Suggestions on a new knife for my 10 year old.....?

Kids do loose things. Mostly because they don't realize the value of what they have because they really didn't do anything to earn it.

On that note, might I recommend and Enzo Elver or Enzo Trapper blade blank on which the two of you build a knife. Both are scandi ground, less than four inch blades, and make VERY nice knives. You can get them in O1 or D2 steel. You can buy complete kits with the handle scales and pins, or you can just buy the blade blank and the pins and use your own scale material. Decent leather sheaths are available for around $15.

Putting a handle on a blank isn't terribly difficult, but it is time consuming. After your son has put twenty hours into a project that he can proudly call his own, I'm guessing he'll take better care of it than an off-the-shelf knife that's dropped in his lap (so to speak).

Also, these are both excellent knives that will serve him for a lifetime. My Enzo Trapper is my go-to knife for carving, bypassing my F1, Bravo 1, Dozier Elk Hunter, etc..
 
My 9 year old carries a mora #39 on his belt at all times, he's homeschooled :D. (stainless, wooden handle, 3 3/8 length blade, and a crossguard). He also sometimes wears a the smaller mora classic# 2 around his neck. He saved up chore and birthday money and bought these himself, he always cares for them properly, putting them away safely in the evening and keeping the #2 dry, we sharpen them together.

My 8 year old carries a mora 511 (carbon) around his neck. He is not quite a responsible as his brother, and I just looked at his mora and it's quite rusty. I bought my 7 year old daughter a 511 but I hold on to that one. I think a mora or a condor makes a great first knife. Easy to sharpen and cheap enough to not worry if something real bad happens to the blade.
 
bonzodog said:
i would start with a cheap mora,learn to sharpen and take care of a knife first,then on to the good stuff,have a lot of fun teaching your son
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. If he can show responsibility and keep up with it then step it up a level.
 
Mini Bushlore would fit the bill if it had a fingerguard, I`ve got the regular myself and love it...
I think the tweeners might be a little on the large side, but I`m ordering one anyway, so we`ll see when it arrives...
The mini Pendleton, has a guard like what I am looking for thouhg, and I`ve always been satisfied with my CS knives before.
Only thing is I have`nt handled one before, and I like to "fondle" a bit before I buy, LOL
Keep the suggestions comming, this is actually bugging me more than picking a new one for myself, haha.....
(Go figure:o)
 
Here is the #39, stainless, can be found for around $25 with a decent sheath -

6848398286_02624abe86.jpg


and the #511, carbon, sheath is not that bad, probably pick this up for around $10.

6848389172_59ff76be42.jpg


both have features to keep fingers from sliding onto blade.

I actually have and use the mini bushlore, I really like that sized blade, but that handle is definitely child sized.
 
How about a Condor Survival craft? I've let my 11 year old use it, and its held up well so far
 
My first pick would be a Swamp Rat Rodent Solutions and then maybe ESEE 3 or 4. I have a Ontario Mark 3 that might make a good first knife.
 
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He's 10 he might not break a swamp rat but I bet he could lose it. I would look at something a little cheaper
 
maybe a cheaper spyderco mule if you feel like making a handle for it. It would be cool for the kid too, major bonding time, like Rambo or Conans dad forging their steel.
 
I've never heard of a Mora failing at the handle. I have the Tri Flex and it's a great bushcrafter...batons too.
Mora's are either half or full tang. I have a x-ray picture to show you, but I can not figure out how to attatch a pic.
 
My dad gave me a buck 110 when i was 7 and i still own it to this day! I carried that knife every chance i got and whittled about every species of wood found in Oklahoma with it. If he keeps a Swamp Rat until he is 30, he will have as many memories i have with my Buck110. But that will probably be the case no matter what knife he gets and keeps for that long. A Kabar knife of some sort probably wouldn't be bad either. Can usually find them fairly priced on fleabay.
 
did you baton with it?
No?thats why you still own it.
batonning..yeeersh.
use an axe.
i second the 511 mora my two youngest boys have them.
 
MEAKO: I was never suggesting he get his son a Buck 110 for bushcraft. I was making a point with Buck 110 story and I said nothing about batonning with it. I was simply saying i managed to keep up with it for that length of time so he might be able to keep up with a RS for that length of time. I had more sense than to sit around beating a pocket with a stick. I'm sure this thread wasn't intended for people to judge others on how they used a knife. Next time read more into someones post before you make a stupid comment on a point someone is trying to get across. Get real!

Sorry to vent on your thread Bobber.
 
I apologise for any offence I may have caused .
I was not judging you. Perhaps my wording was undiplomatic.
I should have said that caring for & looking after a knife will result in alifetime of use.
Which kind of agrees with you.I didn't mean to insinuate that you were a batonner.
 
Here Is What I Think Would Be Good For A Little Boy:
http://www.knifeworks.com/benchmarkfixedbladewtexturedmicartahandle.aspx
Cheap, Full Tang, Micarta, And Screw Construction If Maitennance Is Needed.
Though It Doesn't Really Have a Finger Guard....

Buck PakLite Skinner!
http://www.knifeworks.com/buckpakliteskinnerskinningknifeblacktractioncoating.aspx - This One Has 2 Colors, And He Can Wrap It With His Favorite Color Cord, And Bucks Are Good Knives, And It's Cheap, Perfect Size, And Seems Like It Has A Good Length Of Finger Guard!
 
if you would like to stick with helle/scandi grind... may i suggest the temegami? its a mortised tang but should provide the strength youre looking for

borrowed from google:
Temagami-Canadian-Outdoor-01.jpg
 
Kabar Little Fin? Its not a full width tang, but I believe it is full length, plus it has the finger guard.
 
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