Recommend a first knife for my son

Jaundice said:
Thanks, everyone, for the great suggestions! The list is comprehensive, and I'll have to give it some thought. At this point, I'm leaning towards a Buck 55, although you guys have got me leaning toward a slipjoint or a Victorinox. The issue is that I had a small slipjoint, but I remember having the blade close on me a couple of times (no cuts). Maybe that's an important lesson to learn early on?



No, seriously, those are important considerations! My second and third knives, which I still have today, are various Victorinox knives with both a magnifying glass and scissors. Those were great, although from personal experience, water skeeters are more satisfying. They give more of a burnt steak smell than ants!

I think that I want to keep it simple at first, and get a dedicated knife, to focus on safe knife-handling skills. We'll be in Cub Scouts in a year, and then we get into the fun Victorinox tools! Man, I loved those when I was a kid!

Also, thanks for the clarification. I definitely want a two-hand opening knife to show two-hand opening and two-hand closing.

-John
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Cub Scouts? Then how about one of these? :

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply...UCTS&c2=CAMPING&C3=KNIVES&C4=&LV=3&item=24076
 
You might also consider the AG Russell 2.5 Ti folder. this is a lockback with 2" VG10 blade for $30. Also offered with a slightly larger blade for $35. Excellent quality and worth keeping, but if he loses it, no big deal. Small and light.
 
I think you should then wait a bit until cub scouts. Knife responsibility is one of the important lessons i Learned, and all these years later- one of the few I remember.

That, and he's likely to get the cubscout Vic pocket pal, like I did. I think that's what they still do...



Jaundice said:
Thanks, everyone, for the great suggestions! The list is comprehensive, and I'll have to give it some thought. At this point, I'm leaning towards a Buck 55, although you guys have got me leaning toward a slipjoint or a Victorinox. The issue is that I had a small slipjoint, but I remember having the blade close on me a couple of times (no cuts). Maybe that's an important lesson to learn early on?



No, seriously, those are important considerations! My second and third knives, which I still have today, are various Victorinox knives with both a magnifying glass and scissors. Those were great, although from personal experience, water skeeters are more satisfying. They give more of a burnt steak smell than ants!

I think that I want to keep it simple at first, and get a dedicated knife, to focus on safe knife-handling skills. We'll be in Cub Scouts in a year, and then we get into the fun Victorinox tools! Man, I loved those when I was a kid!

Also, thanks for the clarification. I definitely want a two-hand opening knife to show two-hand opening and two-hand closing.

-John
Click to expand...
 
I got a big ol' Barlow when I was 5, quickly expanded my collection at 7 with an opinel no. 9 and an vic spartan, went through most carbon and stainless opinels since then. I think a Barlow might be ideal, as they are sturdy, utilitarian, and easy to maintain because of their simplicity.
 
:Dget him the leatherman kick it is a non locking blade so you can teach him how to use those and if you close the handles you can't close it on your self
 
I got a small 3 blade 'stockman' pattern Ka-Bar (?) about age 8, 1953 !! (wow! time flies!!)
I remember at that time they had an 'edge' of about 90deg out-of-the-box;
so I was sharpening it so I could cut something until about age 9!

A 1 or 2 blade slippy is the way to go...and teach sharpening to him
so he respects the edge and doesn't stick it into the ground...at least not too often. :)
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I was born in 88, and when my dad worked at a manufacturing plant he needed tools on the job for fixing powder paint machines and such. My mom bought him a leatherman supertool and he had that thing on him everyday, always used it. Camping, fishing. I remember one time walking down a path at the end of our road and a tree had fallen across it, i believe it was the first day he had it, we cut the top of the tree off so people could get by. Someone stole it while he was on the job in hartford for drug money he was later told from someone who heard word. I gave him mine and it stays in his truck now. I want to get him a the new 300 but i don't have that money right now. He broke the saw and i chipped the end off the knife, but made it into a chisel/fine screw driver.
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Leatherman is great about fixing broken tools. Go to their web site and email them and they will give you instructions on warranty service.:)
 
I second the idea of giving him one of your old blades. My first knife was a swiss army knife that was my dads originally, I still have it today.

Of course if you're just looking for an excuse to buy a new knife, I can't argue with you there :)
 
Having the same delima, but my boy is a bit older. My dad gave me a Buck 110 that I had forever till someone broke into my truck and needed it more. Since he's 14 now, I'm gonna do the same and in a few years, I'll get a Custom Shop version for a graduation presant. Good luck in whatever you do. I'm sure he'll appreciate it forever.
 
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