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

[blade dude]

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...

my thought will remain get him throwing knives. maybe he thought that the dagger was a throwing knife and wanted to throw it. decorative ones tend to be weak at where blade and handle are and i had one brake unsheathing it to show someone.

 

[Velitrius]

Exactly. I still have the scar on my pinky when I learned stabbing my SAK into a picnic table was a dumb idea over 20 years ago.

Damn it, Cray... you just made me look... yep, I still have the same scar on my hand, from the same stabbing lesson.

Mine was 40 years ago, though.

Get the lad something you won't mind seeing broken. Man, I remember when I was a kid. I threw knives, tied them to the ends of sticks and threw them again, dug, pried, and generally destroyed every knife I got my hands on. I didn't have a dad around to show me proper knife etiquette, so I had to learn it as I went.

Now my boys have quality knives that they have been taught to use responsibly and maintain impeccably.

But they still have a couple that they can throw, tie to the ends of sticks and throw again, dig, pry and generally destroy.

 

[James Y]

I agree with those who suggested wooden swords. I might suggest a one-piece wooden katana (bokken) that you can find at a martial arts supply shop. He would still need supervision, because it's hardwood and can cause blunt force injuries.

I would not recommend a Chinese-style wooden sword, because many of those are two-piece. Although there are some wooden jian (Cantonese pronunciation: gim; double-edged sword) that are one-piece. But they aren't as durable, IMO, as a Japanese-style bokken.

*Edit to add:
I just noticed G. Scott H's post (#38) that is a better suggestion than mine.

Jim

 

[JeremiahWeaver09]

how about a spyderco manbug
[video=youtube;RYT6w7S25Q4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYT6w7S25Q4[/video]

 

[BethanyDawnM24]

Just want to say thanks so much for all the suggestions! I am reading through everything now and I have a lot of choices to research and think about. I'm learning and I'm sure will continue to learn- lots of fun being a mama to a boy.

At this point, I'm leaning towards a wooden or training sword- something he can swing around and play with and that won't break easily and also won't slice his pinky or finger off- man, all those stories you guys told are gonna make me a nervous wreck now. LOL. In general, he is not a careless kid. He has a dirt bike (kid one obviously) and he took the time to go slow and learn it properly and he is a great rider now, always wears his helmet and doesn't take unnecessary risks. I believe he thought the dagger I bought him before was a throwing knife, because it looked similar to one and he was trying to copy what he saw on tv. (oops) His daddy was with him at the time, though. I know several have mentioned pocket knives but the folding kind of the kind that pops out (sorry- it will take me time to learn proper names- switch blade?) just makes me very nervous, which is why that wasn't my first go-to. I'll let his daddy make the decision for a first knife and the proper training instructions with how to handle it and I will most likely research the options for wooden or training type swords. Didn't even know about those. If he remains interested in knives and daggers as he gets older, I will go from there based on his age/maturity level. Maybe some throwing knives like several mentioned a little later on.

Glad to be on this forum with lots of helpful people. I am sure I will be back with more questions in the future.

Thanks so much, guys!

 

[Cursum Perficio]

FWIW, I got my 11 year old stepson a SAK for his birthday, along with a good discussion on safe usage. He loves it. In a year or so as he continues to prove his carefulness with it, I will get him another folding knife, something at the next level.

 

[DemonicMind666]

Just want to say thanks so much for all the suggestions! I am reading through everything now and I have a lot of choices to research and think about. I'm learning and I'm sure will continue to learn- lots of fun being a mama to a boy.

At this point, I'm leaning towards a wooden or training sword- something he can swing around and play with and that won't break easily and also won't slice his pinky or finger off- man, all those stories you guys told are gonna make me a nervous wreck now. LOL. In general, he is not a careless kid. He has a dirt bike (kid one obviously) and he took the time to go slow and learn it properly and he is a great rider now, always wears his helmet and doesn't take unnecessary risks. I believe he thought the dagger I bought him before was a throwing knife, because it looked similar to one and he was trying to copy what he saw on tv. (oops) His daddy was with him at the time, though. I know several have mentioned pocket knives but the folding kind of the kind that pops out (sorry- it will take me time to learn proper names- switch blade?) just makes me very nervous, which is why that wasn't my first go-to. I'll let his daddy make the decision for a first knife and the proper training instructions with how to handle it and I will most likely research the options for wooden or training type swords. Didn't even know about those. If he remains interested in knives and daggers as he gets older, I will go from there based on his age/maturity level. Maybe some throwing knives like several mentioned a little later on.

Glad to be on this forum with lots of helpful people. I am sure I will be back with more questions in the future.

Thanks so much, guys!

I've been riding as long as I can remember. I've had my fair share of crashes. Better watch it, motocross will make you turn seventy before you turn 21. Take it from someone who is turning 21 in less than a month. Lol Haven't ridden in a while. My brother took his bike up north last January and I traded my quad off during the summer.

 

[blade dude]

From what you say I think he is ready for whatever. Don't get expensive stuff yet tho because no matter how careful kids are they will manage to break expensive ones as easily as inexpensive ones. The ones that pop open are "spring assisted" my nine year old brother just loves opening and closing them.