wind your own in, your not the op, he asked for an opinion not reinforcement. Did your dad not trust you with a sharp knife? Mind did...
Child's knife recommendations please
- Thread starter oldtimer
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wind your own in, your not the op, he asked for an opinion not reinforcement. Did your dad not trust you with a sharp knife? Mind did...
Bloody ell mate. Not sure what you're smoking tonight. My reply, the one which you accused me of being sarky, having an agenda, and being part of the usual crowd (whatever that is)... That reply. Was simply to say the best person to judge is the parent of the kids in question.
Back off.
There is a version with a saw too.
http://www.victorinox.com/ch/produc...small-size-84-mm/My-First-Victorinox/0.2373.T
The Wenger Junior range has more options.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=sports&field-keywords=Wenger Junior
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...and they appeal to adults too
Hadn't seen the saw version cheers for that. I think they're a great present as a kid - remember being soooo chuffed when given that first knife. I knew that I was trusted and that my adventures outside would just get better. Would have been even better with a Jack Russell to go exploring with rather than a dumb psycho cat.
Gus lets just remember that 9 & 10 year olds can learn to use an ordinary knife without a rounded point and be sensible if they are taught the consequences of misuse. I have taught kids I have never met before on a number of occasions and some that didnt claim to speak English without issue. By the time you have explained the the consequences on cutting into your thigh with a knife they pay attention and follow instructions.
This group of kids is a bunch of scouts I hadn't met before but taught them all at once to use a knife many of of whom hadnt used a fixed blade knife to carve wood before. I spent a day and half doing this for over 100 kids and adults with a variety of knives including my recommended knife the Scout Mora. I even had one girl who was terrified to pick up a knife who I was lucky my mate joined me for that session and he persuaded her to have go while I was busy and after half an hour she really enjoyed using a knife.
P1296466 by alf.branch, on Flickr
Pointless knives are just that pointless.
This group of kids is a bunch of scouts I hadn't met before but taught them all at once to use a knife many of of whom hadnt used a fixed blade knife to carve wood before. I spent a day and half doing this for over 100 kids and adults with a variety of knives including my recommended knife the Scout Mora. I even had one girl who was terrified to pick up a knife who I was lucky my mate joined me for that session and he persuaded her to have go while I was busy and after half an hour she really enjoyed using a knife.
P1296466 by alf.branch, on Flickr
Pointless knives are just that pointless.
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Thanks to all and Jared in particular for the link which I used to buy the knife. I opted for the Wenger junior version in the end as it is very similar to the SAK evo which is my own EDC. For some future Christmas, it will be a Mora Companion- the best all round knife I've ever had and bought as a result of reading BushcraftUK members' comments and recommendations.
Knife questions always stir up strong feelings and ALL comments I found helpful. I've had a knife in my pocket for 65 years now since my great uncle sold me a beautiful little two-bladed knife for a penny when I was six, and bitterly regret the way the most useful tool in the history of mankind has become the object of mistrust and misunderstanding. It's a tool not a weapon as we all know. However, my grandson will have to deal with world as it is not the way his Grandpa wishes it was.
Knife questions always stir up strong feelings and ALL comments I found helpful. I've had a knife in my pocket for 65 years now since my great uncle sold me a beautiful little two-bladed knife for a penny when I was six, and bitterly regret the way the most useful tool in the history of mankind has become the object of mistrust and misunderstanding. It's a tool not a weapon as we all know. However, my grandson will have to deal with world as it is not the way his Grandpa wishes it was.
All children are different. I was very careful with knives, even from an early age, because my parents told me to be (I was very obedient). My oldest nephew is 10, and has a knife, but I think they waited until he was 8 or 9 before giving him one, because he's less careful with things. I know some adults who are less trustworthy with knives than some children.
Ultimately, it's up to the parent to gauge when to give a child a knife, based on that child's personality and maturity level. When I eventually give my grandson a knife (he's 3 right now), it will only be with the permission of his parents, since they are the ones who are around him all day. I'll teach him knife safety and such, but they are going to be better judges of when he's ready to accept that responsibility.
Accidents will happen, and I wouldn't be too concerned if a child cut his hand with his knife while learning to use it whittle or shave wood. Pain is a good teacher, as I'm sure many of us can attest to. I would be more concerned about him waving it at other people or animals, throwing it, running with it, etc. Accidents are one thing - immaturely brandishing is another thing altogether.
Ultimately, it's up to the parent to gauge when to give a child a knife, based on that child's personality and maturity level. When I eventually give my grandson a knife (he's 3 right now), it will only be with the permission of his parents, since they are the ones who are around him all day. I'll teach him knife safety and such, but they are going to be better judges of when he's ready to accept that responsibility.
Accidents will happen, and I wouldn't be too concerned if a child cut his hand with his knife while learning to use it whittle or shave wood. Pain is a good teacher, as I'm sure many of us can attest to. I would be more concerned about him waving it at other people or animals, throwing it, running with it, etc. Accidents are one thing - immaturely brandishing is another thing altogether.
On that same note, I learned to shoot a gun when I was 6 or 7, as did my brothers. We were extremely careful with it, and followed the safety precautions rigorously, because my father told us to. At 46, I still follow everything my father taught me about the safe use of guns.
I have seen adults who should never be near a gun, though. A few years ago I was at a party where a guy in his early 20s was showing off the new engraving on his handgun, and got so excited (he was drunk) that he was waving it around wildly.
Knives are generally not as dangerous as guns, of course. I tend to see knives more as tools, like any other. Given that, though, I wouldn't let an 8 year old operate a belt sander without supervision, and only then if I was sure that he would carefully follow every instruction I gave him.
I have seen adults who should never be near a gun, though. A few years ago I was at a party where a guy in his early 20s was showing off the new engraving on his handgun, and got so excited (he was drunk) that he was waving it around wildly.
Knives are generally not as dangerous as guns, of course. I tend to see knives more as tools, like any other. Given that, though, I wouldn't let an 8 year old operate a belt sander without supervision, and only then if I was sure that he would carefully follow every instruction I gave him.
Some kids groups insist on rounded ends, if you're an instructor then the client is always right (or more accurately their insurance policy and risk assessment may not be open to debate if you value their pay-cheque).
I know that won't sit well with some people, I'm just sayin'
I know that won't sit well with some people, I'm just sayin'
Just to put another name into the ring for a future contender, the Helle Scout is a quality knife. I got mine about that age and have used it over the decades since.
You have to go with the flow with these things in my opinion. In this country knives give people the willies. Even the humble SAK does not seem to get the free pass that it used to. Rounded blades do have one big advantage over pointed blades when it comes to group activities though as It helps reduce the likelihood of injuries due to horsing around. I know my youngest could not be trusted with a pointed object as it would soon be used on his brothers rear end, demon child that he is.
Agreed, and you can't throw a rounded blade so that it sticks in something either - so you'd be less tempted to try.
If I remember correctly my dad gave me my first knife when I was about six. It was a typical little folder in the style of a 'whittler'. It didn't lock and it had a sharp point, but I don't remember cutting myself or stabbing myself. My advice would be to buy something they will continue to use if they don't loose it, rather than something altered to make it 'safer'.
Some of the neck knives available might make a nice knife for a kid. I really want one of the enzo neckers for myself as they look like great blades.
Alternatively, you can't go wrong with a SAK or an opinel.
Some of the neck knives available might make a nice knife for a kid. I really want one of the enzo neckers for myself as they look like great blades.
Alternatively, you can't go wrong with a SAK or an opinel.