What is a good first knife for son

[psycosteve]

For a good pocket folding knife that comes sharp as all heck ( got arm carving merit badge that year I got it a summer camp ) is the single blade Swiss army knife. I got mine for about 12 dollars back in the day and I still use it from time to time .

They are now 20 on line .

 

[Bisondice]

this was mine

 

[240 towles]

I am not usually a fan of Swiss Army-type knives, feeling that the more functions one tries to build into any device, the less well any given function works.

I think a gerber tool defies this logic

 

[akkiller]

check out blade hq http://www.bladehq.com/ when it was time for my son to get one i let him pick it out good luck

 

[Boats]

I like swiss army knives myself. There are so many options. It also depends on what he will be using the knife for.

+1 Victorinox

Swiss made, built like tanks and they offer ones that have pocket clips and locking blades. And they are inexpensive.

The steel is notoriously soft but easy to sharpen and incredibly corrosion resistant.

Additionally, Swiss army knives eschew the "tactical" look and have pretty much remained the same for decades.



If Buck was still made in the US I would recommend one but since they are not, I cannot.


If you want a traditional looking knife with steel that will hold an edge better look at some of the offerings from Case knives.

 

[Danketch71]

Didn't know Buck sold out. In that case, I cut myself severely for the first time, approximately 5 minutes after pops gave me a Victornox Swiss Army Knife when I was 7-8.

Thats what I recommend to start, then see if you can pick up an older, 'Mercan made Buck or two on fleabay to give the boy later.

I learned a few things from that first cut- first, to be able to do some good first aid and hide it from the parents so they wouldn't take my stuff from me, and how to properly use a non-locking knife.

Oh, I forgot, Leatherman's are out now. I was thinking of when I was a child. Get a Leatherman. Swiss army knives are business class compared to a Leatherman. I carry and use a Leatherman Wave daily. It rocks.

 

[cb51]

If Buck was still made in the US I would recommend one but since they are not, I cannot.
.

Please check your facts before you post something like that. For your information, Buck still makes most of their knives in the U.S. in Idaho. Only some of their line os made overseas. The 300 series pocket knives, the 110 and 112 folding hunters, and other models are made at the Idaho plant. Idaho, that's in the U.S.A. last time I checked a map.

 

[MattTheGunslinger]

I'd say a Buck 110 folder. Walmart has em for $38. It's a nice classic American made folder that looks good and is very functional. Just don't try to pry a door open with the tip then cry if it snaps off like I hear so many preppers/survivalist complain about.

 

[Cold Warrior]

First knife

My first was a BSA knife, similar to a Swiss Army, but those knives don't lock.

Attached is a pic I took yesterday, as we left BSA summer camp, we happened to stop at a Cabela's on the way home. (Woo hoo!)

Where do you think all those boys wound up? Yup, the knife counter!

The first year scouts had just earned their "Toten Chips" so they wanted a knife. We steered them all towards good locking folders like Gerber, Spyderco, and Kershaw. I steered them away from assisted openers and large knifes.

By the way, Cabela's has the Kershaw "Reflex", normally about $40-46, on sale for $19.99. Of course Mr. Scoutmaster got one too.