Which SAK for 13 year old boy?

[shark_za]

Hi there,
A friend of ours is divorced and her son is a great responsible lad and I'm going to get him a SAK.
My first SAK was a soldier from when my Dad went to Switzerland in the 80's.

I have been thinking either basic or adding a saw.
Cadet Alox or a Camper/Hiker?

He does not need corkscrew and a saw would be handy out camping. But adding a glasses screwdriver is an option.
He can get a classic if he wants scissors.

Do I get the Hiker or a Cadet as his first SAK?
He is fine with knives and has a Bear Grylls lockblade already.

[coSAK]

Vic. EvoGrip S18

[SAK Guy]

A knife to grow with...The Ranger!

[Caranthanus]

A knife to grow with...The Ranger!

+1 

But, if neither the 5-layer Ranger nor 4-layer Huntsman is an option,
and you would choose from listed options,
then "The Camper" is absolutely the only way to go.

[dks]

The explorer with the lens is also nice for a child.

[ColoSwiss]

I find the scissors to be extremely handy. Maybe more than you want to go, but how about a Huntsman.

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Huntsman

[kirk13]

Between the Cadet and the Hiker? The Hiker!

But...a Fieldmaster has a saw,scissors and phillips

(Or an Evo18)

[collim1]

I wish I had known about the alox Farmer when I was growing up. I got along fine with a Tinker all through scouts but the Farmer is by far my favorite now.

Dare I say it, but I used a Leatherman PST in the scouts most often.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AimlessWanderer]

If it was me doing it, the first thing I would do is talk to the kid. It might be that he'd really like something with a file, or a mag glass, or a ..... whatever

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'd go Camper out of the options you listed mate, as the corkscrew is still handy for knots and stuff

If he has fairly strong fingers I'd be inclined to go with a Farmer instead though

Sent from the astropathic choir.

[colt 1911]

How about a Wenger evo 18 or even a s52, swiss knife shop has the s52 on sale for like 26,99.


Sak's  rule !

[enki_ck]

I find the scissors to be extremely handy. Maybe more than you want to go, but how about a Huntsman.

http://www.sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page=Huntsman

+1

Or the Wenger Forester/Delemont 17.

[Fattsgalore]

58mm, either a Classic (scale color being their choice) or a Minite Manager.

91mm, Compact or Climber/Super Tinker.

[Fattsgalore]

But I'd lean more towards a 58mm...

[ducttapetech]

S18 or a Fieldmaster. Great SAKs for a kid. He can tinker, camp and any other fun he can get into.

Nate

[asmitty]

Fieldmaster, hands down.  It is the SAK I would have wanted at that age (I had a Huntsman but would've preferred the phillips).

[Syph007]

I would vote fieldmaster as well.  4 layers and VERY useful.

[DazMechanical]

From the options you provided, I'd go for the Hiker!

But im with the last 3 posters, get him a Field Master!

If I could only have 1 SAK that would be my personal choice!

[gregozedobe]

If it was me doing it, the first thing I would do is talk to the kid. It might be that he'd really like something with a file, or a mag glass, or a ..... whatever

WHS^

.... pliers, hook, awl, or maybe just simple, small and light in a favourite colour ....... (zombie apocolypse green alox perhaps     )

[shark_za]

Spent the weekend camping with him and it was his introduction to SAKs.
I am doing minimalist October so it was not a great showpiece but enough to get him interested.

Im getting a huntsman and farmer for myself this weekend and will see if the fieldmaster is in stock. Wenger S18 costs so much more down here,  no clearance sales.

Trying to add a bit of classic traditionalism to this so dont think I will go evo or 111mm. Two I have in front of me would do the trick, S18 and Trailmaster (Trekker) but red cellidor 91mm or silver alox 93mm just have SAK cool about them.

A Soldier 08 may have the cool factor and allow a history lesson but the Philips Huntsman makes a lot of sense.

[Grass]

Hmm. I would be trying to ensure the lock blade; which leans towards the 'Wengerinox' set - like the Victorinox S18. The S18 is very expensive here too, but about half the price on import from the US.

'Wenginox' 85mm range with locks:
If this link works... http://www.victorinox.com/ch/category/Category/The-Original-Swiss-Army-Knives/The-Original-Swiss-Army-Knives-Linerlock-85-mm/1127;jsessionid=579FDAC6EE2C355B2DBBD620875943D7?f=category&v=1/100/1000/1127&m=add&

[comis]

Spent the weekend camping with him and it was his introduction to SAKs.
I am doing minimalist October so it was not a great showpiece but enough to get him interested.

Im getting a huntsman and farmer for myself this weekend and will see if the fieldmaster is in stock. Wenger S18 costs so much more down here,  no clearance sales.

Trying to add a bit of classic traditionalism to this so dont think I will go evo or 111mm. Two I have in front of me would do the trick, S18 and Trailmaster (Trekker) but red cellidor 91mm or silver alox 93mm just have SAK cool about them.

A Soldier 08 may have the cool factor and allow a history lesson but the Philips Huntsman makes a lot of sense.

Another vote for Huntsman, but regardless what you have decided in the end, I think a saw should be included.  I remembered how fascinated I was when I first got mine, and running around trying to find things to saw.  Still do. 

[shark_za]

Saw, lock blade, cool factor = Green soldier 08.
I have a yellow S18 myself, could just give that to him.

Thoughts on a boys use of scissors?

[coSAK]

Saw, lock blade, cool factor = Green soldier 08.
I have a yellow S18 myself, could just give that to him.

Thoughts on a boys use of scissors?

Definetly scissors! The S18 would be a great SAK start.
As you said, he already has a big knife. Therefore the Soldier 08 is out. 

[shark_za]

He is either getting a Nylon Huntsman or I will give him my S18.
If they have stock of the Trailmaster I might get that.


Thanks for the "upsell"
 

[firiki]

He is either getting a Nylon Huntsman or I will give him my S18.
If they have stock of the Trailmaster I might get that.


Thanks for the "upsell"

That's a very good choice

[comis]

He is either getting a Nylon Huntsman or I will give him my S18.
If they have stock of the Trailmaster I might get that.


Thanks for the "upsell"
 

Either way, those are great choices.  If he is good with safety, then Nylon huntsman.  If he has not slipjoint experience, maybe a S18 would be a little safer.

[Humppa]

I got a Vic Huntsman, when I was eight years old.

So I think this would be great choice in any way. I still love it as an outdoor knife  

... BUT: My son is nine months now and I got him a Black Alox Pioneer as his first knife I gonna give him when he´s old enough...

I would get him a Huntsman (and a Pioneer)

[Subterranean]

I vote for the Hiker-Classic SD combo.

Classic SD on keys for everday carrying (maybe he could even carry it in the school, depending on the local school policy), Hiker for the camping trips.

If you think he could be not cautious enough for a non-locking knife, you could go a step further and, instead of Hiker, buy him a Trekker/Trailmaster. Blade locking system and a longer saw make for a happy little camper

[zimchaz]

My uncle bought me a huntsman for my 16th birthday almost ten years ago.Nice knife for daily stuff and u have sentimental attachments to it but for actual hunting etc I upgraded to the Outrider. ..because scissors are a must for me and always have been since I got the huntsman.