Along these lines, a Grohmann You-Make-It knife kit might be fun. I believe most of their outdoor knives are available in kit form; the #2 seems well suited to the younger guys.

It may also worthwile to check out their clearance page to see if there's anything that strikes your fancy there (me and my son have the X107SD Outdoor Knife).

Great point Teslinhiker. I thought a Scouts Canada cordura sheath would be nice but a lanyard would work well too. Either way, we'll try to get him in the babit of putting it straight away when he's done using it. He left my Leatherman sheath behind after tryiing that this past weekend so it'll be a message that is reinforced often.

Nice choice Denis! Think I'll go look at those. Haven't found one yet but haven't hit the more serious knife stores yet either.

I'm pondering this advice from the thread Denis referenced:



He'd probably really like either the same SAK my Dad gave me or a duplicate. I think it's a Spartan:

[img:left][/img]

Learning how to sharpen a knife is important, too. The excessive pressure needed to cut something with a dull knife has probably caused more injuries than anything else.

Sue

Great point Sue! I'm going to get him a sharpener also and we'll teach him how to do that. A dull knife is a dangerous knife!

My first blade when I was 8 was a smallish 2-bladed SAK style that required two hands to open the blades. 2 hand opening for a kid means less chance of an accident even though getting the finger nail in the slot was sometimes tricky. The main blade was about 2 1/2" long. It was similar but smaller than the one my Dad carried - but I loved it. Today, I would recommend a locking 2-3 implement SAK knife or a lockback single blade as a first knife.

When I was 9 I purchased a hobo style knife/sppon/fork/u-name-it with my allowance after going out on a camping trip. It eventually rusted out from being left in the rain. It was way too big for pocket carry. Later I inherited a 3 1/2" fixed blade /w sheath that I still have in my collection.

BTW, I second the advice from bacpacjac -- to a child it doesn't make sense until you explain the reasoning behind using a sharp knife versus a dull one. The more effort it takes to cut or whittle the better the chances you will slip and the knife will cut your hand or other body parts.

If your son is like most boys - like said above "Kids have always had to bleed a little to learn how to handle a knife."
I did, my step-son did.......

Have him earn the Cub Scout Whittling Chip (The Whittling Chip is a “license” for a Cub or Webelos Scout to use a pocket knife. In order to earn the Whittling Chip, a scout must undergo proper handling, care and safety instruction with a pocket knife.) Whittling Chip doc file

Either one of these will be good for first knives:
Victorinox-Swiss Army Inc Recruit Knife
Amazon.com link to the knife
Victorinox Swiss Army Tourist Pocket Knife
Amazon.com link to the knife

Both are good knives. The tourist one is my EveryDayCarry knife.

Last but not least - my Step-son Soars with Eagles and had the Arrow find him (Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow).

As an assistant Scout Master, I found the more active the Dad in the troop, generally the better the Scout does.

I wish your Son all success and hope to read about all of his successes.

You guys ROCK! Thank you so much for all your help! I'm getting more emotional about this as we go. What I thought would be a simple decision isn't turning out to be. He's going to be over the moon!

I fully expect boo boos along the way but he'll learn, as we all did. (Sometimes a little self-inflicted pain helps the lesson stick.)

Wolf, welcome to the forum! You must be a very proud Dad and Leader. It's awesome watching them isn't it?!

All the above are IMHO good ideas and I think the knife shown is a good choice. Slip a few band-aides into the package.

Try to remain calm when they cut themselves. I know it is hard for parents to see a kid in pain and resist the urge to freak out and keep them away from dangerous items like knives. But, IMHO, the more constructive response is to calm them down and reassure them that you know it hurts but it isn't going to hurt for long. That it is okay, and they will heal. Then escort them to the bathroom, instruct them on how to wash their hands and clean the wound, how to gently dry the cut with tissue so you don't get blood on the towels, and how to apply a band-aide. Let them do the job even if it isn't done exactly right. If the bandage falls off after a while it is good practice in field dressings.

I respect parents who can emphasize that getting hurt a little bit is normal, that the pain tells them that they are healthy and haven't severed nerves, that bleeding is a way for the body to wash away dirt, it is good. That they are strong, healthy, and smart and there is every expectation that they are going to handle small cuts on their own after a little practice. That making a mistake and slipping with the knife hurts but it isn't wrong, they aren't bad for making a mistake, you aren't mad at them, and they will do better next time. All this while being reassuring, and remaining calm.

That is a tall order for a parent. But if you do the best you can, and accept your own faults, the kids will be inclined to do the same. Both with you, and with themselves.