Scout knives

^^^ Rough Rider has life warranty, too.

I was going to suggest the Rough Rider scout knife, but the SAK Tinker or Super Tinker would be a good alternative, if you don't like the Rough Rider can opener, or a Marbles scout knife, if you can find them. I think they may have discontinued that one. Ecxellent copy of the Camillus "Demo" knife, complete with the "US" on the stainless steel handle.

Are your scouts Cub, Boy, or Eagle?
 
Thanks guys. They are aged 12-16 but they are definitely urban-raised. I'm hoping this farm boy can help them fall in love with the outdoors. I was also thinking something along the SAK style. Maybe my line of thought is off but I want them to learn with a slip joint knife. I learned with one and it taught me to respect a knife and not use it in a way where the blade would come snapping shut. At the same time with boys that haven't handled knives much maybe a lock would be good?
 
No offense to those who may be urban-dwellers haha I was just meaning they maybe have only been camping once or twice in their lives if that. My job in being brought in to this troop was to teach them the ways of the outdoorsman!
 
indyhammer said:
Thanks guys. They are aged 12-16 but they are definitely urban-raised. I'm hoping this farm boy can help them fall in love with the outdoors. I was also thinking something along the SAK style. Maybe my line of thought is off but I want them to learn with a slip joint knife. I learned with one and it taught me to respect a knife and not use it in a way where the blade would come snapping shut. At the same time with boys that haven't handled knives much maybe a lock would be good?
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I wholly agree that the best first knife is a slip joint. It makes you learn to use the cutting edge and not the tip. Cutting, not stabbing.

Swiss Army knife and camping/scouting. A combination made in heaven.
 
If you want a kid-safe knife with a lock, then Opinel makes "My First Opinel" knives in several colors. I would just teach them how to use a real knife. The goal is to raise women and men, not to raise children. We have enough full grown children already.
 
My little brother carried my dad's old Camillus BSA knife, until he died in a car wreck last year. I'm actually planning to do a giveaway of a scout knife in his honor. I mostly say this to make the point that a traditional Scout Knife can really be something special and meaningful. Obviously you can't pick up a new Camillus scout knife, but I think there is a certain romance and sense of tradition in getting an official scout knife.

If you're on a budget, Scout Stuff has a very affordable 5 blade. The SAK scout knives are also well priced. But for my money, I would probably go for the Boy Scout Knife from Scout Stuff, just for the classic four blade style, the safety can opener, and the etching. Otherwise, the rough riders seem like a good option. Unfortunately the Case Scout Jr.'s are a bit spendy if you are on a budget.
 
Very sorry for your loss Abbydabby.

Welcome to The Porch Indyhammer, plenty of good advice here :thumbup:
 
There is something so natural feeling about a slip joint in your hand. I think alot of kids nowadays (who have actually been raised or shown by a dad or grandpa or uncle how to use and carry a knife) have never been introduced to slippys. It really is a sad thing, because then when the kid sees one after carrying a modern folder, he thinks the "grandpa knife" is an inferior tool. We all here know that not to be the case, but if we don't teach the next generation about them, a nice Case with amber bone, or a beautiful GEC in ebony, and of course the venerable scout knife from many makers, will fall by the way, written to the books of history. I feel us lovers of all things traditional, owe it to them to show them a way of life that is becoming less appreciated. Anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is I totally agree that your boys' first knife should be a slip joint. Teach him how to care for it, how to sharpen it, and how to respect it, and he'll have a good friend for many years.
 
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Most kids loose stuff like you did your Stockman. I would start out them with a Victorinox swiss army knife with a modest amount of tools like the Tinker or Pioneer. They might find the saw blade cool (such as in the Farmer), but I personally was never enamored with it as many are and they add another layer to the knife making it heavier and thicker. I would also teach them about sharpening a knife. It is a skill that can be a community activity.... comparing sharpness between different knives. My Dad used a grinding wheel on mine when I was a kid and over a couple years pretty much wore out my Case Barlow (aka grown the main blade down to a thin sliver).

If price is a major issue, look at the Rough Rider knives which are fairly good for the money.
 
The Victorinox Alox Pioneer or Farmer just can't be beat. They are really just great, well thought out, well executed knives that you can order online and get what you'd get if you went and hand picked one. they aren't too expensive.

If you want cheaper and more traditional, Rough Rider makes a pretty beefy scout knife, they are inexpensive, but compared to a couple of other Rough Rider knives, mine wasn't as well executed. Despite the cheap price, I was a little disappointed in it. It is a solid beefy knife though.
 
I also think that it's a good idea to learn with a slipjoint. Once you learn to cut with a slipjoint, you can safely cut with any knife.

When I was a scout, every kid had a scout pattern slipjoint. It was just what you did. They weren't all official BSA knives though. Lots of scout pattern Imperials, Ulsters and Westerns in the mix. Maybe that was from living in Upstate New York though, the Slipjoint Capital of America back then. Between BSA, 4H, the Catskill Mountains, and the Adirondack Mountains, every boy seemed to have a scout pattern knife attached to his belt with a lanyard. That's another good reason to go with a scout pattern or Vic Pioneer/Farmer. The kids can lanyard the knives to their britches, so they don't lose them. Bring along some paracord and a bag a keychain snap swivels from Walmart, and the lanyard can be their first knife project. They even get to use the knife to cut the cord.

If you want to also teach the scouts some knot tying, you can have them make a snake knot lanyard for their knives:

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I'm just going to repeat what most everyone else has said. SAK pioneer or farmer. Well built durable knives, easy to clean and sharpen, and the stainless helps minimize care. Like buzzbait said the split ring is a handy attachment point for paracord to prevent loss. In my mind the only way to introduce kids to knives is through a slip joint. I was introduced to them in the early 80's and my pioneers are still some of my most carried knives.
 
Buzzbait said:
I also think that it's a good idea to learn with a slipjoint. Once you learn to cut with a slipjoint, you can safely cut with any knife.
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I think so too, but the funny thing is that as the years go by, I went back to a slip joint as my dominant EDC (with a modern backup). The modern is mostly about fun, and the slip joint does 95% of the cutting year around.

The experience of a slip joint blade folding back on you (hopefully no cuts however) is always memorable and a great lesson. It is something you don't forget and it teaches you about knives.
 
scrteened porch said:
Don't the Rough Rider scouts have archaic can openers of the non-safety type? That would be my only problem with them.
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mnblade said:
For a bunch of scouts, my vote would be some Victorinox Recruit models. GREAT quality on a budget price.

-- Mark
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LastRodeo said:
Rough Rider scouts have mighty stout springs. IMO a SAK is a better choice for kids.
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I like my Rough Rider scout pattern, but it IS a heavy knife with stout springs and a "funky" can opener. I love my Vic Pioneer and Electrician, but for if you're personally investing in "starter knives" for an entire scout troop, you can get at least 2 Recruits for the price of a Pioneer. The Recruit has large and small knife blades, cap lifter/screwdriver, can opener, and attachment point for lanyard (the only drawback I see is the Recruit does not have an awl, which is very handy for lots of "projects").

- GT
 
indyhammer said:
I want them to learn with a slip joint knife. I learned with one and it taught me to respect a knife and not use it in a way where the blade would come snapping shut.
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I like this line of thinking a lot. I have three kids (12, 10 and 6) and with careful guidance, they're all became very comfortable with using a slipjoint properly.

BTW, a lot of guys have recommended the alox SAKs. I agree they're great knives. But they're also a good bit more expensive than the Recruit I recommended earlier. Scanning that big auction site and the online shop named after an enormous river, I found that an alox Pioneer is roughly $27, whereas the Recruit is roughly $16. Could make a difference, depending on how many you're buying. Truth be told, I might spring for one Pioneer for my son. But if you're talking about a dozen knives for other people's kids -- I'll take the Recruit, thanks!

-- Mark
 
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Yeah, watch out for the Rough Rider scout/camper 4-blade model: it does have stiff backsprings. I'd avoid for kids. The SAK Recruit or Pioneer (or #7 or #8 Opinel) would be a good choice.
 
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