My kid needs his first pocket knife

marrenmiller said:
I wouldn't give a child a non-locking folder, as they are likely going to do something dangerous with the knife given enough time with it. Back/mid locks are safe, but can require a lot of force to disengage and might snap shut on their fingers. After giving it some thought, I think an axis lock style knife would be what I would give to a child, if they wanted a folder.

Otherwise, a small fixed blade like a Mora isn't a bad recommendation.
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Forgive my bluntness, but except for the Mora, this is ridiculous advice. When most of us grew up, slipjoints were the norm for folders. Locking blades were extremely rare. I knew a number of kids who lost fingers, never once to a slipjoint knife. Fireworks and homemade explosive devices were the most common cause, followed by run-ins with farm equipment. I cut myself many times, still do, never once by having a slip joint fold up on me.

The reason is, most of us learned from a parent, a scoutmaster, or other kids how to use a knife safely. The ones who didn’t learned from bitter experience and got cut, but never worse than the cuts they were sustaining from all the other possible misuses of their knives.

In any case, I will not subscribe to a protocol that calls on me to give my grandson a $120 Benchmade for his first knife.
 
That is so fun for the 8 year old! What a cool moment as a dad!! :)

My criteria: (preaching to the choir now)

Stainless, easy to open, fits in a kid pocket, something that is going to hold up to kid abuse (prying, carving, cutting rocks, stabbing dirt), isn't scary-looking nor intimidating, easy to handle, under 30 bucks:

- Opinels (Inox) are good and cheap.
- Victorinox generic "Swiss army knife" models are great (like the tinker).
- traditional boy scout -looking knife
- peanut, Jack or mini trappers by case or rough rider
- sodbuster

These are basic knives that work hard and are easy to sharpen.
 
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marrenmiller said:
I wouldn't give a child a non-locking folder, as they are likely going to do something dangerous with the knife given enough time with it. Back/mid locks are safe, but can require a lot of force to disengage and might snap shut on their fingers. After giving it some thought, I think an axis lock style knife would be what I would give to a child, if they wanted a folder.

Otherwise, a small fixed blade like a Mora isn't a bad recommendation.
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It's a wonder all of us 50+ managed to survive with all our fingers considering we likely had a simple folder or slip joint as kids, I managed! Fact is I still prefer slip joints without half stops over any other folders.
 
After the Case Stockman with a box of band aids and a penny to preserve the relationship, he got two other knives, a swiss army knife with a bunch of things on it and then a two blade locking swiss army knife, but there is something special about getting a traditional folder for your first knife.
 
CAP55 said:
It's a wonder all of us 50+ managed to survive with all our fingers considering we likely had a simple folder or slip joint as kids, I managed! Fact is I still prefer slip joints without half stops over any other folders.
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Who's to say we didn't start with seven fingers?

I was the idiot kid that had to find things out the hard way.

Parents: Don't touch the cigarette lighter in the car, its very hot and will burn you.
Me: Hmm, I wonder just how hot is it?

10 minutes later: &$(*$*R(#$(@A*$!!!!!! Thats hot!!!!
 
K.O.D. said:
Who's to say we didn't start with seven fingers?

I was the idiot kid that had to find things out the hard way.

Parents: Don't touch the cigarette lighter in the car, its very hot and will burn you.
Me: Hmm, I wonder just how hot is it?

10 minutes later: &$(*$*R(#$(@A*$!!!!!! Thats hot!!!!
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I know what you mean. As a kid, I could have been voted "Most Likely Not to Reach the Age of Ten." Even so, I don't recall anyone going to the hospital with knife injuries. And I had brothers. All we did was try and kill each other.
 
Henry Beige said:
Forgive my bluntness, but except for the Mora, this is ridiculous advice. When most of us grew up, slipjoints were the norm for folders. Locking blades were extremely rare. I knew a number of kids who lost fingers, never once to a slipjoint knife. Fireworks and homemade explosive devices were the most common cause, followed by run-ins with farm equipment. I cut myself many times, still do, never once by having a slip joint fold up on me.

The reason is, most of us learned from a parent, a scoutmaster, or other kids how to use a knife safely. The ones who didn’t learned from bitter experience and got cut, but never worse than the cuts they were sustaining from all the other possible misuses of their knives.

In any case, I will not subscribe to a protocol that calls on me to give my grandson a $120 Benchmade for his first knife.
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You do you :thumbsup:
 
K.O.D. said:
Who's to say we didn't start with seven fingers?

I was the idiot kid that had to find things out the hard way.

Parents: Don't touch the cigarette lighter in the car, its very hot and will burn you.
Me: Hmm, I wonder just how hot is it?

10 minutes later: &$(*$*R(#$(@A*$!!!!!! Thats hot!!!!
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I did this exact same thing sitting in my grandma's car alone one time while she was in the store. 🤣🤣🤣
Me: "Hmm it's not even glowing red. Pshh bet it's not that bad". Yeah. It was pretty hot lol

Anyway not to derail the thread, a Spyderco Delica or a Buck of some small variety instantly came to mind. Maybe even one of the Byrd models from Spyderco's budget line as someone suggested earlier, as this could also be a good window for sharpening lessons. But you probably have a better idea of what your son would like more than any of us, despite him only being 8. But I also feel like something with a lock would aid in more teaching lessons as well such as cutting directions, lock disengagement, and just proper handling overall. Just my thoughts though.
 
Mister Coffee said:
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?
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Buck Prince was my first knife, back in the 70s. I second (or third or fourth..I lost count of how many folks already recommended a small Buck)
 
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dagoof said:
LOL

I actually have a garage fridge full of bottled root beer and black cherry.
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With twist off caps? 😁 I was somewhat sad to see the glass bottle Dr. Pepper I bought recently had twist off caps since I wanted to pull out a neat little knife I got which has a can/bottle opener blade.
 
Swiss Army knife, like a Tinker. If not, what about a small Peanut? Later graduate to a small three blade stockman, learn to use each blade for different things.
 
SP138P_1.jpg



https://www.gpknives.com/spyderco-grasshopper-stainless-c138p-slipit.html
 
What does HE want?

You'll get a thousand great ideas in a thread like this. In the end though, why pick a knife that you (or we) think he should have?

Guide him how to find a quality knife and let him go through the selection process with somebody who knows how to get him a quality piece.

Pretty much how it's been over the years with my boys. By the time they selected a knife they wanted, it was nowhere near what I was thinking.

But they got a knife they liked, and therein is the spark that will light that boys forge.
 
My son's first knife was a Buck Bantam and it served him well, inexpensive, easy to teach sharpening with and surprisingly durable. That being said, if at the time, Buck was making the 110 or 112 slim, it would have been one of those.
 
Thanks everyone.

Just ordered a Victorinox Fieldmaster for thirty five bucks. It's got the saw, scissors, and screwdrivers. I think he'll love the gadget idea at this 8-year-old stage.

If he stays excited, we'll work him into a nicer locking blade next.
 
dagoof said:
Thanks everyone.

Just ordered a Victorinox Fieldmaster for thirty five bucks. It's got the saw, scissors, and screwdrivers. I think he'll love the gadget idea at this 8-year-old stage.

If he stays excited, we'll work him into a nicer locking blade next.
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Good choice. Victorinox typically don't have bear trap springs so closing them shouldn't be an issue.

One of my early knife memories was getting my hands on my dads Barlow when he wasn't looking. I opened it and examined it with the wonder of a kid. Then tried to close it. It snapped shut on my finger and I ended up with stitches. 😶
 
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