Son's first fixed blade ? ?

Myakka

Myakka

Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Messages
1,447
My son is 9 years old and will be 10 in a few weeks, I bought him a Cub Scout pocket knife when he tutned eight and passed his Cub Scout Whittling Badge. He is a really great kid and has be in the Cub Scouts for 3 years and loves playing around in the woods, and is really respectfull with his pocket knife. I would love to buy him a fixed bladed knife, what should I get him? I dont think it should be to expensive, I was thinking maybe a Marbles Fieldcraft? Does anyone have any suggestions. :confused:

-Ron
 
Marbles makes a really good blade. Since it is his first (Depending on the child of course) you may want to consider an investment grade blade along with a user.
Something he can pass on to his son some day.
My son is turning 17 next week and he is getting the first blade I have ever forged. Luckily he is old enough to appreciate and take care of it.

Make it a worthwhile memory:D
 
Blinker,
I'm hoping he will hold on to it long enough to pass it down, but I must remind my self he is only 10 years old and that is the reason I do not want to spend a fortune on the knife. Maybe I will buy him a really nice custom when he is 17 :D .
 
I would favor a knife with a carbon steel blade so that he is less likely to break the point or chip the edge. A Marble Sport (drop point) model with a gamegetter handle would be a good choice. I would avoid getting a very long blade. He is pretty small and blade control is more difficult with a longer blade. You might pick something from Bark River Knife and Tool like a Canadian mini-skinner. These are made from A2 tool steel so they are somewhat tough and hold a sharp edge for a long time.

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/pro...rk_river_mikrocanadian_antique_stag_bone.html
 
How about a Spyderco Temperance? Good steel, useful blade style, feels good in the hand.

The Benchmade 180 makes a great little sheathknife IMO. Wood handle gives it a classic look while the 44c blade give a decent edge while being easy to field sharpen.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?BM180P

If you don't think the souts would make a fuss over a knife being too "combat oriented" I highly reccomend the Kabar Impact series. I have my D2 spear point model lashed to me gear belt. Takes a great edge and holds it well. The micarta is a bit too smooth for my taste so i hit it with some 600 grit sand paper in a few spots just to "grip" it up. Then I took the micarta off and now have it wrapped with paracord. Works well but the sheath strap is about an 1/8" too short. Really have to pull to get it to snap lol.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?KA1461

And most people I hear from love thier Spyderco Fred Parrin utility knives.

http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-ProductSpec?SPFB04



I can keep looking but I'm afraid I might strat buying again. :eek:
 
Blinker said:
Marbles makes a really good blade. Since it is his first (Depending on the child of course) you may want to consider an investment grade blade along with a user.
Something he can pass on to his son some day.
My son is turning 17 next week and he is getting the first blade I have ever forged. Luckily he is old enough to appreciate and take care of it.

Make it a worthwhile memory:D
Click to expand...


Very cool Blinker. :D
 
Spyderco Temperance is a very good idea it is my primary EDC right now.

I also recommend a Kevin Wilkin's Hunters Thorn.
Live is too short to play with cheap knives ;)
 
Greetings 'Myaka',
Kids... You got to love em!.. Just had the same dilemma crop up with both my son and daughter [son 9yrs and daughter 8yrs] minus the organized scouting expierence, as you now have, not to long ago... Although our family has been hikeing, camping, fishing[no hunting yet] and generaly playing out of doors since the kids were born. They both have been whittleing for a little over three years and both are accmplished at it. And as prevously stated, your situation sounds very familiar!

I carry a fixed blade every day for work and play (an ancient Ruana semi~skinner). And my kids always wanted to strive for and seem to gravitate too, the 'Big Boy Knife' as they used to call it when they were younger. Since we fished alot and both are accomplished Large Mouth Bass Anglers, I wanted to get them something that would be an all around "can do many things knife." But I also wanted to give them both a knife they could grow into as well that was a quality blade they could be proud to own throughout they're lifetime. Figuring it will not be to far down the road when other outdoor interests and activity lists arrise. And a broken bank was out of the question. And like you, considered the Marbles line along with many others... Long story short, I am a Marbles fan from way back when, and looked at many different models. I finally settled on a pair of Vintage [but in near mint condition] 4.75 inch blade, "WoodCrafts.".. Did not spend very much money either! Picked them both up for just a fuzz over a c~note minus the shipping cost on eBay... A WORD OF CAUTION.. stay away from all post 2002 Marbles Blades. The new steel they are using is nothing but PROBLEMS. For more information on this go to: www.vintageknives.com and pull up his Marbles knives in the 'knife cataloge', and read through the descriptions of each. This is extremely educational reading worth the ten or so minutes it will require... If you can get your hands on anything made in 2000 or before with the 52~100 ball bearing steel you will not be dissaponited... These blades sharpen up razor shaving sharp, hold an edge for an unGodly amount of time, and my friends and collegues open up cans of beans with them, and without so much as even burring up the edges! Great Steel!!!!!! Anything else I might suggest would either be an inadequate factory production type knife [that looks like a knife but is not]to stay in budget, or any number of nice custom knives that would work well but may be cost prohibative for a boys first sheath knife! Well... there you have it! I wish you all the best! Take Care and May God Bless You and All of Yours.
Anthony
 
I bought a matching set of Dozier K-7 "Slim Outdoorsman" for my nephews. Their names were acid etched into the exposed tang -- very nice. The K-7 is a good size for them to use now and when they grow up it will still be a quality knife.
 
I wish I had you for an Uncle too... That was very cool! I like the acid etch engraving for them to give it that personal touch! I'll bet they really love them!.. What did they {K~7's} set you back w/out the etch I mean??
Anthony
 
ok, got "my" first fixed when I was 12, had been using dad's before that.

Was in scouting from 89-97, joined air cadets in 96 and was getting gear for the 97 survival trip.
Ended up going into zellers and found a Muela/Ruko PIK-AS, 4" "skinner"(it's under thier survival section). 440C, nylon guard and kraton handle. Only ran me 40cad, still have it, still use it.

Only carry a 3" fixed daily, going backwards to small fixedblades and slipjoints, after making a trip from them to multi and SAKs to "tacticals", last couple years I've gone back to a fixed (all day, every day) and either a slipjoint or spydie kiwi for most of my cutting tasks.

I'll grab a link in a sec.
 
A SOG Seal Pup would be a good choice, as would a Marbles Mini Woodcraft or a Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter.
 
Marbles would be a great choice. There's a few different blade shapes in the 3 1/2" range that would serve him well. Go with the stacked leather handle, the kids think it's pretty cool looking. Odds are he will still have it to give to his grandson, and it will still be a great knife that cuts like crazy.
 
For a child as young as 10, I would recomend staying away from those heftier fixed blades. Schrade makes a very nice skinner as you can see here:
http://www.schradeknives.com/images/oldTimer/oldtimer152OTLarge.jpg
and this model is also available with a gut-hook. Maybe he's not going to be out skinning elk just yet, but the hook is also favored when dealing with fishing line and the like. In my opinion, you just can't go wrong with this guy.
 
How about setting a $ limit and then let him pick out what he likes, or at least involve him in the choice unless it absolutely has to be a surprise. This could be a learning experience for you both......him learning from you why certain knives might not be suited for him as yet......you learning from him how much he knows about knives and what he would like, as well as maybe learning how much he appreciates you including him in the process.
Just MHO!

Larry S.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top