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

Wow, this thread made me nastalgic, I remember when I got my first knife I was about 5 years old, it was a cheap little knife with a locking blade, and some reflective plastic on the side that made it look like a toy. I really had no use for it, but I liked having it, I think the only thing I used it for was stripping bark off of saplings for about a month then I broke it.

I never hurt myself with it, so my vote is for you to get the kid a real knife(prefferably better than the one I had :P although an expensive knife may be unwise).

But I did manage to almost take my thumb off with a machete when I was 9(I was walking on the ice around a ponde about 3 miles from my house...I was using the machete as a walking stick...)...maybe a machete's a bit much.

Originally Posted by ZethLent

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.

I agree if the knife is truly unopenable (because it is welded shut for example).
If it is just stuck, then it's an accident witing to happen because it is assumed to be totally safe. I'd rather give them a working pocket knife than an unopenable one.

It's a sad state of affairs regarding teaching our children the skills we used to learn at a young age now. I have a lot of support for the view expressed in the video posted.

However, in the UK now, there is no way we could let a child have a pocket knife (even a Swiss Army one) to carry around. There is serious hysteria over knife culture here, and although there is a problem, in typical fashion we have over-legislated.

If I let my 7yo carry a pocket knife, I would be called in by the school, he would most likely be suspended or excluded, the law would be called, and all manner of investigations undertaken as to my parenting etc.

That is how it is here. So... I cannot let my boy carry a pocket knife under any circumstance.

Originally Posted by jimmyray

Giving him a breadknifed or un-openable blade won't teach him how to use and respect the tool.
Good luck!

A good point in todays world is that knives are seen as weapons NOT tools. When Nim is older, and has shown she understands the dangers of blade wielding I would be happy to let her have one outside of school and only with myself or Spike around.

When we first got into Straight shaving last year we had nowhere safe to lock away the razors. We showed Spike's 5 year old the razors and told her "If you see Daddy or Silver's razors lying around in the bathroom, don't touch them and tell one of us so we can move it out of the way for you and it has worked.

I wouldn't trust said 5 year old with a knife because she gets easily distracted and is quite accident prone to start with. Spike always carries his Leatherman with him and I have my Winchester.

As a parent you will be able to judge when your child is ready, they all mature at different rates so ultimately only you will know when your little tyke is ready. If the SWMBO is still dead against it ask her why and tell her why you think it's a good idea. If your little one is used to knives and has respect for them as tools not weapons then you are on your way to raising a responsible, level headed adult, Kudos.

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.)

My mother was very superstitious. Whenever a knife was given as a gift, a token payment had to be made to avoid 'cutting the friendship'. In our house it was a penny. Any similar customs elsewhere?

Four may be a little young for a sharp knife but then again I have met fourteen year olds I would trust with a sharpened stick. In 1962 when I was four, there were toy knives and swords made from soft metal. There were machines (just like gumball machines) that sold little one inch long folding knives. I think I was fishing by the time I was five and learned to respect sharp things with the first hook into my finger. But my first knife I stole from my father's dresser drawer. It was a little pen knife and I treasured it. I was five. I remember having it in my pocket the day JFK was killed. My father was always working and never acknowledged the knife was stolen. I think he knew and just figured it wouldn't kill me.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

My mother was very superstitious. Whenever a knife was given as a gift, a token payment had to be made to avoid 'cutting the friendship'. In our house it was a penny. Any similar customs elsewhere?

yes, that tradition was common when I lived in Tennessee, but not so much here in Texas.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

My mother was very superstitious. Whenever a knife was given as a gift, a token payment had to be made to avoid 'cutting the friendship'. In our house it was a penny. Any similar customs elsewhere?

And it's common amongst the Chinese. I was taught never to gift a sharp object -- even a letter-opener, for that very reason. Funny how traditions can be cross-cultural like that.

I have never heard of that tradition. I have heard about brooms and sweeping feet. That it takes money, your soul, that it means you'll marry and ugly man or women. The cure is to spit on the broom.

Thanks to all of you for the comments and suggestions.

I will get him a pocket knife.

I will either be this one or this one

I like the Nomad because it locks and there is less chance that the blade will snap back. I'll have to evaluate the lock to see if he can unlock it though.