SAKs seem to be great for kids....

7

72jroberts

Joined
Mar 16, 2012
Messages
277
I have lots of knives. Mostly single blade folders and fixed. Just recently I noticed SAKs and then all of you here have been patient with my comments and questions.

My kids have always been curious about my knives and I have taught them to be careful and respectful of the blade and have taught them correct usage, etc.

But since I have gotten a handful of SAKs, my kids have been really attracted to opening up and closing all the tools while I supervise. I never thought that SAKs wouldve gotten them even more enthusiastic about knives. They want to use the screwdrivers on screws, and we have opened up cans with the can openers, and the tweezers are getting lots of use for kid-like things. It's really been fun to see them interested.

Some of my goals for my kids have been: Teach them to shoot guns safely and proficiently and learn to use all kinds of knives and other hand tools and to not be afraid of stuff that mainstream American kids seem to be afraid of.

John
 
That's great your kids are interested in knives. The SAK is a tool that can last them a lifetime, and they will associate it with many fond memories. One thing about SAKs and other slipjoints is they can bite if people are not careful. Good to teach them at a young age, though.
 
Before multitools came in I carried a SAK and a small Vise-Grip. The SAK is a great growing experience, since they can go from a small handy toolkit to a bigger, more useful one. So many household jobs and hobbies can be handled with them.

It's great that you're getting them off to a safe start so young.
 
My son is also interested in knives, multi tools, and pretty much everything Dad does. He's had his own collection since he was 5, mostly Spyderco ladybug variations, UKPK, digital para1, and some dragonflies. He's 9 now and we've been doing some whittling about 2 years and I let him use it to open stuff sometimes. I also have taught him safe handling and it makes me proud watching him as he properly cuts away from himself and cautiously closes the blade. Unlike myself who handles them like a mad man. He has cut himself before but so have I at his age and even now. It's part of learning. He likes the multi tools the most and always has one ready when we need to unscrew a toy for batteries or open a glass soda bottle. I think it's good for children to learn how to use tools properly.
 
I've one niece who is a bit of a tomboy. Whenever I visit she asks what knife I'm carrying and asks if she can " carve " something. At six she could open and close a lock back, frame lock or liner lock with ease. Anyway I got her parents permission to get her a "first Swiss Army Knife" for her seventh birthday. The main blade is blunted or rounded to avert stabbing. She LOVED it and then a few hours later, I get this phone call in which she was crying and told me the knife was dull. I told her I was sorry and not to worry, I'd bring over my sharpening equipment the next day and fix it. The next day I go over and what she was upset about was not the edge, but the point. She wanted a REAL knife. LOL It had taken an hours pleading with her parents to get her allowed to have that. Sometimes you can't win. :)
 
FWIW all my kids have had SAKS from an early age and my sons have inherited my habit owning more knives than they need. Both boys are more into multitools these days though they both carry a Classic SD on their keychains. One of my daughters EDCs her Wenger Left handed SAK. My other daughter not so much. So, 75% strike rate.
 
All my kids got started with SAK's for the first knife. Of the three of them, my oldest boy, John, stayed with them. To this day, now entering his 40's, he's a conformed SAK nut. Won't carry anything but a SAK because as he puts it, "The other knives just don't have the capability." John travels a lot for his job, sometimes Costa Rica, or Europe, or South America. To him, a regular pocket knife is just not useful to him. My youngest boy, Matt, likes SAK's and old camper style knives. He's also a very pragmatic type, and likes having a screw driver or tow available. Bottle opener and can opener are nice to have as well, scince he likes to backpack and canoe camp. But he'll team up a SAK with a modern one hand opener, and I can only assume that his job as a police officer has an influence on his choice of knives.

My middle child, Jessica, is another ask fan. Especially if there's a nail file and scissors on it. She keeps a classic on her keys, and a waiter in her purse. Jess also has a liking of older traditional pocket knives, and is the only one of my three kids to share that like. Most of my old traditionals have ended up with my grandson and my nephew, who while they like SAK's, love the old jigged bone and stag. Our niece Bronwyn is a Classic fanatic, and has a collection of about a hundred of them from all over. She collects the ones with corporate logo's on them, since she's in industirial design, and has designed some logo's herself.
 
Im not old enough to talk about my own kids, but i can remember when my dad got me my first knife (a SAK) when i was around 7-8. I cannot express how ecstatic i was. I used it for everything and i mean EVERYTHING. I loved it to death, And i can honestly say because my dad did that im now a proud owner of 65+ knives 13 of those are SAKS. I still tend to EDC one in place of my Juice s2 on occasion
 
I remember my first sak I was like 5 I think it had large blade, can/bottle opener, fish scaler, saw....
 
72jroberts said:
Some of my goals for my kids have been: Teach them to shoot guns safely and proficiently and learn to use all kinds of knives and other hand tools and to not be afraid of stuff that mainstream American kids seem to be afraid of.
Click to expand...

Admirable goals John. I started teaching my son firearm basics when he was young, and bought him his first gun (Ruger 10/22) when he was 9. He'll be 21 this year, is proficient and safe with all sorts of firearms, and carries (and uses daily) a Case Peanut pocket knife. When he graduates from college he wants to go to trade school/apprentice so he can have building trades and plumbing skills to use wherever he lives. Instill those values in them while they are young, and they will reap benefits for years to come.
 
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