Not gun related per se - granddaughter wants a pocket knife

[Zaydok Allen]

I have been wondering the same in regards to my nephew. He is only 12, and his dad may want to give him his first.

 

[Speedo66]

Someone mentioned the hazard of a non locking knife. My first knives were without the knowledge of my parents, so I learned on my own. Having a couple of accidents with the blades closing on my fingers and cutting me taught me more about safe knife handling than probably anything else could have.

As far as the granddaughter, perhaps letting her pick out a knife with you and letting her use it for a while only while with you, with it staying in your possession, might not be a bad idea.

School districts these days under threat of law suits tend to throw the kid under the bus if they show up with anything so dangerous and deadly as a small pocket knife. I wouldn’t doubt something as innocuous as that in her record could affect her college choices.

 

[Pistolpositive]

More or less the issue was mute over the camping weekend. Grandchild did not bring it up. However, the last night there as I was taking a big stick and whittling it down to a little stick by the campfire, she started asking questions and wanted to try. So we went over some safety rules, showed and taught her how to open/close knives and started teaching her using some kindling I had that was pretty easy to strip with a knife. We went through a few knives and she came back to my standard carry knife, a Buck 364 Rival I folding knife with about a 3 inch blade. An inexpensive USA made knife that I have grown fond of. In any event, the seed has been set.

 

[1942bull]

While I think this thread has some good suggestions and advice I want to back up to the OP's request for recommendations and offer this recommendation.
Ask her her why she want the knife. A knife should fulfill a desired purpose. If she cannot specify that purpose do not give her a knife because she has no idea what she want to do with it other than possess it. That is not a good reason to provide a knife to a child.

 

[Jim Watson]

I got my first good pocket knife because that was what boys DID in the 1950s.
Actually I wanted a switchblade. My Dad and the dealer steered me away from the real Italian stiletto to a cheap stiletto and a Case Trapper. Who knows where the stiletto ended up; but I would still have the Case if Dad hadn't borrowed and lost it.

 

[GEM]

My dad and grandfather gave me pocket knives. The kids used to play Mumblety-peg on the lawn. This was in Brooklyn in the 50's. Guess it wouldn't go over well today.

 

[jmr40]

I gave my 11 year old grand daughter one of these Bucks last summer. About $30 on Amazon and other places. They are a good quality knife for the money and available in several cool colors. I gave her blue.

https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-...83852520&sprefix=buck+112,aps,252&sr=8-5&th=1

 

[earplug]

Get the child to the kitchen and have her chop up some food. This will teach them what is needed.
I'd suggest a Opinal knife as a first pocket blade. Cheap, easy to sharpen and great lock.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Lotta good ideas here. I’d only suggest steering her to a knife that fits her hands, so as to enhance all of the good safety advice you are giving her.

 

[hso]

However, the last night there as I was taking a big stick and whittling it down to a little stick by the campfire, she started asking questions and wanted to try. So we went over some safety rules, showed and taught her how to open/close knives and started teaching her using some kindling I had that was pretty easy to strip with a knife. We went through a few knives and she came back to my standard carry knife, a Buck 364 Rival I folding knife with about a 3 inch blade.

Well done. I hope that can be repeated and you can giver her her own to use so that it is a memory and not a thing.

 

[dvcrsn]

I am thinking a single blade, rounded nose and a lock as an appropriate first knife. Will be seeing if she shows interest in knifes over the weekend and next week This weekend she is camping with us, along with her father. Next week she is staying with us and will probably make at least one range visit. When it is all said and done, it may have been a whim and she has since forgotten about knifes.

--Opinel does make round nose #7

 

[bikerdoc]

Good job my friend!

Grandson - 12 - got a Buck 110, granddaughter - 14 - got an old Schrade SB-5.

 

[bannockburn]

All my kids got some type of Swiss Army Knife, typically something like the Tinker or Camper model, when they were 11 or 12. I had my first knife when I was 9 or 10 (still have it too), picking it out of the prize offerings for selling magazine subscriptions at school. Learned safe knife handling from being in the Cub Scouts; probably earned a Merit Badge for it too!

 

[rust collector]

Things have gotten a lot more complicated than when I bought that crappy little Imperial 1 blade fake pearl jackknife nearly 60 years ago. I would start with a simple lockback with 2-2.5 inch blade, and see how that is handled. Fancier knives or multi-tools could come later if warranted, but the lock blade is a safer knife, and you need a handle that is a size and shape that allows good control.

 

[K9medic]

I got my first pocket knife at 10 (living on a hill farm we all had a pocket knife) like most of them.in those days it was a single blade of lambs foot shape.

I was in my 30s before i bothered with a locking blade, these days unless i have a good reason, its a SAK Spartan in my pocket (its a UK thing).

Bought the eldest son a SAK, DoE version with rounded tip for his 8th birthday (charged him a penny for it as its a big no no to give a blade). Wife give me a bit of gyp about it but i have 2 more in my office for the other 2 boys when there old enough.

I wouls seriously recommend a SAK.

 

[jar]

Growing up it was normal for every boy and many girls to carry a pocket knife at all times.

 

[shoobe01]

A few mentions above of Opinel, didn't know until then they made a round nose. And... it's My First Pocket Knife. I... like it. Gonna put in the buy-it-later to not forget in 4 years when the toddler is old enough for one.

https://www.amazon.com/Opinel-OP016...982&sprefix=opinel+,aps,169&sr=8-6&th=1&psc=1

 

[dvcrsn]

A few mentions above of Opinel, didn't know until then they made a round nose. And... it's My First Pocket Knife. I... like it. Gonna put in the buy-it-later to not forget in 4 years when the toddler is old enough for one.

https://www.amazon.com/Opinel-OP01697-Round-Safety-Knife/dp/B004RTIGGU/ref=sr_1_6?crid=14EDEIZ0P4TJK&dchild=1&keywords=opinel+no+7&qid=1587846982&sprefix=opinel+,aps,169&sr=8-6&th=1&psc=1

one advantage to the Opinel kid knife is that it is a size 7 so it will fit even small kid hands