Proud Daddy here!

[Mercury]

Awesome Sean!   Of course, at 8 I already had "my" first .22........

I got mine shortly after 8, but that was a different time, sadly.  He is getting a BB gun soon, and I'll be taking him hunting next year.  I'm so excited to get him more knives already though; he's a gadget nut like me I can tell.  He sat at the restaurant all through dinner fidgeting with his knife.  He used his scissors to cut his straw, and used the main blade to open a lego box he got from his sister.  I'm so smurfing proud!

Awesome story. Good on yea!!!

I think it is part of a coming of age thing. I gave my two each a Leatherman Squirt at the age of 8. We also made little bookmarks that we laminated with a pic of the tool on the one side and the "Tool Rules" on the other. We took the word "Leatherman" and used each letter as a start of a sentence with the rules. I took the time to show them each tool with its correct use and they use them often. To date, 6 years in total, not a single cut by either of them. I, on the other hand have had several.  .

I think it is important that we teach our kids the responsible use of a MT or a SAK. These days, sadly,  they are seen as weapons, when we grew up they were a mere extension of common sense.

Cheers,

Pete

That's what I'm trying to teach him.  I was able to drill it in fairly easily that a man carries a knife, always, because it's a tool.  He got home from school and immediately ran to his room and got his knife and put it in his left pocket, same place Dad's knife goes every day.  While I plan on teaching my daughter the same thing, but knowing her mother I'm not entirely sure that she'll carry a knife daily.  My wife is content to keep her one pocket knife in her car and hardly uses it. 

[pietervn]

It sounds like you have a plan for them both!

My daughter does not carry any of her multi's or SAK's, but does use them a lot. It must be a girly thing. 

Cheers,

Pete

[Gohard]

Well guys, the day has come!  My son Jacob turns 8 today, and I waited long enough.  I gave him his first pocket knife this morning, a Vic Classic SD in red.  It's the same model my father gave me 25 years ago, and I still have that knife.  Jake was thrilled, and we had heaps of fun trying to show him how to open the blades on this sucker.  I am afraid I know how his first cut will happen.     Tonight we begin lessons in knife usage by opening his birthday presents(daddy wrapped them, believe me he'll need a knife to open them!), opening letters, and carving some wood with Dad. 

I'm very fortunate to have the wife I do; she was beyond happy about me getting him this knife and fully supported it.  She's in medical and worries a lot, but knives are something she grew up with so she knows the importance. 

I'm on cloud nine, I can begin my son's knife education for real now and I couldn't be happier.  I'm trying to get him into Cub Scouts soon as well.  This is gonna be a fun year!

Congratulations. He will always treasure this moment.
I still got my first knife my dad gave me.

[Smashie]

Congrats, I've got 3 years to wait before I give Matthew his first knife, but it will also be a classic, the same as my father gave me 

[T14]

Good on ya, mate.

I gave my daughter a wood-handled mora knife at age 7 and took her to the local park to learn basic whittling and knife safety. It remains a favorite "special" pasttime for her (and me) and she dilligently corrects me whenever I fail to follow my own rules 
-Tom

[pfrsantos]

This will be remembered for decades go come. 

Huh... what are you talking about?!

 

Don't ask me, ask Android.
Maybe for decades to come?
Are you spending time together with dks my friend?

Well, I have no choice. He keeps coming around to my naughty step...

[pitbullz4me]

Congrats


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[Mercury]

Congrats


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Thanks!

He has been using it non stop since he got it.  He's really doing well and I'm beaming with pride!

[Poncho65]

Congrats


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks!

He has been using it non stop since he got it.  He's really doing well and I'm beaming with pride!

My little girl will come around and say

Her "daddy can I borrow your knife"

Me "where's your's?" 

Her "in my room"

Me "Shouldn't you get your's then?"

Her "Yes" then she skips off to get her knife

It is always important to teach them things of this nature because they aren't gonna get skills like that at school Which I am fine teaching her things like this as I know you are as well

[AimlessWanderer]

I wish I could get grown ups to behave that well 

My brother doesn't carry the Mountaineer I gave him because he doesn't want to lose the toothpick, so it lives in the kitchen drawer.

 

 I've just gifted him a Solingen knife with scissors which doesn't have scale tools. We'll see what his excuse is for not carrying that one   

[Mercury]

 

My brother keeps the wingman I gave him in his toolbox at work.  He simply refuses to carry any type of knife outside of work, he doesn't like the weight in his pockets.  Doesn't help that he's a 27 year old man wearing basketball shorts everywhere.  I tell him he's wearing pajamas.  I don't think he even owns a belt. 

To his credit, he does gush about the Leatherman and says he uses it all the time at work. 

[pfrsantos]

I wish I could get grown ups to behave that well 

My brother doesn't carry the Mountaineer I gave him because he doesn't want to lose the toothpick, so it lives in the kitchen drawer.

 

 I've just gifted him a Solingen knife with scissors which doesn't have scale tools. We'll see what his excuse is for not carrying that one   

Can't you guess?...

Show content

No toothpick...

 

[AimlessWanderer]

I wouldn't be at all surprised 

[Gareth]

Good on you buddy.    Different kids take to these things at different times IMO, so my daughter who is now 11 just might be getting her first SAK/knife very soon.  I don't want to imagine the bloody carnage that would have resulted in her having one at 8!   I should point out that she now "owns" a proper air rifle and is very well behaved with that (under constant supervision of course) so it just might be time to trust her with something sharp of her own.

[Mercury]

Good on you buddy.    Different kids take to these things at different times IMO, so my daughter who is now 11 just might be getting her first SAK/knife very soon.  I don't want to imagine the bloody carnage that would have resulted in her having one at 8!   I should point out that she now "owns" a proper air rifle and is very well behaved with that (under constant supervision of course) so it just might be time to trust her with something sharp of her own.

I felt the same way about my son last year, which is why I waited.  He needed to mature a bit before I trusted him with one.  I am truly amazed at how he has taken to this knife though.  I've decided to get him another for Christmas, he's doing amazing!

[octopussoup]

My son is currently 7 and I've been trying to figure out for some time what would be best to start him off with. I dont want him to take it to school and be thrown in jail  (yes I live in that sort of area) and I dont want him to lose.  Tried to find some cheapy knifeless version to try him out on but I think Ill just give him a standard cheapy victorinox or wenger and he can keep it in his pocket when he's not at school and stick it in his tool box when he is.

[Smaug]

What took you so long, Bro?

My daughter was playing with my Rambler at less than 1 year old.

I gave her her own Classic at 3. Thankfully, she can't yet open anything but the toothpick and tweezers by herself. I put it on a paracord necklace, and she totes it around on the weekends.

At 3 months, she didn't know much, but she knew she loved the feel of a SAK in the hand.!


can you see how proud she was here, to receive her "big girl knife?"

[Mercury]

She is adorable!!!  Very happy girl carrying her own knife!

[octopussoup]

Son tried to use single blade razor to "shave himself" when he was 3. Not a straight razor thankfully and cut his mouth up a bunch.  I wish he couldn't open the knife. Im hoping one more year and he'll be mature enough to have his own.

My daughter is the opposite I could give her one and she just be too afraid to open up and try the knife.

Two very opposite kids makes for weird  training on safely using a knife (or anything for that matter)
.

[babola]

 


 

[JP]

I just got the OK to gift my daughter a pocket knife.

She is 6.

I cut myself as a kid on the knuckle with a Victorinox when it closed on me. I would prefer a locking blade for my daughter.

What do you folks think?

I was thinking .... Leatherman Micra (harder to close the blade on your fingers)
........Spyderco Ladybug
........ Boker Keycom

[Grant Lamontagne]

Things Engraved (at least the one at Bayshore) has My First Victorinox on sale for $15.  I know it isn't a lock blade, but it's got no point on it, and it has a combo tool.

Otherwise I would definitely go for something like a Micra- it gives her a nice little knife, but also teaches her that a knife is just like any other tool.  It's useful when that's what you need, but no more valuable than any other tool.

Def

[JP]

A Bayshore trip might do the trick....although I try to avoid going East of Eagleson.....

[Grant Lamontagne]

A Bayshore trip might do the trick....although I try to avoid going East of Eagleson.....

Well I am heading to Bayshore this evening or tomorrow, let me know if you'd like me to grab anything for you. 

Def

[ToolJoe]

I was given my first SAK at 8 years old and cut my finger up pretty good. Blood was gushing pretty good.

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's a right of passage, and teaches you respect.

Are there any of us here that haven't been bit by a knife at one point or another?

Def

[Damsel]

It's a right of passage, and teaches you respect.

Are there any of us here that haven't been bit by a knife at one point or another?

Def

I think I've been cut by everything except for a knife. Disposable razors, tape measures, coke cans,  paper etc. but never a blade. I'm sure my time will come sooner or later.

Actually, I did get my finger stuck in a potato peeler once and cut myself on that, does that count?
Danielle.

[JP]

^^ A potatoe peeler? Ouch!!!

I think I will hand over one of the SAKs I have for my daughter. I can see her using the Woodsaw the most as kids love making forts in the bush...........as do adults. We just call it BushCrafting 

and give her the best instruction on usage as I can.

[pfrsantos]

It's a right of passage, and teaches you respect.

Are there any of us here that haven't been bit by a knife at one point or another?

Def

I think I've been cut by everything except for a knife. Disposable razors, tape measures, coke cans,  paper etc. but never a blade. I'm sure my time will come sooner or later.

Actually, I did get my finger stuck in a potato peeler once and cut myself on that, does that count?
Danielle.

You so have to meet N_N_R...

 

[Aloha]

Getting their first and second and well tenth cut maybe inevitable.  Teaching them the proper use and safety is so important.  A locking blade can be a good starting point but in a way a slippie does teach them to the limits of what a blade should do and to not push it.  I find sometimes people respect the lock more than common sense should allow.  Just my 2c.