Update: C Post #26, Advice: Cub Scout Award

Rockon75

Rockon75

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With two young boys, I am active in our local Cub Scout Pack. I'm actually one of the Pack Leaders, and I serve as the fundraising chairman. We primarily sell popcorn to raise $ for our Pack. That being said, I am looking for an award for the highest seller for this past year. This particular Cub raised over $1,300 selling popcorn, and I have decided to get him a good knife as the award.

This Cub has already earned his "whittling chip" badge, so he can carry a knife. I have checked with his father and he has approved, so now, what should I get?

Please help me decide on a knife. I'm friends with rma100 and we talked a bit today about blade choice, cover, bails, etc.

My initial thought was a 47 Hayin Helper with a sheep/pen combo. The sheep is difficult to have fold on the fingers since its point is below the center line. It can be pinched open, and the pen is large enough for many tasks. It can be had in orange delrin both highly visible and durable, and it can be tethered with a bail and lanyard. Rma100 thought a beagle as it would fit the boys hand well and have a Gr8 blade combo. Then I thought about an 83. The 83 could be tethered and it locks, a plus for a beginer. I myself was given a buck lite when I earned my "Totin Chip" badge (Boy Scout side of the house) and carried through earning my Eagle.

What should I get for this young lad?

Help me out here please.
 
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Personally, I would go with a swiss army knife. I'm sure your cubscouts will find a lot more use in a multitool. It's what I got when I earned my chip, and it's taken a hell of a beating. That brings me to another point, I wouldn't buy a knife as fancy and collectible as a GEC for a child. They probably cannot appreciate it and respect it as well as you can. To them it's just a knife. Also, you would have to lecture them on caring for 1095 steel. I strongly suggest you look into the different swiss army knives, but if you're set on a non-SAK, I'd say a stainless steel Case knife would be more appropriate for a cubscout.
 
I'm happy to hear about people active in scouting! Scouting experience comprise some of my favorite memories from my childhood (that sentence sure made me feel old!).

I have a boy too young for scouts yet but I often muse about his first scout experiences and knife.

I like the idea of a lock to help the safety and to avoid accidents.

You might look at the Buck 503 prince or buck 505 knight. Basically scaled down versions of the 110 (kind of). Both are lockbacks and stainless as well. I do agree with the previous mentioned idea that stainless will save a lot of potential issues.

A SAK is also a great option.

Good luck on the search! I'm sure the boy will be thrilled with whatever you choose. Let us know which way you decide!


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I think the mention of stainless steel being a better fit for a beginning knife carrier is a wise choice. I think the Seahorse Whittler by Case would be a great fit and a knife that a young man would probably find very cool :) It doesn't have a lock but im sure you know wether or not he can handle a lock less knife or not.
 
If you want to go with a Swiss army knife, I might be able to help. It depends on what model you want.... And I'd need to check what I've got. I'm sure that I have something that's still new in the box and I probably have an extra new copy of a book about Swiss army knives.

You could use the money saved to buy ice cream for all the boys.
 
A Buck 112 from their custom shop with his name and pack number engraved on it. It'll be in the same ballpark costwise as a GEC. It'll be in stainless, so it'll look nice longer in the hands of a youngster. Plus, the engraving will make it that much more special especially as he ages and remembers back on his time in scouts fondly.

If you're going to go with a scout style knife a Camillus Cub Scout knife makes more sense to me than a SAK. My boy's got one and he loves it because it's a Cub Scout knife. They're also relatively inexpensive in comparison to the GECs you listed.
 
Case makes some good lookin scout knives.
Theres also dome good moras designrd with a finger guard which could go in the camping kit.
Cheers.
 
The Mora (boy scout knife?) is a great idea if a fixed blade is allowed. Otherwise what about an Opinel? The Opinel is simple, sturdy, has a lock but still requires manually setting it, and is a classic.

A Swiss Army Knife of some description is also a good idea.

Also which leader are you and how much popcorn does $1300 buy??
 
When I was a leader in scouts, I had gifted the cubs in my den old school cub scout knives when they had all passed their knife training and got their whittling chip. This is a little different though.

If he was a little older and would appreciate it, I would try to find a NOS Cub Scout knife as the award. Since that is probably not the case, I like the idea of the SAK. Maybe a nice model that is a little more decked out than the usual.

BTW Jake, that is super nice of you to offer to help!
 
In Boy Scouts there are a few different knife patterns to choose from. Not sure about Cub Scouts. Something that still had the Cub Scout logo but was a few notches up from the standard issue would be good. And the idea of engraving the boys name or pack number on a stainless blade is also good.
When you make your choice please post a picture of the award knife.
 
Mighty kind Jake, let's see where this thread takes us, and then I'll let you know if I "need" help. That is a very kind gesture.
Josh
supratentorial said:
If you want to go with a Swiss army knife, I might be able to help. It depends on what model you want.... And I'd need to check what I've got. I'm sure that I have something that's still new in the box and I probably have an extra new copy of a book about Swiss army knives.

You could use the money saved to buy ice cream for all the boys.
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Cory, I had tossed around the idea of an actual scout branded knife. Do they actually have USA scout branded knives still? I was in the District Scout shop recently and they are all stamped "china".
Cory Hess said:
A Buck 112 from their custom shop with his name and pack number engraved on it. It'll be in the same ballpark costwise as a GEC. It'll be in stainless, so it'll look nice longer in the hands of a youngster. Plus, the engraving will make it that much more special especially as he ages and remembers back on his time in scouts fondly.

If you're going to go with a scout style knife a Camillus Cub Scout knife makes more sense to me than a SAK. My boy's got one and he loves it because it's a Cub Scout knife. They're also relatively inexpensive in comparison to the GECs you listed.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not sure if it's an official rule, but fixed blades were not allowed when I was in scouts. I'll check.

As for the leader position, I'm a Committee member (think business side of the house) and the "Popcorn Kernal". Next year theyd like me to take on the Committee Chairman position. The Popcorn Kernal manages the annual sales event. Our Pack sold $10,000 which yields about $6,000 for the Pack. I can't remember how many bags, but it was two small enclosed trailer fulls.
Chris Larrikin said:
The Mora (boy scout knife?) is a great idea if a fixed blade is allowed. Otherwise what about an Opinel? The Opinel is simple, sturdy, has a lock but still requires manually setting it, and is a classic.

A Swiss Army Knife of some description is also a good idea.

Also which leader are you and how much popcorn does $1300 buy??
Click to expand...
 
Sure. The current official knife is made in China. There is also currently available a Victorinox Tinker with the Cub Scouts logo on it. I don't have that one. Case has knives with the BSA logo but I haven't seen them with the Cub Scouts logo.

sa54122x1000.jpg
 
My pack uses the scout opinel no.7 that has the round tip. It is perfect for them for many reasons.

1. The blade locks when folded and open so they don't have to worry about accidentally closing/opening it while in use.
2. The round tip makes it safe for their age and can be used to cut food when older.
3. The blade is easy to sharpen on a lansky.
4. Any boy at that age will be prone to losing a knife.
5. The ergonomics makes it comfortable for them to carve wood which is what they do at that age.
6. They can paint the handle to make it more personal (or you can before you give it to him).
7. Most cub scouts will not have a need for any other blade/tool that comes on a SAK.
 
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