Need advice from the fathers out there...

[tholiver]

maybe a training folder knife is good at that age rather then the real thing......

Thats a good idea! I'm a Victorinox SAK junkie and i was browsing ebay and saw a Victorinox brand toy SAK! Its harmless and made of plastic but would make a good trainer for a small child. Go to ebay look in "folding knives" and search for "toy victorinox".

 

[GeoHab]

As a new grandfather, I couldn't see giving my grandson a knife at the age of 5. There's just too much harm that could come of it--esp. if he takes it out when another kid is around. I started fooling around with knives when I was about 10 (playing "I declare war on...." and throwing the knife into a pie drawn on the dirt, with slices representing countries--anybody remember that?).

 

[Prince of Peace]

I'm thinking a thin plastic screwdriver is the way to go at age 5.
My boys are in their 20's now but I remember playing with He-Man and Thundercat toys like it was yesterday. I don't think giving them access to a sharp blade would have been prudent.
Plastic screwdriver will work fine. Check Ace Hardware or Wal-Mart.
Good luck,
Peace.

 

[Dog Man]

My first knife was a Camillus Cub Scout knife when I was 8 years old. Never cut myself, and I don't know of any of my fellow Cub Scouts who did, so, I vote for three more years. Until then, something like a knife that is not pointy and not sharp. Maybe even a "real" knife of your choice that has a rounded tip/ground that way by you, and a deliberately dulled edge.

 

[znapschatz]

As a new grandfather, I couldn't see giving my grandson a knife at the age of 5. There's just too much harm that could come of it--esp. if he takes it out when another kid is around. I started fooling around with knives when I was about 10 (playing "I declare war on...." and throwing the knife into a pie drawn on the dirt, with slices representing countries--anybody remember that?).

Never did that, but my favorite knife game was "Stretch." Two boys would stand facing each other and take turns throwing a knife into the ground a small distance from his opponent's foot. If the knife stuck, he would have to extend his foot to touch it, then take his turn. After a while, one or the other would be stretched to the max and fall over. Nobody in our scout troop had knives with scales still on them.

Note to women readers: my reference to boys only is not an expression of gender insensitivity. During my entire youth, I never saw a girl play this game.

 

[gkruty]

I would say that the SAK Classic is one of the more dangerous knives for small hands. the blades don't lock (scars to prove it), the handels are soo small to hold on to as well. My vote is get a 1.75 - 2.25 inch lockback for him in a couple years. For now give him a nailfile (sharpened?) to pry LEGOS with.

Couldn't have said it better myself. If I had a dime for everytime my old vic's or wagner's folded on me when I was a kid, I would be rich!

Maybe a small (dulled) Bucklite or the like?

My Father gave me an old Ka-bar fixed when I was 9...I Loved that knife, still miss it.

 

[Buddiiee]

Yea, id do a trainer of sorts first. a new Vic sak is dam near scalpel sharp, and i would doubt his eye-hand coordination as well.

 

[Prince of Peace]

My son got his first knife at 4. Daily carry privileges at 5. Now 7 with 5 blades plus 4 or 5 rescued paring knives, etc. Full carry privileges with his Crosman air rifle too. The .22 he will get soon will be monitored for now.

Age 7...the .22 caliber rifle he will get soon will be monitered for now.


THE .22 CALIBER RIFLE HE WILL GET SOON.


AGE 7


Peace.