What is a jacknife? plus a bit of vindication

[Hard H2O]

My daughter is 9 and going onto the fourth grade. I suggested to her that I wanted to get her a pocket knife. We looked at a few online and I showed her the starter Opinels and SAKs with rounded tips. I was thinking of giving one to her, one to her cousin of the same age and his 11 yo sister. My daughter was all for it and liked the SAK.

I mentioned it to the wife and the Brother and Sister-in-law. They about tore me a new one. I am not sure why they are so hostile toward a tool. I am the one who has the blade and multi tool handy when they need something cut or worked on on holidays. They know they are sharp so I get to cut the ties, ribbon, cardboard... They see how handy a knife or multi tool can be yet they do not want to take the time to teach their kids to use and respect a blade.

We were getting stuff together for my daughter to take to Girl Scout camp this week. It is a day camp except for Thursday night. My wife was reading the packing list and it said that she needed a "jacknife" for Tuesday because they were going to carve something. I felt a bit smug about knowing when she was ready to own a pocket knife.

I asked the wife if, when she talked to the leader, they had mentioned this and what they required. I mentioned slipjoint, lock back... The wife didn't have a clue. I tracked down an Opinel that I had (carbon steel No. 08). I showed it to the daughter. She wanted to take my orange Leatherman Juice S2. I explained that For carving I would think the ring locking would be a better choice for a novice knife user than the non-locking Juice. I didn't tell her that the Opinel would be a bit cheaper to replace that the Juice should harm fall to the knife.

I sharpened the Opinel up. I hope that will suffice. It sharpened up from dead dull to push cutting paper in about 15 minutes running through all 6 GATCO stones and hones and two strops.

Sorry for the long post but to summarize for those just skimming to the end:

If a Girl Scout leader told you you needed a "jack knife" what kind of knife would you think they had in mind?

 

[Hard H2O]

Here is the knife she is going to use:

Can't tell from my terrible picture but the bevel is polished and very shiny.

There is a bit of patina but it is carbon steel so what are you going to do.

I will not be heart broken if something happens.

Given a bit more notice I would have ordered her a SAK of her own.

 

[Redrummd]

I think that the camp is using the term loosly to mean a pocket knife. Most knives called a Jack Knife are usually two bladed with the blades both at the same end.

 

[knarfeng]

If a Girl Scout leader told you you needed a "jack knife" what kind of knife would you think they had in mind?

A slipjoint.

An SAK would work just fine. Both my son and my daughter received SAK's as their first knives.

 

[tabeeb762]

Dude its your daughter. Get her a brand new Case or something she can enjoy breaking in on her own

 

[popcornpicker]

That might be considered a little wicked. Or maybe cool to the little girls. On ebay you can find a Kutmaster Girl Scout Knife with green handles, official, and about 40 years old at a very good price. If you tune that up, nobody would question your choice. Buy two, you might get lucky with her friend's mother. Just a suggestion.

 

[THG]

Sucks what happened with the in-laws. My uncle gave me a SAK for my 10th or 11th birthday, and my parents had no problem whatsoever. They aren't knifeknuts by any mean, but thankfully they aren't sheeple. Or maybe they just don't see much problem with me having a knife, even at that age.

 

[Bob W]

y wife was reading the packing list and it said that she needed a "jacknife" for Tuesday because they were going to carve something.

As mentioned, the technical definition of a "jack" knife is one with both blades that open at the same end. But in the context of the camp's supply list, any folding pocketknife should do.

 

[mnblade]

Here is the knife she is going to use:

There is a bit of patina but it is carbon steel so what are you going to do.

Admire it, that's what! Great looking knife. A real honest user showing real honest use (and care).

 

[JD Mandrell]

I mentioned it to the wife

Her opinion is one thing....

and the Brother and Sister-in-law.

These two need to stuff it...


Good choice on the Opinel! :thumbup:

 

[Hard H2O]

Dude its your daughter. Get her a brand new Case or something she can enjoy breaking in on her own

Given more time I would have done that.

I was planning on ordering a few on the sly and wrapping and handing them to the kids on Christmas.

As it happened I had a couple of hours to rustle something up.

That might be considered a little wicked. Or maybe cool to the little girls. On ebay you can find a Kutmaster Girl Scout Knife with green handles, official, and about 40 years old at a very good price. If you tune that up, nobody would question your choice. Buy two, you might get lucky with her friend's mother. Just a suggestion.

I looked a few of those up a while back. I would probably appreciate it more than the daughter. She liked the pretty colors on the SAK.

If someone tells me to go get a "jack knife" I am thinking a barlow or similar traditional slippie.

The only thing close that I have is a Victorinox Pocket Pal:

Problem is that the main blade has a broken tip.

They are going to do a knife skills class and then the information sheet says they are going to carve a boat. With carving as one of the specific uses for a beginner I think a locking blade is in order.

She couldn't manipulate the lock on my frame lock and I do not know how something like that would go over. The Opinel is a bit unassuming and is a nice stealth blade. Like something you would throw in a picnic basket.

I will find out soon how it went.

 

[Smash05]

I remember when I received by Boy Scout Knife - Imperial with main blade, awl, can opener and bottle opener/screw driver. Been carrying a knife ever since. To top it off, I can't say I grew up in a rural area. The key to responsible knife ownership, and acceptance by people like your brother and sister in law is to own them early and teach responsible use. I have never thought of a knife as a weapon, and there is a reason - it was always a tool. That should be your mantra, to your daughter, wife, and anyone who gives you crap. My response has always been, that I will not deprive myself or others of the basic tools of CIVILIZATION! Someone tried to call me on that once, and I asked them why we referred to different eras as (stone age, Bronze Age, etc.) Its because of the DAMN TOOLS good luck bud.

 

[thombrogan]

If a Girl Scout leader told you you needed a "jack knife" what kind of knife would you think they had in mind?

Any folding knife would be "close enough."

 

[Ralph Merlino]

I think that tabeeb hit it on the head. Just get her a new
Case two bladed trapper they have small ones. It will
be new and it will be hers. And it wont cost very much.

 

[Hard H2O]

I remember when I received by Boy Scout Knife - Imperial with main blade, awl, can opener and bottle opener/screw driver. Been carrying a knife ever since.

Did you get your whittlin' chip? I got mine from Cub Scouts. In googling it it looks like it is not an official BSA award.

 

[Smash05]

Did you get your whittlin' chip? I got mine from Cub Scouts. In googling it it looks like it is not an official BSA award.

I did.

I spent a few years in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Around the time I went to High School, I had alot going on, Sports, Music, etc. Combined with a bad experience with a senior scout, boy scouts fell off my priority list. I am left with what I learned there, which was a ton. All the memories aren't great, but all the knowledge gained was. I remember having to learn to whittle on a bar of soap, before moving on to wood!

 

[jp101]

give her a Fully serrated Spyderco Police, or a cold steel X2 Voyager.

give those inlaws something to cry about

 

[Hard H2O]

give her a Fully serrated Spyderco Police, or a cold steel X2 Voyager.

give those inlaws something to cry about

There's an idea. A knife is a knife. It is only a weapon or evil if it is used as such.

How about one of these:

http://www.mantisknives.com/mk3.html

My daughter loves her some pink.

For some reason she likes orange. Hence her interest in the S2.

 

[thombrogan]

Mantis? For a loved one? :thumbdn::barf:

Kershaw is going to be releasing their RJ Martin-designed Zing before too long it will be available in orange. Spyderco's Rescue knives and their Ladybug folders are available in orange, too.

Girls love khukuris. Your daughter could start with a 12" Ang Khola now and you could buy her the larger Ang Khola khukuris as she gets older. The plus side is that khukuris are even more fun when their used and the Ang Khola is great at splitting firewood. Chores done without complaint; daughter's happy; dad's happy; in-laws almost ready for the asylum.

 

[Hard H2O]

Mantis? For a loved one? :thumbdn::barf:

Kershaw is going to be releasing their RJ Martin-designed Zing before too long it will be available in orange. Spyderco's Rescue knives and their Ladybug folders are available in orange, too.

Girls love khukuris. Your daughter could start with a 12" Ang Khola now and you could buy her the larger Ang Khola khukuris as she gets older. The plus side is that khukuris are even more fun when their used and the Ang Khola is great at splitting firewood. Chores done without complaint; daughter's happy; dad's happy; in-laws almost ready for the asylum.

I wish I had a ranch big enough to require the downing of timber and the splitting of wood. My 1/4 acre of suburban lawn is better tended to by a hedge trimmer and a lawn mower.

My kids and the niece and nephew would be using theirs on vacations to cabins, fishing, and for my kids hopefully hunting in the future.