what is a good knife to give a 12 year old boy?

Age discrimination isn't alright, just for reference.

I understand most of y'all are well aged (:-D) and have kiddies of your own that have had kiddies, but a mother has asked for knife advice on a knife forum, not parenting advice on a parenting forum.

I have a six year old who often pulls my fixed blade off my belt to cut open candy wrappers, and toy packages. Sure, I watch him closely, but I never question it so he knows that knives are very useful TOOLS, and that he is welcome to use them as long as there aren't any antics... Just don't tell his mama. :-)

Youngbloods (which I suppose I am still one of you, at 25,) you have a lifetime ahead of you of people telling you that you're too young, that you're too inexperienced, and too irresponsible to do the things you're doing, no matter what it is. Just roll with the punches, and overcome the dissenters with class, tact and respect. The ability to do that is what determines your level of "worthiness" in all facets of life not just knife ownership.

A Leatherman is a wicked choice, my pops gave me his military issue Gerber when I was five, and it started me on the path of taking apart all of my toys... And some of his toys :-) I still have it. I keep it in my truck glovebox.

Bladewise, AO is a bad choice, considering how many times a full grown adult can catch himself flicking open his blades at random, I could only imagine an excited 12 year old. Stick with short fixies, or folders that fit his hand. That's my opinion.

Sorry for the long post!
 
mark greenman said:
Honestly that's the very best advice she could be getting. A 13 year old knife nut knows what someone his age wants, and has similar sized hands.

Some of the knives suggested here, while absolutely functional, are wicked boring for a kid that age, especially one who already has a SAK, and has shown a clear preference for a more serious knife.

You also have to realize the generational changes in taste. A Buck 110 or an Opinel is like suggesting the kid wear bellbottom jeans to school - that would have been awesome in the 60's-70's, now not so much.

The kid was born in the 21st century, he's going to want a 21st century pocket knife.
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Thanks! That is where I was coming from. Mora/BK14/Spyderco Persistence/Benchmade mini-grip still stand.
 
I bought my 12 year old daughter a frost tiny toothpick last christmas. (I do not remember what they called it, but that is what it looks like). she keeps rabbits, and used it for opening feed bags, or hay bales when feeding the sheep.
she lost it, and I had made up my mind to buy her another knife. she has mentioned a few times how cool my opinel no 8 is, so I bought her a no 6 in carbon. She is a bit of an old fashioned kind of girl, so this may be a part of it, but I have no doubt she will love it. about 11 bucks, I think. also, my wife found a leatherworking kit with different tools at the local craft store and a leather sheath kit, so she will be able to use it to make the belt sheath, then carry it around on the sheath she makes. when she does it, I will have to post some picks.
 
Price range really matters, but really any knife is ok if you think he is responsible enough. A SAK or folding knife would be just fine. A small 3 to 3.5 inch blade would be good. A CRKT would be fine. The Spyderco Delica would be a great size knife for a 12 year old as well, very versitale. I would go with a manual action knife though just because of his age even though spring-assisted and autos are not bad to handle if you know how which is not hard.
 
As far as sub-21 year olds providing knife advice, it's great to share your ideas and recommendations. When I was 18, I pert knew just about everything. Then the learning sets in and the school of hard knocks begins to take it toll. I think any advice that is thoughtful and takes into consideration your interpretation of what the other person wants is just fine even it is a $10 Frost Cutlery knife.
 
I got a scout-type knife at 6, and when I was 9 my uncle Ernest gave me a Camillus USN survival type knife, the folder with can and bottle opener.

At 12 I think a size 7 or 8 opinel, maybe the slim one, might be nice -- or maybe a 2 blade trapper type. A stockman could be good too but I always liked the trapper better.

At about the same age I got one of my sons a Kabar Warthog folder. A little more tactical looking but a very useful all-round knife. His twin brother is USAF Security Forces and carries one on duty, now, over a decade later.
 
Times have changed unfortunately. At about 12-13yrs old I had a .22 Marlin Glenfield carbine. I loved that gun. Also had an old Ted Williams Sears 12ga pump(it was huge to me back then). We lived rural, and I just about lived in the woods. I commonly hunted alone a mile or 2 into the woods from the house. I was a squirrel hunting machine back then. Wore my trusty handmedown USAF Survival knife.

Now if kids point their finger at someone like a gun they get expelled and on national news:rolleyes::jerkit:.
 
My first was a medium stockman. I think you get to learn more about th blade types that way or at least begin to think about them.
 
You mentioned he already had a Swiss Army Knife. How big is this knife? If it's a keychain model like a Rambler or Classic, a medium lockknife like a Kabar Dozier Folding Hunter, Buck 55, or a Spyderco Dragonfly would be the next logical step. If it's a medium size knife like a Tinker or Pioneer, the a utility fixed blade like the ESEE RAT3 or Izula, Mora 510 or Bushcraft Survival, Kabar Becker Necker, or Buck 102 Woodsman would be a better choice.

The CRKT F.T.W.S Elishewitz is a large tactical knife similiar to a Kabar USMC knife. IMHO, it's a poor match for a 12 year old because of it's size, weight, and intended usage. I'd try to stay with <4 inch blade on a sheath knife and <3 inch blade on a folder. Discuss this with the other parents to get better feedback

EDIT: FWIW, I'm 39 and have been around the block a couple of times with the scars to prove it. I prefer Swiss Army Knives and Multitools just due to sheer usefullness. Also, anything that's not a slip joint ends up in a pouch because I have been nicked several times when the knife opened in my pocket.
 
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leghog said:
SAKs are real knives, young 'un. So are other slip joints. I've carried a SAK throughout Indo-China, the South Pacific, and Iraq and Afghanistan. It served me quite well too. You've still got some learnin' to do.

And just so you can see it for yourself, here's something one of my "not a real knife" slip joints produced.
P1000282.JPG
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^^^ That is awesome work!

Im going to add a vote to the slip joint option, get the kid a good WR Case or if you want something cheaper a rough rider.

The Case Texas Jack is a good option as a starting point, or even better a peanut. Let him learn that a sharp little knife is better than a big dull one.

Don't get him a giant fixed blade, it wasn't that long ago that I was 12 (11 years) and I can only imagine (and remember) bad things that go with young (bored) boys and big knives.
 
I would say a nice multitool. But if he wants more of a folding knife then here are a few suggestions... Kershaw chive, kershaw scallion, kershaw leek, crkt ripple, spyderco dragonfly, spyderco delica, sog twitch ii, sog flash 2, Ontario rat 2, kershaw cryo, kershaw OD 1 or 2, Boker JC1, Byrd cara cara.
 
I'd highly recommend against a multi-tool and here's why-

I'm 27 years old and I don't own a MT, the reason being at around age 10 I was given a very nice leatherman MT and while I appreciated it was a nice tool it just wasnt my cup of tea. I couldnt easily deploy the blade and it was so heavy, had I not had that negative experience as a boy I would probabily own a MT today but I have a hard time purchasing one, even tho I reconize I would get tons of use out of it, because I am stuck thinkin back to my less than ideal experience from <17 years ago.


Honestly this thread is full of great suggestions, my advice- offer him his choice, he will be best served, take best care of, and most respect a knife he actually likes over the one we tell you to get.
 
I would treat it like a first car. Don't spend allot of money because it's going to get damaged. If the 12 year old likes to fish get a small fillet knife. If they camp get a small all purpose camper. I think you get the idea. If they take care of it and have an interest then put a few more $ into it. Like most of us over 50 my Dad gave me a knife when I joined the Boy Scouts. By the time I was 12 or 13 He had me helping him build garages on weekends with a Western fixed blade on my belt. The key is he spent the time to teach me and then watch me. It is different in today's world. If your child goes to school with an extra sharp pencil they take it away and call you in.
 
Hm, one-time hit-and-run poster asking if a 6 inch combat knife is appropriate for their 12-year old son.
Not sure what to think of this...
 
Cards, I got my first 22 rifle at age 13-14 (9th grade). My Dad and I walked into the store and I picked out what I liked the best within some budget guidelines. My Dad signed the paperwork. I had money saved up for it and he paid the balance as a loan. We lived in the country and I carried that rifle a bunch from hunting, to hikes in the woods, to just plinking around the house. I had no spoken restrictions in terms of its use, but safety was always an issue. I had to use my own money to feed it. Yes, I could buy 22 shells at that time myself and if it was a problem, my brother would buy them with my money.

I carried a pocket knife since I was in the 2nd grade. It was part of me same as my EDC is today.
 
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