What first knife for a young girl?

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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After reading the "what knife" thread for a cub scout: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=662543

I thought about the same for a girl. I have a suspicion that I will have at least one girl out of a goal of 2(kids). Though we are several years from letting the chips fall, I give this a little thought know and then. My kids will grow up around knives, they'll see me in the shop, and maybe go with me to shows. I'm thinking 11-12 is a good age. That's when my mother gave me a SAK Classic. I'd got knives from my grandpa before but they got confiscated by an overprotective, none gun friendly mother. I think I'd get a girl used to cutting things in the kitchen with her mom's supervision. That would be a great way to learn knife safety while working toward something fun (and yummy). Any suggestions?

I think one of the main goals is to safely take the mystery out of the tool.
 
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My first knife (at 8 years old) was an Opinel. Because of that I still love those suckas.

An Opinel is in my eyes still on of the greatest knives a kid can have. Lightweight, available in many sizes, sharp as anything and with an excellent lock.

And with all of these features, it still costs less than a dinner at most fastfood places.
 
LX_Emergency said:
My first knife (at 8 years old) was an Opinel. Because of that I still love those suckas.

An Opinel is in my eyes still on of the greatest knives a kid can have. Lightweight, available in many sizes, sharp as anything and with an excellent lock.

And with all of these features, it still costs less than a dinner at most fastfood places.
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I have never owned one of those, but hear only good things about them.

My first knife was a small Case folder, don't know the name. It was small, lightweight, and had a razor edge. My second was a Buck 110, and I still carry one occasionally to this day. Personally, I don't think you could go wrong with either a good Buck or a mid-size SAK (one with some decent features, but doesn't have every tool under the sun). Just a basic knife with a good blade is all that's needed to learn on, and doesn't carry a huge risk of injury if she were to mess up. And, from my experience, Buck and SAK fit that description perfectly.
 
What my girls have in their collections...

The younger ones...
Small 3" Toothpicks
SAK Classics
Small Stockmans


The older ones...
Queen Abalone Senator
Pink Chive
Scout knives
Larger SAKs
Lockback for camping
 
62kg.jpg
 
One day, I hope;)
 
De4thStr1ke said:
I have never owned one of those, but hear only good things about them.
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Occrouse they have their downsides, they rust if you even THINK about moisture and since the handles are uncoated wood moisture can also affect those.

But as a bang for the buck they're great.

At least I loved mine as a kid. No other boy had knives that sharp. (in my surroundings)
 
I gave my daughter a Case peanut, she was about 15. Then I gave her a Bark River boot knife, and most recently a Spyderco Dragonfly.

Andy
 
LX_Emergency said:
Occrouse they have their downsides, they rust if you even THINK about moisture and since the handles are uncoated wood moisture can also affect those.

But as a bang for the buck they're great.

At least I loved mine as a kid. No other boy had knives that sharp. (in my surroundings)
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They don't rust if you look after them. I have one that must be 40+ years old and although it's now a bit loose the blade and handle haven't perished in any way and the darn thing still gets and keeps shaving sharp. You can get them in SS - and there's also #07 Round tip safety model that's designed especially for kids

http://www.opinel.com.au/Originals.htm
 
I know. But that's true for anything. Anything will last if you take proper care of it.

Personally I think round tip knives are the dumbest idea ever.

I'll porbably buy a stainless version myself sometime soon.
 
I was trying to land a Spydie Co Pilot in a trade for my daughter but it didn't happen.

I'm also thinking of the Al Mar SLB or a Spydie Dragonfly or a Meerkat if I can hook one up.

She's only six but I figure you're never too young to learn.
 
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Charlie Mike said:
After reading the "what knife" thread for a cub scout: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=662543

I thought about the same for a girl. ...

I think one of the main goals is to safely take the mystery out of the tool.
Click to expand...

There are a number of pocketknives that will fit the bill, of course. And I'll let you and your wife decide.

But I did want to comment on your last sentence and say :thumbup: . I feel the same way.

I have a girl, 6, and a boy, 4 (and a baby girl who's just 14 months). The older ones see me using my pocketknife all the time. It's no big deal to them. I even let them whittle a bit from time to time under my strict supervision (as in, I'm basically holding the stick and knife with them). In time when they've demonstrated a certain level of maturity, they'll each get a knife - and the skills and sense of responsibility they'll need to merit that trust.
 
My daughter's 8 and I just gave her a pink Izula;-). But she got her first knife, a purple vic classic, at 4.
Rat Pack # 102
 
I' d take an Opinel over a SAK as a first knife because it doesn' t have a spring that can make the blade shut on the finger of your daughter.
 
My daughters (11 & 14) have had access to my knives for a few years now, and have been using kitchen knives since .... I don't know .. they were maybe 5 or 6.

I just gave each of them a BRKT Pro Scalpel as their first knife. They love them. Very capable knife, perfect size for their hands and easy to control. Bright colored burl handles with mosiac pins to fancy them up a bit.

Worth considering if you are looking at a pocket sized fixed blade as a possibility.

Kevin
 
My boys are 11 and 13. The first knife I gave them was a Vic Fieldmaster SAK. That was a few years ago. Last Christmas I gave them each a Mora #760. My daughter is 7 and I'll probably give her a SAK in the next year or two.

Correction: The first knives I gave my boys were a couple of small Buck lockbacks. I forgot about those.
 
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i agree with an opinel or a SAK. or if you want something more..."modern"? maybe a spyderco ladybug or dragonfly?

edit: ooh a sodbuser jr maybe?
 
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