recommendations for a first knife for my 9 year old

I recommend a Spyderco Delica or DragonFly2. These are lightweight, tough-as-nails knives that are not too expensive and will give him years of service.

TedP
 
Get something bigish and simple. My first knife (age 7, I think?) was a peanut-sized Winchester pen knife. I lost it soon after it made the transition from top-of-dad's-dresser to my pocket. My next was an SAK knock off that I bought in Gatlinburgh TN for $5. Loved it, used it till it fell apart. The main blade was fine for my whittling projects (small sticks out of big ones) but the saw, phillips screw driver, and awl got used at least as much as the blade itself. I think a genuine article victorinox would be the way to go. Camper, Tinker, or Climber model, maybe?

As an aside, I almost lost a thumb to my first Opinel, being just a wee bit careless with it. They're pretty unforgiving, and the perfect tool to teach knife safety to your son if you don't mind a bit of blood loss. If you're not into learning things the hard way, though, maybe something with blade geometry less reminiscent of a scalpel would be better suited to your needs.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I really appreciate it.

I've not got a lot of background/experience w/knives, always liked them, just never really did much w/them. While I'm no fan of blood, (especially my kid's) I don't mind him learning the hard way sometimes. however, my wife would flip should he cut himself.

Regardless, I think a lock back would be the best now that it is brought up. I don't remember seeing any of the Swill Army knives that lock.

I recently picked up a Gerber "Bear Grylls" folder pretty cheaply and thought about giving it to him, but it is pretty sharp and about a 3.5" blade (going by memory).

I have several small folders, but I want him to get "HIS" first knife brand new.

Thanks again everyone. Keep the suggestions coming. $20 would probably be the limit since I've got a good feeling that he may lose one. I lost my first knife and I'm still bothered by it. That was probably 1983! Hopefully, he will not lose it. He's already lost 2 watches though so who knows.
 
With a kid's first knife, I give them the small swiss army knife with the knife, scissors, screwdriver, tweezers and toothpick (Classic I believe is the name). I put a lanyard on it and if a girl, they wear it around their neck, if a boy, they put it through the belt loops. This is to keep it from getting lost. Next comes the basic Leatherman multi-tool. You'd be suprised how many girls like this too.

A folding locking blade may get a child in trouble with a youth leader or the law.
 
brownshoe said:
With a kid's first knife, I give them the small swiss army knife with the knife, scissors, screwdriver, tweezers and toothpick (Classic I believe is the name). I put a lanyard on it and if a girl, they wear it around their neck, if a boy, they put it through the belt loops. This is to keep it from getting lost. Next comes the basic Leatherman multi-tool. You'd be suprised how many girls like this too.

A folding locking blade may get a child in trouble with a youth leader or the law.
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This will be something that he gets to handle under supervision, especially while camping. It will not be anything he takes to school.

I appreciate you bringing these points up though, I need to have that discussion w/him when I give him whatever it is he gets.
 
I gave my eight year old nephew a GEC muskrat. The pull is a little much for his small nails which is nice. He can't get it open without an adult there to supervise him with it.
 
Surfingringo said:
Check this link. Victorinox has MANY Swiss Army knives with locking blades. If I were you (especially since you said he would use it camping, I would DEFINITELY choose one of the models with the saw! He will love it!
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/catego...lock-blade/1004?f=category&v=1/100/1004&m=add

P.S. And come on man...tell your wife to relax. We all know there's going to be a little blood! ;-). He'll be fine!
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I'd not seen any lock blade multi-function Swiss Army knives. I probably deal less well w/the kids' blood than the wife does! Can't stand to see them hurt. But, I know that learning that a knife will cut you if you are not careful is an important lesson. One i hope he learns because he listens, not because he is bleeding.
 
My Dad gave me a red victorinox Swiss army when I was five while fishing on a camping trip. I still have it, and it's one of my most valued knives due to the sentimentality behind it. I would go this rout because it sparks other creative use for adolescents, aka every kid should have one!

My next folder was a Benchmade 942, so if a Swiss army isn't your thing, then maybe a 940. Either way, you'll make a lasting impression that every father should think about! :thumbup: I can't wait 'til I'll be able to do the same!
 
Hehe. It's obvious you are a good father, so I'm sure he will learn 95% of it because he listens to you. It's the other 5% that will make him remember all those words of wisdom! :-).

Anyway, enjoy the whole process! I know he will.

Bless
 
Sak, opinel, Barlow pattern, sod buster jr, or if teaching camping skills why not a candiru? No locks, no springs, just blade...
 
P_Meticulous said:
My Dad gave me a red victorinox Swiss army when I was five while fishing on a camping trip. I still have it, and it's one of my most valued knives due to the sentimentality behind it. I would go this rout because it sparks other creative use for adolescents, aka every kid should have one!

My next folder was a Benchmade 942, so if a Swiss army isn't your thing, then maybe a 940. Either way, you'll make a lasting impression that every father should think about! :thumbup: I can't wait 'til I'll be able to do the same!
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Yep. Hard to imagine a nine year old not being stoked out of his mind with a nice sak! And on a CAMPING TRIP?! Please!! I want to go with you just so I can watch!! Hahahaha.

I've got a couple of old Remington shotguns my father gave me when I was your sons age. Like meticulous said, they are some of my most precious possessions. Not because of anything inherent to the guns, but because of the time my father spent teaching me to use them and taking me hunting with him. That's what I meant by "enjoy the whole process". Thanks for sharing this with us. Made me smile.
 
Surfingringo said:
Yep. Hard to imagine a nine year old not being stoked out of his mind with a nice sak! And on a CAMPING TRIP?! Please!! I want to go with you just so I can watch!! Hahahaha.

I've got a couple of old Remington shotguns my father gave me when I was your sons age. Like meticulous said, they are some of my most precious possessions. Not because of anything inherent to the guns, but because of the time my father spent teaching me to use them and taking me hunting with him. That's what I meant by "enjoy the whole process". Thanks for sharing this with us. Made me smile.
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Exactly! It's all about the memories, and carrying on tradition :)
 
Interesting timing on this thread. My daughter turned 10 today and I bought her a pink Spyderco dragonfly. She wanted something to take with her when we go camping. Great size & good solid lock for a 1st knife.
 
I would suggest something like the Victorinox Bantam as a first knife or a Vic Soldier. Depends on their maturity and interest. Knives cut both ways. They have to learn that. We're basically talking about a thin pocket knife that is sized between the Classic and the larger Vics. I think the Classic is too small to cut much of anything other than to slice open an envelop or three. Vic makes a childs knife with a fully serrated edge if that is something that appeals to you. I bought one for a grand kid, but mom poo poo'd it.

With a fixed blade, the SOG Field Pup or a Mora Scout Classic (double guard) would work. I give Field Pups as gifts to my nephews and they always liked them. The sheath is not great, but it works. I am not a Mora fan, but I do own the Scout Classic and it would work.
 
muphasta said:
I'd not seen any lock blade multi-function Swiss Army knives. I probably deal less well w/the kids' blood than the wife does! Can't stand to see them hurt. But, I know that learning that a knife will cut you if you are not careful is an important lesson. One i hope he learns because he listens, not because he is bleeding.
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If this is what you're looking for,
the m$rp is a whole lot more than $20.
Wenger's Junior 9 Swiss Army Knife
http://www.wengerna.com/stuff/conte...d54/original/16380_junior_9_blade_out_rgb.jpg
http://www.wengerna.com/stuff/conte...b6888f9337dfcc97316fa/image/junior_09_sku.png
 
A SAK, I have my first knife a victornox recruit which you can still buy (think cadet with the plastic scales and replace the nail file with a small blade and thats what it is) and I've had it for close to 20 years. I want to EDC it, but it has too much sentimental value to risk it, and thus I will probably buy a cadet.

Personally I say go with a SAK with a slipjoint on it as it will force them to learn to not rely on the locking mechanism. What I mean by this is that the knife will close on them at least once when they do something stupid, which I guarantee you will happen. Will there be blood, possibly but it's probably going to be far less serious with a SAK than about any other knife out there. And it only takes that one time to instill the fear/respect on how to properly cut with a knife, which I think needs to happen to a lot more people when their young before they have the strength to really pry on a knife the wrong way or use bigger/sharper blades which will cause more serious injury. I just thanked my dad a few weeks ago and told him a he was genius for starting me out on a swiss army knife for this reason actually, as I have never broken a locking mechanism on a knife or relied on it to get a task done after learning my lesson as a kid.

With that being said I would reccomend to never sharpen the knife for him, especially if your good at sharpening knives. If it needs to be sharpened show them how on one of your knives and make them do it on theirs. My recommendation get a SAK with 2 blades (it's a kid, lets face it that makes it cooler), saw blade, scissors, and tweezers for those annoying splinters they will get so they don't have to come back inside for to pull it out. A Victornox Fieldmaster, Huntsman would be my recommendation for that, it might feel a little bulky in their hands but I am sure they be fine with that as I always wanted to use my brothers SAK which was even larger than that when I was his age despite the recruit fitting my hand quite well. Though I think a Farmer, or Hiker would fit their hand better I think the scissors would get some use as well as the tweezers, as I know I would've used the scissors a lot if I had the option as a kid and I definately used the tweezers to pull out it's fair share of splinters as I seemed to attract them back than.

EDITED IN:
Actually come to think of it, it wouldn't be too out of line to dull the blade a little bit when they first get it so when it does close on them it won't be so bad. Sounds evil and mean to knowingly teach this way I will admit, but it's better to learn young when you stack the odds in their favor than when they get to be a dumb teenager/adult (we have all been there at one point in our lives) and really pry on something the wrong way with a knife with a locking mechanism and when that fails they probably have a lot more force behind it and it could really be a mistake that cost them a finger or two.

And yes I still believe in teaching them how to do things safely first, but sadly this is one of those things that no matter how well you teach someone they will slip up and do it.
 
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Bob6794 said:
A SAK, I have my first knife a victornox recruit which you can still buy (think cadet with the plastic scales and replace the nail file with a small blade and thats what it is) and I've had it for close to 20 years. I want to EDC it, but it has too much sentimental value to risk it, and thus I will probably buy a cadet.

Personally I say go with a SAK with a slipjoint on it as it will force them to learn to not rely on the locking mechanism. What I mean by this is that the knife will close on them at least once when they do something stupid, which I guarantee you will happen. Will there be blood, possibly but it's probably going to be far less serious with a SAK than about any other knife out there. And it only takes that one time to instill the fear/respect on how to properly cut with a knife, which I think needs to happen to a lot more people when their young before they have the strength to really pry on a knife the wrong way or use bigger/sharper blades which will cause more serious injury. I just thanked my dad a few weeks ago and told him a he was genius for starting me out on a swiss army knife for this reason actually, as I have never broken a locking mechanism on a knife or relied on it to get a task done after learning my lesson as a kid.

With that being said I would reccomend to never sharpen the knife for him, especially if your good at sharpening knives. If it needs to be sharpened show them how on one of your knives and make them do it on theirs. My recommendation get a SAK with 2 blades (it's a kid, lets face it that makes it cooler), saw blade, scissors, and tweezers for those annoying splinters they will get so they don't have to come back inside for to pull it out. A Victornox Fieldmaster, Huntsman would be my recommendation for that, it might feel a little bulky in their hands but I am sure they be fine with that as I always wanted to use my brothers SAK which was even larger than that when I was his age despite the recruit fitting my hand quite well. Though I think a Farmer, or Hiker would fit their hand better I think the scissors would get some use as well as the tweezers, as I know I would've used the scissors a lot if I had the option as a kid and I definately used the tweezers to pull out it's fair share of splinters as I seemed to attract them back than.

EDITED IN:
Actually come to think of it, it wouldn't be too out of line to dull the blade a little bit when they first get it so when it does close on them it won't be so bad. Sounds evil and mean to knowingly teach this way I will admit, but it's better to learn young when you stack the odds in their favor than when they get to be a dumb teenager/adult (we have all been there at one point in our lives) and really pry on something the wrong way with a knife with a locking mechanism and when that fails they probably have a lot more force behind it and it could really be a mistake that cost them a finger or two.

And yes I still believe in teaching them how to do things safely first, but sadly this is one of those things that no matter how well you teach someone they will slip up and do it.
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You have a lot of good points here. Still have some time to think, but a SAK is creeping o the top of the list.
 
Okay, so you think the back lock is the best?
But don't want to go over $20?
Spyderco Byrd Meadowlark or Meadowlark 2 FRN.

That's what I'd get in that Price Range. It has a decent steel, easy to sharpen, the lock back is a very easy two hand lock with no little fingers in the way, and they are great quality knives, especially at that price. If you wanted to go a little higher, like $25ish, you can get it in G-10. Has a clip for pocket carry, and he would likely adore it.

Good luck.
 
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