Need Advice--Is A Knife Appropriate for a Eagle Scout Gift?

Raptor

Raptor

Joined
Aug 31, 2000
Messages
1,343
Hi all,
Maybe you can help me with this one.
A close friend's son will be making Eagle Scout soon and the wife and I were thinking about giving him a knife as a present.
I planned on consulting with the parents first. I believe that his dad will be OK with it but I am unsure about his mom. Hopefully she will understand the meaning of the gift.
What do you think?
Is it an age appropriate gift for a 14 yr old(very mature)?
Also, any recommendations?
I was thinking of a Case knife. I like their presentation/gift tins. Would a pocket knife or a small hunter be better?
Thanks in advance for your input.

--The Raptor--

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Don't be worried about the one that you can see,be worried about the one that you cannot!!
 
well What Ever You Chose Make Sure It Is Scout "LEGAL" I Know From Experience If The Blade Is Over 3 and 1/4 Inches The Scoutmaster Will Most Likly Disagree And It Must Be Single Edged That Is If You Are Going To Present This Item At The Time Of The Scout Recieves His Rank During A Scout Meeting
Just Some Friendly Advice Hope It Helps,
Matt
 
my first thought is that you should go to the local scout office and get an 'offical' eagle scout knife. If you can't get to the office, ask his parents to get a copy of the boy scout catalog, and order one, or check out the site: http://www.bsa.scouting.org/ you might find one there. second I thought that 14 is too young to get that award, my (former) scout master won't let someone get their eagle under 16 unless they have done alot to earn it. it's not that he is being hardnosed about it, or something, it is just that he knows maturity comes w/ age. but you did say that he is very mature and I agree with him.
 
Whoa Back up a bit.
First of all an eagle scout is not a child.
I doesn't matter if the knife is scout legal
for a gift since it doesn't have to be for only scout activities.
Becoming an eagle scout is no casual thing.
It's quite an accomplishment and deserves a nice quality knife for a gift if it is at all possible.


[This message has been edited by TomW (edited 09-13-2000).]
 
Rant Mode Is On!!

A 14 year old Eagle Scout candidate should be quite responsible! He has proven himself in many area's of Camp Craft, community service, first aid and a group of other activites. Either the pocket knife or the small hunter should be quite acceptable as a present to the young man!
We have grown to a funny society (must be the kinder gentler one) when we have to question whether a 14 year old should or should not be responsible enough to receive a knife. Buy the knife you feel best about.
As for a Scout Master who won't allow anyone under 16 an Eagle Scout then he is discriminating by age, there is all kinds of age discrimination by people with "limited thinking". There are exceptional people of all age groups when they are stunted by this limited thinking then it is a great disservice to them and to society as a whole.
I am sure the young man will appreciate the knife. Let us know what his Mom thinks.

Live Well
Ken

 
Ken I said he won't let them UNLESS they have done an exceptional job as a scout. I agree because I've seen too many 14 yo eagle's that can't tie knots or recite the oath. those are two of the simplest things to do. to many scout masters promote them to make their troop look good. He is fair about it, though. If a boy shows him that he knows everything that he needs to and has prepaired himself for the chalenges. I'm sorry if it sounded like he was being unfair, but many 14y/o boys are not responsible enough to organize a major project that benefits the comunity.
 
Hmm, that's an interesting question. I think a knife would be a wholly appropriate gift, but the question is "which knife?"

Your suggestion of a Case knife sounds great to me. It would make a better presentation knife and would probably be tame enough to avoid disapproval problems with the mom or Scoutmaster.
 
Scouter
I have been away from the Boy Scouts for many years, I guess I came from a time when an Eagle Scout was Exceptional or he wasn't an Eagle, not to say that some troops may not have had the same level of ability as anothers. Your point is taken.
I guess from my era near any Eagle Scout would have been quite handy with any knife hatchet or other edged instrument, I guess a sign of age. I may need to volunteer some time, check out the local troops and see how they operate.

Live Well
Ken
 
A knife would be a great gift. I wouldn't get him a "presentation" anything, though. Give him something he will use. Since camping is a large part of Scouting (was for me, anyway), I would give him a medium (4-5") fixed blade, or a SAK.
 
A knife is all I give for Eagle gifts. I try to find something unique to that Scout. Remember though, BSA guidelines do not allow Scouts to have fixed blades (except kitchen knives.. yeah a stupid policy, but there none the less...)or large folders. I usually give Spydercos or the "Norman Rockwell" knives if the Scout is not that outdoor oriented.
Fish (Eagle, Class of 1975)
 
A knife is most certainly an appropriate gift for an Eagle Scout. I like SAK's for that.

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 
I always found small Lock Backs to be a good tool when I was young. The knife is non-threathening (i.e. not a tactical folder) and is really safe since the blade won't fold up on you with an ice pick stab into an oil can. The blade is thick enough to allow some pretty serious prying as well. The edge will be a little thick for slicing a bagel apart but, it will do the job (just not as well as a SAK).

While I usualy had a Ka-Bar from Wal-Mart, a Buck 110/112 is almost a classic and should be well received by most people at large.

Stay Sharp,
Sid
 
Since when do the Boy Scouts NOT allow fixed blades? If this is true, when did the "Noses in other people's business people" get involved and change this policy? When I was growing up and involved in Boy Scouts, camping and knives were a main part of the experience. In fact, we used to compare and use knives at the various meetings and camp outs, having contests to see who had the best looking and performing knives. This is where I really learned to love knives! Back then(early 70s), I had a fairly rich Uncle who bought me a Puma bowie, and I thought I was king on the block. I dont remember what happened to that bowie, but I wish I had it back. If it is true that they are no longer allowed fixed blades, I would get him a nice lockback folder with leather pouch. My choice for this boy would be a custom Buck 110 with BG42 blade and maybe stag handle. This young man deserves something really nice for his accomplishment. He has done something a lot of boys dont have the patience and perseverance to accomplish.

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Danbo, soul brother of Rambo
 
A knife is very appropriate, may I suggest the following knife for the young lad:
Walter Brend model 2 fighter.

Donald.
 
I was thinking that even a nice mutli-tool would make a nice gift...really comes in handy for camping and all kinds of activities...probably alittle more PC it that is a concern.
 
It's OK Ken. It really bothers me to see kids get advanced in rank when they haven't earned it. Also, BSA policy says that any knife that doesnt fold is illegal. one person described it to me that they were only made for killing, so they are bad. Didn't make scense then, and still doesn't now, but what can I do? Alot has changed in the past 20 years, and it didn't get betted for the most part.
 
There is a lock back Boy Scout knife that sort of a Buck clone. It's about $30 and can be purchased at most net knife shops. To me it looks pretty cool and the Scout emblem makes it PC.
smile.gif


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Please allow an old Eagle Scout to jump in. Any young MAN that is about to obtain the rank of Eagle should be qualified to handle whatever knife is out there. I was given a "pocket knife" as a child, but it was only after I matured was I allowed a fixed blade. Now this was before I got my Eagle but I think it would be a special gift indeed for a young man about to become an Eagle Scout. I would suggest a custom made blade of about 3 1/2" to 4 " for it's utility. A little engraving with his name would make it even more special. Not cheap, but it would be special for the rest of his life. Remember, only about 1% of those in scouting ever become Eagles.

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It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Terrill Hoffman Knife Photography http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=243110
 
First I've heard of fixed blades being deemed "illegal" by the BSA. Back in the '80s when I was in the BS, most of the adults who were involved were hunters/outdoorsmen. Most, if not all, of them carried fixed blades outdoors, and many of the scouts (myself included) did too.
Do they have to have folding axes now, too?
It was not uncommon to see a machete strapped to a pack back then, either.
What would our new breed of liberal trash sheeple think of that? Scandalous!
 
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