what Boy Scout knives are available?

It's not that I'm totally against Chinese made knives but for this I'd prefer something more heirloom quality. I have had some of the rough ryder knives and they are decent for the money.

SDS
 
B.S.A. sells knives made by Colonial, which emerged from closing a few years ago with a new business plan (no more junk knives) and the latest equipment. The Colonial Cub knife is as good as any such model ever made. It's in the latest catalog.

BSA also sells several models made by Bear & Son Cutlery, including a sorta Buck 110ish model. Not my cup a' tea, but U.S. made.

If your local store does not have the Colonial or Bear knives, tell them you want them to do so.

Victorinox, as noted.

The "CHINA" knives are cheaper, but the ones with screw drivers (like the "scout" pattern) have Chinese Screw Driver Disease (All edges rounded over). Not sure about the heat treat, but who knows. Any company that won't put its name on its product is questionable to me.

The Case knives are made in the U.S.A. and priced as adult collectables.

I was told yesterday that B.S.A. has informed its store managers that they plan to shift back to all B.S.A.-made knives.
 
Supposedly the local store is the only one in the US that carries everything in the BSA catalogue. The knives that I saw while there were not impressive. I'll go back and look again but I may end up biting the bullet and just buying the Case junior scout.

Thanks,
SDS
 
So, only certain knives are allowed on Boy Scout events? Son is 5 and will be starting Cub Scouts next year. Thinking ahead, but hoping he can choose the right tool for him, and not have it selected for him.

He's already eye-balling my Spydercos, Busses and Doziers... :eek:
 
Jeepnut22 said:
So, only certain knives are allowed on Boy Scout events? Son is 5 and will be starting Cub Scouts next year. Thinking ahead, but hoping he can choose the right tool for him, and not have it selected for him.
Click to expand...


If you mean only certain types of knives allowed, there's already numerous threads on the BSA not allowing fixed blades and giving dubious excuses. ;)

If you are asking if Scouts are required to use official BSA knives, then the answer is that there is no such rule.
 
SDS said:
Supposedly the local store is the only one in the US that carries everything in the BSA catalogue. The knives that I saw while there were not impressive. I'll go back and look again but I may end up biting the bullet and just buying the Case junior scout.

Thanks,
SDS
Click to expand...
There are "Scout Shops" all over the country -- four within 90 mins. of where I am sitting.
 
Jeepnut22 said:
So, only certain knives are allowed on Boy Scout events? Son is 5 and will be starting Cub Scouts next year. Thinking ahead, but hoping he can choose the right tool for him, and not have it selected for him.

He's already eye-balling my Spydercos, Busses and Doziers... :eek:
Click to expand...
BSA has no rules prohibiting or allowing any knife. Local Councils and units adopt arbitrary restrictive rules (such as "no fixed blades") without much thought or experience.
 
So, only certain knives are allowed on Boy Scout events? Son is 5 and will be starting Cub Scouts next year. Thinking ahead, but hoping he can choose the right tool for him, and not have it selected for him.
Click to expand...
No, the boys don't have to carry an Official BSA knife. In fact, my experience is that few do. I worked at Philmont for ten years, and the majority of Scouts seemed to carry Swiss Army Knives.

He's already eye-balling my Spydercos, Busses and Doziers...
Click to expand...
The main thing is that he can carry it in his pocket, like a little gentleman.
 
The actual BSA knives will likely not get as much use as something like a SAK but I still have mine from when I started out in scouting. I used it a little bit. I ended up with a stockman that I carried for many years. That was my primary blade. A SAK with the saw was my back up for when I went on camping trips.

I didn't realize that it was the council that made the decision about fixed blade/folders.

SDS
 
I didn't realize that it was the council that made the decision about fixed blade/folders.
Click to expand...
That's technically true, although the lead is given by the national office who "strongly discourages" the use of 'bowie' or 'sheath' knives, as does The BSA Handbook. Fixed blades are generally not allowed at the national events either.

We've gone over this many times in the past at BladeForums, but if you're unfamiliar with the origins of the BSA knife policy here's what I know for a recap: F-I-L is a long-time professional Scouter and was active during the time of the fixed-blade policy changes. Quite simply, the Scouts (as typical boys) couldn't be trusted to keep their knives in the sheaths or use them appropriately. Playing knife games, throwing into trees, carrying knives too large to actually use, etc. Whether that was 'most' boys or not, I have no idea, but as with everything else it only takes a few irresponsible jerks to ruin it for everyone.

Also, there are many places where carrying exposed knives in public is not legal.

Personally, I prefer a small fixed blade for outdoor activities - safer, easier to use, and difficult to lose. I certainly see the value though of teaching young men the traditional use and care of pocketknives. It's a set of skills and knowledge they are unlikely to encounter anywhere else outside of Scouting.
 
Last edited:
Bob W, thanks for the information. I've been out of scouting for a long time. Even when I was in fixed blades weren't favored by the leadership. We were still allowed to carry them but we were supervised well.

I will follow the rules and he will carry whatever is allowed when we are at BSA events. When we are doing our own things he may be allowed more latitude.

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.

SDS
 
Bob W, thanks for the information. I've been out of scouting for a long time. Even when I was in fixed blades weren't favored by the leadership.
Click to expand...
I think the shift away from sheath knives occurred in the 1950s or thereabout, which was at least twenty years before my first Cub Scout pack meeting. ;)
 
That was awhile before my time as well. I was in packs/troops around the military so I had the advantage of most of the leaders being in the military. They were a little more liberal in the use of knives and we got to do a bit more outdoor activities than many of the surrounding packs and troops.

SDS
 
Jeepnut22 said:
So, only certain knives are allowed on Boy Scout events? Son is 5 and will be starting Cub Scouts next year. Thinking ahead, but hoping he can choose the right tool for him, and not have it selected for him.

He's already eye-balling my Spydercos, Busses and Doziers... :eek:
Click to expand...
Here in Indiana a boy must be a Boy Scout and earn his totin' chip before he can CARRY any knife at all.Not sure if it's an Indiana thing or a scout thing.
 
Iloveblades said:
Here in Indiana a boy must be a Boy Scout and earn his totin' chip before he can CARRY any knife at all.Not sure if it's an Indiana thing or a scout thing.
Click to expand...

When I was a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout in the 1980s, there was no rule against Cub Scouts carrying and using knives. In fact, knife use and sharpening were some of the ranking requirements and there was an official Cub Scout knife, which was my first knife. For some reason there were liner locks on the awl and cap lifter/screwdriver, features not on the Boy Scout knife.

The Totin' Chip was a Boy Scout requirement, though not always enforced. I never had one until I was a Life Scout, and that was after years of teaching the class to earn it. :D I was an Instructor and taught those types of things. It was just that my troops were not always into paperwork or getting awards out on time if at all.

In the two states I was a Scout in, for every incident of misusing a knife one corner was ripped off, and when you had no corners you had to re-earn the card. In troops that enforced it, some Scouts carried multiple cards.
 
The Boy Scouts of America has only one written policy statement regarding knives. It is in the Boy Scout Handbook (p. 78). It states exactly this:

"The Boy Scouts of America does not encourage the use of large sheath knives. They are heavy, awkward to carry, and unnecessary for most camp chores."

Please remember these words when you hear the many legends about BSA policy -- "does not encourage" -- "large" -- "unnecesary"

BSA currently sells fixed-blade knives - "kitchen" knives, one with an 8" blade.

BSA stopped selling selling sheath knives in 1983.

There is a prejudice against fixed-blade knives amongst many adults in Scouting. When asked, politely, for the basis of their prejudice, they will talk about safety -- misuse of knives by Scouts -- "Rambo" knives -- etc. With very few exceptions, they will also prove to be relatively ignorant about all things knifey.

The banners in Councils and units and event staffs ignore the educational mission of Scouting and the unassailable fact that those Scouts WILL encounter fixed-blade knives in their lives. They SHOULD be taught how to use them safely and well, a task made difficult or impossible by arbitrary bans.

Strangely, no Council that bans sheath knives or fixed-blade knives has a ban on axes.
 
Last edited:
Benjamin Liu said:
When I was a Cub Scout and then a Boy Scout in the 1980s, there was no rule against Cub Scouts carrying and using knives. In fact, knife use and sharpening were some of the ranking requirements and there was an official Cub Scout knife, which was my first knife. For some reason there were liner locks on the awl and cap lifter/screwdriver, features not on the Boy Scout knife.
Click to expand...
There are currently two models of Official Cub Scout knife in our Scout Shop's display case.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top