How young is too young for a pocket knife?

**Rajagra** · 05-18-2009, 09:57 PM

When I was a kid I used to make model planes etc (Airfix type kits.) My dad gave me a scalpel to cut the parts cleanly, but he warned me they were so sharp they can cut you without you feeling it. And you know what, he was right! But I only cut myself once and it was small and painless.

It's important to learn these things, not only for the sake of handling these items, but for the wider knowledge that all kinds of things can hurt you if you are careless.

**TBlech** · 05-18-2009, 11:01 PM

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!

**TBlech** · 05-18-2009, 11:04 PM

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"

**thebigspendur** · 05-18-2009, 11:11 PM

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.

**mikemeatman** · 05-18-2009, 11:27 PM

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.

**singlewedge** · 05-18-2009, 11:48 PM

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.

**xman** · 05-18-2009, 11:55 PM

He's already too old to start! Check out the four minute mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuoH8nsrlqI

**crazycliff200843** · 05-19-2009, 05:34 AM

I say as long as he has a reason to use it, then he should have one to learn with. Functional, too. It is a tool after all. I assume you will show him how to use it and eventually he will use it often enough to have a reason to carry it around, if you need a reason. Or if you let him carry it around he will find reasons to use it. If he is anything like I was at 4 or 5, it won't stay sharp for long and you can spend time with him honing it and checking up on his knife wielding abilities.

You know your kid better than anyone and probably have an idea of whether or not he will be able to learn how to use any tool properly. Some of his buddies might not be able to handle it, so I would advise more consideration when other people's kids are involved.

**Blade Wielder** · 05-19-2009, 05:54 AM

I think I was 9 when I got my first knife. My Gramma (who gave me my first pellet rifle a few years earlier) was looking after my brother and I on a PA day. She took us both to a hardware store and bought us folding lock knives. They were pretty small with blades of around two inches or so, but it was the best feeling to get that thing as a little kid. "I have...a knife!!" I kept thinking. I couldn't believe it. I want to pass the thrill of first time knife ownership on to my kid(s) when they come around.

A little story: My Gramma let us do all kinds of fun stuff. Rip around on her riding lawn mower with little supervision... let us play with this old set of lawn darts she had (my mom later hid those)... I got to drive her Cadillac... she had a dart board in her basement which I thought was just awesome when I was little. My brother and cousins used to throw them everywhere, though. Into the ceiling...the carpet...the walls....at the hearth stone because they'd make cool sparks when they struck in such a way. It took a couple of Christmases and three totally non-dangerous dart board gifts (a suction cup one; another where the darts went into a comb-like bunch of plastic bristles; another with thousands of tiny holes in the plastic that the darts would have to go into, but would miss and bounce off). Eventually I took the initiative and drew up a "Wanted!" ad myself and had a nice REAL dartboard within a week. Wooden cabinet with chalkboards and everything! I didn't use it much, but I got it. Looking back, I probably should've just asked my Gramma to get me one.

Would've been faster.

**ZethLent** · 05-19-2009, 06:49 AM

My family did a lot of camping and my brother and I were heavily involved in Scouts Canada when we were growing up. I had my first knife before I was a Beaver Scout (~5 yrs old) though. It was a very small RCMP key chain pen knife that my grand parents bought my brother and I when we were 5 and 6 years old. These knifes were never monitored by my parents. And, although we did get into some mischief with other knifes it was only when we were older and knew better.

I remember another time when I was older, I had just got a new pocket knife, you know the kind with the spoon and fork fold outs. Well the day I got it I was caught by my little sister cutting an earth worm in half on the cement sidewalk in front of our house during a rain storm. I can still remeber the knife grinding against the cement (cringe

). I had the knife taken away after my sister ratted me out to our mom, for two weeks.

Other than that, I collected knives as a child and youth and still collect edged blades. A monitored four year old carrying an unopenable pocket knife is, in my estimation, is only happy to be just like dad. The sense of pride a father can get from such bonding will be long remembered and will probably never be forgotten. Just like most of us remember getting our first knife.

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