Recommendation for first knife or dagger for a 9 year old boy?

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BethanyDawnM24

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Dec 11, 2015
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So my first post here I stated that I was ordering a decorative sword for my son and found out pretty fast that was not the best choice, so I will start over from scratch. I am mama to a 9 year old boy that loves knives, swords, daggers and pretty much anything sharp. I have zero knowledge about knives, so am asking here on the forum for your expertise. :D I bought him a $20 dagger a while back and although I wasn't expecting it to be anything high end, it broke as soon as he threw it in the yard. Can I get some suggestions for a good first knife or dagger? His first choice is a sword, but I am pretty sure that will be out, since I'm on a budget with it being Christmas and other kids and nieces and nephews to buy for as well. Would like to stick to $100 or less for his first one, but if it's impossible to find anything decent for that, then I might can stretch a little more. Any suggestions? Also, I had a bad experience with BudK, which from reading the reviews was a bad place to buy from anyways. Can I get a recommendation on where to purchase from as well? Thanks for your help! :)
 
nwmetalbug said:
My first suggestion is provide careful supervision at all times no matter what you get him.
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This.

A dagger is a weapon. A knife is a tool.

Respectfully, I would considering getting him something else for Christmas. Legos or a video game or something. If he is throwing his dagger in the yard he may not be ready for the real deal.

As for a first knife, I posted my response to that in your other thread. Either way, welcome to the forums. Hope you stick around and your son joins when he comes of age. :thumbup:
 
If he wants to throw knives get him some throwing knives. They'll be cheaper, more durable, and they only really need a sharp tip. I wouldn't buy him anything like a $100 knife if he's just going to end up throwing it in the yard, I'd get him a set of three throwing knives for $10 or a Rough Rider.
 
There are knives made for throwing and pocket knives and "daggers" arent. Im not so sure you or your kid are ready for either. Sorry if that sounds harsh but someone could get hurt.
 
BethanyDawnM24 said:
... I bought him a $20 dagger a while back and although I wasn't expecting it to be anything high end, it broke as soon as he threw it in the yard. ....
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Generally speaking, most knives are not designed to be thrown. The very properties which provide for a good cutting edge and a comfortable grip makes them fragile under the shock of impact. Purpose made throwing knives have little or no cutting edge and very simple handle designs.

Here is an example of a Cold Steel thrower:
true-flight-cold-steel-throwing-knife-2269-p.jpg


Notice how it differs from a Cold Steel general purpose knife

38CKJ1_m.jpg


Whatever you end up getting, I would suggest that it should come with supervision and instruction. It may be worth getting him a subscription to something like Blade Magazine, to encourage him to read about a subject he is interested in.

n2s
 
As someone who spent most of his younger years fantasizing about owning a sword and eventually purchased one with years of birthday money, it ain't worth it. A nine-year-old (unless he's a 6' 4" linebacker of a kid) won't be able to hold a sword let alone do anything remotely safe or constructive with it. Daggers are in the same boat. Just more dangerous given the ease with which they can be thrown.

Sounds like he has an imagination. That's awesome. The wonderful thing about imaginations is that they can turn anything into a sword. To this day, I still have a collection of self-made wooden weapons worn smooth with years of play that have a permanent place in my heart. Imagination is awesome that way.

I'd recommend skipping the dagger/sword impulse entirely. Buy him a small folder so he can learn knife safety and grow to understand what blade can and can't do, and then find a wooden sword or dagger. Much less likely to injure anyone, your check book won't feel it when it breaks, and it won't laugh at a nine-year-old's noodle arms.

He's a kid. They tend to learn about life by doing stupid stuff. With a wooden sword, that stupid mistake might be a broken finger or a split lip. A true sword or dagger—no matter how dull—can inflict a mistake much more costly.
 
nwmetalbug said:
There are knives made for throwing and pocket knives and "daggers" arent. Im not so sure you or your kid are ready for either. Sorry if that sounds harsh but someone could get hurt.
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That is why my immediate thought was to get him a decorative sword that wasn't sharp to hang on the wall until he gets a little older, but responses said that a real one would be better and that the decorative ones can be dangerous, so... LOL. I guess I could hold off on anything sharp and get an air soft gun or something...
 
Well, I may hold off on a knife or dagger for now until he is a little older, but the dagger that he had before was kept at his nana's house and his daddy supervised him outside playing with the dagger and his first bow and arrow. Don't worry, he isn't playing with dangerous weapons by himself. ;) Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
BethanyDawnM24 said:
That is why my immediate thought was to get him a decorative sword that wasn't sharp to hang on the wall until he gets a little older, ...
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That is not a bad thought. I would suggest getting him a wooden or polymer training sword (aka wasters).

Something like these:
swords-wooden.jpg


therionarms_c1169l.jpg


They are inexpensive, blunt and designed to take a lot of abuse.

n2s
 
BethanyDawnM24 said:
That is why my immediate thought was to get him a decorative sword that wasn't sharp to hang on the wall until he gets a little older, but responses said that a real one would be better and that the decorative ones can be dangerous, so... LOL. I guess I could hold off on anything sharp and get an air soft gun or something...
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You'll shoot your eye out, kid.
 
At 9 he is on the envelope of being old enough for knives but with the "throwing" part I say it is still too soon. Knife throwing is mostly for movies and video games; which is where he probably got the idea.
Knives are tools not toys so he needs a supervised project with any knife you would get him.

So maybe a Mora (very respected brand and very inexpensive) Classic Scout. It has a sheath, hand guards and a slightly rounded of tip. Great for a supervised carving/whittling project. Just know the tip may be rounded but the blade will be RAZOR sharp. It costs lest than $25 so you could buy some carving/whittling blocks as well.

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Mora-of-Sweden-Classic-Scout-39--20140
 
benchwarmer380 said:
This.

A dagger is a weapon. A knife is a tool.

Respectfully, I would considering getting him something else for Christmas. Legos or a video game or something. If he is throwing his dagger in the yard he may not be ready for the real deal.

As for a first knife, I posted my response to that in your other thread. Either way, welcome to the forums. Hope you stick around and your son joins when he comes of age. :thumbup:
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What he said.

I'd get the boy a Swiss Army knife if your heart is set on getting him something sharp.

Using it, he will learn, either the easy way...or most likely the hard way, how to use a knife properly.
 
marcinek said:
What he said.

I'd get the boy a Swiss Army knife if your heart is set on getting him something sharp.

Using it, he will learn, either the easy way...or most likely the hard way, how to use a knife properly.
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Yup. Get him a SAK. Not a whole lot of damage he can do to other things or people with a SAK.
 
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