To add to Tom's reply...<br><br>The age limit is rather arbitrary. I beleive my Cub Scout age son is mature enough to handle a knife responsibly. But I've seen 15 & 16 year olds that shouldn't be allowed to carry one. Check that, I've seen adults that shouldn't be allowed to carry knives, and that includes a few Scout leaders.<br><br>The BSA provides structure and guidelines for leaders and Scouts. Not all of them make sense, and some are purely for liabilty protection. Overall, the guidelines make sense, but it's still up to the leaders to provide that last step, complete that last link between the program and the boys.<br><br>Like Tom said, you'd be surprised at the number of boys who either don't have a father to show them the ropes. Either they are missing from their life as a result of single parenthood, which is far too common, or the father themselfs don't have the knowledge or skill to pass on to their sons. That doesn't make them bad fathers, just fathers with different skill sets and life experiences. <br><br>I enjoy Scouting as much as my sons do. I try to use the experience to further my knowledge. I take advantage of the other leaders and their skills and backgrounds. And you can even learn things from the kids... really!<br><br>Today there are a lot of "common sense" rules that we used to follow that we no longer adhere to in many places. When I was a young lad, the standing rule was to come home when the street lights come on. My folks really had no idea where I was or what I was up to (although the neighbors tended to keep an eye on each other's kids as they roamed the neighborhood). Today, I don't let my kids go out without knowing where they are or when they'll be back. If they go from one friend's house to another, they call first to let us know. A young lad with a folding knife in his pocket at school wouldn't have even been noticed, as I did with my Cub Scout knife my dad bought me. But today, the metal detectors would flash and perhaps some serious legal charges would be filed. A few years ago a nearby middle school expelled a student for bringing a dummy hand granade his father used as a paperweight to school to show his buddies.<br><br>My point is, that was then, this is now. Things that were once common practice may not be the most prudent course of action today. I do know that my oldest son received his first knife when he passed his Scout Tote-'n-chip requirements. And he has never abused the tool or the right to have it.<br><br>P.S. I'm not being critical of your comments at all, just trying to add my observations and thoughts to them.