My son asked me for a knife...I'm clueless

A Kershaw Cyclone or Mini-Cyclone would be a great choice, and one that would impress his friends, as the Cyclone has a very high "wow factor".

For something with a 3" blade that's not AO, a Kershaw Junkyard Dog I is a good chioce.
 
If he is going to have it in his pocket at school then a Swiss Army would be a good choice, most are non-locking and some of the alox handled ones are very slim and handy as well as (IMO) better looking than the standard red plastic. I have a copper Cadet and use the nail file and screwdriver often.
The UK knife from Spyderco is also a small non-locker although I don't know the length.
Greg
 
Not sure if it's been mentioned, but Buck Nobleman...

I've owned many $200 plus knives, but I still rate mine in my top 5...
Excellent utility, solid craftsmanship and durability, awesome heat treat (the
440a performs better than most other alloys I have owned, due to great heat treating), and great looks...

I've used it every day for the last 6 months, and haven't witnessed an iota of play in the blade pivot, screws... or even the clip!! Only sharpened it once, other than keeping the edge keen by stropping on my jeans or a couple passes over a super fine dmt every coupla weeks...

I challenge most other knives, including my own, previous, top dollar spends, to boast, let alone TOP that (I've never owned a pocket knife that didn't lose or loosen the pocket clip within 4 months of use, with the exception of my old school Cold Steel Voyager)!!

The icing? I've never liked Buck, but buying this knife on a whim has proven to be a very wise and eye opening decision...

I can honestly say, I have never been this impressed with any other knife, especially for the money ($20)...
 
This is a bit off topic, but I agree with Jamesh Bond about the Buck Nobleman being impressive, especially for the $. I have the Buck Colleague, the smaller model. Really good performance from the steel and solid as a rock. I measured the blade at a Rockwell 58 in the test lab at work.

But I still recommend a Victorinox for the young man.
 
If he might carry it at school, the Victorinox is probably a very good choice, especially considering the blade length limit and non-locking requirement. If he is interested in more traditional styles, there are tons of them. Here's a good place to look:

http://www.wrcase.com/
 
What you probably should do is buy two knives. One for yourself and one for your son. Pick up a Benchmade Mini-Grip 556 and a Spyderco Delica.
Both knives have great utilitarian blade shapes made out of good steel.
Both blades have shapes that make them easy to sharpen for beginners.
The locks on both knives are strong and proven.
Both knives have comfortable handles.
They are both under 3" and non A/O.

This will give you both a chance to check out two great knives by two great knife companies. Maybe both of you take a liking to the same knife, but it's easy to sell a LNIB delica or mini grip here or on the bay, and pick up what you want.

Good Luck
 
Just a thought, why not spring for a few bucks more and buy an American made 'Case' Brand folder? The smaller stockmans and jacks would be perfect and can be had with different handle materials. Later, Bob
 
May I ask...what city?

I'm not positive but i don't think any school allows students to carry knives.
 
I wouldn't recommend a 16 year old carrying any knife to school. That would be a quick ticket to expulsion.
 
At least purchase a knife made in the US and maybe instill some pride.

Good luck

Spencer
 
My head is reeling after reading all the great info you all have given me. I'll be printing this thread to highlight all the brands and types and research them better.
I told my son that even if his buds take knives to school, "HE" won't be doing that. We live in Santa Rosa, CA, but my boys go to a private Christian school and any weapon is a sure bust.
The non locking blades sound like a good training tool, but if he's to keep the knife for a long time, then I think it's just as well to get him one that is modern and easy so he gets familiarized with it for the duration. Nonetheless, good point!
The SAKs and Toolman types are ones that we already have in our camping equipment or garage. We are interested in a modern folder with only one blade, possibly the front half smooth edge, with the back half serrated.
Anyway, you all have a great Veteran's Day, and I'll be back to reveal our very first modern knife purchase! BTW, I see that there are many knives up for sale in the exchange, and alot get sold FAST! I didn't know there was such a following of this sort for knives. I thought guns was the big deal, and I've got a few, but a collection of up to 20 knives? WOW. Perhaps I need to clean out a drawer to make room for some new toys. Hooah.
 
I am 14 and I have about 10 knives. We cannot carry any on school grounds here in Iowa. I do carry folders outside of school though. I have 2 multitools though, I dont use them much though, they are nice but I dont like them as much as my SAK I just got. An SAK or Multitool is pretty much useless for deffence. I would say get him a SAK if he wants somthing more multi use. But if for deffence purposes maybe a Buck folder or somthing like that?
 
When I was in high school, I carried a junker in my backpack, and later, when I was a little bit wiser, carried one in my truck. Several of my teachers carried SAKs, they were tools and nothing more. That was ten years ago, and I hear that some teachers still carry similar folders to work. But, thats teachers.

I've gotten my little brother a few camp style folders, some SAKs, and recently gave him a Spyderco Delica, which he now carries everywhere. Delicas, Benchmade Grips, I would mention the Kershaw Scallion but as has been said before, assisted openers are probably frowned upon, even in NorCal. As a kid, I would go for some traditional looking blades. After he hits 18, maybe some good modern designs.
 
My .02 SAK are perfect. Find the right model can be fun as a father and son day. As for tactical, even I do not carry tactical knives. Benchmade 550 is as tactical as I get. reason I do not know how to use a knife as a weapon, I trust other items to protect my life. IE firearms, taser, spray, baton. My knives see more cutting duty than combat. Most people are not train to fight with a knife. My father in law told me in a knife fight you are going to cut, and the winner is not a clear winner. 2 tours in Vietnam as a Ranger.

My EDC are Victorinox Locksmith, Victorinox Spirit, Leather Charge, Benchmade 550

I carry a fixed blade when camping a CR mountaineer 2. I do collect EK knives and case knives, but again I would not use a knife (as a weapon) unless all my option were gone.

Most officers look down on tactical knives, but allow SAK and other multi tools. It is easier to say "I'm carring this because I need a tool which also allows me to cut items that I am working on". Again it is my .02 but many would agree. Good luck
 
The Mastiff said:
I didn't even know 440A could hit 58 after tempering. Joe
Click to expand...

Hi Joe,
440A is supposed to hit a max of 56/57 per the Carpenter spec sheet. But calibration on the Rockwell tester is ±1. So the hardness of my blade could actually be 57. On the other hand, that 56/57 is for a nominal batch of 440A. Carpenter says the carbon content of 440A ranges from .6%-.75%. If you got a batch at the high end of the carbon content range I would bet you would get a slightly higher hardness. So the blade actually could be Rockwell 58. I guess my point was that sometimes you see 440A run soft. They didn't run mine soft. Sounds like they didn't do that on Jamesh Bond's blade either.
Knarf
 
stevekt said:
I wouldn't recommend a 16 year old carrying any knife to school. That would be a quick ticket to expulsion.
Click to expand...

Expulsion ? They would probably lock down the entire block , send in HRT and copters , etc..
Kidding in a bitter way.

IMO I would streer away from anything too threatening looking for your son , I would recommend say a , Spyderco Native but it does have an aggressive look to it , if you could get him interested in a slipjoint , or maybe an Opinel , maybe a SAK as mentioned...etc.. The Buck Ranger was a good idea
280011-1079086241.jpg


Then , you get to teach him how to sharpen. :D

Oh and definatly stay away from anythging AO for your son , legal or not AO will make any cops , teachers , principals , etc , butts pucker tighter than a finger in the dyke.
 
Astrodokk said:
We are interested in a modern folder with only one blade, possibly the front half smooth edge, with the back half serrated.
Click to expand...


If you want a blade about 3", the Kabar Dozier is a very good deal at about $20. If you want to spend about $40, the Spyderco Native is an excellent performer.

I prefer a non-serrated blade. For a partial serration on a 3" blade, I think you don't get enough of either plain or serrated surface to be really useful.
 
Astro, here's a link to a compilation of state knife laws, in case you want to read a bit yourself... http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/knifelaws.html

The skinny is that the state has no length limit, but certain municipalities do have a 3" limit, and schools have a 2.5" limit (measured from HANDLE to tip, so this includes any ricasso)

For my .02CDN, I would recommend a Spyderco Delica. It's a light but sturdy knife, not too expensive, with good blade geometry and steel, backed by a great company. A Delica was my first "real" pocket knife many years ago.

Pic, shamelessly stolen from Spyderco's site...

C11BK_L.jpg


(The pictured blade is partially serrated, you can get it like that, or completely plain, OR completely serrated)

Later, if you want to get him something more "tooly", the Leatherman Wave is a good bet. Screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, saw, file, etc. Very handy to have around.
 
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