small children and Khukuris

M

munk

Joined
Mar 22, 2002
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Last night my two year old son grabbed a 40 pound slab of petrified wood off an orange crate. It fell. When it landed, the only thing saving him from the ER was a promitory ridge along the rock which struck the wooded floor first, before the rest of the rock landed on his sandled feet.

Last year he pulled a hutch down on himself. Same result, scarred floor, (busted hutch, broken glass) but no truly hurt kid. I can't decide if he's born lucky or merely waiting for the semi truck with his name on it.

What does this have to do with khukuris? Well, lots. It goes right to the heart of unanwerables. Every one will have an answer for firearms and dangerous tool handling in their homes. The answers will be different, though not neccesarily wrong for each home.

Thus far, this little guy has left my tools alone. There is an unspoken LAW that Dad's tools, firearms, khukuris, saws, etc. are to be left alone. He doesn't seem to 'see' them the same way as say, the big fat rock I put in his path stupidly.

I was tempted last night to remove every last dangerous thing from my house. Impossible!! And exactly what gun grabbers and box cutter restrictors think of as solutions.

I am making some changes.

Does this strike a note for anyone?

munk
 
When I was a kid I was the same - I pulled boiling coffee on myself, cut off my lip with a cutthroat and bungee'd off a bar counter without the cord, bulldog jumped underneath me and saved my ass. I climbed a 10 foot chicken run and lived to tell the tale amongst other things. I dont have kids yet but have plenty baby brothers and cousins, my friends have kids too. Just let them get on with it !!! They tend to normally stay out of harms way - uncanny really !!

Brendan
 
You've taught your kid very well Munk. He knows that his dads tools are dangerous when played around with, and he seems to know never to touch them. I was taught that way, and when I was little I never took out my dad's gun to play cops and robbers and aim it at anyone. When my bro and my sis were little all I did was tell them that playing with any one of them when I wasn't around was a good guaranteed way to get hurt very bad, and didn't I hide them, just kept them out of reach. They knew what was up, and were never tempted to try and throw any of my knives like they'd see in movies.
 
Education is good, but don't expect too much from a 2 year old. I would suggest keeping large knives and guns far out of his reach. A safe worked for me.

Kitchen knives, electrical outlets, poisons, etc., all deserve similar considerations. Consider what it is you treasure most. After it is lost is too late.
 
I'm with Howard. My khuks are all locked in a cabinet where my little one can't get at 'em.


Pat
 
When my six year old was two and a half I already trusted him with firearms. (to a limited degree) I wouldn't leave him alone in a room with an empty wheelgun and six bullets on the floor in front of him, but I showed him a few revolvers and he never touched them. To this day he knows he is the only one I trust in my gun room without supervision.
But kids are different. I have a safe and a lock on my door. My khuks are now out of the domestic area with the exception of the one tucked away on the computer desk. I lock everything when other kids come over.

But even the two year old knows that khukuris and such are not to be messed with. It isn't an issue. How do I explain? They know not to jump off cliffs too...same thing, kinda..hard to express. It's not that it is off limits and they will get a spanking....

I don't know how I did this, but when my kids go to other peoples homes and shops they don't mess with property. I wonder if because I let them do other things, even allow them to scar or slow projects I'm working on..the little guy wants use the screw driver..my older son took apart a clock. Maybe it just because the real "no" really meant no.



munk
 
Kids are sort of like Murphy's Law and that's why I watch them like a hawk. They make me nervous.
 
I reckon the best thing is to let the little chap get just enough scar tissue to learn a few lessons but not enough to really hurt him.....I think you know what's coming....Give Him A Khuk! A small one would do, say 15", when he's done with wrecking your house with that he'll be too tired to do anything else :)

Seriously though, watch him like a hawk. It's OK getting a few scars to talk about when you are older, but at two years old he might not remember where he got them!


Jeff
 
Kids require constant vigilance, just when you've gone and removed all hazards to a level about four feet off the floor, they'll figure out a way to climb to five feet. I'm with Uncle Bill, kids make me nervous too.

Sarge
 
I totally agree with Howard, "Education is good, but don't expect too much from a 2 year old"

I don't have children, but like every other man, I can draw upon my childhood for thoughts. {...just so you all know, I wasn't a small human being. No, more like a pod person from the planet Destructo.} My father was a Machinist and a hunter. Sharp implements and a shotgun were always within reach. Even after being shown how to & safety, sometimes my youth would get the better of me and lead into dangerous situations :( No major injuries were sustained (lucky).

Munk, how about this; get him a small khukuri (his and his alone) and teach him. But only remove it from it's safe place when appropriate. Like when going into the woods with 'ol Dad :)
 
You're on to it, Bill the Cat, I let them do things and talk to them seriously as if they were not kids. ( not all the time, but enough so they've picked up something good.) We are people and family.

munk
 
or one of the swedish knife makers actually HAVE child-size and child-sharpness knives for kids as they grow?

Seems to me I've seen them on some importer's site. Sort of like the dull scissors theory.


Kis
 
Witholding too many things results in resentment. It is good to let them have their hands in. Now you've jogged my memory, Kismet. I let my oldest pull the handle on a reloading press once and finish the round. He was tickled. I think he was four then. I explained the process and he saw each step with wide eyes.

They want to know what is going on. There's limits on what they can participate or observe, but being 'in' is good.

munk
 
Doesn't Mora
Click to expand...
You remembered mostly right Kis. Brusletto of Norway does make a nice starter knife set for kids. It comes with two knives of identical shape, but with different colored handles, and a nice leather sheath.
One knife has no edge at all ground on it, and is used for training. The other is fully sharpened and ready to go once the kid has demonstrated proper safety skills with the training knife.
Ragweed Forge carries the starter knife kit, here's a link to a picture of it; http://www.ragweedforge.com/barne.jpg
With my own kid, I just started with a small sheath knife, and used a diamond hone to completely round off the edge and point. Once she'd proven she could carry it and use it responsibly, I put a good edge on it and she's been using it ever since.

Sarge
 
Munk

I have a two year old nephew living in my house so can understand your situation somewhat. I have changed the way I do things around the house, especially leaving tools around where the little fellow can get hold of them. The little tyke once pulled an ironing board on top of himself - the iron missed (thank god!) and he got away with a couple of bruises. That was the last time we left the job unattended.

I've also moved some of my knives out of reach. I used to have a 15" Sirupati next to the bed all the time, but now it goes into a locked drawer every morning and only comes out at bedtime.

I'm pretty much resigned to fact that kids are always gonna fall down and get themselves injured despite our best efforts. Best we can do is teach them and try to keep the more serious accidents from happening.

Regards
Andrew Limsk
 
When I was 5 I climbed to the top of a slender tree, maybe 60 70 feet high. I grabbed ahold of the trunk and swaying the thing back and forth, back and forth. One limber tree. Mom came out of the house to tell me for the hundredth time to stop climbing that tree. I waved to her. She waved back, and went inside.

When I was grown she confided in me that is when she learned little boys are little boys, and some of them die. She'd decided if I die I die and that was that. She was glad I hadn't.
I give a bike helmut to my son before he climbs.

He does the same darn things I did.


munk
 
Blimy! Sounds like my Mum...."Here! Have this african spear and go and play, and don't touch the end! It's got poison on it!"

They don't make Mums like that anymore:eek:



Jeff.
 
Good stuff and thanks.

My Cherokee Grandmother taught me the rules with my toy guns -- made me behave with them as if they were real. So, when I discovered my Dad's loaded .38 in the dresser drawer when I was 3 or 4 years old I knew enough not to point it at my Mom, say "Bang,you're dead," and pull the trigger. I just gave it to Mom when she said "Give me that gun and stay out of the dresser!"

Word to the wise.
 
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