Thread: First pocket knife for kids - opinions, advice wanted

+1

I agree

@RV1 what did you go with in the end???

Hey MD, I haven't yet. Birthday is coming up so need to make a decision soon. I'm leaning towards the Opinel now I've handled one. I might go buy one with him and let him choose as I think he'd like a basic Swiss army knife more. The second one will probably prefer the Opinel.

We just bought our 11yo son a Swiss army "hunter". He's really keen on having a saw blade. When he's had his fun and realised lots of the tools are gimmicks he'll have his own money to spend and know what he wants/needs/will use. Then the "hunter" will go in his first aid kit I expect.

Identify your target beyond all doubt because you never miss (right?) and I'll be missed.

My son's first knife was an esee izula 2
Awesome small fixed blade with great sheath.
Fixed blade less to muck around closing and opening a folder.
He was 6.yo

@viper - the colour is great too, if you don't want them to lose the knife. @RV1 - I have first-hand experience of the Swiss army knife blade folding onto my finger. I was digging shotgun pellets out of a post, as kids are wont to do, and as I twisted the knife, the blade closed onto my middle finger. The arterial squirter was quite impressive, and I still remember the bicycle ride home, using only my left hand, as a herculean feat! While it is a mistake you learn from and never repeat, rather just get them a lock-blade design.

Son #1 got a Swiss Army knife on his birthday and he's very chuffed with it. Already finding any excuse to use it

Opinel folding pocket knife. Good price, different sizes, come in carbon or stainless steel, easy to open with a great rotating locking function.

https://www.gearshop.co.nz/collections/opinel

NZhunting&fishing sell them also

Yes, I tried to suggest to him that the Opinel is a great option for any number of reasons, but the shiny Victorinox with a bunch of functions won the day. No worries, he can get an Opinel for his next birthday...

Yep - got both my kids Swiss Army knives when they turned eight. The ones I got had all the bells and whistles - and I sharpened them.
My older son cut himself ten times in the first week, would walk past me at haste into the bathroom ..........
"Cut yourself, haven't ya ?"
"Yep."

The second son never did ..............
"How come you never cut yourself on that knife ?"
"Saw Orrin do it often enough."

Those boys are 22 and 18 and they still have those knives in the leather sheathes I built them - I reckon they were a good choice

Swiss army
Still have mine, 42 yrs later
Only thing that survived my childhood. Point is been reground, still opens cans, and it's been used twice to skin and dress decent sized antelope , cause the boys with the big sheath knives left em at camp.

Yes I cut my fingers with it, taught me a lesson

$50 buys a good locking knife. Don't make it too small just because its a kid. They are often bigger and stronger in the hands than folk realize. I had two kids, now adults, and have 8 grandchildren. Age 8 to 9 seemed to me to be as early as I wanted to start them. They could handle and take on board the simple and essential knife use and sharpening instructions. No point in giving them a knife they can't sharpen - Skills and equipment. Ceramic rods standing at correct angle in a wood block from Lansky are easy to use, easy to teach and last a lifetime. Teach mom and dad also and their kitchen knives will stay sharp.

I bought bright orange handled knives with about 2.5 in of blade and a drop point. At 10 they get used for field dressing small game and household poultry. Of the first two, one was lost by a 10 yr old in first week. Other is a prized possession.

Rules.
- don't run with open knife
- if you're going to have a fight the knife stays in your drawer or pocket- kids fight, accept it
- knife never goes to school or town
- sharpen your knife and keep it sharp. Spot checks work as do rewards
- cut away from yourself
- hold the knife properly
- keep it clean and always clean it before closing
- its not a throwing knife. If you want a throwing knife grind one up out of an old file
- a knife is not a screwdriver and does not cut tin etc
- a lanyard works better than a pocket or belt clip especially for kids
- a hunting or field knife is best kept in a pack, on a lanyard, in a zipped daybag or belt pouch/bum bag. Its not a fighting knife you need immediate access to for a quick draw. Its more important to have it when you want or need it.
- have a safe drawer or high place to keep it away from even smaller fingers
- don't lend it to your mates, let them get their own. When they injure themselves their moms will hassle you. When they break or lose it they won't buy you another one.
- you will cut yourself. How badly depends on how stupid you are.
- a knife is not a toy
- a knife is no more dangerous than a sharp stick, broken glass or raggedy piece of tin. The user is.