Thread: How young is too young for a pocket knife?

Originally Posted by Bruno

I had my first one when I was five, and I've carried one for most of my life.
My first was a little penkinfe. After that I got a swiss one that served as a keychain.

Personally, I'd let my daughters have one from that age, but my wife'd object. Although a swiss one like you mention might work...
I wouldn't let them carry it to school, for the simple reason that kids with knives make schools very uncomfortable.



Yes, and I fully agree with her.

A knife that can be opened is a known quantity, and your kid will learn to handle it properly because you will teach it..
A knife that can not be opened is considered safe. And you can't teach your kid how to use it. so he or she has no clue how what to do with a sharp knife.

And then he opens it accidentally after spilling something greasy over it, or just plain using WD40. And then he has a sharp knife and no education...

Other than that I agree with you. But then again, My daughter has been learning how to use a knife to cut beans since she was 2. And I've taught her how to hold and carry a knife. That way, if she should ever find one -at my place or somewhere else- then she will know what to do and how to hold it safely, and not to play with it.

You cut beans, we "snaped them"

Here in the U.S if a first grader or kindergartener was found with a knife, any knife, in school he would be in serious trouble and if you gave it to him you would be also.

Personally I think most 4 year olds do not have the maturity to be trusted with a knife. If he used it and injured himself or a friend used it and injured himself or a friend it might very well teach him a lesson he would never forget however the wrath of his mother is something I would not want to face.

I think four is really to young. Maybe seven or eight. Let's not forget he's going to be bring this knife around his little friend's possibly. That could spell disaster in it self.

The knife and the kid go with me.

Without me there is no knife. I lock it in my safe or put it somewhere that his little hands cannot reach.

I know what I would do without someone to watch me. He has a respect for knives, he knows what happens when dad slips with his razors.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

I was born and raised around pocket knives. Had one since I could remember. When my uncle passed on he gave my his Swiss Army Knife. Still have it, it is one of my favorites.

I found this old knife on a horse trail while out hiking, it is stomped shut and cannot be opened. I tried.

So I thought, I'll give it to my 4 year old for the summer and see how he takes care of it.

I got started on pellet guns when I was his age, graduated to a 22 when I was 6 and the shot gun when I was 10(only because the kick could be damageing to a young boy, I think) and a high powered rifle when I was 13. There should be an age progression to these things. To start out with a gun that can reach out to over 2.5 miles hands someone without the responsibility to handle the object a great power he is unable to understand or control. Giving an inopenable knife to a child is like giving a rolling pin to a girl that doesn't turn, interesting but fundimetally unoperable, save the pride in owning something that "dad" has, SWMBO be damned, in this case!

Originally Posted by singlewedge

SWMBO thinks that a knife that cannot be opened is more dangerous than one that can be.

I fail to see the problem here....so just give him one that can be opened? This idea is the same about dull razors being more dangerous. It's true, simple as that.

So don't worry about it and get the kid a small victorinox or maybe an opinel. (But teach respect with those because opinels come wicked sharp.)