What makes For A Good First Knife?

For a fixed blade, Buck 102. For a folder, Case Barlow. I think even a non-knife-guy can appreciate American classics. They're inexpensive enough, of great quality, and make wonderful pieces to hand down to the next generation. He may even get a wild hair and use them!
 
Bob Denman said:
The backstory:
My Kid (Aged 34); has never been much of an outdoorsman. In fact: he specializes in being an indoorsman! :eek:
But now that he owns 30 acres of field and woods (GREAT hunting!): he should have at least one knife.
What would you suggest for him?
Chores might range from picking sliver out of a shrieking Wife: to cutting the rope used to secure his firewood.
I'm thinking Dragonfly 2: Are there any other knives that I should consider?
Thanks!
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Good starter knife to me is a Benchmade 940 or 945 . Solid knife sharpens up really well, not overly expensive.
 
Drop bear said:
I would look at a utility knife. Like a carpet or lino knife.

Something like this with replacable blades so he doesn't have to sharpen it. And orange so it is harder to loose.
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There is a lot to be said for carrying a compact utility blade, like the Outdoors Edge Slidewinder ($13), up to the best of the best, the TPT Slide ($85), mostly because a sharp edge is a blade swap away.

But a good quality, well designed folding Milwaukee FASTBACK Folding Utility Knife with Blade Storage and General Purpose Blade, Store SKU # 1004288417, Internet # 309350822, off Amazon, for $14-$15 is a super choice, and the cost makes it "disposable". There is wide variation in quality of design and fabrication for the "Home Depot" type utility knives, but that Milwaukee is a great choice after some research.

From there, something from Spyderco or Benchmade would be a good choice, the Paramilitary 2 is hard to beat and available in a great range of blade steels. S30V is still a great choice since it's stainless and easy to buy. Lost or damaged Paramiltary 2? Oh well, buy another one. Next.
 
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For bushcraft in the yard, a fixed knife; probably stainless unless you want to watch it rust and easy to sharpen if you want to build skills. A Buck 120 Frontiersman would be a good fit for a first knife. On the other hand the ESEE 4 has a no questions asked return policy, so they might be the way to go if they're of the "give me the job and I'll finish the tools" club.
 
If he’s not into knives I would go with a fixed blade for the outdoors work, and maybe more importantly, a half decent sharpening system. All knives that are used get dull, and cheap steel is much easier to sharpen.
You can dull M390 or Elmax in a days work, only it’ll be more difficult to sharpen than 420hc, 8cr, etc.
Something like a Kershaw Buck Commander (or any fixed blade Buck knife) and a Spyderco Sharpmaker might be good to get him into the hobby.
 
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Buck 102 or Buck Compadre, or Mora if just want a good inexpensive tool, and cannot find any more useful than a Swiss Army Knife.
 
Bob Denman said:
The backstory:
My Kid (Aged 34); has never been much of an outdoorsman. In fact: he specializes in being an indoorsman! :eek:
But now that he owns 30 acres of field and woods (GREAT hunting!): he should have at least one knife.
What would you suggest for him?
Chores might range from picking sliver out of a shrieking Wife: to cutting the rope used to secure his firewood.
I'm thinking Dragonfly 2: Are there any other knives that I should consider?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

I love the Dragonfly 2. I also love my Buck 501. Either one might seduce him into becoming a bit of a knife guy.

EDIT 1: The Dragonfly 2 is too thin and slicey for a first knife. So, I have to go with the Buck 501, which is a robust little guy (under three inches), but has a plenty slicey hollow grind.

EDIT 2: Bob, this is an important decision, one of those unrepeatable father-son moments. Think carefully. A wrong choice could psychologically scar the kid for life. No pressure, but his entire future is in your hands with this single decision. Blow it and you pretty much ruin his life. Of course, I'm not a trained psychologist or anything . . . .
 
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Waiting for some members to chime in (Horsewright & others)

Most farmers/ranchers I know carry either a Case Trapper or Stockman with or without a small fixed blade
 
fishface5 said:
Kabar dozier folder. Light, good, cheap.
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Also small, easy to carry, stupid easy to get really sharp, and comes in a bunch of colors if he wants something really visible.

Pair it with a Mora Robust and he'll have a capable folder and fixed blade for less than a round of craft brews for you and the crew.
 
My son thinks of everything as an extension of himself. He thinks his choices represent who he is. If he doesn't like the way it looks, makes him look or is considered too inconvenient, he just won't have it. It's pretty normal. A lot of people wouldn't be caught dead driving, wearing, using this or that.

Try figuring out what he likes stylistically. One man might abhor a trailing-point, antler handled knife, but love fiddling with an automatic. One person might not like any knife strapped to his belt, but wouldn't mind pocketing a wee folding knife or vice versa.

No matter how perfect or useful it is, it could end up in a box or a drawer if doesn't suit him. Think of it as a stepping stone to get him into knives or to see the utility of carrying one. You might just have to figure out, or even ask, what he likes the look of and what size & way would be most convenient to carry for him. Later you can get him some real nice ones.
 
Dunno if you already got him one, but I would argue that a modest sized fixed blade would be a better beginner knife than a locking folder. A Mora Companion would be a serviceable utility knife and it doesn’t break the bank. Although I’m partial to the slightly pricier Mora Kansbol because of the aesthetics and ergonomics. Just pull it out of the sheath, and you’re good to go. No locks, folding blade, or internal parts to worry about. For a smaller fixed blade, an ESEE Izula would be great.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Dunno if you already got him one, but I would argue that a modest sized fixed blade would be a better beginner knife than a locking folder. A Mora Companion would be a serviceable utility knife and it doesn’t break the bank. Although I’m partial to the slightly pricier Mora Kansbol because of the aesthetics and ergonomics. Just pull it out of the sheath, and you’re good to go. No locks, folding blade, or internal parts to worry about. For a smaller fixed blade, an ESEE Izula would be great.
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He's 34 years old, Danger. If he can't be trusted to work a lock on a lock back knife, maybe we ought to rethink the whole idea of giving him a knife in the first place.
 
Mr Machete said:
My son thinks of everything as an extension of himself. He thinks his choices represent who he is. If he doesn't like the way it looks, makes him look or is considered too inconvenient, he just won't have it. It's pretty normal. A lot of people wouldn't be caught dead driving, wearing, using this or that.

Try figuring out what he likes stylistically. One man might abhor a trailing-point, antler handled knife, but love fiddling with an automatic. One person might not like any knife strapped to his belt, but wouldn't mind pocketing a wee folding knife or vice versa.

No matter how perfect or useful it is, it could end up in a box or a drawer if doesn't suit him. Think of it as a stepping stone to get him into knives or to see the utility of carrying one. You might just have to figure out, or even ask, what he likes the look of and what size & way would be most convenient to carry for him. Later you can get him some real nice ones.
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Your son is right. I wouldn't be caught dead wearing bicycle pants a second time. Live and learn, I guess.
 
Mister Coffee said:
EDIT 2: Bob, this is an important decision, one of those unrepeatable father-son moments. Think carefully. A wrong choice could psychologically scar the kid for life. No pressure, but his entire future is in your hands with this single decision. Blow it and you pretty much ruin his life. Of course, I'm not a trained psychologist or anything . . . .
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At the very most, scar the "kid" for about half of his life (2/3ds if we get lucky, 3/4ths if we aim for a Guinnes Record)... The kid is 34 already!!!!!
 
My only suggestion on giving knives to non knife people is give them something that doesnt rust too easy. My brother is a non knife guy I have gifted him an unknown number of knives through the years. He often leaves them in his tacklebox or next the pool pump or where ever he last used it. We found one, Kershaw Leek, rusted to the carpet under his passenger seat of his car. It was completely rusted shut and encrusted with nasty carpet, by the time we pried it out.

BTW he still keeps an old pocket knife he received from our father. It always just sits on his desk. He got mad at me when I asked to sharpen it. He said he does not use that knife to cut anything ever. He is afraid if he uses it it will disappear or break.
 
My advice as a 35 year old would be to get him something approachable, and something he'll want to keep on him for everyday cutting tasks. My top pics would be Leatherman Free T2, Spyderco Delica or chaparel, Buck 501, Hogue mini Ritter or deka. All American made (if that's your preference), all well built and easy to operate.
 
So I gotta ask, whatcha end up getting him? How'd it go? Is he a BF member yet? Rooting for you bud.
 
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