Need Suggestions for an EDC for Someone that’s Never Owned a Knife.

SAK.
Non threatening -- especially the red Cellidor models.
Signature or SD CLASSIC or "Executive". (The signature is the same size as the SD Classic, and has the same blade, fingernail file with small flat screwdriver, and scissors. The signature replaces the stored in scale toothpick for a retractable ballpoint pen with blue ink.)
If he will be slicing apples, cutting his sandwich, etc., a 3.625 inch closed canoe pattern two blade slipjoint. They are light weight and vanish in the pocket, or a 2 7/8 inch closed Peanut (I don't know if the Case Peanut is $40 or under) or a slightly larger 3.25 ~ 2.125 inch closed "Texas Jack", or a 3.25 inch closed Barlow.
Check out the Rough Rider/Ryder. Excellent quality low cost knives. For $40 you could get him a Peanut, Canoe, and Barlow, giving him a selection to choose from.
 
Sounds like he’s getting a late start.

My ex did too, and when we were into river rafting, I got us a couple cheap stainless liner locks to clip on our float vests. Of course I sharpened them to a keen edge, and one day getting ready for a trip, she unclipped it and was carrying it around. She tried wrist-flicking it open like she’d seen me do, then thumbed the liner and wrist-flicked it closed. Gashed her thumb open pretty good.

She didn’t blame me, but I always felt I could have provided a little more guidance, and haven’t been interested in liner locks much since. She went on to like the Buck 112, and actually taught her current husband how to wrist-flick it.

Parker
 
Completely agree here. Also have a look at some traditional’s like Case. Maybe a bit over the $40 threshold, but worth a look.
 
tokerblue said:
My 10 year old son has been opening knives and utility blades for years. If an adult can't open and close a knife, I'd question if they should even use one.
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And I imagine you took the time to teach your son knife safety, and proper respect for knives, before you ever handed him one, or let him use one on his own.

I have no way of knowing if the OP's friend has ever received such instruction, or if the OP intends to offer such instruction, or if he's just going to give his friend a knife that he has zero experience with. The OP only says that his friend has "seen" his knives.

I'm 52 years old, I was taught knife safety and proper respect for knives as a child. I started with slip joints, and after demonstrating safe handling of slip joints for several years my parents bought me a back lock. I'm glad I started with slip joints, because it taught me to use every folder like a slip joint. As a result I never have to worry about a locking folder accidentally coming unlocked and cutting my fingers.

For a person I don't know, who might have zero experience with folding knives, much less one-handed folding knives, I would recommend the same- start with a slip joint, learn to use it safely, learn to treat every folder as a slip joint, and then move on to locking knives.

I don't believe that any person is born knowing how to properly and safely open and close all the various types of folding knives. We all had to learn. Not knowing how shouldn't exclude someone from carrying or using a knife, it just means that they should learn, if they want to. And if they have no interest in learning knife safety, or proper respect for knives, then I would say they definitely SHOULDN'T be using knives.

I didn't touch a liner lock until I was 32 years old, and had zero experience with them, so I asked the owner of the knife store to show me the proper way to open and close them. I remember I kept trying to push the thumbstud straight out, which didn't work. He taught me to push it forward, and that's how I learned. I'm sure I could have eventually figured it out for myself, but I always appreciate learning from those more knowledgeable than myself, and I'm never ashamed to ask them to teach me.

Twenty years of using one-hand folders later, and I've never cut myself opening or closing one. And I'm still thankful the old guy at the knife shop took the time to teach a 32 year old guy how to do it, rather than telling me I shouldn't be using a knife if I can't figure out how to open and close one.
 
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The old guy at the knife shop is probably getting ready to retire. Perhaps you’re the new guy for the job.

The 32 yr olds coming in there now could benefit from your wisdom. “Grab it by the thick end, not the pointy end.”

Parker
 
Another SAK vote here. I'd highly recommend something with scissors. My wife and I use them all the time.

If you want something other than the Classic, the Huntsman will run about $37.
 
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Christy. Very office friendly.
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I think this is a g
killgar said:
You say he's never owned a knife? Well, it doesn't hurt to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run.

A person with no folding knife experience opening and closing a sharp folder with one hand would give me cause for concern. A liner or frame lock requires a person to put their digit in the path of the blade when closing. Of course if your friend is the diligently careful type, and has good finger/hand dexterity, then this might not be a problem.

For a complete beginner I might recommend one of these. It doesn't have the cool-factor of a one-handed folder, but I think it's a good place for a beginner to start. And I think it might be considered "office friendly", which could be an added virtue. And in my opinion, it's just a classy-looking knife.

Swiss Army 1 Alox handles.

killgar said:
You say he's never owned a knife? Well, it doesn't hurt to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run.

A person with no folding knife experience opening and closing a sharp folder with one hand would give me cause for concern. A liner or frame lock requires a person to put their digit in the path of the blade when closing. Of course if your friend is the diligently careful type, and has good finger/hand dexterity, then this might not be a problem.

For a complete beginner I might recommend one of these. It doesn't have the cool-factor of a one-handed folder, but I think it's a good place for a beginner to start. And I think it might be considered "office friendly", which could be an added virtue. And in my opinion, it's just a classy-looking knife.

Swiss Army 1 Alox handles.

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I think this is a great suggestion. Swiss Army is a great knife for the professional guy. It also isn't a knife that would make anyone nervous if he pulled it out and used it..........
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It a lot of good suggestions here, many of which I would also recommend. Since your buddy works in an office environment, however, I am going to add a vote for the Leek. It is a great knife, and looks like a gentleman's knife.
 
Nalapombu said:
Hey all.

I need some help please.

I have a very good friend that has recently been asking me about what kind of knife he could get and carry. He has seen my knives that I carry each day and I guess he has decided to finally try owning and carrying a knife.

He’s not a blue jeans kinda guy. He’s more of a casual Friday dress code kinda guy. He’s a financial advisor and he looks the part. So, a big, hulking knife won’t work for him. It would have to be a bit on the lightweight side.
I also think he’d do best with a flipper with a liner or frame lock. Easy to open, safe, and easy to close for him.
I figured I’d buy him a knife to try and maybe create a brand new Knife Nut!

As for cost, I’d like to keep it under $40 in case he doesn’t like it or tells me he likes it and then tosses it in a drawer and only gets it when he’s got a string to cut.
After I find out that he likes carrying a knife and he’s interested in getting other knives, I can get him a better one down the road.

So, what would you suggest? Anything stand out as a great choice to you?
Any help you can give will be appreciated.

Larry
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Kershaw Leek. Nice fast spring assisted flipper. Small enough to conceal easily, but big enough to get some work out of.
 
I was coming in to recommend a sak in alox also because nobody would think of that except for everyone apparently 😄...

I do like the K55 idea above also and another one might be something by Case.

If its to be a one handed flipper or or no deal I might also suggest a buck vantage.
 
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