My kid needs his first pocket knife

D

dagoof

Joined
Apr 18, 2016
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22
Recommend me a good first pocket knife for an 8 year old boy.

Promised him that he could have one when he turns eight. I'm thinking it might be best to stick with something on the smaller side with a significant bolster / finger coil.

He's watched over the last couple years as I've picked up quite a few knives myself, and now he wants one of his own. My collection isn't exotic, but I've got a big group of ZT, Kizer, CRKT, Benchmade, Kershaw, CJRB, Spyderco, and so on.

And, though I'd love to get him something special that he can keep and maybe hand down to his kid, I'm thinking there's a good chance of it getting lost, so I'm probably not going to spend a ton unless you can convince me otherwise.
 
Cool "Dad Moment" for you. Enjoy it. :)

Like Srtr, I was going to recommend the Buck 501 Squire. I've had one for a million years, and it is "my knife" in every way. And there is the Buck 503 Prince, which is the same but slightly smaller.

As much as I like the Buck 501, it appears that you don't own any Bucks, and it might be cooler for your boy if he got a knife "like his Dad" — maybe a small Spyderco?
 
So, generally, I would say

Stainless steel
Something other than framelock, which I feel like tries to come unlocked more easily than others.

I do like pholder's idea: it's going to have more meaning for him, and less cost for you. It might even make it less likely that he loses it.

If I think of something unique, I'll stick it in another post.
 
My couple first knives were freebie slip joints given away by our local bank with their name on the side but the first knife I bought with my own money from mowing a couple of neighbors yards when I was 10 was a Buck Squire. I’m 45 now and I still have it.
 
Spyderco Endura 4 perhaps? It’s easy to operate, has plenty of cutting edge, and comes in a variety of steels. I am biased though as this was my first true pocketknife.

If fixed blades are okay (I understand they may not be as “cool” in the eyes of a kid) my vote goes to the Izula. I love that knife.
 
every kid is different. I wanted mine to be like me but they are unique and themselves. I have to remind myself of this often.

I gave my boy a victorinox cause he liked all the tools. hes been very happy with it and uses it for lots of things cause of the tools.

I tried to give him a buck 110 like i got from my grandfather when i was a young boy...... but he isnt an outdoorsman like I was as a kid.....and found it heavy. still has it but he tends to grab his Swiss army.
 
S
jbmonkey said:
every kid is different. I wanted mine to be like me but they are unique and themselves. I have to remind myself of this often.

I gave my boy a victorinox cause he liked all the tools. hes been very happy with it and uses it for lots of things cause of the tools.

I tried to give him a buck 110 like i got from my grandfather when i was a young boy...... but he isnt an outdoorsman like I was as a kid.....and found it heavy. still has it but he tends to grab his Swiss army.
Click to expand...
Sure hope it doesn’t have a bottle opener 🙄
Opinel also makes a kid’s knife with blunted tip, if that could be of interest. Depends on the kid I guess if you want to go through the intermediate step with a blunt tip, or if you go directly for the real thing
 
Maybe a Buck 112 or Case Copperlock if you want a choil. I think every kid should have a stockman of some sort but you may prefer something with a lock. A Kershaw scallion or leek are modern options with a choil and lock.
 
baxtrom said:
S

Sure hope it doesn’t have a bottle opener 🙄
Opinel also makes a kid’s knife with blunted tip, if that could be of interest. Depends on the kid I guess if you want to go through the intermediate step with a blunt tip, or if you go directly for the real thing
Click to expand...

it does.😁

think ya missed the humor AD was making on victorinox including that in the tools for a kids first knife.😁

my boy wanted more tools so I got him one with pointed tips. ironically its heavy too cause of all the tools, but that what he likes so I didnt judge or criticize his choice in this matter.
 
I was thinking of the same thing for my son recently and was heading towards a SAK and Ritter Griptillian.
 
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