Heck, I STILL cut myself from time to time. Work around sharp things, that will happen...

I think I'm going to cut myself right now........

Dad worked life support in the Navy when I was growing up. I got a Navy survival knife in time for my 8th b-day and Brownie Day Camp. We had to earn a "Totin' Chit" - just like the Cub Scouts did(way back in the 60's!) Still have mine; knife not the Chit. Too bad most kids these days aren't allowed to experience the responsibility of carrying a pocket knife. Heck, that goes for too many adults these days, too!

Gave DD14 a SAK when she was almost 9, but she actually gets more practice with knives helping me in the kitchen.

This link shows a pic of ye olde Navy survival folder http://www.uswings.com/images/usmc_pocketknife.jpg


edited to add: some lucky kids to get those gorgeous knives!

My oh My! I didn't realize that I had so many nephiews. Thanks guys.

Something that I didn't mention was that many people give a knife to their kids and, even if supervising them as they use the knife, they don't give proper instruction in healthy knife techniques. Usually I think it is because they don't know them themselves. I didn't know proper knife techniques and different knife grips to prevent injury, and increase control, until I was about 25.

Everyone knows that you generally don't cut towards yourself, but that is just the beginning.

You can still injure yourself, or someone else, real easy cutting away from yourself.

Some easy points that I find useful are these.

*To increase control on fine work use some fingers from your other hand to guide and push the blade. This will prevent dangerous slips because it is also gripping the thing that you are cutting.

*When using one hand to cut keep the cutting arm as straight as possible so if something slips (murphy guarantees that it will ) the knife does not move far at all and you have the most power in that position too.

*If you absolutely must cut toward yourself, use only the wrist to move the knife, if you slip it won't move far either. Or if you have to use the arm, then hold the knife so that if you slip your fore arm or elbow contacts the body first and stops the motion of the knife.

*I also keep a mindset, as I'm sure most of you do, that I consider where the knife will go when it slips. If I could possibly get cut or cut something else I will change my grip or motion of the knife.

If simple rules like this are taught to young kids then they will be safer with their knife than most adults.

I agree with the other comments, teaching a kid to be responsible and to think before he acts with a knife will make a good foundation for many other things in their lives. If they have good motor control, can think things through carefully, and if they obey you, then they are ready for a knife no matter what the age.

I hope that helps someone out there.

That can be a very personal decision based on the maturity of your boy. I know in Cub Scouts, they do not officially earn the cub version of the whittlin chit until Webelos. That is around 9 to 10 for most. Based on my experience, roughly 3/4 will not have had their own knife before Webelos. Most all will have their own knife by the time they graduate from cubs in the 5th grade or 11 years old. My son got his first about the time for crossover from Bear to Webelos.

Thanks for all the advise.

I think I will let him "carry" one of my knifes while camping this summer and teach him how to use it.

Maybe give him one of his own when he turns 9 as a Birthday present if he shows good responsibility this summer.

_____________________

PS:

I am glad I still have my first shotgun (stored at Dads house), which I will most likely pass down to my kids.

The BRKT mini-Canadian I ordered for my daughter came in. What a beauty! She'll get it this Sunday.

While she's been taught what I hope are all the right things about handling knives, I don;t think I'll allow her to carry this knife for awhile unless I'm with her. It's just too scary sharp and I want to be there to observe and witness how she handles this fixed blade.

I didn;t show her much about whittling before now. After reading these posts, it occurs to me that will be an excellent way to show her how to use two-handed pressure and resistance pressure when cutting things. So...I supervised a little whittling session last night on a freshly cut ash branch using one of my medium fixed blades. She's gonna be ok.

Like I told her momma to ease her concerns.... "If we've done all the right things, she'll likely only cut herself once"

Well I changed my mind and purchased a $10 Walmart fixed blade. I gave it to him this weekend on the first camping trip. Showed him how to whittle a stick. He was hooked! All he wanted to do was whittle his stick.

He will remember that knife for the rest of his life, even if someday he owns a bunch of expensive high-end gear. I still have the little Buck folder that my dad gave me back "before electricity" as my son says. The plastic insert on the side is cracked off on one side, but, it's in a box of "stuff" in my bureau that I don't use anymore, but, can't get rid of either.

He removed all the bark from this stick! Happy Boy!