Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Best knife for a 7 year old

Youngest turned 7 5/1 and in practicing lighting fires the last few days, she has said she wants a knife.
What's your favorite, would like a locking, single blade, pocket clip that's removable as they're not comfortable to use but fun to hang somewhere or store in a pocket.

Thinking gerber lst or mini spyderco of some sort. I will keep it when not in use, so hope not to have it lost in the next little while.

Thanks
Jon

Why not get her one named Jack?

An American made lock blade.

My first was Swiss Army. Used the hell out of that thing.

Uncle Henry.

Mine was a Case sod buster Junior.

When my kids were little I ended up deciding the best choice was a small sheath knife, worn as a neck knife with a breakaway connector. This made the knife harder to lose and no one cut themselves folding it closed. ragweedforge.com is an excellent source of little puukko knives that are great for kids. I haven't ordered anything from them since the owner died, but they're still a going concern apparently.

I think one of the more basic Swiss Army knives would be appropriate.

Most of us survived the pre-lockback dark ages by being taught what NOT to do with a pocket knife.





Swiss Army Knives by Victorinox

I'd personally avoid the pocket clips as I find 1 or two every fall on our back roads that have fallen out of someone's pocket as they're 4-wheeling the back country. Get one that burrows well down into ones pocket.

Yep.

This one:
https://www.amazon.com/Victorinox-S...camp+knife&qid=1589169060&sr=8-9

Think my first was a swiss army as well, still remember closing it on myself, don't remember how, but it was sharp and cut good, good lesson to learn I guess. Jack knife may be a good choice, but was more thinking H22 would offer up one of his collection for his favorite fat headed squid.
Them sod busters spark a few memories as well.
I'll keep looking, but need to get one pdq as interest is high.
Jon

One that you won't be upset about if it gets lost.

Cheap Chinese schitt nowadays Big Jim.

Im gonna go with small sheath knife, simple to operate and they’re never gonna leave a permanent scar on their palm when closing it like I did 🙂

You don't want a lock blade for the kid's first knife - safety issues. Get her a basic, but quality slip joint. I started my daughter out at about 4 years old, first reviewing knife safety, then helping in the kitchen, then camping and in the outdoors. She just turned 10 in April and she has about 8-10 knives of her own now.

My recommendation for a first knife would be a Case Sodbuster Jr. or an Alox Pioneer.

Get her this one. It was my first knife and I really liked it. Didn't take me long to lose it.

Had a Barlow when i was that age.

I also started with a Barlow. Looks just like this one. Still have it somewhere.

Jon,

My son turned 8 in February. He has a Victorinox Cadet, Byrd Robin, Mora 711, Gerber LST, and will soon be getting one of these from BigDave:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14857637/1

Thoughts on each:

Cadet - slipjoint has value, as mentioned above; handy little knife
Robin - my son has trouble unlocking it
711 - sometimes you need a solid fixed blade, that can take a little harder use
LST - great knife, and easy to unlock
Vic parer w/kydex from BigDave - hard to go wrong with a simple neck knife, from one of our own forum members

Since you live in Erie, have you considered visiting the Spyderco store in Golden? My boys and I spent 2+ hours there, playing with knives. I love Spydercos, though, even though I have Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber, Kershaw, etc. in my backyard!