[Boludo12]

My 4 sons and 3 daughters all got one of these. Not one each, but one of these versions as their first knife.

KA-BAR Dozier Folding Hunter Knife Black 3in Plain Satin Drop Point Blade KA4062

The KA-BAR Dozier Folding Knife Hunter features a 3” satin AUS-8A drop point blade with a rugged black Zytel handle built for reliable everyday performance.

www.smkw.com

Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara 2 Folding Knife Plain Edge Brown FRN

The Spyderco Byrd Cara Cara 2 Folding Knife Plain Edge Brown FRN features a 3.75" 8Cr13MoV stainless steel drop point blade with a satin finish. It's a manual folder with Spyderco's Comet-shaped thumb hole. This lockback has brown fiberglass-reinforced nylon handles with a four-position pocket...

www.smkw.com

LAPG TBFK S35VN EDC Folding Knife

Shop the LAPG TBFK S35VN EDC Folding Knife at LA Police and Tactical Gear for the best price

lapolicegear.com

Buck 286 Bantam BHW Folding Knife Black 3.75in Plain Satin Drop Point Blade

The Buck 286 Bantam BHW features a 3.75” satin-finished 420HC stainless steel blade and a black textured GRN handle, offering a rugged, lightweight design.

www.smkw.com

My daughters would get so geeked to go knife shopping.

 

[RJ2019]

Update, Bought several bars of soap for safety training and carving today. I should have bought another big pack to stash away, lol. I'll do that later this week. Little guy has no idea his knife is on the way.
I'm going to try and find a way to use or recycle the soap shavings.

 

[Jlrhiner]

We always had the Scouts sit at a table with a trash bag spread out and the collected shavings were used in camp.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I suggest you add some more tools to his kit. Last year I bought this little titanium prybar, used to save knife points (the stainless version would do and its way cheaper).

https://www.amazon.com/BANG-TI-Titanium-Punisher-Bottle/dp/B01D17RFUG/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=titanium+pry+bar&qid=1645157757&sr=8-8

Nite Ize KMTSE-11-R3 DoohicKey Keychain Multi Tool, Stainless Steel - - Amazon.com

Nite Ize KMTSE-11-R3 DoohicKey Keychain Multi Tool, Stainless Steel - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

Second is a 4" Crescent wrench. It has been very useful at times. I have carried mine for over 50 years.

You might consider a project to make a belt holster to hold those three items. A thrift shop old leather purse could be upcycled. Should be able to sew it by hand. Gluing it first helps. ShoeGoo is wonderful stuff.

 

[Exarmyguy]

The sooner you slice open your fingers and get over it ,the better.

 

[RJ2019]

That prybar is a cool little tool! I'll definitely consider it, he would love a crescent wrench too. The kids do have a couple sets of plastic tools, they like to "fix" everything.

 

[Atomic Inc]

TLDR


Smatchet 😁

 

[daddyusmaximus]

Any number of blades would work. Here are several I keep as extras.
Besides making sure it's sharp, ensure it opens and closes easily.
If it were me, I'd want one with a locking blade (just in case) but I'd make sure it was a lock he could manipulate well.
Something like the old style of back lock like on the ancient Gerber, or the Buck in this photo.
Liner locks (though prevalent these days) may be difficult for young fingers.

 

[ajole]

If it were me, I'd want one with a locking blade (just in case) but I'd make sure it was a lock he could manipulate well.
Something like the old style of back lock like on the ancient Gerber, or the Buck in this photo.
Liner locks (though prevalent these days) may be difficult for young fingers.

I think the first locking blade I ever saw was my dad's Gerber, exactly like yours.
I still prefer those in many ways.

As you say, the liner locks can be an issue, especially on "less well fitted" knives, if you don't get the blade ALL the way out, they may not quite lock.

That's one nice thing about the Opinel collar lock, it's pretty easy to use, and easy to see if it's wrong.

I have a CRKT knife that is no longer made, the Rollock. You kind of push the knife blade out the front, it cams up and over, then down to lock. The lock is on the opposite side from normal, it's at the lower right of the picture, that small protrusion where your pinky might rest, right before the last flare outward.
The knife is interesting mechanically, but not that ergonomic.

 

[paladinFL]

I have a newly minted 5 year old and I am thinking of getting him a pocket knife. He has had some lessons in safely using a knife, and is able to help me chop veggies and he even helped me cut the backstrap out of a goat once. He regularly uses my smaller knife in the garden for cutting okra,, ect. But.... he's still only 5. I feel like he is responsible for his his age, but I want to get something that is relatively safe and preferably not too sharp. No serrated blades, for instance. I also anticipate him losing several knifes as he grows. So I don't want anything too expensive.
Can someone point me in the right direction? I keep thinking of those Swiss army knifes I was trained on...but those don't have blade locks, do they?

For whatever it's worth my EDC is a little Skeletool and that is what he uses when he uses my knife.

When I was 8 I got my first barlow, graduated High School and Dad gave me my first Swiss Army. Carried one ever since, but a small Barlow is great for the kids. They have to be mature enough to not hurt themselves with it so be careful.

 

[RJ2019]

He's learning fast. He cut himself within about 5 minutes, but it's very minor. Not even bleeding. He's working on a bar of soap.

I don't love the collar lock on his knife, it just doesn't seem as secure as I would like.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I don't think the design is suppose to be securely locked, just made to hold it open so it doesn't close on your fingers. It will do for a while, until he saves up for a "good" knife. I'll bet I have 50 plus pocket knives.

This is my favorite I bought for myself when I was stationed in Germany in 1975. Still a nice tight knife.

Much lighter and skinner than the Buck 110. I can open it with one hand, quickly which can be very useful.

 

[RJ2019]

I like that. I agree, it will do for awhile. He keeps getting the collar lock open because of the way he is handling the knife, I am constantly having to re-lock it for him. It is very loose.
Part of his problem might be ergonomics. He's been using my little Skeletool which is actually a little more fitted to his size.

 

[charliemeyer007]

You might try squeezing the collar a little with some pliers or drip some wax into it from a lit candle after you warm the area up with a hair dryer.

 

[PeterEnergy]

Got the 9-yo granddaughters pink SAK classic.

 

[puttster]

I'll answer but first, IMO 5 is too young to have a knife.

I agree, what would be the reason for giving a 5 YO a knife? What difference would it make in the long run if you waited till he was in second grade? At five, the idea of right and wrong is not established. Going to be hard explaining your foolishness when he stabs a playmate.
If you want to establish his knife skills, my recommendation is do it under your supervision, then put the knife away until next time. No constitutional carry for 5year olds.

 

[PeterEnergy]

I agree, what would be the reason for giving a 5 YO a knife? What difference would it make in the long run if you waited till he was in second grade? At five, the idea of right and wrong is not established. Going to be hard explaining your foolishness when he stabs a playmate.
If you want to establish his knife skills, my recommendation is do it under your supervision, then put the knife away until next time. No constitutional carry for 5year olds.

Agreed. I whole-heartedly agree.

A 5 YO needs to observe an adult properly using and caring for a knife for years before they are old enough to have one for themselves. My grandfather took me fishing when I was 4 YO. I may have been 10 when he got me a tackle box, including some accessories such as extra hood, weights, lures, bobbers and knife to clean the fish. By then, I had done it for years, using my uncle's or grandfather's knife under their supervision.

I still think the SAK classic is the perfect starter knife. No kind of weapon, it has features for many uses, including opening up packages. Safe and a great source of pride and a family heirloom. The tactical mumbo jumbo can come later.

 

[Jlrhiner]

The reason her 5 year old is at this stage is because he has shown an interest in knives and how to properly use them.

She is teaching him the proper ways to handle and use a knife.

She asked for suggestions on a "first knife" for him to have as his own.

There is NO INTENTION to allow him to have unsupervised access to his first knife, nor allow him to carry it.

Weeding out the "knife between the teeth" "That's not a knife, THIS is a knife" crowd, she's had some good suggestions on first knives for him and chose the OPINEL version of a "first knife".

This is not about recklessly endangering a child, forcing him to do something he has no interest in, or making him grow up too fast. He is interested NOW and She is taking the advantage to properly start him the right way.

Hell, next week he may be interested in bugs......or chainsaws.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I agree with start them early and correctly with both a gun and a knife. Same goes for other tools.

 

[ajole]

I agree, what would be the reason for giving a 5 YO a knife? What difference would it make in the long run if you waited till he was in second grade? At five, the idea of right and wrong is not established. Going to be hard explaining your foolishness when he stabs a playmate.
If you want to establish his knife skills, my recommendation is do it under your supervision, then put the knife away until next time. No constitutional carry for 5year olds.

Dude.

Why not just wait until he’s 21?

Stab a playmate? Seriously?

Holy crap, some people are just LOOKING for reasons to whine.