How to Choose a Knife for Your Son

Knives for KidsI love it when parents ask me how to choose a good knife for their kids.  It is a privilege to be able to help.  We are working on creating a resource for parents who want to introduce their kids to knives. 

Choose Quality.

You and I both know how important a knife is. A cheap, junk knife is almost worse than no knife at all. I don’t want to teach my kids to cut corners when they matter. So choose a knife that is a good knife.

It needs to hold an edge because no one wants a knife that is dull when you most need it.

It needs to be tough because we all remember what we did to our knives when we were kids..

It needs to sharpen easily because learning to maintain an edge can be frustrating

Quality is important in a kid’s first knife.

Get a properly sized knife.

I know what you are thinking—small kid, small hands, small knife. But this is one of those things that is counter-intuitive. Small knives are hard to control and it is easy to slip because they require a lot of dexterity to use.

Choose a medium sized knife. You want one that fills his hand and fits it well. He needs all the control he can have as he learns the knife skills he will use the rest of his life.

Get the right sized knife.

Get a Locking Blade

This is a matter of safety. I love slipjoints and my first knife was a slipjoint. My father taught me how to use it and warned to always keep the forces in the right direction, and not to stab things, and not to drill with it—but you know what I did? I did all the wrong things.

You need to teach your kids to use every folder like it doesn’t have a lock, but know that they will get careless. So a lock on that blade will save a few nasty cuts and will save mama a lot of worry.

It needs to have a lock.

Inexpensive Knife

We are knife guys and we don’t think twice about dropping some cash on a good knife. But you and I have a few years of maturity on our kids. When your son comes to you with tears in his eyes to tell you he lost his knife, if you won’t cry like he lost a Sebenza.

There will be plenty of time to introduce them to fine knives—to super-steels and fancy grinds and carbon fiber and titanium and half-stops and, and, and, and…

Whatever you do, give your kid a knife.  For More Information, CLICK HERE.