords...we also had bb gun wars...why nobody was seriously injured...I have NO idea)

We'd finish the popsicle, wrap one end in black friction tape, and sharpen the other end on the concrete. We'd then tuck them into belts and waistbands and head off to the creek...prepared against attack by frozen sugary treats.

35 years later I catch a nephew doing the same thing (he was like 4 though).

Did anybody else do this?
 
I remember making popsickle sticks into folding pocket knives. I used a real pocketknife to carve them into "blade" shapes, bore a hole in the tang, and make the handles from heavy cardboard...
 
Trent Rock said:
I told my nephew when he turns 12 I am gonna buy him a Ruger 10/22 rifle and teach him how to shoot it
No word on what his mom thinks of the gift idea yet ;)
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Heh, I was shooting a Henry minibolt (I'm pretty young) by 8 1/2, and had a 4" group with 5 shots from a Mosin- Nagant 91/30 by 12...
Good idea though, just teach him to take his time and not spray lead...
Oh yeah, and resurrected for the younguns who haven't read this story.
 
Great story, I've had similar instances with a couple friends children.

I always remember a book my great-aunt gave me as a child, "The American Boy's Handy book", chock full of fodder for a young heathens active mind, and a few lessons in humility, perseverance and ingenuity.

I think she did it to drive my folks crazy, but I sure had a lot of fun making stuff.
 
Honest to goodness true story.

I have a 6 year old boy. His first word was GUN. He said it in reference to the AR15 pistol I was holding as he reached for it in my hand!!!!!! He said it several times. I was absolutely shocked, and hollered for my wife to come listen. He repeated it for her while got a hand on the grip! It was not till a few days later he said DaDa. (Mom was not till he said another few words. Gun, Dada, Sock, and a few others!).

My 2 year old's first word was not gun..........................it was KNIFE! and it was in reference to the large knife I was holding in my hand!!!!!!! He repeated the word several times as he was trying to reach the knife I was holding!


Boys!!!!!!!

My wife wants a daughter so bad! Maybe her first word will be Sword!
 
nice story brother...
When you have that baby girl, I'm predicting her first word will be " skillet" or similar, she'll be watching her mommy all the time.
I'm willing to bet that when I have kids, mine's first words will be "attention kmart shoppers" (Jeff Foxworty joke)
Jenner, if you're reading this, I did the same, but cut up the popsicle sticks and used rubber bands to make em into switchblades that actually folded, and you pressed the lever on the end and the blade swung out, they were really fun.
 
Four girls.
They like knives and sticks......

All EDC a knife of some kind
All step up to light the BBQ when they are with their friends
Two how to light a cooking fire when camping
All know how to pitch a tent

So it is was setting a role for them, so when they were kids they wanted to learn
 
Jenner 515 said:
On a related but tangential note.

I can remember as a child (5-6) playing on my grandparents farm...one thing we used to do, me and all my male cousins of approximate the same age...was to sharpen popsicle sticks, into assorted knives, stillettos, daggers and dirks. (Later in life we'd take 1x2's and make swords...we also had bb gun wars...why nobody was seriously injured...I have NO idea)

We'd finish the popsicle, wrap one end in black friction tape, and sharpen the other end on the concrete. We'd then tuck them into belts and waistbands and head off to the creek...prepared against attack by frozen sugary treats.

35 years later I catch a nephew doing the same thing (he was like 4 though).

Did anybody else do this?
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Oh yes. I grew up with three brothers (two older, one younger) and we made all kinds of weaponry from 1x1's ("tabacca sticks" is what we called them, even though we never grew tobacco) and other assorted scrap lumber. Waged war on the weeds growing on the farm, mostly.

Frosty
 
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