Suitable First Knife For My Son?

[Smudgeruk]

Hi there everyone!
Have enjoyed camping for a while now and love the more "backwoods" type of camping. I generally just enjoy being in the woods with nature......... My son, aged 10, is also becoming very interested and is indeed now fascinated with the "knife axe and saw" concepts that he is discovering within cubs and scouting.

I have been thinking about getting him a knife to use whilst in the woods (under strict supervision of course) I currently use a Leatherman Wave, which has a multitude of uses but don't really want to spend that sort of money just for him to abuse it. Would he be better off with a good old swiss army etc just to learn good practices and how to use it safely???

 

[g4ghb]

can't beat a small (not the 'exec' size though) victorinox swiss army knife - if you get it withe a few blades he will love it!

 

[leon-1]

I would say keep things as simple as possible and be saftey conscious. If you are going for a fixed blade (it cannot close on his fingers) then obviously the Frosts.

If his hands are a little too small for that and you would prefer a folder then go for a small carbon steel Opinel, it will take an excellent edge and with the twisting collar they won't close on his fingers.

 

[Graham_S]

i'd say frost mora.
it's less than a tenner and a good quality fixed blade so there is no chance of it closing on his fingers.

opinel make a childrens knife too, it might be worth trying to find one of them.
i think it's called "my first opinel". it's basicly a No7 with a rounded tip.

 

[Phil562]

opinel make a childrens knife too, it might be worth trying to find one of them.
i think it's called "my first opinel". it's basicly a No7 with a rounded tip.

My daughters first knife was one of these, she has now progressed onto a small puuko. The Opi is now in storage for No 2 daughter

 

[BorderReiver]

If always supervised,I'd go for the mora.

It's a real knife,fixed blade,cheap and very good at it's job.

You can teach safe use,sharpening and care without worrying about the knife getting "spoiled".If it's broken or lost,£10 is reasonably bearable.

Buy a couple and keep one as a spare in case of mishaps.

 

[weaver]

I got this one for my 7 year old daughter. She really likes it, it is safe and a real working tool. I'm thinking about one for myself!

Victorinox Trekker 1 Hand Opener. 4 3/8" closed. Black nylon handles. Features large locking blade with thumb slot, bottle opener with screwdriver and wire stripper, can opener with small screwdriver, reamer, Phillips screwdriver, saw blade, toothpick, tweezers and keyring. $29.95

http://www.sheathmechanic.net/ProductImages/VN-54874.jpg

 

[scruff]

Why not try one of these;

http://www.dick.biz/cgi-bin/dick.storefront/43a13ae4002fd460274050f336090626/Home

Its designed for kids and is from a very good company Frost, makers of the afore mentioned Clipper.

Edit: Poop that link doesn't go to where I thought it would. If you type "No. 73 Children´s Knife" or "701564" in the companies search function you should find what I'm harping on about

 

[scanker]

Try this one.

 

[Graham_S]

looks good, it's a mora classic with a guard

 

[scruff]

Cheers scanker, thats better

GrahamS - Nah this is more like it http://www.dick.biz/cgi-bin/dick.storefront/451165c3008842d4273f50f33609064b/Product/View/701563 (worked it out now )

I don't know why these are so uncommon they have all the good elements of a bushwhacking knife; cheap, good quality blade, plain wooden handle (not a bright orange/red one) and leather sheath!

Tony why aren't you selling these!? Seriously burn/stamp the BCUK logo on 'em and they'd sell like hot cakes.

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Cheers scanker, thats better

GrahamS - Nah this is more like it http://www.dick.biz/cgi-bin/dick.storefront/451165c3008842d4273f50f33609064b/Product/View/701563 (worked it out now )

I don't know why these are so uncommon they have all the good elements of a bushwhacking knife; cheap, good quality blade, plain wooden handle (not a bright orange/red one) and leather sheath!

Tony why aren't you selling these!? Seriously burn/stamp the BCUK logo on 'em and they'd sell like hot cakes.

They also sell the wooden handled Mora's here as well
http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/knives.htm
Scroll down page

 

[JonnyP]

I agree with the frost mora, bought one for my boy (8) at the last moot. I first thought it would be too big for him, but he gets on really well with it. Bambodoggy made him a platted loop of paracord so he can wear it round is neck, and he is well chuffed with that............

 

[sam_acw]

My first knife was one of the small couloured SAKs which I still use to this day as it is only about 2 inches long.
I'd just say get anything which is easy to look after and sharpen and fits the size of his hand. I'd probable choose one of the smaller opinels as they look more like a "real" knife than an SAK and you can play together at drilling a hole for a lanyard and making one up and other things. Also as they're cheap and readily available there's no need for tears when it gets mislaid.

 

[wildrover]

opinel make a childrens knife too, it might be worth trying to find one of them.
i think it's called "my first opinel". it's basicly a No7 with a rounded tip.

Any one know where I'd get one of these?

 

[sharp88]

Erghhh dont get anything without a point on it. Iv been seeing 'childrens knives' with rounded tips for obvious reasons and a point to me is 1/3rd of a knife's function.

 

[Phil562]

Any one know where I'd get one of these?

Sorry mate, I stumbled upon the one I got on ebay

 

[Phil562]

Erghhh dont get anything without a point on it. Iv been seeing 'childrens knives' with rounded tips for obvious reasons and a point to me is 1/3rd of a knife's function.

Your right that a tip is a function of a knife, however you've answered your own question me thinks

 

[P@ul]

Hi, Smudgeruk

I bought a knife for my 10year old son about a year ago.
I had decided from the start that it had to be a fixed blade; the thought of a knife shutting on his fingers still makes me shudder. I also wanted a short blade as I feel there is too much leverage in a long blade for a young wrist.

After much searching on the Internet my son chose this one; http://www.heinnie.com/cgi-bin/heinnie_store/web_store.cgi?page=eka/fr-eka.htm&cart_id=
It is a great knife and I would highly recommend it.

Cheers P@ul

 

[P@ul]

Oops, link didn't seem to work!
Its a Helle Nying and I purchased it from the link above, very quick.

P@ul