Need monogrammed pocket knife for 11 year old

[atomd]

I'm looking around for a pocket knife for my 11 year old nephew. The trick is I want it monogrammed with his name on it and I need it in time for Christmas. I'm thinking about some classic models like a Swiss Army sd or soldier or a Case peanut. Something useful that he'll keep around for a while. It has to be a fairly small folder.

Case says it's gonna be 4-6 weeks to get a monogrammed one and the only sites I can find that sell monogrammed SAKs or others like that are cheeseball wedding gift kinda places that want twice as much for the knife. Should I just buy the knife I want and take it to a place like Things Remembered or something? Anyone know if they do a good enough job?

Thanks!

 

[Clipper]

Buy a plain knife and take it to an engraver, trophy store or jewelry store that can do it. Most trophy shops can CNC anything you want to add.

 

[atomd]

Now that I'm thinking.....maybe I should get a fairly plain lockback model. I'm still undecided though. Might make it a bit safer. Any opinions on models?

 

[Piraticalbob]

Buck Knives sells their 110 folding hunter from their Custom Shop so that you can semi-customise it by choosing blade steel, handle material and other options, among which is engraving on any of the bolsters or blade. Might be a bit big for an 11-year-old, though.

 

[atomd]

The Buck 110 was one of the first I thought of actually...that knife is a classic. It might be a bit on the big side though so I'm leaning towards something smaller. I'm thinking something around the $30 price range or so...before any extras. I don't want to spend too much more because he might end up losing it or something.

 

[seanie!]

I'm going to agree with Clipper. Pick up a good, reasonably priced knife, and get it engraved. Head out to a Gander Mountain, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops, Dick's, or whatever you have locally. That way you can check out the knife in person, then take it to an engraver. Most malls have a kiosk set up for one, or you can head to a jewelry store or trophy shop to get it monogrammed.

 

[Brian Williams]

I am volunteering our own Larry Ashcraft, he has a trophy shop in Colorado. PM him and see what he can do.

 

[hso]

I always recommend a locking folder over non-locking folders.

 

[chrisb507]

http://www.knifeworks.com/ offers engraving on a large variety of knives. Shipping is reasonable, and they have a lot in stock.

 

[Piraticalbob]

The Buck Prince is smaller than the 110 and is priced at just around your $30 budget, it might be worth checking out.

 

[packarat]

I took a 112 to "Things Remembered" a couple of years ago and they couldn't engrave some initials and the year on the brass. The kid said that the machine they used wouldn't hold the knife. My dad got me the same 9 years ago with my initials and the year so I know it's possible.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Initials?

Last year at one of Buck's factory sales. I bought a knife -- a few, actually -- and had them signed by the current and past Buck Knives company presidents.

I bought a Sirus for my son. They signed it, and Chuck Buck engraved my son's name freehand on the reverse side of the blade.

That particular knife doesn't have any brass, but he was able to inscribe an eight-letter name in the blade steel just like he was writing on paper.

It seems to me that anyone with a little freehand skill would be able to engrave initials in a brass bolster. It might not look like formal calligraphy, but it would be legible.