Bill,<br><br>Like Tom, I don't have any specific knives to recommend. I too am lacking in expertise here. Be sure to read Doug's advice re knives. I also agree wholeheartedly agree with Tom's comments above. My oldest son is 11 1/2. He will soon be getting his own such knife. The following are some of the criteria we will use in selecting his knife. <br><br>It will probably be a Gerber or Buck. They're readily available, tough, well made, and not that expensive (if disaster strikes it). They may also be found on sale at irresistable prices. A good warranty can come in handy down the line, although none of us ever expects to use it. A long-lived, American manufacturer is helpful & convenient when a warranty is an issue. Obviously a nearby manufacturer is extremely handy when things turn out not to work right. <br><br>It will probably be stainless steel. Carbon steel may offer better edges, but eventually the advantage in ease of care for stainless steel especially for a teenager (or his preoccupied father) predominates. <br><br>It will be a general purpose knife suitable for cleaning & skinning game, & camping/wilderness use. The blade will be about 4 - 5" long, & be of medium thickness in the spine. The overall configuration, dimensions, & balance need to fit the boy; so care is necessary as to size. A spear or drop point blade seems offers maximum versatility & strength for a knife of this purpose. A full tang is appropriate for strength. <br><br>A fixed blade sheath knife is strong, rugged, & foolproof in its mechanical simplicity. It cannot accidentally close on the user's hand no matter how difficult the task. Much of the time in scouting,they are not needed. But under challenging circumstances, a folder cannot equal a fixed blade. Both of my sons regularly carry SAKs for mundane chores. They have been trained appropriately, & have lots of opportunity for practice. The older boy's Leatherman Wave helps avoid any temptation to misuse his knife; it also stimulates his mechanical aptitudes {for better or for worse :-) }. <br><br>That's our approach. <br><br>John <br><br>