Suggestions for small utility fixed blades

There are certainly many good choices here. For 11 year olds, you will want to consider something extra-ordinarily strong. A thin fined edged knife probably will not last as long as it should unless your 11 year olds have an above average awareness of what they are doing. I remember what I was like back then.

A thicker profile steel fixed blade would be a good choice. It should stand up to prying and other abuse better then an average folding pocket knife or fine edged fixed blade. I should note, that I have had many years of abusive service from a good quality large lockback with no scars from all the stupid things I did with that knife. Next to fixed blade, I'd sure consider a larger model lockback like a Buck 110 which can purchased from a place like Wal-Mart for about $30. I carried my lockback everywhere (Church, school, farm, playground, etc.) from 4th grade through college.

Stay Sharp (and safe),
Sid

[This message has been edited by Sid Post (edited 11-22-2000).]
 
Here are a couple of suggestions I haven't seen yet:

At $60 a pop, you can get the marbles sport 99 or Trailcraft with "carver" handles from Bowie Corp at www.marblesknives.com . The sport 99 is one heck of a stout blade!

At >$20 is the Junglee "born free hunter" from http://store.knifecenter.com/pgi-Product%20Spec?ju2030,

I would also agree with the Nordic style Knives from Ragweed Forge. On his Swedish knife page http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html , he has a Swedish boy scout knife with the following desciption:
#40. 4" blade (same shape and size as #1) stamped metal crosshilt. Unfinished birch handle, thin leather sheath with snap. This style of knife with the guard is often used by Boy Scouts in Scandinavia. It is something of a rite of passage when the boy is considered skilled and carefull enough to remove the guard. Formerly made in high carbon steel, this knife is now available only in the excellent Sandvik high carbon stainless steel. The Rockwell hardness of these blades is about 58 on the "C" scale, and they really hold an edge. $14.
Click to expand...

Hope this helps and I envy your kids..

DHall


------------------
"sharks and dogs" he muttered, "sharks and dogs...."
 
All good suggestions in there own way.

Let me add the Kellam Utility to the picture.
http://www.kellamknives.com/catalog/utility.html

Or the new Cold Steel Mini-Bushman.
http://www.coldsteel.com/bushman.html



------------------
Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

>>--->Bill Siegle Custom Knives<---<<
-http://www.geocities.com/siegleknives-

Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!

Fire Page, metal match sources and index of information.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Buck Knives (www.buckknives.com) makes an affordable line of good looking, durable fixed blades in vaious sizes and shapes. I've had a bunch of them for years and years and find them to be very good value for the money. Their customer services is tops. They are a good company.
 
Check out this site www.dozierknives.com
These are some of the best. A couple here may run you close to $300.00 but you will have given something that your sons can pass down. The D-2 that Bob does is done by the best in the business! Just my thoughts.

------------------
Art Sigmon
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Php. 4:13

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword"
Heb. 4:12
 
For the price you cannot beat a KA BAR. They've just released a smaller version of the original.
If you're looking for something a little classier, the Boker integrel is a really good choice too.
 
Art, do you really think a Dozier would qualify as "an inexpensive small knife for an 11 year old"?
wink.gif
Wish I still had the knives I lost when I was that age.

------------------
Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Get those boys a Cold Steel SRK. You can find them at a great price from www.discountknives.com If you do not want to spend that much, about 50.00 dollars per knife, then I would look at the Air Force Survival Knife. I think they are around 30.00 a piece. Had one when I was seven or so and abused it. Kept coming back for more.
 
Sergiusz Mitin, that is just what I was going to post!

The Nimravus Cub is about the handiest knife you'll find, get the M2 version in plain edge, got mine from Roger at Bayou....

Nice size and cuts very well, it is ideal knife, the next in line would be the new Fallkniven pukko in VG-10 but I like the indestructibleness of the Cub...Ask Kodiak PA about his...

G2

------------------
"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...
 
Some of you guys have expensive ideas of what constitutes a knife for an 11 year old, especially when you have two to buy. The Nimravus Cub looks cool, perhaps for me, but I'm not buying a $100.00 knife for someone who is just entering boy scouts! As for the Doziers, Talonites, and so forth, you must not have kids...
wink.gif


The frosts look like a good choice, and I would consider anything up to $25-30$ for them. As a beater knife I like my Buck Mentor, has anybody used one of the mini-mentors?

I'm really enjoying all the replies to this, it's fun seeing what people like!

Peace,

Al F.

------------------
Al Folsom alan_folsom@email.com
-----
Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then he'll be a mile away, and barefoot!
 
Just a final note... Thanks for everybody's
recommendations, and especially to those who
suggested ragweedforge.com. Ragnar was very helpful, promptly answered email, and eventually supplied me with two Helle Speider
knives, send second day air.

These are really neat, and I may have to get one for myself. At $30.00/knife, a trifle expensive for 11 year olds, but great blades,
and perfect for the purpose.

Thanks All!

------------------
Al Folsom alan_folsom@email.com
-----
Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then he'll be a mile away, and barefoot!
 
Hi Al:

Good choice! I had to buy some knives for my grand-daughters this summer and made a choice in the same price range. It's important that kids see that a knife is a serious implement (by virtue of price)that will require care - but you certainly didn't want anything to cause great stress if one gets lost or dropped in the fire. It certainly puzzled the girls to see that they had more expensive knives than I did as I mostly use Moras.
Just a few suggestions in preparing kids for the outdoors - a whistle each, a ferro rod each and a few good outdoor books.
 
I just got a SOS SEAL PUP. Now I don't how "scary" it might look to you, but I like it!! It's around $50 most places but has a good kydex sheath and a sharp factory edge. Look in to it. It's my pick for a smaller knife.

------------------
Riley
Do it right,or not at all.
 
Fantastic choice Al! Hope your kids can hang on to them for awhile.

------------------
Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Al, I just popped over to Ragnar's to take a look at the Speider knife and couldn't find it. Is it a Helle?


------------------
Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Here's a thought. I think a very good argument can be made for a cheap, non-stainless, mediocre steel knife for a youngster. As many have noted they will get lost, often maybe. But more importantly I think is the need for youngsters to be taught knifecraft, including the care and maintenance of a knife. It would be good for their knife to rust a couple times from leaving it wet in the sheath. If the edge vanishes in a couple uses, it's an opportunity to teach the joys of sharpening. Most of us in the grayhaired set learned on such a knife and I think it taught us well to have done so.

You might also give some thought to buying a kit and making your own. I promise you can't imagine the joy of giving a knife you have crafted yourself to a youngster. It's a very special experience, and it makes that knife something extra special for them to brag about. It doesn't have to be a work of art; it just needs to be a part of you. There is no finer gift.

------------------
Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Al, I just popped over to Ragnar's to take a look at the Speider knife and couldn't find it. Is it a Helle?

------------------
Hoodoo

Hi Hoodoo-

I don't see it there anymore either -- He did
say they were his last two, I hope it doesn't mean he won't have any more
frown.gif


Great service though, and the knives look great. Deep red wooden handles, good stainless steel, about 3 1/2" blades, and light green leather sheaths.

Peace,

Al F.

------------------
Al Folsom alan_folsom@email.com
-----
Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then he'll be a mile away, and barefoot!
 
Originally posted by Hoodoo:
Al, I just popped over to Ragnar's to take a look at the Speider knife and couldn't find it. Is it a Helle?
Click to expand...
No, it's not, it's a <a href="http://www.brusletto.no/no/html/spe_n.htm">Brusletto</a>.
My Norwegian isn't the best, but I'm sure the name means "scout".


------------------
Urban Fredriksson www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
Latest updates:
A Marttiini and a Brusletto knife, links to Scandinavian manufacturers, Fällkniven K1+K2 kitchen knives

"I've always been fascinated by Scandinavian knives [...] they're simple, in an advanced way". - Bob Loveless
 
That's a nice looking knife, but not what I
got. Mine _were_ by Helle, and came with a
thin green leather sheath, and dark stained
handles.

I did find a picture of them somewhere else
on the web, but lost the URL. I'm sure an
appropriate google search would turn them up,
though.

Peace,

Al Folsom

------------------
Al Folsom alan_folsom@email.com
-----
Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes. Then he'll be a mile away, and barefoot!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top