What's a good folder to start an urban 8-year-old?

BJE said:
You could always get him a Victorinox classic, it is small but very useful.
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I think a Classic may be bit too small for an eight year old. He may not have the strength and fine motor skills yet to control something that small (and sharp).

I like the Buck 303, or if you really want a locking blade, the Buck 503 is a nice choice (one of my all time favorite knives).
 
Psychopomp said:
I think a Classic may be bit too small for an eight year old. He may not have the strength and fine motor skills yet to control something that small (and sharp).

I like the Buck 303, or if you really want a locking blade, the Buck 503 is a nice choice (one of my all time favorite knives).
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I have to dissagree, my first knife was a little classic knock-off that was a real nail breaker, but I still managed to open it. I don't think we give kids at that age enough credit, if they can open child proof caps then they can open a classic. Kids are really good at opening things we don't want them to:D. I think the size is easier to control than a larger knife that may be awkward. I still think a small Tinker would probably be perfect though. Get him a real knife if you want him to treat it like one. Buck makes great knives that appeal to the younger generation. Plus there is alot of history that Spyderco and Benchmade doesn't get close to.
 
Large Sebenza with buck eye burls and a rain drop damascus blade.:D
No seriously I got my 7 year old a SAK classic stay glow for Christmas last year and he loves it. He thinks the fact that it glows in the dark is really cool. He sleeps with it on his dresser next to his bed like a little nightlight. It was hair popping sharp when I got it so I ran it over a kitchen steel a few times at an almost 90 degree angle just to dull it up a little. Its still sharp enough to cut but if he slips with it it and gets his finger it wont go all the way to the bone. Just don't forget about the scissors like I did. Those things are SUPER sharp. Good knife, good size, and for 15 bucks you cant go wrong.
 

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I agree with all the SAK recommendations, but if a single locking blade is necessary, I'd also add the Boker Hyper. That may be a perfect fit for 8 yo hands.
 
morrowj_98 said:
All three of my boys got Victorinox Alox Cadets as their first knives. .
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I agree the SAK Cadet would be perfect as a first knife. I got my son an Ulster scout knife when he was 10. If I had it to do again I'd go with the Cadet.
 
My first was a SAK, I was 10 when my gramps bought it for me. I carried it everywhere, more important than anything else is teaching the youngster that a knife is a tool that can be used in any situation, and a Swiss Army Knife accentuates this the most of any brand.
 
Round tip - Opinel for kids, 4 yrs, to start with, a SAK, if they are able to open it and a locking folder, if they are able to close it. (the Wenger kiddies slipjoint is a locking knife with a rounded tip).

Pointy blades above 6 yrs. At 5 they may know, what a tip is, but could hardly pay attention to other kids, that may not know.

A SAK wont hurt, if lost and features many nice and useful things a boy may like.

My son is 6 and usually carries one of his Opinel. They are lighter than SAKs.
 
Yup, my parents bought me a SAK keychain basic model when I was 4-5, and damned if it wasn’t one of my most prized possessions. Of course, I inevitably brought mine to the first day of kindergarten (Quaker school no less) to show off, and it fell out of my pocket during to duck duck goose game. I didn't even have to confess, my name was engraved on the damn thing lol.

Anyway, 8 is a fine age, but he has to know that it's a privilege of trust, not just another toy. The rule my parents had with me back then, was that I could play with the scissors and pocket file whenever I wanted, but I could only open the blade with my parents around.
 
Wow, I never knew such a model existed. As long as the kid can open his beer, he'll be happy.
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Might be a good model for drunks too - bottle opener and no pointy edges. :D

There's also a youth model Opinel. Not going to be as 'cool' as a SAK though...
 
Has anyone had a talk with the 8 year old in question to get a feel for what he's interested in?

Might be a good place to start. Not all 8 year olds are equal.
 
The evidence for me is the sheer amount of yelling I have to do as my Son's baseball coach. :)

My Son has had pocket knives since the age of 6. I know you're not supposed to do this, with "a sharp knife is a safe knife" philosophy so subscribed to, but I gave him a few lower-dollar folders (Schrades, etc.) and dulled the edge before I did so. It's not as if he was doing any whittling or cutting otherwise at age 6, but rather just wanted to carry a pocketknife like his dad!

At age 8, he's got a sharp Spyderco ladybug, and whittles points on every stick he can find in the yard. He knows all too well that the knives are to stay in the collector cabinet when not in use, and are never under any circumstances to be taken to school.

Just to put things into perspective, when my Father was a teenager (I'm 35), he and all his friends kept rifles and shotguns in their trucks and cars for hunting immediately after school during hunting season.

My, how times have changed...

Professor.
 
More important than the specific knife chosen are the instructions that come with it. Always cut away from yourself (and others). Always consider where the blade will go if it slips. Discuss the danger zone under the folding blade, etc. These lessons are the really valuable thing that the boy will receive. The knife just gets his attention so he will listen.

And for the record, I think it would be a mistake if the design of the knife or its presentation included any hint of possible self-defense use. Even if he's old enough to use a knife responsibly (debatable), he's definitely too young to handle the responsibility of lethal force. There are different non-lethal skills that he could/should be taught for SD that would not only be more appropriate, but also more effective.

I would go with a small SAK or a small locking knife with a nail nick for an 8-year old. A rounded tip is probably a good idea, too (can be done with a file). Get something cheap enough that if he loses it in a week or two, you won't regret it.
 
I personally feel that a small slipjoint pocket knife like a Case peanut is perfect for a first knife. It will teach them about safe use, as mentioned above. I just bought my 8 yr. old daughter that very knife 2 weeks ago. I even sharpened it for her. No incidents so far. She picked out one that was black and orange (her school colors).
 
i was trying to decide on a folder for my son, before i finally decided on a fixed blade.

some of the things i thought about:

(1) i, personally, would NEVER get a slip joint folder for a kid. no lock = no deal
(2) it would have to be a lock that didn't involve putting ANY part of his hand in the path of the blade - no lockbacks, liner locks, or frame locks

the only choices this left, for me, were Axis style locks, or an auto. neither seemed too appropriate, honestly. although the AFO is blocky enough for little hands, hmmmmm.
 
When I was 8 I joined the Cub Scouts and got one of those official Cub Scout folders with the blue scales.
 
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