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

Why do you think automatics and other types of knives are illegal in so many states now?
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My favorite musical, West Side Story.
Provided he isn't an idiot, the kid can carry a knife.
 
vjb.knife said:
I don't accept the notion that there should be any restrictions on gun or knife ownership. I believe that every gun or knife law ever written is un-constitutional. I believe that any resonable citizen should be allowed to carry whatever he wants and there we have the disagreement. An 8 yo does not meet my definition of a reasonable citizen carrying full and complete rights. They can't drink, they can't vote, they can't drive, they can't own a firearm, or posses one without parental supervision and there are many other things that a child at this age does not have the right to do. This is one 'right' where the parents have to make the call and I am just stating my reasons why I think it is a bad idea, take them or leave them.

One reason we have so many laws restricting our rights is because of irresponsible use of things like knives and firearms and like it or not the truth is that the younger a child is the more likely he/she is to do something wrong or stupid with that knife. The more often things like that happen the more often we have the people opposed to possession of these things dragging them out as examples of why nobody should be allowed to own them. Why do you think automatics and other types of knives are illegal in so many states now?
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As a parent you can do what you like restricting what your 8 year old carries. I'm not suggesting an 8 year old has a constitutional right to carry a pocket knife. I'm not even suggesting all 8 year olds should handle knives.

What concerns me are some of the reasons a few people have suggested here for why an 8 year old should not carry a folding knife.

I don't think the legal restrictions on automatic knives came about because of an 8 year old getting into trouble with one. I agree that it is likely some of the movies gave a legislator the idea that he could scope points with the voters if he made a law against automatic knives.
 
I don't remember which I got first. Was either a Leatherman Micra or some small SAK. Was probably the SAK but I'm a Leatherman follower now.
 
My first good knife was a Victorinox SAK. My interest slowly grew to larger Vic folders and eventually to production folders.

I recommend a SAK or small sized case/spyderco/sog to start him with. As a child I found the toothpick and tweezer in the SAK useful. Try not to buy anything that has assisted opening it as it is too fun to play with and he may injure himself (even I get injured playing with those). :o Something 3-inchy should be good. ;)
 
My vote is for a SAK or a small slip joint. Don't want your kid getting screwed over at school or something due to some crazy looking knife (to sheeple that is). The kid is 8 and doesn't need a kukiri obviously lol. Some simple, small and safe. Need to start somewhere.
 
Rich357 said:
I don't think the legal restrictions on automatic knives came about because of an 8 year old getting into trouble with one. I agree that it is likely some of the movies gave a legislator the idea that he could scope points with the voters if he made a law against automatic knives.
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Hey look I already said that it is Of Course the parents decision and just stating my observations and opinions. Take it or leave it.

I did not suggest that restrictions on autos were because of 8 yo's it was a point I was making in this statement as a parallel:


One reason we have so many laws restricting our rights is because of irresponsible use of things like knives and firearms and like it or not the truth is that the younger a child is the more likely he/she is to do something wrong or stupid with that knife. The more often things like that happen the more often we have the people opposed to possession of these things dragging them out as examples of why nobody should be allowed to own them. Why do you think automatics and other types of knives are illegal in so many states now?
 
vjb.knife:
"Why do you think automatics and other types of knives are illegal in so many states now?"
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IMHO, it it largely because some groups want to disarm the general public. They come up with all sorts of excuses. In England a group of doctors was pushing to ban pointed kitchen knives. They felt someone in a heated argument might stab a wife or husband.

There is a group in the UN working hard to ban firearms, at least from the hands of ordinary citizens.

The movies play a part in getting the public worried about guns and knives. You almost never see them used for a good purpose. The same true about the reporting in the "drive by news media". Most of the shootings and stabbings in the cities are between drug gangs. But, you often have to read between the lines to figure that out.

Many ordinary citizens grow up in the city and have little experience with guns and knives. They tend to believe what they see and hear in the news. The politicians are more than happy to pass laws that will make the voters think that the government is protecting them.
 
First off, 8 years of age is certainly not too young of an age for a person to own a knife! I agree that a lot depends on the individual child, their behavior and responsibilty level, but a lot also depends on the responsibility level of the child's parents, but 8 years old for a first knife just is not too young! As far as where the individual lives (urban vs. rural), that has absolutely no bearing aside from the duty of the parent to make sure knife is within legal limits and that it is legal for the child to use and carry it.

Rant on:

For all you parents out there who are speaking up against the idea of someone else's 8 y/o having a knife, let me ask you this. Lets assume your kid (lets assume he or she is an 8 y/o) gets lost, that's right, lost! Would you rather that he or she had a knife with him or her, or would you rather he or she didn't? For those of you who are thinking (or getting ready to say), "I'd rather he or she didn't," why exactly is that? Is it because you, as a parent, have failed to prepare your child for an emergency situation, and have failed to teach your child how to properly use a knife as a survival aid? If so, what age must a child be when you think a parent should start preparing them to handle an emergency situation? How old do you think a child needs to be in order to learn to survive? Do you think a child must be a certain age before they are taught what to do in the event of a fire? Do you think a child must be a certain age before they are taught how to swim? How about gun safety, even if you don't own a firearm? How old do you think they must be? How about Martial Arts? At what age do you think a child is ready to learn them?

Personally, I think that if a child of 8 years old doesn't know what to do in the case of an emergency (getting lost, an earthquake or severe weather, a fire, an attempted kidnapping, an injured parent or friend), doesn't know how to make a fire (without a lighter or matches), doesn't know how to swim, doesn't know how to safely handle a firearm, and doesn't know how to safely handle a knife, that child's parents are morons!

I guess I was just lucky! By the time I was 8 years old, I could (and was required to) recite and demonstrate the gun safety rules upon demand, and had been shooting a 22. rifle for 2 years (bb and pellet guns since age 5), was and had been a Cub Scout, had 3 knives (a small slipjoint, a small SAK, and a larger SAK), could make a fire 3 different ways (w/out matches or a lighter), had been swimming for 4 years, had been studying Karate for 3 years, spoke a foreign language, played the piano, and could handle any sort of emergency that was thrown my way. But then, I had parents who gave a damn about me!

Rant off:

The best insurance you can possibly have against your kid drowning is to teach them how to swim, and do it early! The best insurance you can have against your child falling victim to a kidnapping is to teach them how to handle the situation, and do it early! The best insurance you can possibly have against your child shooting themselves or someone else with a gun (even if you don't own one) is to teach them gun safety and how to shoot, and do it early! The best insurance you can have against your kid cutting themselves or someone else is to teach them knife safety and how to properly use a knife, and do it early!

Regards,
3G
 
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IIRC, NYC has a law making the minimum age to be 16yrs old before one can carry, but thats NYC
 
3Guardsmen said:
First off, 8 years of age is certainly not too young of an age for a person to own a knife! I agree that a lot depends on the individual child, their behavior and responsibilty level, but a lot also depends on the responsibility level of the child's parents, but 8 years old for a first knife just is not too young! As far as where the individual lives (urban vs. rural), that has absolutely no bearing aside from the duty of the parent to make sure knife is within legal limits and that it is legal for the child to use and carry it.

Rant on:

For all you parents out there who are speaking up against the idea of someone else's 8 y/o having a knife, let me ask you this. Lets assume your kid (lets assume he or she is an 8 y/o) gets lost, that's right, lost! Would you rather that he or she had a knife with him or her, or would you rather he or she didn't? For those of you who are thinking (or getting ready to say), "I'd rather he or she didn't," why exactly is that? Is it because you, as a parent, have failed to prepare your child for an emergency situation, and have failed to teach your child how to properly use a knife as a survival aid? If so, what age must a child be when you think a parent should start preparing them to handle an emergency situation? How old do you think a child needs to be in order to learn to survive? Do you think a child must be a certain age before they are taught what to do in the event of a fire? Do you think a child must be a certain age before they are taught how to swim? How about gun safety, even if you don't own a firearm? How old do you think they must be? How about Martial Arts? At what age do you think a child is ready to learn them?

Personally, I think that if a child of 8 years old doesn't know what to do in the case of an emergency (getting lost, an earthquake or severe weather, a fire, an attempted kidnapping, an injured parent or friend), doesn't know how to make a fire (without a lighter or matches), doesn't know how to swim, doesn't know how to safely handle a firearm, and doesn't know how to safely handle a knife, that child's parents are morons!

I guess I was just lucky! By the time I was 8 years old, I could (and was required to) recite and demonstrate the gun safety rules upon demand, and had been shooting a 22. rifle for 2 years (bb and pellet guns since age 5), was and had been a Cub Scout, had 3 knives (a small slipjoint, a small SAK, and a larger SAK), could make a fire 3 different ways (w/out matches or a lighter), had been swimming for 4 years, had been studying Karate for 3 years, spoke a foreign language, played the piano, and could handle any sort of emergency that was thrown my way. But then, I had parents who gave a damn about me!

Rant off:

The best insurance you can possibly have against your kid drowning is to teach them how to swim, and do it early! The best insurance you can have against your child falling victim to a kidnapping is to teach them how to handle the situation, and do it early! The best insurance you can possibly have against your child shooting themselves or someone else with a gun (even if you don't own one) is to teach them gun safety and how to shoot, and do it early! The best insurance you can have against your kid cutting themselves or someone else is to teach them knife safety and how to properly use a knife, and do it early!

Regards,
3G
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My Sons are 17 and 21; the older is an Eagle Scout the younger is working on it. I have been a knife enthusiast and practiced martial arts for 30 years or more. They know how to handle themselves in all situations tactfully and otherwise. They have had very high quality knives since they were qualified to carry them (in my opinion) and used them under my supervision prior to that. We live on the edge of the city and they know when it is smart to carry and when it is not as well as what to carry. They both currently have Microtechs (MA) and SAK's. They can take care of themselves surviving in the wilderness and getting around downtown. I am also an NRA Certified Rifle and Pistol Instructor and they both can shoot everything from a bb gun to a 7MM rem mag. I did not let either one carry a knife on their own outside of camping and hunting trips until they passed their test in the Scouts around age 10 or 11.

Do what ever you want to with your children, it is your right and responsibility, I was just putting my 2 cents in nothing more. I never said it was the law or something that anyone else needed to follow; just my ideas.
I have dealt with something like 150 kids in Scouts with them learning how to care for and safely use knives and the only further thing I can say about it is just remember your kid does not always act the same way he does with you when you are not around.
 
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