Pocket Knives as gifts for non knife people

It seems different these days than when I was a kid. Back then most youngsters would appreciate a knife and think they had the world by the tail. Now days there just isn’t a lot of people including youngsters that care about having a knife or tool to use. Everything is easy open and convenient so they don’t even think about needing one. The ones who do show an interest I will take the time to educate them and offer them a knife. I think they have to have appreciation for a knife and what it can do to be worth while and spend the money on the matter. Otherwise it’s likely a waste.
 
Opinel, SAK, Mora, Buck Bantam, cold Steel Kudu, I have given in batches to family members.
Around the holidays, Cabelas sells a small liner lock, along with a small pocket flashlight in a plastic case, all for ten bucks. My workplace does a Secret Santa with a $10 limit. Bingo.
 
Slip joints are a no go for me. Too easy to cut yourself if closing carelessly. Same with frame & linerlocks. Axis locks were my go - to for a bit, but Benchmades weren’t cheap.

Safest seems a small-ish lockback like a Spyderco Delica or Dragonfly. Open one handed. Close two handed. You’d have to work on nicking yourself. (Does NOT apply to Lionsteel TM1, a good size tank of a lockback on bearings. Oh, it WANTS to bite you!)

My wife, not a knife person though very handy-person / craft oriented and adept with power tools, competent with kitchen cutlery, but always asking for my pocket knife but then complaining about difficulty opening / closing it. And like most, got bit more than once by her SAKs, focusing on her task rather than blade handling.

Looking at knives with me one day and discovering OTFs remarked that they seemed to solve the problem, blade in blade out, never near the fingers. “I want one of those” flicking away with a Livewire. Makes sense, they really are safe to deploy & retract.

I get her a UTX-85 and I’ve no idea how she managed it, but yup, she sliced her thumb wide open first time she tried opening it. How do you even do that?

So, yeah Spydie Delica or Dragonfly for the non-knife folk.
 
I've given away quite a few knives but have mostly decided to not do it anymore. Folks don't understand the value and sentiment and ultimately use them as screwdrivers, chip them beyond repair, and/ or lose them. I gave them away because they make me happy and I want to share that but it naturally doesn't do the same for non knife people. Safe action or not, if it's not wanted I wouldn't bother anymore. At most they'll get a mora for a camping trip.
 
Bigbluefish said:
Slip joints are a no go for me. Too easy to cut yourself if closing carelessly. Same with frame & linerlocks. Axis locks were my go - to for a bit, but Benchmades weren’t cheap.

Safest seems a small-ish lockback like a Spyderco Delica or Dragonfly. Open one handed. Close two handed. You’d have to work on nicking yourself. (Does NOT apply to Lionsteel TM1, a good size tank of a lockback on bearings. Oh, it WANTS to bite you!)

My wife, not a knife person though very handy-person / craft oriented and adept with power tools, competent with kitchen cutlery, but always asking for my pocket knife but then complaining about difficulty opening / closing it. And like most, got bit more than once by her SAKs, focusing on her task rather than blade handling.

Looking at knives with me one day and discovering OTFs remarked that they seemed to solve the problem, blade in blade out, never near the fingers. “I want one of those” flicking away with a Livewire. Makes sense, they really are safe to deploy & retract.

I get her a UTX-85 and I’ve no idea how she managed it, but yup, she sliced her thumb wide open first time she tried opening it. How do you even do that?

So, yeah Spydie Delica or Dragonfly for the non-knife folk.
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If one is to be gifted, (and it is a folder)yeah the lock back is the way to go. I've handed numerous people my knife to use and they almost always try pushing on the spine to release the blade. Even when there's no visible metal back there. Go figure.
 
If youre giving a knife to a non "knife person" youre likely giving them something you suspect they'll use as a cutting tool. Then in that case, these are a few of my suggestions--- Kershaw Brawler, civivi elementum, sak tinker/or/Spartan, crkt drifter, buck 112.
 
I used to give knives to my brothers pretty regularly. Generally Kershaws since I had several Kershaws in my early knife buying years. They kept loosing them, so I stopped gifting them. One was to my youngest brother which he has lost, then found, 3 or 4 times and kinda miss. It was a Kershaw Zing with fluted blade and custom G10 scales I made for it. They carry knives, but cheap/basic stuff. None of the Kershaws I gave inspired any further interest in higher quality knives, but I started low and payed attention to how they took care of it, and decided I should try something else.

My dad carries a knife all the time, he likes chinese 440A steel. I bought him a case mini copper lock and he took it fishing. But it in his pocket soaked in salt water and found it with rust later that day, so it went in the drawer. Years later I bought him 2x cheapy Frost/Iron Warrior lockback knives in his favorite steel. $10 each and he carries them everywhere. He also over sharpens, so I probably need to buy him another 2 or 3 this year since they will be worn out in about a year.

A good friend is a machinist by trade, never saw him carrying a knife, but he does like tools and working with his hands. Bought him a nice Kershaw USA in 20CV steel, forget the model, and it never leaves his pocket. He loves it, and definitely appreciated having a high quality blade. We were talking flashlights recently, so I think I'll get him a mid-sized fenix or olight this year.

Brought a box of 10 used blades, mostly slip joints, to work to pass out after winning a giveaway on the Traditional Forums. I did the smart thing and asked first "Do you carry a knife?" then "Do you want a free one?" and let them pick whatever they wanted. Seemed to go over well, a couple guys picked an extra for their sons. I guess my point is, it's better to know your audience a little bit so your gift (and money spent) is more appreciated and actually gets used at some point. Otherwise, a gift card probably goes further.
 
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