Advice on boys first knife

[Dannytsg]

Well my step-son is doing his SAT's at the moment and upon his completion I'd like to give him his own knife for when we go camping together and also to teach him safe knife craft.

I'd like suggestions on what people think "you can't go wrong with". My budget is up to £50 for the right knife for him

Any help appreciated.

Dan

[FGYT]

How old / Big


but regardless look at the Mora Range if small hands then maybe a carver version if not a clipper or similar as i would advise any body for a first knife

ATB

Duncan

[Dannytsg]

He's 11 so obviously he will only be using this whilst in the company of a responsible adult. He's average size for his age so something not too bulky for him. It will mainyl be for him to use when helping prepare our quarry or when helping to prepare fire materials etc.

[TimD]

A Mora Clipper. At £10 when it gets lost/damaged it can be easily replaced.
Carbon Blade so that he'll learn to look after it and care for it as it'll require more TLC than a stainless.
Add a first aid kit and teach him to carry it, and know how to use it on himself for those little nicks.
Tim

[Dannytsg]

That seems like a reasonable suggestion and for £13.99 for the clipper and an accompanying fire steel I can't argue.

Are there any other comparible suggestions.

[bob_pickard]

check out Blackfox on heinnie- I got my son the Bowie when we climbed our first mountain together (Snowdon, he was 14 so a little older) but it's a superb knife for the money and is lasting exceptionally well

[Bucephalas]

I bought my 12 year old a Condor junior from Marttiini. I have a couple of their knives already and am a big fan of their workmanship.

It has a very sharp blade out of the box (just a little stropping added a further edge) and a rounded tip to avoid stabbing injuries while she learns to use it safely.
It cost me around £35 and that included a presenation box and her name engraved on the blade. She loves it to bits and is always nagging me to polish the blade for her!
It takes around 5 days to come from Finland so I was well impressed.

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[PeteD]

There's a decent selection of "value" knives over at Greenman Bushcraft. Like this one, a "safety" knife. I bought a couple of the Hultafors knives out of curiosity, for my teenage son and they are fantastic value for money, like the Mora's. The money you save could go towards getting him a more "bushcrafty" knife at a later date, once he's got the bug. I agree with TimD, you should also get a small first aid kit to accompany whatever knife you end up buying for him, so that he learns that skills and safety go hand in hand, right from the outset.

http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/c...raft-knife.htm

[pauljm116]

http://www.greenmanbushcraft.co.uk/c...raft-knife.htm

Just had a look at the link and have to say that looks like a perfect starter knife and a great price. I would say let your son get used to one like that and when he's confident with using it (and you're confident in his abilities and safety) then upgrade to something better. I also agree with TimD about the first aid kit as even the most experienced knife users will nick themselves every now and then and its good practice to have a first aid kit with you when out in the wilds.

[Dannytsg]

Cheers for the suggestions. I'll have a look and then confer with her indoors as to which we will get him.

[FGYT]

Just had a look at the link and have to say that looks like a perfect starter knife and a great price. I would say let your son get used to one like that and when he's confident with using it (and you're confident in his abilities and safety) then upgrade to something better. I also agree with TimD about the first aid kit as even the most experienced knife users will nick themselves every now and then and its good practice to have a first aid kit with you when out in the wilds.

its just my opinion and personnel pref but I dont like starting Kids on a blunt tip knife tho point is an important part of the tool and learning ith out it can cause problems when they do get a sharp point but dont have the awareness of it or or a style thats fine for a blunt tip but dangerous with a tip

proper training and knife skills (as the Scandinavian teaching style for example) can be given to very young kids and they can and will be safe and a few small incidents early on can stop a massive one later in life

definalty first aid training and kit are a good idea any way it might be your finger they need to sort out do the training with them if your not qualified so they feel included


I can recommend Robin wood if your close enough for Carving an knife skills tho hes pure carving biased as apposed to General Bushcraft

http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.co...for-child.html

ATB

Duncan

[FGYT]

Your other option is to buy a kit and make the knife together

you van get Mora blade only and there lots of inexpensive all in kits about

[England Ram]

I've bought all of mine the mora 511.
My youngest is 7, he got his 2 months ago for his birthday. My other kids are 9 & 12.
The father in law also wants one as he was using one of his old knifes that he had resharpened a million times and was struggling. Saw how easily the kids were carving and making kindling so he borrowed mine and is now a frost/mora fan.

Went for the 511 as it is good for bushcraft as well as a little bit of carving. The finger guard is a great addition and at £5 each I cant complain.

My knife is a companion, as well as 511 in the pack and love it. My oldest will be getting one of them next if she continues in her interest, like a small comming of age thing. And at the price of £11 for the companion it will feel like big thing for her, but at a small cost to me.

[mountainm]

Your other option is to buy a kit and make the knife together

you van get Mora blade only and there lots of inexpensive all in kits about

A smaller thinner DWC with a rounded end perhaps?

[southey]

I have been using a small Mora classic with my kids, with them sat on my leg and my hands over there's, its small enough for their hands to grip it well, I hold over theirs as being 3 I don't want an involuntary toddler type spasm to ruin their good learning curve,

This one,

[Dannytsg]

I was thinking myself that at his age I'd rather let him have a knife with a point so he can adapt to using it whilst learning safe knife handling. Some very good suggestions, thanks.

[Androo]

After a few days of research, I plumped for the Mora 511 - for my boy who is turning 9 next week. The finger guard was my main consideration, he's already quite good at using a multi-tool knife, so the 511 seems a logical progression. I'd think that regardless of knife choice (as long as it fits hands and is suitable for the uses intended), learning proper knife handling technique is much more important.

An aside, but does anyone have any links to good knife safety/technique appropriate for a young starter? I have no bushcrafty freinds/mentors who could teach him, so any resource that can aid me in helping him handle it correctly would be great. (Not meaning to hijack Dan, just thought it could be an appropriate time/place to ask!)

[FGYT]

A smaller thinner DWC with a rounded end perhaps?

you can buy Butter knives at Ikea

was asked by a woman at the wilderness gathering 2 yrs ago on my stand if i could make a veg peeler blade as it was safe for her to show kids taking bark of sticks as carving but the shop ones would not cut the wood very well

I said "No" very politely

[SimonM]

Here you go...

http://paulkirtley.co.uk/2011/bushcr...-for-children/

Simon

[brancho]

This depends on the size of the lad as some 11 year olds are very small others are not.

Try Clas Ohlson for a budget knife theres one in the Arndale centre

The classic Scout 39 is great for kids with small hands and has a double gaurd I them out to our smaller scouts.

The Craftline Q 511 is good larger hands and has a single gaurd .

You can look at the others too while you are there just ask.

I too find rounded tipped knives rather pointless.

[brancho]

you can buy Butter knives at Ikea

You can make a knice one out of wood with a decent knife too.

[Samon]

Mora, mora, mora and mora. All the way, perfect knife for the beginners and experienced users.

Pick a style/design you like and go for it. The 511 as previously mwentioned is most likely the best and safest for a young lad, that finger guard will keep his hands off that incredibley sharp blade, the bright red handle will mean he won't drop it and hurt himself trying to find and pick it up. and it's cheaper than a portion of fish and chips! cannot go wrong there buddy, and the lad will love it!

[palace]

I bought my grand children Mora Clippers or Companion, had I seen the Mora Craftline HighQ Robust I would have bought the Craftline HighQ Robust which I saw on this forum

[320ccc]

when my boys were quite young i gave both camillus' boy scout knives. they still have and use them twenty+ years later.

since camillus is defunct and case knives are probably above your spend limit, look at the victorinox soldier.
the spring is a bit heavier so it won't close on young fingers and has enough tools to make him happy for a long time to come.

i assume that it's uk legal.

[Samon]

when my boys were quite young i gave both camillus' boy scout knives. they still have and use them twenty+ years later.

since camillus is defunct and case knives are probably above your spend limit, look at the victorinox soldier.
the spring is a bit heavier so it won't close on young fingers and has enough tools to make him happy for a long time to come.

i assume that it's uk legal.

legal? well yeah, but not to carry everyday without 'good reason'. If it's a folding knife you want then obviously get the 'alox farmer' or 'huntsman'.

for fixed blade though, stick with mora, genuine quality, not made in china and impressive value for money.

[julian_fraser]

I have my own Mora Carbon and when looking for something similar for my 8 year old son I looked at their classic boys knife with the large guard on it but the price put me off... Instead of getting him exactly the same knife as me I found the Hultafor safety knife almost identical, available in carbon, with a good-sized finger-guard, for even less than a Mora.

He loves it, although I only "issue" it to him when we go out to the woods together.. He's still young and it's VERY sharp

[FGYT]

when my boys were quite young i gave both camillus' boy scout knives. they still have and use them twenty+ years later.

since camillus is defunct and case knives are probably above your spend limit, look at the victorinox soldier.
the spring is a bit heavier so it won't close on young fingers and has enough tools to make him happy for a long time to come.

i assume that it's uk legal.

no they are still here or back again

http://www.camillusknives.com/


a soldier Vic SAK is perfectly legal for any body to own in UK (any age even my 3 yr old) but you do need a good specific reason to carry it in public as its a locking folder in the eyes of S139 and the cutting edge is a few mm longer than the 76mm min

[santaman2000]

no they are still here or back again

http://www.camillusknives.com/


a soldier Vic SAK is perfectly legal for any body to own in UK (any age even my 3 yr old) but you do need a good specific reason to carry it in public as its a locking folder in the eyes of S139 and the cutting edge is a few mm longer than the 76mm min

Camillus is "Back" again. They were defunct for a year or two but are now back although they're now Chinese made.

My first knife was a Barlow type pocketknife whan I was 7 years old followed by a Craftsman brand Scout knife a year later. My first fixed blade was a Queen Cutlery hunting knife when I was about 11 or so (don't remember the exact model) Unfortunately I won't be able to choose my Godson's first knife; his Cub Scout pack has already presented him with 2 over the last 2 years.

I'll agree that generally a first knife should prbably be a pocket knife. Ontario Cutlery still makes a Scout (camp) knife to the same specs as the older Camillus ones. Here's a link: www.ontario-knife-store.com/ontario-camp-knife The one pictured has a Camillus brand on it but as far as I know these are the ones from Ontario Cutlery: www.ontarioknife.com

[mountainm]

My first knife (age 7) was a pen knife - a souvenir from Dinard in fake MOP with a boat inscribed into it. I treasured it. Age 10 I got an opinel - razor sharp. My first fixed blade sheath knife (age 12) was a terrible choice. I went for the most "tactical" in the shop (yeomans if I recall). It was black "anti glint" with a convex grind, with a secondary bevel and a saw back - with an anti vacuum groove. It had a green plastic handle and big big bolt head metal pommel with a cheap black leather effect sheath.

It was ace.

[kINGPIN]

This is a great topic for me as I can't wait for the timeI'm going to break the rules just a little on this one. You said £50 but if you fancy stretching that budget by 6quid you can give him one of these:

http://www.heinnie.com/Boar-Stainless/p-0-0-7859/



I've got one and its one of my favourite knifes. It feels really good in the hand and as you would expect comes super sharp.