Native or Mini-Grip for 8 year old?

1. Thanks TAH. It is good to know that your son has responsibilities, ergo your role as a father must have been flawless (not kidding).

2. I am neither narrow nor small minded, just realistic. Look into the news what Kids/Teenagers/Youngster nowadays do with knives. I used to work in school and know what they carry around with them. Coolness, showoffs, etc...still relative "harmless", but then maybe at the next fight they start to swing their balisongs around.

3. As I mentioned before, the grip on the Native is a real pain if it doesn't fit your hand. If it does, wonderful feeling.
Thus, I really would consider the Mini-Grip. Why only those two?

Regards, vC
 
Side note: About a year ago, my son and I were backpacking and he cut himself with my SAK (blade closed on his finger while he was sticking it into some wood). Anyway, he was looking very sheepish and when he told me what had happen (thinking he was in big trouble) I said, well now you know how sharp the blade is, I guess you can have your own knife now. Of course, that produced a big smile. He hasn't cut himself since. :)
 
Hi vin,

Flawless parenting? Hardly. But I do my best.

I understand your thoughts on kids, knives, school, etc., but that's a whole new thread.

Sincerely, thanks for your concern.

Tom

PS - Regarding those two knives, I just happen to like them very much. And they are different enough for opinions. :thumbup:
 
I would recomend the Spyderco. The minigrip might be a bit too coarse for his hands. Although you could fix a lot fo that with some sandpaper.
 
clerk,

If the Native fits his hand and he can disengage the lock safely, he will love the spider web design in the handle. He thinks the little spider on my Paramilitary blade is the greatest thing since canned spaghetti. :)
 
TAH,I have a 8 year old son and think he is somewhat responsible.With that being said he is only 8.To me a bit young to be carrying his on knife. Now thats just my take on a 8 year old with a knife.
 
47 years ago when I was 6 I got my first knife. Yes I cut myself occasionally. I bled more using my legs and falling down so I guess legs are more dangerous than knives. I am 53 now and still occasionally cut myself however I do fall less when running.:)
 
I agree with what has been said above about the Axis lock being more "toy-like" and that this can be a problem. However, it can also be closed without the user's fingers or thumb getting between the blade and handle. A lockback (such as on the Native) usually requires a thumb or finger be in the "danger zone" when you first unlock it, so someone that is not careful or is new to knives can slip and have it close on them.

Your son can make a mistake with either knife, but getting cut with the Native could be a matter of a simple slip when he was trying to be safe. With the Axis lock (if you show him how to properly close it), his fingers shouldn't be in the way to begin with. So the mistake would be using a totally incorrect technique, and not a little slip.

However, if you show your son how to work the knife safely, and he really is responsible, I think either knife will be fine. I just wouldn't get him the Kershaw G&G Hawk E.T.

If your son likes the Spyder, well, it seems like the Native will make him more happy.
 
I dont see what the problem is ive had knives since i was like 5, but i grew up on a farm so they had a big purpose, mostly buck and swiss army type knifes.

And why dont you ask your son what he wants instead of deciding for him or give him one for whatever holiday you celibrate and one for his birthday?
 
All,

Thanks again for your help and advice. I think the best thing to do is buy both knives and let him decide which knife is more comfortable. Once I get a chance to see him handle both, it will become more clear.

For the record, this is not a gift that I will give him and then tell him to go run off and play with it. When his knives are not in use, he puts them in my desk drawer. When the knives are out, I'm right there. He is remarkably responsible (must get that from his mom. :D ).
 
Well, I decided to go with a Native PE for my son and it finally arrived yesterday. Needless to say, he loved it! This knife is perfect for a boy's first lock blade. The overall size is just right and it fits his hand comfortably. Operating the lock is a breeze for him. The lock is very secure, but releases with little effort. At present, his hand is not large enough to open the blade one-handed, but that will come in time.

His biggest challenge now will be preventing me from playing with it - although, being only 8 years old, I think I can out muscle him. :D
 
The Dragonfly is nice, but as I suspected, he loved the spider web design in the Native's handle. :thumbup:
 
van Christie said:
2. I am neither narrow nor small minded, just realistic. Look into the news what Kids/Teenagers/Youngster nowadays do with knives. I used to work in school and know what they carry around with them. Coolness, showoffs, etc...still relative "harmless", but then maybe at the next fight they start to swing their balisongs around.
Click to expand...

So you're saying his kid is some idiot low life? I owned knives all through high school, and had pocket knives in grade school, etc. I NEVER dared think about taking any of them to school. I knew better. I'm sure this guy's kid knows better too.

It's the kids who's parents have no interest in knives, as well as their kids, that end up getting ahold of a knife and bringing it to school. They don't have anyone telling them that it's wrong, or the kids don't care what their parents will do to them if they are caught with a knife, since the parents would probably do nothing.

I think the topic starter here has a taken the time to educate his son about the responsibility of owning a knife.

Also to call a pocket knife a "weapon" is not a popular thing to do here.
 
Thanks Wade. I grew up with guns and knives at a very early age. My father drilled me with safety rules and I took great pride in knowing how to properly and safely handle both. It's the kids who have never been exposed to guns and knives (and are warned to stay away from them) that end up being curious and then ultimately get themselves in trouble never being taught right from wrong. My son has no curiousity or "cheap thrill" of handling guns and knives because it's old hat to him now. For the record, he shoots a .22 rifle with me standing 12" behind him. :thumbup:

So I guess it's payback time. Guess who's drilling him on safety these days? :D
 
Read my post and the next one thoroughly before writing such aggressive nonsense please.
I didn’t call is kid an idiot, quite the contrary actually, the same goes for his father, the writer.
Plus, I didn’t say that all kids carry weapons to school, there aren’t many (fortunately) but if one guy is carrying one, that’s already one too much. And believe me, its not only one guy. As I mentioned earlier, I worked part-time in school as an physics teacher so I have seen things.
And a pocket knife CAN be a weapon if you want it or not. I said “CAN”.

TAH, glad your son love the Native, I wasn’t really sure if his hand is big enough for the grip. Actually, the Native has in my opinion the best and secure grip so far.

Regards, vC
 
Thanks vC. Again, no offense taken. My son used the Native the other night in the kitchen to make carrot shavings. He had a blast - although his little sister kept stealing them. :)
 
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