My Five Year Old Daughter Wants A Knife

My daughter (6) has been asking me for a while to get a knife like daddy's, and I finally found one last weekend for her. It is a camping knife with a folding spoon and fork on it. It has a blade, but I dulled it while she gets used to it. She uses my knives now under careful watch. I figure that if you train them young it will be easier later
 
when i was reading the title,first thing that hit my head was a rounded tip SAK..
 
If it were me, I'd give her some sort of blade with no point, just in case it's dropped or anything. Also, I wouldn't go with an SAK, since when I was little, I always had trouble closing the blade, and it nipped my fingers once or twice. I think the SAK snaps back too fast and takes too much energy to close. I'd choose a friction folder, something easy and predictable when closing.
 
You sound like a responsible Dad, and she sounds like a responsible girl.

I got my first knife at 6. Scout-type slipjoint. My dad didn't think it was the best idea, but he let me buy it with my own money (50 cents!) and I carried it everyday until high school. I only cut myself really good with it once - trying to split a black walnut. I probably needed a stitch or two, but didn't get one. I still have the scar, but my finger works just fine, thank you.

My daughters are 6 and 7, and have been cutting, in the kitchen, under my spervision, since 4 1/2 years old. If they showed an interest in owning a knife, I would happily pick one out with them - but for know, they think they're kinda scary, and are happy to have me take care of most of their cutting needs. They've each used the scissors on my Squirt and Classic, and the older one has done a couple tasks with my (razor sharp) Para2. Not that they're ready for THAT on their own.

At this age, I'd start with a Classic or a Peanut (if she has the strength and coordintation to open it,) let her hang onto it, but only use it with supervision.
I wouldn't dull it - that would only make her push harder. I also wouldn't worry about rounding the tip, though I may avoid a particularly pointy tip (clip point or such.)
Make it CLEAR which side cuts - If it's a thin blade, kids can't always tell. At one point I found my eldest about to press down on the edge of a mini-santoku to press the spine through some cucumber. Disaster averted, but a close call.
No matter what you do, expect her to get cut at some point. My daughters are very active, and they fall from bikes, skateboards, scooters, roller blades, balance beams, and even running. I keep a healthy stack of bandages nearby, and don't panic when performing minor to moderate first aid. Neither has cut herself yet, but they see pain as a (painful) part of growing up.

As an aside, the other day, my 6yo fell off her scooter twice. She was very concerned that she has bruises all up and down her legs. Then she got back on and rode away.

Her upcoming birthday would be a great time to induct her into knife owership.
 
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I wouldnt mind letting her keep her own knife, but she has a bad habit of leaving things out, and a little sister who loves to be in her room.. Thats why Im against her having her knife in her room. I considered putting a lanyard on whatever knife I get her and using that to hang it on her wall so she can have it in her room, look at it all the time, but not get it down without asking... but I also like the idea of suggesting that she put hers away with mine, and I think she would like that. She likes asking me to keep her toy guns with my pistol, so this might be a similar situation.

Any other suggestions on small red or pink locking knives? I cant find many.
 
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Ares1307 said:
Any other suggestions on small red or pink locking knives? I cant find many.
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Kershaw Chive, Spyderco Ladybug (purple, yellow, two greens, orange, sometimes pink but not currently), Spyderco Squeak (slipit), Benchmade Mini-grip (maybe kinda big), CRKT McGinnis Shrimp, Buck Nano Bantam, Browning Prism, Ka-Bar Mini Dozier, Kershaw DWO, Boker Plus Subcom - I don't figure you'll want to start her with an automatic, but there are a few of those, too (must be under 2" for CA or something - a pink auto???)
 
Red or Pink Kershaw Scallion or Chive?
Remove the torsion bar though.

But seriously, I would go with the Ladybug. She is more likely to slice herself with the knife then stab herself.
Get her the Ladybug, you could even dull the tip a little and I will resharpen it right back up for you if you send it to me.

The Ladybug is perfect, no clip and fits in a small pocket, lanyard hole, and it's just perfect.
It's not spoiling her, it's a birthday gift. You can pick up a Ladybug in several colors. Tattoo is perfect. Or purple.(get her a little neck sheath for it too).
You could also take a look at the Spyderco Spin with the Etched pattern. If you don't mind the money... get here a Cricket in the Nishijin Glass Fiber..

If you're really worried about the Tip on the Ladybug, get her a Jester - it has more of a sheepsfoot blade.
 
I forgot the Spyderco Squeak. That would work too. It doesn't snap like a SAK.
Also the Spyderco Meerkat. It has that cool phantom lock she would be amused with.
 
my grandpa bought me my first knife when I was 6 or 7, it was a victorinox pocket pal, the one with the large and small knife blades. I was in love with the thing, an after he bought it for me he basically gave me a block of soap and no supervision without teaching me proper handling or rules. It was so sharp I sliced up my hand but didn't notice until I saw the bloody soap. Just be sure to give your daugter more instruction than my grandpa gave me
 
Thank you guys for all the help! Thank you very much for the suggestions, Ive been having trouble finding a Pink Ladybug so Ive been looking for something else, she doesnt like the red or tattoo in that model. She likes to watch me look at knives online so we looked together yesterday and I showed her what I could find. Thank you Bladechick777, I had looked at the Squeak but thought it would snap so didnt give it much thought, I really like the meerkat too..I actually didnt know about the phantom lock. LoL. Ill have to show her those. And that you TJswarbrick, Im going to show her the Shrimp and Subcom too. I really like the Shrimp, Its really a great size, its a framelock, and the blade has a great shape. That one so far is my favorite for her, but Im going to make a list of the knives everybody has named that fit what we are looking for and let her look at them. I also bought my nieces and nephews some knives so she thinks we're shopping for them, but I ask her what she would like for "next years camping trip" to get an opinion while not trying to avoid suspicion.

Thanks again everybody!
 
My suggestion is to buy a nice trainer to her. Seems sypderco has some high quality trainner in orange.
 
if i were you i would definatley get it for her, the sooner she gets one the more responsible and experienced she will be in the long run
 
Leatherman Squirt P4 with SCISSORS? or micra
I have not handle a set of these lately so do not remember if they would be too difficult for young fingers to manage.

Scissors for a lot of task and blade for special use? Just a thought.
 
FYI, my 6 year old had her pink Classic SAK out today looking at it instead of using it," because it looks nice". I'm always happy to see her appreciating knives even when not in use. This thread made me curious as to which of my knives currently catches her eye. She showed me a Bronze bolster/blue G10 E. Baca clipped folder, and from memory described a couple of small MOP slipjoints I recently found at antique stores (H. Dorwal and A.W. Wadsworth). But she also liked the Benchmade Rukus I was wearing, then asked why people like it. I loved the diversity of blades that she is starting to gain an appreciation for. I'm sure you are in for the same, especially the bonding while making a cabin with your folders!

Start them young and have more fun!
 
I got my first small SAK at age five, I say give it to her and let her use it! it not only will teach her to use a knife but also responsibility, a small SAK wont do any damage. I still remember my first cut, I was carving a pinewood derby car (age six) and cut my finger open just a bit, but it sure bleed. My dad came out into the garage and said "So are you painting the car red now?" and then handed me a band aid. I think it takes a small cut to fully realized knife safety, good luck!
 
Thank you all.. again! I showed her a few, so far she likes (in order from 3rd to 1st Favorites) the Boker Subcom, Spyderco Squeak, and the CRKT Shrimp the most. Ive had a few CRKT knives and I really like their reliability, and I like the frame-lock on this model, I think the CRKT Shrimp might be a winner. Her reaction when she saw the knife on the screen was just priceless.. I cant wait to buy her one and see how she reacts then. The Shrimp even has a moonglow backspacer, she doesnt know that, but I think she will be amazed. :D

On a side note.. when I showed her the Ladybug Tattoo, the first Spyderco I showed her, she said, "Ooo thats pretty, and a pretty ladybug on it... but theres a SCARY spider on the blade!" LMAO. I thought that was cute and funny. And yes I convinced her that the "spyder bug" (TICK) is not scary but instead kind of cute. :eek: But she still likes the Shrimp more.

And about the Chive, Ive had one (I have one somewhere but I gave it to my wife and she 'misplaced it), and really liked it but I want a manual opener for her. And I know I can take out the torsion bar but the flipper will still be there and I dont want her trying to use it, or her drop it or something and the flipper make the blade pop out. But thank you for suggesting that and all the other knives you guys and girls have listed!
 
I had completely forgot the Shrimp for some reason.
That would be absolutely perfect.
Small, cute, colorful, great and simple lock, cheap(because it may get lost or damaged in the future), and you guys can put on a special lanyard for her through the key ring.
I say pink or purple(or what I call, princess colors, tell her that and she'll likely love them more, I was opposite).
Another small light and thin knife is the CRKT Pazoda 2. It's not as colorful or pretty, but a great little knife overall.

Also I'd like to recommend the Benchmade Benchmite or Levitator. It's also a money clip that she could put her little dollars or something in. She would love that not only is it a knife, it can carry her money too lol.

Also, since this is the first knife and I'm sure there will be more to come, get her a little box or something(maybe one she can paint) and call it her knife box(you can conveniently keep it next to or with your knife storage).
 
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