recommendations for a first knife for my 9 year old

muphasta

muphasta

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Jun 30, 2013
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My eldest is 9 and I believe he is ready for his first pocket knife. We go camping 1 - 2 times a year and he could whittle w/it, etc.

I was wondering what a good first knife would be for him.

Pros/Cons of a multi-function Swiss Army knife?

Pros/cons of a single blade?

Thanks in advance.
 
Opinel has a "My First Opinel" that has a rounded rather than pointed tip, but the blade is still sharp.

Swiss Army Cadet would be a good choice, or maybe a Buck or Case slipjoint.
 
I like an Opinel #7 or so. Locking ring. Thin stock. Whittle and make fuzz sticks like no body's business.

You can't find another folder that is as light, strong, and as much bang for teh buck.

The best part is that the knife has no spring to overcome. NO snap closed or open. No bent tiny fingernails.

Light, and a design that holds up well to hard cutting.

Honestly, I carry a custom slip joint, and still carry an Opinel #7 with carbon steel blade every day.

It is a fantastic knife for $12.

Here it is a picture of my little 7 year old's hand in relation to the grip on the #7. Slim handle, with regular blade.

I first bought him a #73 GEC made Scharade trapper. He can't open it with his soft little fingernails, so I put it in the safe, and grabbed one of these.

 
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I think SAK's are great first knives but at the same time, I question it because they have a nice pull that could be hard for a child to overcome, and they do snap closed. You do not want it to snap closed on little fingers.
Opinel is a good choice, easy to operate, no snap, and they do lock so no chance of it accidentally closing.

I also think a lock back of some sort could be a good choice, maybe a Spyderco Dragonfly? Easily opened, the back lock is easily operated with both hands, and no little fingers in the way of the blade when closing. Also, it has a clip, so you could show him how to carry it with the clip. =]
 
Also, a spearpoint on a slipjoint is just asking for trouble. He'll want to make a hole in some wood by using a kind of drilling action and the spearpoint will fold over.
 
As others have said the Opinels and SAKs are good. They both require careful use and maintenance so they may help with the whole responsibility thing. Also consider a small Svord Peasant Knife; solid, a good blade, easy to use, simple and will require looking after.
 
I started both of my boys out with ESEE Izullas for their fixed blades & Case Sodbusters for their pockets
 
i would suggest a buck vantage there around 20 bucks and have a very ergonomic handle with a beefy liner lock so the knife will be good to your kids hands and the knife can take a good amount of abuse and miss use and it has a deep carry pocket clip so theres less of a chance of it getting lost in the woods.
 
I like all comments from everyone so far. Of course my first knife was a swiss army knife (not sure what model) but thats because that was the generic go to of the boy scouts. However, I dont think that's the best choice. Yeah it may be that typical starting knife a lot of people start with when they're young but its not necessarily the best.

I like the idea of a lock back. It keeps their fingers out of the way when closing it and as opposed to slip joints, wont close on your fingers like swiss army knives did to all of us at some point or another. I also like the idea of a rounded tip like someone mentioned earlier. When starting out they dont need to stab anything. Just slice and practice knife handling skills. Also, its not a must but, I say an easy opening knife so they wont have to use force, thus reducing the chance to cut themselves.
 
A SAK or a Mora. If its a folder it must have a locking blade. I would rather go for a fixed blade, nothing to fail.
 
I like the Opinel idea. We have a couple laying around the kitchen that the kids use from time to time.

My nine year old son has a Vic Super Tinker and my seven year old daughter a pink Vic Classic. When we go camping, both are allowed to use my Becker BK-11s under supervision. The boy covets my Spyderco Dragonfly 2, but has a Spyderco Byrd Robin 2 set aside for him as a reward for some future targets we have set him.
 
I second the My First Opinel idea, and also posit that the Mora scout knives with the double guard could be a good choice.
 
Whatever you choose, I recommend something with a good locking mechanism. When I was his age, my father gave me a small folding (non-locking) knife with which I foolishly proceeded to stab almost everything with, as young boys will almost always do. The blade closed on me and almost sliced one of my fingers.

By the way, that's cool how your looking to share your knife interests with your son in such a guided way, i.e. turning to the forums for advice.

:D
 
GIRLYmann said:
Kershaw Corral Creek Sheepsfoot Knife 3115BT
[pic]http://www.kershaw-knives.net/images/Kershaw-Corral-Creek-Sheepsfoot-3115BT-600x500.jpg[pic]
Click to expand...

Nice recommendation.

Edited your link so that it works:

Kershaw-Corral-Creek-Sheepsfoot-3115BT-600x500.jpg
 
I was given a Victorinox Huntsman as a 10 year old boy living in the countryside. I believe that using a non-locking knife taught me to be careful with sharp blades and to use the blade for cutting only. The other tools, mainly the saw were very handy when we were playing in the field. My second knife was given to me at the age of around 14 or 15, a German made Friedrich Herder sodbuster. I've mainly used the sodbuster while helping my dad and grandparents on their farms, cutting cords, doing chores in the garden.
 
Case sodbuster jr was one of my firsts. Along with a couple of old timers and uncle Henrys. Get the kid a slip joint. He can handle it. He'll cut his fingers at least once, but he won't cut em OFF! ;-).thats how you and I started. We both cut ourselves (I'm assuming you did) and we managed to survive and learned a little about force and physics along the way! Hehehe. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Heck, get him a sak like you had!
 
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