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Yep - got both my kids Swiss Army knives when they turned eight. The ones I got had all the bells and whistles - and I sharpened them.
My older son cut himself ten times in the first week, would walk past me at haste into the bathroom ..........
"Cut yourself, haven't ya ?"
"Yep."
The second son never did ..............
"How come you never cut yourself on that knife ?"
"Saw Orrin do it often enough."
Those boys are 22 and 18 and they still have those knives in the leather sheathes I built them - I reckon they were a good choice :)
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Swiss army
Still have mine, 42 yrs later
Only thing that survived my childhood. Point is been reground, still opens cans, and it's been used twice to skin and dress decent sized antelope , cause the boys with the big sheath knives left em at camp.
Yes I cut my fingers with it, taught me a lesson
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$50 buys a good locking knife. Don't make it too small just because its a kid. They are often bigger and stronger in the hands than folk realize. I had two kids, now adults, and have 8 grandchildren. Age 8 to 9 seemed to me to be as early as I wanted to start them. They could handle and take on board the simple and essential knife use and sharpening instructions. No point in giving them a knife they can't sharpen - Skills and equipment. Ceramic rods standing at correct angle in a wood block from Lansky are easy to use, easy to teach and last a lifetime. Teach mom and dad also and their kitchen knives will stay sharp.
I bought bright orange handled knives with about 2.5 in of blade and a drop point. At 10 they get used for field dressing small game and household poultry. Of the first two, one was lost by a 10 yr old in first week. Other is a prized possession.
Rules.
- don't run with open knife
- if you're going to have a fight the knife stays in your drawer or pocket- kids fight, accept it
- knife never goes to school or town
- sharpen your knife and keep it sharp. Spot checks work as do rewards
- cut away from yourself
- hold the knife properly
- keep it clean and always clean it before closing
- its not a throwing knife. If you want a throwing knife grind one up out of an old file
- a knife is not a screwdriver and does not cut tin etc
- a lanyard works better than a pocket or belt clip especially for kids
- a hunting or field knife is best kept in a pack, on a lanyard, in a zipped daybag or belt pouch/bum bag. Its not a fighting knife you need immediate access to for a quick draw. Its more important to have it when you want or need it.
- have a safe drawer or high place to keep it away from even smaller fingers
- don't lend it to your mates, let them get their own. When they injure themselves their moms will hassle you. When they break or lose it they won't buy you another one.
- you will cut yourself. How badly depends on how stupid you are.
- a knife is not a toy
- a knife is no more dangerous than a sharp stick, broken glass or raggedy piece of tin. The user is.
