Proper age for giving a kid a knife

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dc7rr

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Hi all. I've got 2 little ones, a 5 1/2 yr old girl and a 4 yr old boy. I was just wondering at what age do you think proper for giving a child their first knife. And, what kind of knife did you give your child?
Also, what were some general ground rules? Example: "this is your knife but I'm keeping it for you". And so on and so forth.
Thanks all.
 
When I was younger, around 7, I was given a small wooden knife to show I was careful and responsible with it. About a year or so later I was given a Swiss army, don't recall what model, but a blade none the less. I think it depends on the child and their own maturity and responsibility they have and how you set rules and so forth.
 
Opinel makes a great first knife.

No snap open or closed. It locks open with a simple twist. Weighs nothing. Does not come laser sharp, but can be made so when they are ready.

I have lots of knives, and ended up giving my boy his first knife as an Opinel (I bought him a traditional folder, and he could not open it with his soft nails).

I did that when he was about 6 or 7?

He had carried around a buck cross lock that I took the edge and point off of for years.

I keep it, and let him use it when I am handy.


My 4 year old has one too. But his, I took a stone to the edge and point. He can still carry it and open it, with adult supervision (I don't want him running around with it because it is still a bit pointy).
 
My uncle gave me a dull knife with a blunt tip when I was five. That's how I started my cousin out. Lets them figure out how to keep their hand out of the way with a folder. Now we have trainer knives, but they can't cut. A dull knife is like a pair of safety scissors; it can cut some things but only with effort. If you see they have an interest and can be responsible, sharpen it a little, but leave the blunt tip. Step by step they'll acclimate.

I know a four year old that carries all kinds of knives because his dad does. He's very respectful and responsible.
 
When you as a parent feel they are MATURE enough (age doesn't matter) for them to own and use a knife. I've known teenagers and adults who I wouldn't trust with a knife and would hand them a pair of safety scissors if I had the option. Yet on the other hand I've known 6yr olds who I would have no issue teaching them how to use a knife and when they were 8yr I'd have no issue letting them use it without supervision if I were their parent.

My recommendation a swiss army knife, preferably Victorinox as from my experience they seem to be a step above Wenger. My Wenger Patriot despite loving it wasn't properly sharpened and had a very obtuse angle for the bevel that wasn't even apexed so it was cutting things mainly due to how thin the blade was and not because it was sharp. I prefer the swiss army knives as their cheap and very reliable and you know what your getting in terms of quality and Victorinox has some good QC in my experience, not to mention will last you a lifetime if you treat it right.

Of those I am biased and like to say the Vic Recruit as that was my first knife when I was around 7yr I want to say, it was given to me to keep and hold onto not for my parents to hold onto. Next one be the Vic Farmer because lets be honest a little kid can get into so much trouble/fun with a wood saw on a SAK and it should still remain slim enough to fit in their hand pretty good. Followed by the Vic Camper which I think will be starting to push it for what will fit comfortably in the hands of a small child. A simple Cadet or Pioneer is also a good choice.

I prefer having people start off on slip joints when they start off so they don't develop bad habits by relying on a lock. They will cut themselves a few times most likely but most likely nothing major. Could be a lot worse if they decide to rely on a lock and they break the lock and the blade comes crashing down with a lot more force. So I'd rather start with slip joints from the get go so that won't be a habit they develop.

Buck still makes some slip joints, like the Buck 301 and 303, the ones starting out with 37? ("?" random number) are China made with inferior 420j2 steel while the US made made with BOS heat treated 420HC starts with 30? and you can check on their website to confirm which models are made in the US as they are the ones made in 420HC. Their slip joints have a rep for being built like tanks which can take abuse and I would consider a good option.

Case makes a few affordable knives as well such as the Sodbusters, and some in delrin, their CV is carbon steel and will rust if not treated right and their stainless (tru-sharp) is 420HC to my knowledge but not as good of a heat treat as Buck but still usable. For a first knife I go with the stainless option.
 
My Grandpa gave me my first pocket knife at eight years old,still remember it had green scales.
 
I was given my first knife, a Buck lockback, for Christmas when I was 5. My parents kept it for me and I could only use it under their supervision. I basically just sat on the floor and cut up styrofoam egg cartons. That summer, I went to stay with my grandparents at the campground they were hosting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana (I did this almost every year). I had proven myself to be capable of not lopping my fingers off, so once I got there, the knife didn't leave my side for the whole summer.

The number of fish I cleaned that summer had to be in the HUNDREDS. 20+ years later, one of my favorite things to do is clean fish in a mountain stream with my EDC of choice.
 
Bigfattyt said:
Opinel makes a great first knife.

No snap open or closed. It locks open with a simple twist. Weighs nothing. Does not come laser sharp, but can be made so when they are ready.

I have lots of knives, and ended up giving my boy his first knife as an Opinel (I bought him a traditional folder, and he could not open it with his soft nails).

I did that when he was about 6 or 7?

He had carried around a buck cross lock that I took the edge and point off of for years.

I keep it, and let him use it when I am handy.


My 4 year old has one too. But his, I took a stone to the edge and point. He can still carry it and open it, with adult supervision (I don't want him running around with it because it is still a bit pointy).
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That is a great idea. I got a baby on the way and like any hard core knife person, I've thinking about what and when to give it to them and the blade snap had me worried but the Opinel solves that. I think I'm going to buy one now and have it ready for them when they are old enough :-)
 
My first knife was when I was around 7 years of age, very tiny no name sort of knife, perfect for a little kid. It wasn't too sharp, but my dad said I could have it if I took and used my crutches in church that day, which I did not want to do. I was so excited I'd get to carry a knife just like my dad did, I used my crutches and didn't even mind it.
 
SpookStrickland said:
That is a great idea. I got a baby on the way and like any hard core knife person, I've thinking about what and when to give it to them and the blade snap had me worried but the Opinel solves that. I think I'm going to buy one now and have it ready for them when they are old enough :-)
Click to expand...

Opinel also makes a knife without a point, in bright colors.
 
I don't have kids so I can't tell you when I would give my own child a knife...that depends heavily on the child and if he has a use for one.
But I am sure that just by you asking, your kid will know more about proper knife handling then I did at his age...but who hasn't cut themselves with a knife?

When you think he is ready, have a knife ready for him to use when you are using one and he can learn proper use...but again I don't have a kid so I may be way off base.

I have cut my self pretty good a few times as a younging but; never take advice from someone who's wounds are fresh and deep but from the one who's scars are smooth and healed....that's a quote, but I don't remember it for word or from whom but I like the jist of it.
I like to think those who have scars have learned...and only one way we get em is by learning.
 
Got my first when I was 6, it had no edge but I got a good sharp one about 6 months later. I don't think there isa hard and fast on this one. Parents say I matured fast? Anywho I was using bread and butter knives for a long time before hand so I guess you can say I was trained.
 
You are going to get quite a few different answers because there are a lot of uses for a knife and depending on what your child's interests or needs are, can change the advised knife owning age.
Do you spend time outdoors? Will you be teaching him how to clean fish or small game? Will he ever be playing around in the bush where a knife is a use full tool?
Or will he be in a mostly suburban environment where he will want to use his knife for the sake of using it(or playing with it) just because.
As adults we can justify carrying knives because we like them and they are handy but how handy are they for your child?
Every situation is different, but like I said, your kids will be miles ahead of me compared to when I got my first knife

Edited to add: I was never given a dull knife, for what its worth I was around 8. Before that I used someone elses
 
My daughters started when they were 8. They would get the knives when we went hiking or fishing. I wanted the newness and excitement of having a knife too wear off before I let them go unsupervised. I tried too teach them knife safety and how the TOOL works. They both know how to strop and sharpen them. They are now 12 and both still have all their digits.:D

They don't have the "sickness" yet, but both have 1 fixed and 1 folder of their own.
 
leghog said:
All kids are different. I know some adults I wouldn't trust with a knife.
Click to expand...

How true that is!

As for the proper age, it all depends on the the parents. If you feel your kids are responsible enough to us and respect a knife safely and treat it as a tool and not a toy or weapon, then its at your choice. I was 4 when I received my first knife. LOVED IT! and I still have it. I was so scared of screwing up and having it taking away, I treated it as a tool and not a toy.
 
I gave our daughter a Delica trainer when she was 6. I taught her how the sharp edge is different from other edges, and how it needs to be responsibly handled. She then practiced cutting veggies under our supervision. It's been an year and now she has her real knife - a Spyderco Dragonfly.
 
Got my first at 7, my younger brother the same time at around 5. They were Winchester 2-blade slipjoints (from the early '90s)

This is one of the oldest topics on the forum, though. You can find threads on this going back to 1999, so a search might be beneficial.
 
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