OK, what outdoors folder to teach kids with?

Gotta say, a simple fixed blade with a guard has always seemed vastly safer than a folder. When I was a kid, it was the folders that bit me occasionally from stupidity.

The fixed blade doesn't have moving parts/edges, and can be simply resheathed one handed. The guard is a nice comfort compared to the folder, too.

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Yeah, I've got a couple Mora Clippers I was thinking about showing them too.
 
I would go with a SAK. I'd loved to have started with a Slip Joint to learn to use my knives extremely carefully, and than get them into knives with locks. Of course, I started with a Buck 110.
 
CSG said:
I've had a couple threads about this recently as I want my 9 and 11 year old boys to start getting used to using a knife themselves on our walks in the country.

I first thought about some simple slip joint like a SAK Recruit but after talking to a couple local dads, all felt that a locking knife made more sense these days. I don't tend to disagree with that thinking.

I was looking in the safe and I've got a couple Buck 501's that are the right size but pushing the lock release button is an effort. I'm not sure they could do it safely.

I've come to the conclusion (but am asking for your advice, especially dads) that perhaps the best knife to learn on and buy them is the one I EDC - a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian. A little spendier than some others but the Axis lock is brilliant compared to other systems.

But I also thought about something like the Gerber UL LST which are inexpensive, sturdy, and easy to release the lock.

What do you guys think?

BTW, I've got a couple spare Vic Farmers but I think the blades are a bit hard to open and snap shut with too much authority for little novice hands. I also thought about a couple SAK Classics (I EDC one of these too) but the tiny blade is pretty useless outdoors IMO.
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Opinel. 'Nuff said.
 
Opinels would be great. Or else maybe those gerber paraframes. Buck is a solid choice, as would a traditional slipjoint style.
 
Opinels for sure, though I must say that a mora is a very good way to start. That's how I learned.
 
What about a good ol sodbuster? I think im getting out of tacticool and into trad now. But kids do like the tacticool stuff...seriously. My son's first knife is a yellow comp handled soddie that was my grandfathers.
 
I don't own "tactical" knives. To me they're mostly useless for the reasons I own knives. Coincidentally though, I was looking at Sodbusters online and YT just last night. I don't own one but they are cool in an old school way.
 
I'll concur with the chorus of SAK and Opinel advocates here. When I was a kid, grandpa would take us on little hikes in the woods, and he would let us borrow both slipjoints and lockbacks on occasion. In either case, some instruction on safe closure is necessary. It seems all too obvious to us knifely folk, but when you're a kid, it seems tricky, like trying to steal bait out of a bear trap!
 
Starting them on something without a lock will teach them not to "trust" in a locking mechanism down the road. This is a good thing, for locks can and will fail from time to time. The Opinel would be a good option in a #6 or so, because if they forget to turn the ring lock, they do not have a lockback knife. I got started in a similar fashion, and have yet to let a blade close on my hand, slipjoint or locking knife alike. The LST UL is a great knife--the only issue I see is that it is so light that one would not notice if it fell out of their pocket. However, boys will be boys, and it is not a huge investment to start with. Tight little knife though.
 
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