What should be his first?

Leatherman does one with a removable blade specifically designed as a starter knife.

 

First of all congrats!

Until he's old enough for a real knife, I vote either the Spyderco wooden Dragonfly kit or the Case wooden Mini Trapper kit!

As far as his first real fixed blade, what about the Buck 102? Lots of history, American made, high quality, and priced well. There is also the Buck 102 Pro coming out next month featuring S30V steel and Micarta.

For a folder, I don't think much beats a Swiss Army Knife as a first knife.

 

I could be wrong; but the subforum in which he posted seems to suggest that he's looking for his son's first Fiddleback Forge knife...though his mention of the Forager makes me think he's using his son as an excuse to buy himself a knife with the premise that he'll pass it along when the boy is old enough.
IMO, the Forager is not "first knife" material; but buy it anyway. He'll grow into it, eventually.

 

Oh snap! Saw it in the "New Posts" area and didn't even notice which subforum it was posted in. I just automatically assumed it was GKD, lol. It's late.

How about a Forge D. Humpback?

 

Congratulations @James River on your new born boy!! Lots of great memories to build in the future!! My first knife was a scout knife. Single blade folder. Fixed blades maybe a little later in life LOL. Especially a forager. When I was in scouts. I was given a totin chip card. I got it when I could show that I knew how to handle a knife. If I did something unsafe I would get a corner cut off. All four corners cut off I would lose my opportunity to carry my knife for awhile. Then start all over. Maybe a good way to teach him to be responsible as well. One thing for sure, there is a massive pool of knives to choose from and if he’s gonna be anything like dad I’m sure there will eventually be a collection involved. LOL

 

baby boot or lil snowbill

 

It should definitely be a pair of matching knives -- One for dad and one for son. Oh and congratulations on the kid!

 

My first knife was also a SAK. After proving I could keep and use it safely I was presented with a Buck 110 folder that matched dad's. It wasn't too long after that things got a little crazy and my knife collection began! I still have that 110 today and it's my most cherished knife. It's been on more hunting and camping trips than I can count or remember. Once I sat it down by a lake in Kansas while fishing and forgot it. I remembered while driving home hours away in another state. My wife(now ex) was pissed when I turned around and drove all the way back for it!

 

Unequivocally his First Fiddleback Forge knife should be an Esquire

 

That's the short version of it. It turned into quite the adventure before I had my knife back in my hands. Someday I'll take the time to type out the whole story for you all.

 

Congratulations. Definitely a SA, Alox to boot. Now, the matching pair seems great, maybe the Esquire and a Monarch, then I thought of a Bear Cub and a Bear Paw.

I just had a great idea!!! get one for you, your wife and your son, then you can say you have knives for Papa bear, Mama bear, and Baby bear.

so it would be a Bear paw and cub, then a mini kephart.

 

Congratulations @ James River!! My humble suggestion is to start with the Solo then as he grows a Loaner, and for his 21st bday the Bush Hermit.