Good starting tool for kid?

[Lynn LeFey]

My friend's son is about to turn 10. I am considering a tool of some sort, SAK or keychain size multi.

Suggestions?

[enki_ck]

My First Victorinox. It has a blunt tip.

[Threeme2189]

For a 10 year old I would suggest a tool where he will have a hard time injuring himself (or others) by accident.
A blunt tip knife like enki said, or maybe a knifeless tool to begin with.
It depends how responsible he is, do you think he can safely use and carry a sharp blade?

[Lynn LeFey]

I'm trying to figure that out myself. I thought maybe a Style PS might be good. the 'My First Victorinox' sounds like a pretty good idea, if my friends think their son is ready.

I think my concern is him taking it to school to show his friends, and getting in trouble for having a weapon of mass murder. I think this might make the Style PS a good option.

[EZ822]

I'm trying to figure that out myself. I thought maybe a Style PS might be good. the 'My First Victorinox' sounds like a pretty good idea, if my friends think their son is ready.

I think my concern is him taking it to school to show his friends, and getting in trouble for having a weapon of mass murder. I think this might make the Style PS a good option.

The Style PS is definitely the safe choice. My son is 10 and that's what I gave him and he can carry it in school.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd opt for the My First Victorinox as well, although bear in mind I have no kids and little expedience with kids.

I do know SAKs though and they still tend to be looked on more favorably than just about any other knife or tool out there.  The Boy Scout mentality is still strong, and while it still trips the Zero Tolerance policy at most schools it's generally a lot easier to defend.

Def

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[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'd opt for the My First Victorinox as well, although bear in mind I have no kids and little expedience with kids.

I do know SAKs though and they still tend to be looked on more favorably than just about any other knife or tool out there.  The Boy Scout mentality is still strong, and while it still trips the Zero Tolerance policy at most schools it's generally a lot easier to defend.

Def

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+1.

SAK's are generally interpreted as a lot less threatening than most any other kind of knife by non-knife people.

I'd play it safe and get him something without a knife blade of any kind though.  A Style PS would be a good choice, but you might also want to consider a knifeless Fuse.  I think they're getting hard to find though; I haven't seen on advertised anywhere in a while.  They may have been discontinued for some reason.

[Lynn LeFey]

The Fuse and Knifeless Fuse are both listed as retired tools on the Leatherman website.

I think the Fuse would be too big for his hands. I'd like that kind of range of function, though. He likes helping his dad out doing craft stuff (they're building a garage, we're helping, and the boy likes to help any way he can).

[Mercury]

My first knife was a Victorinox Classic, I got it at age 7.  I cut myself within the first day, and it taught me immediately that the knife was sharp.  I never cut myself with that knife ever again, and I still have it to this day, 20 years later.  I say give the boy a knife, he needs it now, not when society deems it "safe" for him to have one.  Cutting oneself is inevitable, just ask any knife user.  The earlier he familiarizes himself with blades, the better off he'll be. 

When I turned 10, my dad gave me a 7 inch Bowie knife and a hatchet.  I took them to the woods that day and built a fort. 

My son is nearly 4, and he is already very well aware that Daddy's Swiss Army Knife is sharp, but that it's a tool that can help.  I have dug splinters out of his fingers with it, and snipped loose threads off his clothes with the scissors.  I plan to buy him a brand new vic classic in about 3 or 4 years, followed by an Explorer and a Leatherman if he shows me he's ready.

That said, I would recommend something simple like a Victorinox super tinker or climber.  He will love having those handy scissors around!

  to you for being a parent that thinks about these things, it's a dying way of life where "my first SAK" is being replaced with "my first cell phone".

[Zed]

When one of my daughters was 8 i gave her a pink classic with the blade snapped off, she is 12 now and still has it, both my other daughters have MT's my 4 year old has a cheap pliers based MT with the blade removed,but my 5 year old has a nice rolson MT that doesnt have a blade but has scissors, she loves it, its actualy a well made MT for under £5 she uses the wire cutters a lot when doing beads and cutting the wire for wrist bands, 

[MultiMat]

Another vote for the 'My First SAK' I would go with the 'plus' version as it gets a saw  .
It is a good size for my 10 year old & has been a great introduction to pocket knives which is not too tricky for smaller hands to open & close safely.

The 2 'My First SAKs' sets,I got my boys included a lanyard & pocket chain , a very cool kit 

[scattergun13]

Agree with everything said so far and applaud you for setting this example. I would also follow up on what Heinz and Grant stated about knives and schools. As the "Resource Officer" for my school district, there is a Zero Tolerance policy to be sure. But, like Heinz stated, SAK's are generally more openly tolerated and less likely to be viewed as an offensive weapon provided the student is not being blatantly irresponsible with it. It also helps if your local law enforcement and school officials exercise some common sense, but often times that's asking a bit much...
Stew and K9 partner "Ajo".

[Zed]

Agree with everything said so far and applaud you for setting this example. I would also follow up on what Heinz and Grant stated about knives and schools. As the "Resource Officer" for my school district, there is a Zero Tolerance policy to be sure. But, like Heinz stated, SAK's are generally more openly tolerated and less likely to be viewed as an offensive weapon provided the student is not being blatantly irresponsible with it. It also helps if your local law enforcement and school officials exercise some common sense, but often times that's asking a bit much...
Stew and K9 partner "Ajo".

yep i agree on this with schools, coral carries her bladeles classic on her keychain for nearly 4 years with no issues, she has lost both the tweezers and toothpick though, 

[dks]

I remember, when I was at school someone getting stabbed, accidentally, with a triangle ruler and having to go to the hospital..

I am surprised these rulers have not been banned yet. 



Anything knifeless and with blunt scissors should be OK.

How about a Kershaw Two-can ?



Is it classified as a knife or Scissors?? 

[Sparky415]

I am with Mercury, a pointy knife is a good knife 

How about one of these if he plays soccer? (I don't know if it will fit your boot studs over there    )
I have one in my car ready for my 10year old Nephew  (but his Mum is (very) not keen on the idea    )

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,12177.msg264206.html#msg264206

[Grant Lamontagne]

I remember, when I was at school someone getting stabbed, accidentally, with a triangle ruler and having to go to the hospital..

I am surprised these rulers have not been banned yet. 

(Image removed from quote.)

Anything knifeless and with blunt scissors should be OK.

How about a Kershaw Two-can ?

(Image removed from quote.)

Is it classified as a knife or Scissors?? 

Sadly modern zero tolerance policies see no difference between the Twocan and this:



They don't call it "zero tolerance" because they expect to give even small amounts of tolerance.

Def

[Sparky415]

That road looks like it leads to Sheffield 

[MultiMat]

Zero Tolerance  .


How about Kershaw's take on 'Zero Tolerance' 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I would love to see someone try to argue that in court!  "Your honor, they said they had a zero tolerance policy on knives in school, so I specifically bought a Zero Tolerance knife to be properly prepared and in compliance."



Def

[Farmman]

That road looks like it leads to Sheffield 

No. Not hilly enough. Although to guy does have a look of Al about him.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I can attest to the stringency of the zero tolerance policies in schools these days.  I gave my son my old Style CS on a camping trip, and he put it in his backpack.  After we got home, he loaded up for school, and didn't take the CS out.  Even though he made a minor error in judgment to pull it out to use the nail file for actually filing his nails, one of his teachers spotted it, inspected it, and found the blade it has.  It ended up earning him a day's suspension.

[kmanct3]

My son started with my first vic at 6yr old. then i got him a vic huntsman,master gardener,LM wingman and 2 micras.

[AimlessWanderer]

That road looks like it leads to Sheffield 

No. Not hilly enough. Although to guy does have a look of Al about him.

I've grown my hair since then 

[edcgear]

a P4 is great.... IMHO

[Lynn LeFey]

Thanks for all the great input, folks.

I also like the Squirt P4/Ps4

[badwolf]

Thanks for all the great input, folks.

I also like the Squirt P4/Ps4

Yes, that's a good little tool but what about the Victorinox Swiss Army D of E Pocket Tool, has the rounded blunt tip blade, its got scissors and is intended for youngster doing their Duke of Edinburgh award, read the amazon reviews here and more info on the D of E Vic here

[Pignut71]

You read my mind Badwolf, I was just reading through to see if anyone recommended the D of E. I bought my daughter one of these when she was about 6 ish. She loves it and uses the scissors in her room all the time when making stuff. She is very aware of sharp things and I don't recall her cutting herself on it yet, she takes it to the woods with me and when we go camping. It's a brilliant little pocket tool, I will get my son one in 2 or 3 years time.

Another good knife IMO for kids is the Opinel children's knife. I've got a couple of them and both my kids use them when they are with me. Thomas' one doesn't have a sharp edge though (I took the edges right away with a DC4 stone, it's like a butter knife now!) as he is only 4 but wants to join in with his Dad and sister, they are both learning how to hold and control a blade safely. Some people may not think this is wise for a parent but I see no half. As far as I'm concerned they are learning to use a tool safely.

I personally don't think classics are good for kids, the back spring is too weak which means the blade can close on their fingers a bit too easy and I think they are too small to hold properly.

Regards, Jon..

[Lynn LeFey]

I LOVE the beautiful simplicity of the Opinel design, but I was hoping for something more multi-toolish.

I like the D of E, but man, apparently you have to take out a mortgage on this side of the pond to afford one. Looks like almost $50 shipped. Erg.

I like this boy, but he's not MY child... so, you know... I don't like him THAT much.