New Spydie Knife Idea, Tell Me What You Think

Regarding the tip, maybe something like the Pacific Salt or even a little more rounded off.
 
Here is something that hasn't been talked about yet, knife weight, it should be very light, that way if they drop it on their foot, it won't do as much or any damage, it will also keep them from wanting to chop with the knife IMO.
 
BJE said:
Here is something that hasn't been talked about yet, knife weight, it should be very light, that way if they drop it on their foot, it won't do as much or any damage, it will also keep them from wanting to chop with the knife IMO.
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good one! :thumbup:
 
I'm trying to think what a kid would use a knife for...in my day...in the country...cutting wood sticks and cutting cardboard were most of the cutting functions. A blunt tip is ok, but maybe pointed enough to pierce cardboard, etc. Otherwise how else will Junior cut out a port hole for his cardboard pirate ship?
 
FWIW, my kids use My First Victorinox SAKs. If you haven't seen them, they have a rounded tip, like a butter knife. I explain the basics of safety, and tell them that the knife will get a useful point if I see they use their knives responsibly. Both have eventually been reground into sheepsfoot like points.

I think there's something to be said about starting with a slipjoint. A folder is a folder regardless if it has a lock or not. For real security, use a fixed.

The Vic also has a useful (if basic) set of tools, is durable, easy to sharpen, compact, reliable, and inexpensive. It's a very elegant little knife.

For a kid's knife, I'd say the sheepsfoot is a good, non threatening, utilitarian blade. No serrations. A pocket clip is handy. As is the lanyard hole. My son might think camo is neat, but I have a feeling a green/camo knife would get lost on the first camping trip. So I'd vote for a bright color(s). A thin blade profile makes for an easy sharpening and efficient cutter. No sharpened prybar. Closed length of around 3.5". Spyderhole, of course. Maybe a neat little "bottle opener" on the blade that handily functions as a Wave. ;)
 
Rust-proof H-1, 2.5" sheepsfoot blade ie. no dangerous foot-skewering tip, blue or red scales so it doesn't get lost too easily.

Unsure about a lock-maybe slipjoint for shecky's reasons. Maybe a finger choil?

So yeah, a mini slipjoint Atlantic would fit the bill IMO.

[I'd get one for me too! Damn UK laws...]
 
What age would you start your kid(s) at?

I say 8-10 depending on how well I've raised them.
 
Definately agree that the sheepsfoot would be a good practical design.

When I looked at the 'my first' victorinox, I just laughed; reminds me of the Simpsons "get out your safety pencils and a circle of paper" line.. it's just too safety-orientated, I really can't see the blade shape being that useful, and that's dangerous because if it's not useful the kid will stop using it, and never appreciate the value of having a quality blade about his person.

Locking or fixed blade would be good to avoid accidents, but having said that, how's Johnny going to learn if he can't slip up a few times?

FWIW, my first was a vic SAK (either spartan or climber, I don't remember); the tools on it made me feel like James Bond. I wanted to use it on everything!
Perhaps it would be good if the knife was sold 'bundled' with a small tool set? (this would also reinforce the "tool, not weapon" line)

as for age, the big "one oh" is a nice round figure. People make a fuss of it. Gives the kid a coming of age feeling, too.

as for a clip... no. It'll get lost. Probably not by most kids, but by some certainly. maybe a pouch with a belt loop.

just my tuppence :)
 
well, the other day i gave my little brother his first knife, two days after he turned 9 years old. it is the same size as my minimal EDC slipjoint, but his has a lockback blade, and a wider blade. it is actually the knife i intended to buy for myself several months ago, but i ended up with a different knife in the box. now that he let me play with it for a few minutes, i think i will have to buy one for myself too.

i am teaching him how to use it properly and safely, and he knows that he isn't allowed to take it out unless i am right there with him and i say its all okay. he also knows that he isn't allowed to take it to school.
 
my first knife when I was 5 was a cheap slipjoint with a spearpoint blade and a pressed tartan pattern tin handle.

but times have changed, my son Morgan made his first fixed blade last June (with my help), pictures of which I helped him post on British Blades .

He turned 10 in October and for Christmas I bought him a blue scaled Victorinox Spartan - he is over the moon with it, I also showed him how to make a lanyard and he has woven one for his Spartan. which he now carries everywhere in his jeans when he is with us or at home

from my own experience of bringing up 2 step children who are now 19 and 21, both I gave Spartans to at the age of ten and both had them confiscated by their real father who claimed he wasn't having his children with weapons , I know how some people view children with knives.

So if I was to go for a style of knife I would be looking at the traditional 'boyscout' spearpoint blade or a sheepsfoot blade about 2 inches or 2 1/2 in length

a thicker humped sheeps foot pattern could be quite an interesting design for Spyderco to look at, but it would need to have more 'traditional feel' especialy for the European market, where the majority of Spyderco patterns are considered to have very Tactical look to them.

adn I would definately avoid the rounded end knives, how can you teach responsibilty and safety when the child knows there is no risk of injury ?
 
my first knife was a plain edge spyderco delica with the molded in clip. My father told me I should always carry clipped in my front pants pocket. I broke the clip 2 years later on a car door. Replaced it with a delica 2 and carried it daily until I joined the army when I replaced it with a military model. Now I own like 16 models with plans to buy 10 more next week.
 
I'm a Boy Scout and I use regular Spyderco knives all the time. It isn't unusual, though, when with other troops (my Scoutmaster is a police officer and former Green Beanie, so he knows what knives are good for) anything with a blade over two-inches, or "bigger than their manhood" as my Scoutmaster says :D, is frowned upon. I think a knife purpose built to be inexpensive, a good performer, and dimensioned for younger hands or for slimness in the pocket is a good idea---but some of these are already around by Spyderco; hey, the Philmont Scout Ranch actually sells the Jester at its souvenior shop in New Mexico.
 
As a grown up Boy Scout I agree with SteelScout's remarks. For what it is worth here are my immediate thoughts. Unfortunately they basicly make it un-spyderco I guess. At least it would still mean QUALITY and have the BUG! I have thought of this often as I have two Delica 3 with perriwinkle blue (lavender to my eye) handles put back for my daughters.

-rounded type drop point like Delica 4 (must have a point)
-no hole (one hand opining frowned upon for First knife, priviledge for later)
- no serrations (hard to teach basics of sharpening, knife tends to not whittle well)
-flat ground , thinner blade
-Delica sized handle, nothing smaller but perhaps a shorter 2/12" blade?
-removable clip, lanyard hole
-bright colored handle of textured FRN
-easily sharpened steel like maybe AUS6? (I felt everyone cringe at that one but it is a kid that will be sharpening it)
-"My first Spyderco" marked obviously
-knife should be sharp, dull knives cut worse in an accident than sharp in my experience
-lower price point in case lost
-diff colors for girls possibly as well (my daughters would LOVE pink, Sal are you listening HaHa)

Incidently my father would carry a black handled version as described above as well. He likes the clip but not serrations or the hole. Keep in mind guys this might not be our ideal knife but we are rather spoiled.... there was no Spyderco when we were kids. Thinking of what an impovement this would be over the Imperial knives I had. Just my thoughts guys.
 
steelscout-the jesters at Philmont are not engraved with any Philmont or BSA symbols are they? I would love to add them to my Buck Philmont collection if they are. Incidently Sal a red, brown, or green handled Official BSA Spyderco would absolutely ROCK.
 
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