Which knife for my children?

Lots of good suggestions already made.

About the only suggestion I can add is to get a well made sturdy knife they can handle and operate well with supervision. And if they have difficulty opening or closing them you can help. I know from experience at 5 yo my dad got me a cheap dime store Barlow that failed and pinched a blood blister on my index finger when I tried to cut a piece of rope. It was very flimsy with a weak pivot pin and very dull. That was my first lesson in knife use that made a big impression on me.

Like my dad did, I think you are doing right by starting them out young to learn with supervision. It’s not like you are turning them loose to carry it everywhere. You will know when they are ready for that responsibility. I think any well made slip joint, locking blade or sak would be appropriate.
 
Must the saw and the knife be together? Why not get a separate folding saw for when that's needed? Opinel makes folding saws, that work the same way as the knives your kids already are familiar with, for example.

I like Opinel-style knives for a child's first folding knife. They lock both open and closed. Every action on them is manual -- unlock, open, lock, close. There are no springs that "automate" any of those actions, or could fail to work. The knife can't open in your pocket, or close on your fingers on its own. If the knife didn't lock properly, it's because you didn't do it, because everything is done by you. That makes the knife easy to understand, and teaches the right mindset around a folding knife, that you are responsible for its operation. And of course, they are good knives, yet inexpensive enough that it won't be a domestic disaster when they get broken or lost. (When, not if, because kids are kids.)
 
Vickyandherbiscuits said:
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?
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I know I am late to this discussion . . . .and I have not read all of it either . . .BUT:

In my opinion, 6 years old is still a bit early for a knife as a gift. As a parent and now grand parent., my advice would be to not "give" them a knife, but to train them min safe handling as the opportunity naturally comes up in daily life, food preparation at home and family camping etc.

Part of this advice is based on the development of attention span and part on the development of motor skills (hand-eye co-ordination). It take a child some years to be able to handle table ware or handle a pencil with skill.

Knife giving can be a special event. Just give it a few more years and let it be special.

\I would hold off on gifting a knife till they are late pre-teen, say 9 or 10.
 
VorpelSword said:
I know I am late to this discussion . . . .and I have not read all of it either . . .BUT:

In my opinion, 6 years old is still a bit early for a knife as a gift. As a parent and now grand parent., my advice would be to not "give" them a knife, but to train them min safe handling as the opportunity naturally comes up in daily life, food preparation at home and family camping etc.

Part of this advice is based on the development of attention span and part on the development of motor skills (hand-eye co-ordination). It take a child some years to be able to handle table ware or handle a pencil with skill.

Knife giving can be a special event. Just give it a few more years and let it be special.

\I would hold off on gifting a knife till they are late pre-teen, say 9 or 10.
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I agree with this. We must not rush these “hallmarks of maturity” simply because we enjoy the hobby. Especially considering the times we live in. Does anyone here know what happens if a child is found with a pocketknife at school? Zero tolerance, that’s what. I would at least wait until they were old enough not to try and take it to school or old enough to not forget they have it. These are different times.
 
Bob Denman said:
You two guys are forgetting that you're not there; and you don't know her kids nearly as well as she knows her kids.
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Relax, Mr. Denman. I’m speaking from the context of what I know, which is the average 3 year old. There is absolutely no logical reason for a 3 year old to be carrying around a knife. I’m not personally commenting on how anyone raises their kids, I’m speaking in broad terms.. not singling anyone out. It’s a controversial topic… it’s getting mixed reactions. Being a knife hobbyist doesn’t mean I should be an advocate for handing razor sharp instruments to tiny people in diapers.

ETA: I don’t care if a kid wins the world spelling bee championship at 3 and conducts symphonies in his spare time, I still wouldn’t give them a knife. But that’s me.
 
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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He didn’t ask for parenting advice. He asked which knife to give to his kids.


Op, my son and nephew both got Swiss Army knives at 6. Supervised use, of course. I got an imperial Barlow and no supervision at 6. I didnt learn to sharpen a knife until I was 8 so it was still pretty safe.
 
DMG said:
He didn’t ask for parenting advice. He asked which knife to give to his kids.


Op, my son and nephew both got Swiss Army knives at 6. Supervised use, of course. I got an imperial Barlow and no supervision at 6. I didnt learn to sharpen a knife until I was 8 so it was still pretty safe.
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So you acknowledge there is a vast amount of separation in the development of motor skills and maturity between 3 and 6 years of age?
 
DMG said:
Yeah. I am white knighting for parents rights to make decisions about their children.

Sick burn, buddy. Please don’t meme me again.
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“I’m super mad that people have opinions that differ from mine, so I’ll call everyone that disagrees with me ‘Karen’!”
 
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