Two boys and their SAKS

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I asked my five year old when he thought he'd be old enough for a pocket knife. He answered "when I'm a grown-up". He was quite shocked to learn that both my wife and I were given penknives when we were seven and eight.

I had got a couple of My First Vics. stashed but I'm now thinking I make make him a custom knife.

Neil

The personal touch would be nice mate , he's got a custom fixed blade, but not a sak

I figure 7 would be a good age

[Neil]

I'm thinking something like this 84mm one Bill made but with a peanut butter blade


Neil

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm thinking something like this 84mm one Bill made but with a peanut butter blade
(Image removed from quote.)

Neil

That would be perfect!!!, I often wished vic would include a magnifiying glass in there junior range

I think your boy would be made up with one of those

[FredKJ]

Well that's why I got them the Explorer.  Had to have a magnifying glass.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Well that's why I got them the Explorer.  Had to have a magnifying glass.

But no wood saw though (I've got an Explorer and there a brilliant sak )

[WhichDawg]

excellent thread Fred 
sounds like you have great, lucky kids/twins (we've got a couple here too, this forum, maybe even triplets now!)
and if you ever want a third, slightly older

my dad never talked to me (hence my death chats!) but he did teach me to fish and shoot a gun. he never gave me
a knife, I'm not sure why he would have luv'd what I got now I'm sure.

maybe to get your kids back/more into whittling you could have them save the shavings and teach them
the use of a firesteel or even friction fire, don't we all luv and play with fire 

enjoying your stories

[FredKJ]

I got a book today from Amazon to use with the boys.  It's "The Little Book of Whittling" by Chris Lubkemann.  It has some nice simple projects.  This guy uses a SAK Tinker for his work.  Looks like his small blade has been moded or perhaps just worked down from sharpening.  He uses twigs and sticks to make stuff.  Has some interesting ideas in it.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I got a book today from Amazon to use with the boys.  It's "The Little Book of Whittling" by Chris Lubkemann.  It has some nice simple projects.  This guy uses a SAK Tinker for his work.  Looks like his small blade has been moded or perhaps just worked down from sharpening.  He uses twigs and sticks to make stuff.  Has some interesting ideas in it.

Thats a great book too

[Dunc]

Really great thread Fred  Very enjoyable reading

Dunc

[FredKJ]

I was going through Lubkemann's book on whittling I got for the boys.  Nice book.  Features simple projects made from natural sticks.  He features exclusively a SAK Tinker.  When I was a kid I used primarily a three bladed pen knife.  Thing about using a SAK is it is percieved as less of a threat.  The only thing Lubkemann stresses is the blade must be sharp.  For whittling the blade should be devouted to the whittling only.  You have to keep a polished and stropped edge on it.  So a SAK dedicated for whittling or at least the small blade works as good as anything.  Lubkemann even has some stuff about the history of the SAK. 

[NutSAK]

Does he mention whether he prefers a small (84mm) or regular (91mm) Tinker?  I don't suppose it matters--just whatever fits your hand best.

[FredKJ]

From the pics it's a regular Tinker not the shorter one.  Just a standard Tinker SAK.  He's a minimalist.

[Neil]

I would imagine a Recruit would be an even better option, nothing on the backspring and fractionally cheaper 

Neil

[ringzero]

I would imagine a Recruit would be an even better option, nothing on the backspring and fractionally cheaper 

Neil

I think you're right.

Recruit is cheaper than Tinker and is lighter as well.  I've used a Recruit for whittling a few times and had no complaints.

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[FredKJ]

Today we went geocaching.  There was a microcache wedged in something and they used the knife to get it out.  Starting to realize how handy it can be.

[jock1]

Today we went geocaching.  There was a microcache wedged in something and they used the knife to get it out.  Starting to realize how handy it can be.

Jock jnr is 9 and he is already gotten used 2 a S.A K as his fave tool .SELF RELIANCE IS NOT A SIN

[duckman1975]

Thanks doe sharing fredkj, I have a 4 year old son my only child. Can't wait to give him his 1st SAK, what age does a child responsible enough to own a knife? My father isn't the outdoors type so wasn't given a knife as a boy.

[ducktapehero]

, what age does a child responsible enough to own a knife?

That is completely depending on how mature the boy is. It could 5 years old or 15 years old. I've even seen 20 somethings who probably shouldn't be carrying knives. IIRC I was allowed to start carrying a knife when I was about 8 or so.

[duckman1975]

Thanks DTH, already planning for it 

[Leatherman123]

I used to collect tons of things when I was small.. It first started out with watches, then I moved on to tools.. After that I got my first SAK a Camper, and then I collected SAKs from there...

[WhichDawg]

we know he didn't collect cameras!

[FredKJ]

Well the boys whittled some letter openers yesterday.  Got creative and glued some rocks on them.  I got some blocks of Butternut wood yesterday.  Once they are a little more practiced I'll start them on some more ambitious projects with the wood.

[WhichDawg]

that's where the bread comes from!

if you can, post some pictures of them working, that would be great

[FredKJ]

I don't have a camera but will see what I can do.  Nothing more warming than seeing two boys whittling away with their SAK's.

[ringzero]

, what age does a child responsible enough to own a knife?

That is completely depending on how mature the boy is. It could 5 years old or 15 years old. I've even seen 20 somethings who probably shouldn't be carrying knives.

ROTFL!

If they're not responsible enough to carry a pocket knife at 20-something, do you ever wonder about the wisdom of the little darlings driving at age 16?

Some parents will buy their kids cars when they turn 16 or as soon as they get a driver's license.

Talk about deadly weapons in the hands of immature kids - an automobile seems much more dangerous than a knife.

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[DaveK]

we know he didn't collect cameras!

ROFL!

[ducktapehero]

If they're not responsible enough to carry a pocket knife at 20-something, do you ever wonder about the wisdom of the little darlings driving at age 16?

Some parents will buy their kids cars when they turn 16 or as soon as they get a driver's license.

I know, it's pathetic. Of course good driving skills is something that some people NEVER pick up. God must watch over these people because with the way some people drive I have no clue how they live long enough to get into their 30's and 40's, much less their 70's and 80's.

[ringzero]

I know, it's pathetic. Of course good driving skills is something that some people NEVER pick up. God must watch over these people because with the way some people drive I have no clue how they live long enough to get into their 30's and 40's, much less their 70's and 80's.

Looking back at my teen years, I'm somewhat amazed that I survived into my twenties.  Must admit that I did some fairly crazy things involving motorized vehicles.

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[ducktapehero]

Must admit that I did some fairly crazy things involving motorized vehicles.

Me too. But there's a difference in sometimes doing stupid stuff and just flat out not knowing how to drive. When I did stupid stuff I usually did it late at night when the roads were empty.

[ringzero]

Must admit that I did some fairly crazy things involving motorized vehicles.

Me too. But there's a difference in sometimes doing stupid stuff and just flat out not knowing how to drive. When I did stupid stuff I usually did it late at night when the roads were empty.

Same here - back roads, late at night.

During my teen years some of the common family sedans were capable of 120 to 130 mph.  (Of course the brakes, tires, and suspensions were mostly quite lame when compared to the cars nowadays.)

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