My daughter asked the same question. She was 5 at the time. I did get her a knife, but it was the CRKT wood one. She was able to customize it, read color the blade and scales, before we built it together. I would say get her the wood trainer and teach her how to handle and care for it.
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My Five Year Old Daughter Wants A Knife
- Thread starter Ares1307
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Those kits are soooooo cool. My buddy got one for his nephew. I got to check it out before he gifted it.
Moose
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I say get her a knife.
She's young, she's showing interest, and she even said she wants it to help you do things.
I want to get my 5yr. old little cousin a knife and I bet my older cousin(her mom) would agree.
Whenever I'm around we sit and play with my knives, I show her how to cut open packages and how to open and close them right, how not to hurt herself, and the correct way to carry/use said knife. She does REALLY well. I let her use my Spyderco Para2 when I had it and she even closed it. Needless to say, I was impressed.
Kids will do FINE with a knife if you teach them the right ways. I say surprise her on her birthday with one but teach her the correct ways and let her practice with you right there with her.
I think Victorinox knives are great for a first knife, however it's a lot easier for them to figure out a locking blade because it won't slip and close on accident and it doesn't take a lot of effort to open, and there isn't a huge risk of it snapping closed on little fingers.
If you're stuck on an SAK, I say get her the My First Victorinox, a Classic, or they have those new beautiful colored Alox Cadets for around $25, I think she would LOVE that one.
If you're NOT stuck on an SAK, why not check out the Spyderco Ladybug? She can open it one handed, it won't snap on her fingers, she can close it with both hands, and the lock back is easy to learn(and she doesn't have to put her fingers in the way to close it). Oh and it has awesome blade steel and comes in pretty colors lol.
She's young, she's showing interest, and she even said she wants it to help you do things.
I want to get my 5yr. old little cousin a knife and I bet my older cousin(her mom) would agree.
Whenever I'm around we sit and play with my knives, I show her how to cut open packages and how to open and close them right, how not to hurt herself, and the correct way to carry/use said knife. She does REALLY well. I let her use my Spyderco Para2 when I had it and she even closed it. Needless to say, I was impressed.
Kids will do FINE with a knife if you teach them the right ways. I say surprise her on her birthday with one but teach her the correct ways and let her practice with you right there with her.
I think Victorinox knives are great for a first knife, however it's a lot easier for them to figure out a locking blade because it won't slip and close on accident and it doesn't take a lot of effort to open, and there isn't a huge risk of it snapping closed on little fingers.
If you're stuck on an SAK, I say get her the My First Victorinox, a Classic, or they have those new beautiful colored Alox Cadets for around $25, I think she would LOVE that one.
If you're NOT stuck on an SAK, why not check out the Spyderco Ladybug? She can open it one handed, it won't snap on her fingers, she can close it with both hands, and the lock back is easy to learn(and she doesn't have to put her fingers in the way to close it). Oh and it has awesome blade steel and comes in pretty colors lol.
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Hello,
Nothing wrong in giving a 5 year old girl a knife,but supervise her closely until she is confident in using it.
I would not give her a spring back knife (SAK etc.) at this stage,....small fingers are not strong enough to excercise adequate control.
I would look into the smaller Opinels (or similar types) and make sure that the knife's "action" is on the loose side, this will allow her to develop the necessary skills.
When she uses the knife, let her have complete control, and allways let her carry the knife all by herself in her own pocket or purse, when finished you could store the knife safely out of her reach.
Actually to cut a long story short.......do it......, it will mean an awful lot to the little girl.
Nothing wrong in giving a 5 year old girl a knife,but supervise her closely until she is confident in using it.
I would not give her a spring back knife (SAK etc.) at this stage,....small fingers are not strong enough to excercise adequate control.
I would look into the smaller Opinels (or similar types) and make sure that the knife's "action" is on the loose side, this will allow her to develop the necessary skills.
When she uses the knife, let her have complete control, and allways let her carry the knife all by herself in her own pocket or purse, when finished you could store the knife safely out of her reach.
Actually to cut a long story short.......do it......, it will mean an awful lot to the little girl.
I was around that age (5) when I got my first, full-time knife. (SAK)
I can't tell you what age is acceptable for this responsibility.
When I got my first knife I took the skin off the top of my finger. I got bandaged up and did it to the adjacent finger.
Lesson learned, haha.
I attended school with many children who were using rifles and hunting with their fathers well before they turned 10.
Teach them to respect these dangerous tools early, and they will always have that respect.
Get her one, but... be ready for the first time she cuts herself.
I don't have children, but it was only a few years ago that I was one.
Good luck OP.
I can't tell you what age is acceptable for this responsibility.
When I got my first knife I took the skin off the top of my finger. I got bandaged up and did it to the adjacent finger.
Lesson learned, haha.
I attended school with many children who were using rifles and hunting with their fathers well before they turned 10.
Teach them to respect these dangerous tools early, and they will always have that respect.
Get her one, but... be ready for the first time she cuts herself.
I don't have children, but it was only a few years ago that I was one.
Good luck OP.
Bigfattyt
Gold Member
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My thought was for an Opinel.
Go to Opinel-usa.com.
They have brightly colored opinel's with no point. They don't snap open or closed, and have a locking ring that is easy to use, even for little hands because they are not under tension either direction.
Go to Opinel-usa.com.
They have brightly colored opinel's with no point. They don't snap open or closed, and have a locking ring that is easy to use, even for little hands because they are not under tension either direction.
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Opinel's are great knives. I have a few, and love them.
Only downside, when mine get wet, you gotta wait until the swelling goes down to use it.
Moose
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I got my first "Whittlin'" knife at age 8. My dad and granddad both sat down and went over the rules with me. I promply cut myself whittling to the tune of 6 stitches. It was a learning event albeit a hard learning event. If you are ok with the same kind of results with a 5 year old then I say go for it.
I think it's a great idea, your daughter sounds like a very smart and sensible young lady and you seem like a great dad. I also like the idea of a wood knife for her to use and practice with when not on your hiking trips.
I have 4 kids and 3 of them are young like your daughter. On our last camping trip, I carved small wooden knives for them to play with and customize (color). They loved it.
I have 4 kids and 3 of them are young like your daughter. On our last camping trip, I carved small wooden knives for them to play with and customize (color). They loved it.
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I got my first knife (a SAK classic) when I was four. I never cut myself with it, and I only got it taken away once (I was using it to cut a hot dog into pieces without washing the knife). I have loved knives ever since. I still have that knife. My younger brother, on the other hand, got his knife when he was a little older than me. He had it a few days before he snapped the tip off by abusing it. I would say it depends on the child.
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I also say get her a ladybug in the color of her choice. For the same reasons blade chick said
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I have three daughters, all grown up now, and they were around knives since they were born. I gave them their own knife from the age of around seven, so they could carry (and use) them on hiking and camping trips. However, you should always remember that they're children, and that, no matter how you lay the law down, kids do stupid things, and obviously you don't want them to get hurt as a consequence of that. That's something to bear in mind too. My middle daughter, for example, who always loved knives and the outdoor life, when she was about five, despite warnings not to be touching knives when I wasn't there, managed to get hold of my Spyderco Co-Pilot. For weeks after, I was trying to find this knife, and I offered her every kind of 'amnesty' going. Eventually, I found the knife hidden (open) under the TV unit, she'd obviously opened it, been unable to release the lock, and hidden it, but it still frightens me that she might have cut herself.
I started using my Dad's slip joint around that age and shortly thereafter got my first knife of my own... A small fixed blade just like my Dad's big one... I learned basic knife skills fron then on.
I also got my own .22 a couple years after that. Of course it was only used with supervision but it was the start of a long and meaningful part of my life and an understanding of tools and skills necessary to use them.
With the right child and the right parents I don't see any issues, other than maybe going fixed rather than folder....Fewer things for her to keep track of while she's learning.
I also got my own .22 a couple years after that. Of course it was only used with supervision but it was the start of a long and meaningful part of my life and an understanding of tools and skills necessary to use them.
With the right child and the right parents I don't see any issues, other than maybe going fixed rather than folder....Fewer things for her to keep track of while she's learning.
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Thank you all for your great advice and for sharing your own past experiences. I love the idea of the rounded tip knives. I will probably dull down the edge just so she can get used to opening and closing it. We will probably spend a few days in the yard sitting down just letting her handle her knife, when she gets the hang of it Ill sharpen it back up. I didnt think about the SAKs snapping closed. To be honest I havent handled a SAK in a few years. I will definitely keep that in mind while looking for a knife for her. Does anybody know of a good locking knife with a rounded, or somehow less pointed tip, that is small, easy to use, and that comes in either red or pink? She really liked the SAK because of the color, her favorite color is red, but she likes pink too. I was looking/thinking about the ladybug in red, pink, or the tattoo version.. but the tip is a bit sharp. I saw a pink cricket, but I think it was a modified one or something because I cant find one for sale. Thanks again guys and girls!
I don't believe in spoiling a child, but we are all knife enthusiasts here. If I believed that the knife was something that she really wanted and not just a momentary interest then I would have bought it for her right then and there. Imagine what a great memory that would have been for the both of you, and such a cute story to tell.
I would also dull the sharp parts (we put training wheels on our kids bikes and make them wear helmets don't we?). A five year old doesn't really NEED to do any real cutting. And a five year old probably doesn't fully understand what a sharp knife is capable of or possess adequate fine motor skills to avoid accidents. Heck, even full grown men who have been handling knives for most of their lives still cut themselves and sometimes need stitches. I wouldn't want a trip to the hospital to be a part of my childs "first knife" memory. There's plenty of time for her "first cut" in later years.
What I WOULDN'T do is keep the knife and "hold it" for her. It's HER knife and as long as it was safe to do so I would let her keep it, that's part of the treasure of having a knife- It's yours, all yours, you get to handle it and look at it anytime you want. When I was little an uncle gave me a pocket knife for Christmas and after handling it for about ten seconds my father took it from me to "hold onto" it. My emotions went from elation directly into crushing despair and disappointment. If it's her knife, let her keep it. If she loses it, then she'll learn a valuable lesson.
I would buy an identical knife and keep it sharp so that she could use it to cut things under my supervision and learn proper cutting.
Your child will only have one "My first knife" memory. I'd want to try and make it a special one.
I would also dull the sharp parts (we put training wheels on our kids bikes and make them wear helmets don't we?). A five year old doesn't really NEED to do any real cutting. And a five year old probably doesn't fully understand what a sharp knife is capable of or possess adequate fine motor skills to avoid accidents. Heck, even full grown men who have been handling knives for most of their lives still cut themselves and sometimes need stitches. I wouldn't want a trip to the hospital to be a part of my childs "first knife" memory. There's plenty of time for her "first cut" in later years.
What I WOULDN'T do is keep the knife and "hold it" for her. It's HER knife and as long as it was safe to do so I would let her keep it, that's part of the treasure of having a knife- It's yours, all yours, you get to handle it and look at it anytime you want. When I was little an uncle gave me a pocket knife for Christmas and after handling it for about ten seconds my father took it from me to "hold onto" it. My emotions went from elation directly into crushing despair and disappointment. If it's her knife, let her keep it. If she loses it, then she'll learn a valuable lesson.
I would buy an identical knife and keep it sharp so that she could use it to cut things under my supervision and learn proper cutting.
Your child will only have one "My first knife" memory. I'd want to try and make it a special one.
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My experiences only:
My daughter has always had an interest in knives. Right away she was taught "don't touch" and "knives are owies", to the tube that I asked "what is this" the responce was "a knife, knives are owies". I then moved on to teaching her the parts- blade, edge, handle. When she could understand these factors I started showing her proper usage in food preparation. One of my proudest moments was when in a restaurant she asked if she could use a knife to cut her food. She grabbed the butter knife and used it extremely well, doing everything as she was shown. My wife and I shared that look and the next day she was cutting her Pizza Pop with her own knife! Since then she uses a knife on a semi-regular basis, when she asks. For her 6th birthday in May, she received as her own her favorite slipjoint of mine- a mammoth handled John Lloyd trapper she nicknamed the "Zebra knife", as voids in the mammoth were filled with black epoxy giving it a very distinct look.
I was very happy to learn that her 'teacher' In daycare has been teaching her class cutting skills (strawberries and other softer foods). I feel that we are too concerned with safety and making sure that nobody feels pain that we tend to neglect teaching common life skills to our children for fear of getting hurt. When I find myself thinking in this manner I look back at some of the stuff I did, and the other, more reckless kids around me. We got hurt, we bled, and we lived through it without really having our lives in danger! Kids get hurt, but they also heal!
My son is a bit different. Being more active and animalistic, he has just recently began understanding what a knife is and that it is an "owie" at 3. He doesn't handle knives yet (but loves axes)but will when the time is right, and I'm sure that is well before he is 10. I just can't see waiting that long to teach kids how to cook, and to me a major part of cooking is food preparation with a knife. But that is my opinion and everybody raises their kids differently, and by far the greater majority turn out okay because of; or in spite of; our upbringing. I felt like a horrid parent the day I finished sharpening my knife, dropped it and my son picked it up before I could bend down to grab it. A couple of stitches later, the hospital staff laughed and said "see you next time it happens" (after commenting favorably on my quick bandage job), and a year later it's a forgotten memory, he has healed and I'm just left with the guilt- its often worse for us than the kids!
I would differ from most here in that I would not give a folder as a first knife, nor would I have it dull or with a rounded point. Our children will get cut if they are knife users IMO, so why not train them as they will be using further in life? A sharp point teaches them not to get complacent with where the tip is, and an efficient edge shows how to cut/slice without having to force/saw through the item. A small puuko, traditional bird and trout knife or many others are sized appropriately, can be had with sufficient guards if needed, and are fully functional tools. If a FB is not allowed in your area then that changes things- but something like a Cold Steel Mini-Pendleton hunter has fit many young hands well in my experience.
Your daughter has expressed an interest in the specific SAK- nothing wrong with getting her that either- at least we have another lifer knifer in the making- and a lady to boot!! If the knife you get is a folder, I would also suggest dulling it for opening training, but sharpening for when she needs to cut with it.
First "knife" to get things started
Proof in the pudding (okay, pizza pop)
First Khukuri (started chopping lessons this year)
Next generation (will start with something a bit smaller):
I just try to remember King of The Hill. Hank gets a 'boy scout' (different name) to be able to experience some of the camping type Activities that they learned from as kids despite an overly protective parent. He hands his son a nice blue camping knife, then you hear an "Ow", followed by a "did you cut yourself, yep you did, time to get the first aid kit". No freaking out, just a learning experience! Even though it was a cartoon it was one of the most knife responsible shows out there.
My daughter has always had an interest in knives. Right away she was taught "don't touch" and "knives are owies", to the tube that I asked "what is this" the responce was "a knife, knives are owies". I then moved on to teaching her the parts- blade, edge, handle. When she could understand these factors I started showing her proper usage in food preparation. One of my proudest moments was when in a restaurant she asked if she could use a knife to cut her food. She grabbed the butter knife and used it extremely well, doing everything as she was shown. My wife and I shared that look and the next day she was cutting her Pizza Pop with her own knife! Since then she uses a knife on a semi-regular basis, when she asks. For her 6th birthday in May, she received as her own her favorite slipjoint of mine- a mammoth handled John Lloyd trapper she nicknamed the "Zebra knife", as voids in the mammoth were filled with black epoxy giving it a very distinct look.
I was very happy to learn that her 'teacher' In daycare has been teaching her class cutting skills (strawberries and other softer foods). I feel that we are too concerned with safety and making sure that nobody feels pain that we tend to neglect teaching common life skills to our children for fear of getting hurt. When I find myself thinking in this manner I look back at some of the stuff I did, and the other, more reckless kids around me. We got hurt, we bled, and we lived through it without really having our lives in danger! Kids get hurt, but they also heal!
My son is a bit different. Being more active and animalistic, he has just recently began understanding what a knife is and that it is an "owie" at 3. He doesn't handle knives yet (but loves axes)but will when the time is right, and I'm sure that is well before he is 10. I just can't see waiting that long to teach kids how to cook, and to me a major part of cooking is food preparation with a knife. But that is my opinion and everybody raises their kids differently, and by far the greater majority turn out okay because of; or in spite of; our upbringing. I felt like a horrid parent the day I finished sharpening my knife, dropped it and my son picked it up before I could bend down to grab it. A couple of stitches later, the hospital staff laughed and said "see you next time it happens" (after commenting favorably on my quick bandage job), and a year later it's a forgotten memory, he has healed and I'm just left with the guilt- its often worse for us than the kids!
I would differ from most here in that I would not give a folder as a first knife, nor would I have it dull or with a rounded point. Our children will get cut if they are knife users IMO, so why not train them as they will be using further in life? A sharp point teaches them not to get complacent with where the tip is, and an efficient edge shows how to cut/slice without having to force/saw through the item. A small puuko, traditional bird and trout knife or many others are sized appropriately, can be had with sufficient guards if needed, and are fully functional tools. If a FB is not allowed in your area then that changes things- but something like a Cold Steel Mini-Pendleton hunter has fit many young hands well in my experience.
Your daughter has expressed an interest in the specific SAK- nothing wrong with getting her that either- at least we have another lifer knifer in the making- and a lady to boot!! If the knife you get is a folder, I would also suggest dulling it for opening training, but sharpening for when she needs to cut with it.
First "knife" to get things started
Proof in the pudding (okay, pizza pop)
First Khukuri (started chopping lessons this year)
Next generation (will start with something a bit smaller):
I just try to remember King of The Hill. Hank gets a 'boy scout' (different name) to be able to experience some of the camping type Activities that they learned from as kids despite an overly protective parent. He hands his son a nice blue camping knife, then you hear an "Ow", followed by a "did you cut yourself, yep you did, time to get the first aid kit". No freaking out, just a learning experience! Even though it was a cartoon it was one of the most knife responsible shows out there.
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