What first knife for a young girl?

Are you talking about a knife for EDC or to have in the home?

In NY it's illegal for anyone under 16 years old to carry any "dangerous knife". Why the term "dangerous knife" is used doesn't make much sense to me but that's the why the law is worded.

And heaven forbid that any kid is found with a knife in school!

My granddaughter had been doing her homework at my dining room table. In clearing the table of her books she unknowingly grab a copy of "American's 1st Freedom" magazine I had on the table (NRA monthly magazine) and stuck it in her bookbag.

Well as luck would have it she forgot her bookbag in one of her classes and the teacher in the process of trying to identify who the back belonged to opened it and found the GUN magazine, oh no! Next thing you know I'm called at my job to come down and explain to the principle and head of security for the school district why my granddaughter is carrying around in school a gun magazine! I can only imagine what would have happened if a knife was found in her bookbag (she was 13 or 14 at the time).
 
SAK: the ultimate kid knife. Children have hands like monkeys. I think my first knife was a Tinker I got for Cub Scouts. To be honest, I used the screw driver more than anything else combined. Also, a kid can actually reach the small blade and it won't look utterly puny to them. The best thing to do is to resist using your own way-more-awesome-tools and ask to use their little SAK around them to make them think they're useful. Tighten up the screws on their rattling bed frame, pry open a battery lid on their toys, what have you. It's also small enough to carry while romping around the trees by the house. Children are also like hobbits---your dagger is their short sword. I was never like Tom Sawyer. I never liked to carry much in my pockets.
 
I got my daughter when she was six years old a Victornox small one blade knife. I can't remember the model number but it's best feature is it doubles as a whistle. It comes with a lanyard, small pen blade, file and of course the whistle.
I explained to her if she ever gets lost or somebody is trying to pick her up to blow that whistle.
She's now 8 and actually didn't loose the knife like I thought she would. And she really admires that knife and takes care of it.

Her little 5 year old brother wants one too, but I don't think he's going to be getting one before the age of 10! ;-)
He's just a lot more imature than she was at that age. But we'll see. I think it's important to start small and one that's doesn't have a locking blade. Because most children aren't strong enough to unlock the blade.

SAK is a good way to go, I also like the Spyderco Lady Bug...which will be her next knife...maybe next Christmas.
 
Any models that can effectively be used to ward away Rob Lowe and Gary Glitter. :D

Seriously though, maybe a Vic SAK Classic or Executive... probably the latter, because of the inclusion of a pen. Then they can do girly writing in an emergency.
 
I'm leaning with C.S. Graves on this one. Perhaps a nice, pink, Victorinox Classic. Gives a few different tools to use while offering a small working edge that'll teach her proper knife handling. Then, when she's a bit older, you can hand down one of those DDRs you got.
 
I looked at the pink alox Classic but that blade is really tiny. The scissors are very good for nails though.

But I'm not gonna buy her a knife just because its pink. There are other colours that should appeal to a girl.

The white FRN Dragonfly is cool......
 
Good suggestions from everyone. This won't be a decision I have to make for more than 13 years (sounds right... 10 year old). More than likely would be a pink classic and maybe a pink mini grip at 12, just like her momma carries.
 
I was thinking a Bali trainer, can't teach them too young. :D

A pink SAK would be good, it would be easy to keep track of.
On a tangent, rather than a knife, how about a little Leatherman Squirt in pink? I'm sure she would love it.
 
I was thinking a pink Juice or Squirt, but I remember leathermans I've owned were too stiff for a kid to open. OTOH, my wife has no problem firing most D/A OTF's one handed.
 
Why not a slip joint to start off and teach knife safety? My first knife was a BSA knife with fake jigged bone inlays. Didn't lock, and taught me a lot about how to cut and use a knife.
 
I think the first knife any kid of mine will use is a paring knife in the kitchen ;)
 
santa fe stoneworks Charoite Spyderco Kiwi
sfswkiwich.jpg
 
Since she is young, you may want to get her a cheap knife that will make her wanting more, and try not to spoil her with something too expensive. With a cheap knife, you can tell her that as long as she proves her responsibility (or whatever) to you that you will reward her with an upgrade one day.

Maybe start with byrd and move to spyderco after you know she is interested and has gained some skills/ knowlege.

But hey, Im no parent. Maybe it is best to woo them and go for broke.
 
blackfeetmageet you're exactly right. I am a parent, and another thing to add to your point is, get her a less expensive one just because kids tend to loose knives, money, toothbrushes, socks, anything!

So keep it low in cost, my daughter loves her $10 SAK. (It's not pink though.)
She's done very well with that knife for 2 years now, and like I said in an earlier post, she's probably going to get a ladybug Spyderco this Christmas. (pink) :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top