Which knife for my children?

V

Vickyandherbiscuits

Joined
May 29, 2022
Messages
8
Hi, I'm looking to buy my children their first pocket knife. (They are 3 & 6 - of course they will be supervised!).
I am debating between the victorinox junior 09 and the victorinox walker. I definitely want them to have a saw, they'll think it's the best bit!

I like that the walker is simpler, the knife and the saw is all they'll really use for awhile. But I don't know whether I ought to buy them the version with the rounded edge? I was originally thinking getting them a junior one and around their 10th birthday upgrade them to whichever victorinox I think they'd enjoy at the time. But I'm wondering if it is really necessary to have the rounded tip?

Or is there another pocket knife you'd recommend?
 
If you think they’ll enjoy the saw blade the most, maybe a single bladed knife with a serrated edge would be a better choice. Spyderco offers excellent serrated knives in different colors.
 
TheEdge01 said:
If you think they’ll enjoy the saw blade the most, maybe a single bladed knife with a serrated edge would be a better choice. Spyderco offers excellent serrated knives in different colors.
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Thank you for the suggestion, they will want to whittle too so I think something with both a saw and a knife might be the better fit.
 
It seems very strange to me to want to give a knife to such a young kid... Maybe plastic toy knives at best? What do they need a knife for at that age? They don't IMO but to each their own.
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
It seems very strange to me to want to give a knife to such a young kid... Maybe plastic toy knives at best? What do they need a knife for at that age? They don't IMO but to each their own.
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Because they use knives at their homeschool group to whittle, they have made various things and love it. The 3 year old needs a lot of help but the 6 year old does a pretty good job. At the homeschool group, they use the childrens opinel, but are desperate for a pocket knife like I have. They sometimes use my pocket knife.
 
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Legendary_Jarl said:
It seems very strange to me to want to give a knife to such a young kid... Maybe plastic toy knives at best? What do they need a knife for at that age? They don't IMO but to each their own
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Everyone is different. Some 6 year olds are ready for a knife I know I was.

Lots of 20 year olds should not have knives.

V Vickyandherbiscuits sounds like a great parent to me. My first knife was a 4 blade SAK and I loved all the tools. My second SAK had a saw and I used it a lot. So I think a saw is a good idea. I dont think the rounded tip is necessary. They will cut themselves not stab themselves.
 
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I bought my buddy a SAK Walker, and he loves it. Now, he's a full-grown man, but it's a great sized knife at a very reasonable price.

The reason I picked the Walker is the saw. Best SAK to get that tool without a lot of other tools you won't use as much. I got mine at forum sponsor DLT Trading and had it engraved for that personal touch.

I whittle myself and am always using the SAK saw to harvest branches to carve. :thumbsup:
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
It seems very strange to me to want to give a knife to such a young kid... Maybe plastic toy knives at best? What do they need a knife for at that age? They don't IMO but to each their own.
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What seems strange to me is you start a very dramatic thread seeking help and advice and then respond to a real question in a negative way. I believe I’ll ignore you. Life is too short.

OP I second the SAK walker. Has a nice size that a smaller hand will hold well and the tool selection you are looking for. By the way you sound like a great parent!
 
Insulting or Rude behavior
Legendary_Jarl said:
It seems very strange to me to want to give a knife to such a young kid... Maybe plastic toy knives at best? What do they need a knife for at that age? They don't IMO but to each their own.
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You worthless piece of shit. Retract your troll post and apologize to Vicky. Then take your unwanted spew somewhere else, I guarantee we are not going to put up with your BS.
 
I used to make small totem poles and back scratchers and the saw was perfect for getting nice square ends. Definitely get the saw. But get the smallest one that has the saw. The big SAK’s are tough for small hands.
 
Vickyandherbiscuits said:
Because they use knives at their homeschool group to whittle, they have made various things and love it. The 3 year old needs a lot of help but the 6 year old does a pretty good job. At the homeschool group, they use the childrens opinel, but are desperate for a pocket knife like I have. They sometimes use my pocket knife.
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Interesting. Growing up in a city environment I never needed a knife other than for cutting meat for dinner. And at the age range you mentioned my parents did it for me still. I didn't get my first knife until I bought it myself age 13-14. It was a SAK like knife from Banff.
 
I would suggest whatever you get, do NOT get a slip joint (which those Victorinox are). Kids will do stupid things in the blink of an eye, and no amount of supervision is quicker than a blade snapping back on a kid's fingers.

Find a liner lock or lock back. There are hundreds of decent, affordable locking knife options.
 
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JBC6650 said:
You worthless piece of ..... Retract your troll post and apologize to Vicky. Then take your unwanted spew somewhere else, I guarantee we are not going to put up with your BS.
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I think you need to edit your post. Or delete it altogether. That's not the sort of language or attitude that will encourage the OP to stick around, or cause her to encourage her children to join when they get older.

Like Lee said-Chill out.

Hey Vicky, welcome to Bladeforums. I hope you will stick around. The rude behavior in this thread is not indicative of the vast overall membership. In fact, such displays are VERY rare.
 
I got my first knife at 6(or 7) - a Queen barlow from my grandfather (still have it in the safe). IMHO a SAK is an excellent choice. Time kids started to learn and appreciate knives again. In U.S. kids with knives are considered mini-terrorists (sad). Nothing better than have a good pocket knife in your pocket. I've carried one every day for 70 years.
You're a good dad. :) I would suggest having a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and some band-aids handy. They will cut themselves (no biggie); it's part of the learning experience.
 
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Thank you everyone for the reassuring and helpful comments. I know knives for children can be controversial, but for outdoorsy children already used to using knives and seeing others use them safely as tools, I don't think it is a big deal. Whilst I know several small children I would trust, obviously my own included, I certainly wouldn't trust my 8 year old nephew with one who is addicted to the xbox and would think he was some sort of ninja warrior! I can see why, if those are the typical children you are seeing, you might question knives for children. I don't think it is worth fighting over, probably best to assume that they are used to seeing children who are raised differently. My children would be rather unimpressed and a bit confused if I gave them the toy version and it would literally never be used.

A good point RE how they might cut themselves but not stab themselves. They do sometimes use my knife which obviously has the standard blade, I have possibly been over thinking it.

A few votes for the Walker - thank you! Great to hear others have found this a good knife too. I *think* the walker is the smallest one with the saw, but please correct me if I'm wrong?
 
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shane45-1911 said:
I would suggest whatever you get, do NOT get a slip joint (which the Victorinox are). Kids will do stupid things in the blink of an eye, and no amount of supervision is quicker than a blade snapping back on a kid's fingers.

Find a liner lock or lock back. There are hundreds of decent, affordable locking knife options.
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Are there any pocket knives that have both a saw and a blade that lock?
 
Vickyandherbiscuits said:
Are there any pocket knives that have both a saw and a blade that lock?
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Good question....

I know that some Leatherman multi-tools have locking saw and knife blades. Of course, a multi-tool may not be the direction (or budget) you are looking for. :)

Hopefully some others may be aware of LOCKING saw and knife blades.

Note that some Victorinox models DO offer a locking feature. But I do not know for sure if the ones that do, lock the knife blade only, or both the saw and knife blades.

And welcome to the forum. I commend your initiative for giving your kids exposure to knives. My dad did the same for me at relatively young age with regards to knives and firearms, and taught me the necessary respect they deserve.
 
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