I want to get my son a pocket knife, what would be a good choice and why?

Question

Parker · Answer

That really depends on what he needs it to do, and what he likes in a knife.
Does he need it to only be a knife? Does he prefer drop or clip point? Tanto? Straight or serrated blades? My personal every-day pocket knife is a Gerber made Evo .

I want to get my son a pocket knife, what would be a good choice and why?

Does he need it to be a multitool? What kind? What tools does he need? Are pliers necessary? If not, a Swiss Army Knife by Victorinox is probably your best bet. But with a bewildering array of tools, you need to know what tools he’ll use. Personally I carry the Hiker .

If he needs pliers day to day, a Leatherman might be your best bet. In which case, does he need a lot of tools ?

Or only a few tools ?

I think the best thing to do would be to decide on how much money you’re willing to spend, and then discuss with him what knife he wants. He can either stay within that budget, or add to it out of his own pocket if he wants something more expensive.

A small selection of quality knife brands:
KA-BAR Knives, Inc
Spyderco
Victorinox Swiss Army Knives
Gerber Knives
Multi-Tools | Leatherman
Columbia River Knife and Tool

Original question- I want to get my son a pocket knife, what would be a good choice and why?

Wanbasion Black Stainless Steel Knife Set, Sharp Kitchen Knife

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Eva · Answer

If your son is a youth, a Boy Scout knife is a great choice for a first knife. It is inexpensive, small, durable, and provides several useful folding blades including:
Cutting blade
Can opener
Leather punch
Bottle opener
Flathead screwdriver
Phillips head screwdriver

Aubrey · Answer

If you can find one, from the days of yore, get him a “sure ’nuff Barlow”. Read Tom Sawyer if you don’t get the reference. I had one 40+ years ago, and it was at least that old when I got it.
Barlows were a simple affair, two sturdy blades, with no screwdrivers or fold out back scratchers. The larger blade was made for cutting rope, switches, and rough whittling. The smaller blade was for cutting cordage, or finer cut whittling. They were a metal casing with bakelite inlays on the handle, fashioned to look like carved wood. They had a ring built into the hinge, where you could clip it onto a set of keys, or use the end of a dog leash to clip it to your belt loop.
Barlows were completely inoffensive, the larger blade was only about 3″ long, and they weren’t anything that you could intimidate anyone with. But that is part of their charm. They weren’t meant to be K-Bars. They weren’t meant to gut and skin a bear. They were meant to be a tool. And not as you would imagine. Yes, they were meant to cut. And they did that well. But more importantly, they were meant to teach responsibility. They were meant to teach that the freedom to use a knife comes hand in hand with the wisdom to use it appropriately. For many boys of yesteryear, a Barlow was the first tool passed from father to son and sometimes grandson.
I wish I still had my Daddies Barlow.

Eden97 · Answer

Listen. Please. PLEASE. I’m begging you to take heed.
First off, I need to know how old your son is, because that will make a MASSIVE difference in how I answer. I’m not going to recommend a $150 Benchmade or a 110 Buck Automatic for an eight year old, and I’m not going to recommend a Swiss Army Knife for a 16 year old.
If this will be your child’s first knife, and they are a child (between 6–10), then I truly would recommend a full-size Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. This one: Victorinox Swiss Army Knife Super Tinker Red 53341
This knife is hardy enough to take a lot of knocks and keep on working, it has a decent size blade without being too big and without being too small. It’s a great knife to teach your son knife safety and responsibility. However, if you’d rather him have a simple pocket knife, then I would recommend this: Spyderco Tenacious Knife – Satin Blade & Black G-10
Spyderco is well known for making great knives, and this one is a fantastic introduction to high quality knives. It doesn’t have to be this knife in particular, but for any introduction to NICE knives, I would stick with Spyderco, Benchmade, Microtech, Boker, Kizer, or Zero Tolerance. There are plenty of other decent knife makers, and much, much better ones, but you’ll find that the knife community is nearly unanimous in its support of these brands and their products.
Now, if you’re buying a new knife for an older son, say 12–13 and older (and only if they’re responsible with their things at those younger ages), and they’re definitely interested in knives and will appreciate something a bit nicer, then any of these knives would be absolutely awesome (please, PLEASE check your state’s laws about knives; in some states, automatic knives are 100% illegal to even own, so if that’s the case where you live, stay away from them [which really sucks, because my favorite knives are automatic out-the-front action knives]):
Benchmade 940-2 Osborne – AXIS Lock Knife
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 – Black G-10 & DLC Coated Blade
Microtech Ultratech D/E OTF Automatic Knife OD Green CC (3.4″ Satin) 122-4OD
Boker Kwaiken Copper Tuxedo Flipper Knife – Carbon Fiber
Now, if your son has a nice folding knife, and he’s expressed an interest in having a really nice fixed blade knife, I would recommend one of two knives:
Ka-Bar Bowie USMC Full-Size Fixed Blade Knife (7″ Black) 02-1217
Benchmade 183 Contego Fixed Blade Knife (4.97″ Satin)
And finally, if this gift is for an adult son, who is an avid collector of knives, and you REALLY want to get him something impressive and interesting, or extremely useful and perfect for regular use, these are perfect (the first will meet the first description, and the second the second):
Microtech Jagdkommando Knife Desert Tan Fixed Blade (7.13″ Tan) 105-1TA
Reate K-4 Frame Lock Flipper Knife Blue Ti/Damascus (3.75″ Satin)
If you have any other questions, please feel free to let me know!! I love knives and I love helping people find their perfect knife.

Emery · Answer

I highly suggest getting him a Victorinox Swiss Army knife. There are plenty of models that have a variety of tools. I have a Tinker and I love it. A lot of people choose to carry a Cadet.
These knives are pretty conservative and most don’t lock. They’re built really well and I consider them to possibly be the best EDC knives. They’re also personalizable and you could get his name engraved on the side if you want.

Bella · Answer

There are a few things to consider before even thinking of which model to buy.
Legality: Which knives are legal to carry in your jusrisdiction? Is there a minimum age? What are the regulations? For example, in my jurisdiction a toddler would be allowed to carry a knife, as long as it is either a fixed blade not longer than 12cm (more on that later) or a folder which is either one hand opening OR lockable.
Education: Do YOU know how to handle a pocket knife properly? Test question: If you do not know how a power cut works, you do not. So before buying your son a knife, you should learn how to handle it properly If you do not already, so that you can teach him. Because if you think that one can not harm oneself with a small pocket knife, you are utterly wrong. A well sharpened pocket knife can cut of fingers or poke out eyes as easy as a sword does. But it is by far more controllable.
Intended use: All purpose? Urban EDC (Every day carry)? A knife for the woods/camping/fishing? And are you absolutely positively sure that your son sees the knife as a tool and does not want to use it to “defend” himself.
Quality: Do yourself and your son a favour and buy a quality knife. That does not translate to expensive. You took the right path to ask experts, already, so this is just for completeness. If you can afford it, however, get him a really, really good knife, one he can bestow to your grandchildren.
As for which knife to buy, provided you are aware of legal regulations in your jurisdictions, I can only refer to professionals:
As for knives that do not cots much, but give a good bang for the buck

And last, but not least, I told you we come back to the 12cm knife. Just for comparison:

This knife has a 12cm blade and would be legal to carry in my jurisdiction.
But that is not the reason I have it here. This knife is what I talked about when I wrote that if you can afford it, you should invest something really good. In case the intended use is as a camping/bushcrafting knife, I can only recommend it. It is a (semi-)custom BRKT Bravo 1, and of such a quality that my future grandson will probably be able to bestow it to his. However, it is not cheap, not at all. I would and did trust my life on it. It is built like a tank and manages to walk the line between a survival knife and a bushcraft knife better than most knives I have handled.
A more reasonable variant both in price and in size would be its smaller brother, the BRKT Bravo Necker 1 or 2 (with the two being slightly larger):

While it is by no means cheap (coming in at around $180), it is of heirloom quality and exceptionally well made. Aside from that, it bears all the qualities its larger brother has.

imarku Japanese Chef Knife – Pro Kitchen Knife 8 Inch Chef’s Knives

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Ella · Answer

For a first knife, I would recommend a “stockman” knife. It’s a classic utilitarian tool with three different blades to handle a variety of chores- a whittler’s favorite. Case, Shrade, Buck and others make some nice, inexpensive ones. I carried a Buck stockman for about twenty years (it later shared duty with a Buck 110). My own EDC choices are much different today.

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S 7.1in S.S. Folding Knife with 3.1in

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Gianna · Answer

I'm going to skip the don't-let-him-bring-it-to-school-or-wave-it-around-or-threaten-anyone-with-it disclaimer and I hope everyone else will, too. If your kid is mature enough that you'd offer to get him a pocketknife,  you don't need a lecture about responsibility (and thank you for raising him that way).  While I'm partial to Swiss Army knives, one-hand openers have a lot to recomend them. They're a lot more convenient than knives with a nail nick, and many lock open, which is a lot safer than a knife that doesn't. Spyderco is a good brand--they have small, high-quality locking folders at all price points. (I would recommend the Delica, which I believe  is the best value for the money of any folding knife, period.)  All this assumes that you're buying your son a knife because he needs it--he gardens or fishes or works with his hands (or wants to do those things). If you are giving him the knife as a gift that symbolises your recognition of his maturity, especially if he's a little younger, I would recommend a Victorinox Explorer. Lots of good tools and maybe more fun.   In either case, teach him how to use it safely and how to keep it sharp. And thank you again for raising the kind of kid you can trust with a knife.

Clara · Answer

Barlow is a classic knife and would be a good starter. They have a model that looks like the old Barlows but is made in China for just a little over $10. It’s a good one that wouldn’t be a great loss if it was lost. If you want to get him a knife that will last the rest of his life, I’d go for a Buck 110. It has a lifetime guarantee (except for loss) and can be had brand new for around $30. You can also get some classic 110’s from Ebay for around $20 with the older steel which is hard to beat.

ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife

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Faith · Answer

The gift of a knife is an important step for a kid. It’s a sign of trust and maturity. As an Eagle Scout myself I’ve used many different styles of knives. Some are easier for younger users to handle than others. Some people may believe that a Swiss Army Knife is a great first. Personally I hate them. They don’t have a great locking mechanism and can close on your fingers in some situations. Same with muti-tool type knives, though higher-end ones do often have decent locks. As a general rule, don’t give a kid a knife with a blade longer than 3 inches. There’s no need, it can be more danger than help, and could actually be illegal to have on your person in some places.
Now for brands. There are countless brands out there, majority of which are cheap crap. Gerber is a fantastic brand. They actually supply our military. Buck is a good middle of the road name as well. Nothing fancy, but a good place to start. Walmart often has Buck knives available very cheap around Christmas.
Good luck!

Eden97 · Answer

I have a rather large collection of everything from dirt cheap beaters to $400 semi custom. But the one I carry most of the time is simply a Spyderco Chapparal.
I don’t like Spydercos. I think they are butt ugly. But the Chapparal hits the spot with the near ideal blade length at 2.8″. It opens and closes one handed due to the “Spyder” hole and back lock. The steel is awesome CTS-XHP. It sharpens to a literal razor edge since the blade is thin and the steel excellent. It’s light and unobtrusive. The leaf shape blade does everything well. I sprang for the carbon fiber, but if you get the plain Jane version it’s less than $90.
So while I love my high end knives, this is the one that lives in my pocket. Well, actually clipped inside my pocket. Buy one. It’s the best general carry knife ever made.

Luna · Answer

If it were me and my son I would buy him the same knife my Grandfather bought for me so many, many years ago.
Lumberjack Old Timer Knife, Saw Cut Bone, SC-858OTB
Something very similar to that. Classic and timeless, it looks like something that would be passed down.

Luna · Answer

Assuming he’s old enough for swallowing risks not to be an issue, I’d suggest a Victorinox Classic. It’s available in many colors and it’s pretty much the definitive keychain SAK, with a blade, file, screwdriver, and scissors.

Mossy Oak Survival Hunting Knife with Sheath, 15-inch Fixed Blade

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Naruto · Answer

Thx 4A2A-
My first knife was a Barlow Sodbuster like the one below. Cheap enough, pretty good highcarbon blades that could be honed razor sharp and small enough for an 8 or 9 year old to carry… I could whittle and cut fishing line with it… My sons & daughter I got small Swiss army knifes- but since it was a crime for them to carry these they never really got in the habit..
Had dinner with one of my oldest friends last night and, again, he brought up how I was just a guy who always had a knife, never showed it off & just pulled it out of my pocket when something needed cutting the first week of junior high school. It came up around how there was an issue at the hospital where he works in MT, last week, because a patient had a pistol atop his night stand.
barlow sodbuster – Google Search

Cora · Answer

I'd say something simple an useful. Good ol Swiss army knife.

Josie97 · Answer

Something medium-sized that fits comfortably in his hand. Two or three blades (rather than one). When one blade gets dull you always have another until the end of the day–then get out the sharpening kit and make it right. Nothing extra.
Swiss Army knives and Leatherman-type tools are great ideas but a knife is a knife is a knife. You want something (my opinion) that is easy to carry in a pocket (not too heavy) so it’ll always be there.
Save other knife-tools for when he has a specific need and then get the best combination tool that suits that need. As he gets older he can be thinking about what tool(s) he wished he’d had in the past.

Alaia · Answer

I’ve had a Swiss Army, and I wasn’t impressed. I also had a baby Gerber, similar to what’s in Murphy Barrett’s answer. I still have it in the garage somewhere, but the thing won’t hold an edge longer that it takes to open two MRE’s. I’ve had a couple of CRKT knives, and they aren’t bad. I currently carry a Kershaw at work, not sure of the model, and it holds an edge well enough, didn’t cost much, and does what I need it to do, which is mostly cut tape on boxes, though I use it for other things from time to time. If I really abuse it, I know I’ll be sharpening it later. I have managed to avoid using it for a screwdriver or a pry bar, since I know that won’t end well. It’s a cheap enough knife that you could give it to a young person to learn those lessons first hand.

HENCKELS 8-pc Steak Knife Set

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Peyton · Answer

Depending on how old your son is I would suggest one of the small Buck folders.
Bucklite
They can be found at very reasonable prices so it will not hurt as much when he loses it and you have to buy him a new one. They are single blade locking knives so they are simple, and they are much less likely to close unexpectedly on his fingers. They are small enough to fit in a pocket and are also small enough to not look like a weapon. The steel is pretty good so they take a good edge that lasts and are still easy to sharpen.

Jasmine · Answer

I'd recommend a decently made Boy Scout knife to start with. These have two blades (one large and one small) along with a can/ bottle opener and an awl and are designed for children's hands to use.  Another option would be a small two-blade penknife; light and easily carried, it will handle most cutting tasks a child would encounter.

Myna · Answer

How old is your son? How mature? What does he, or both of you, want to use the knife for? For starters I would suggest a 6-7 cm (2.5″) lock blade, with a medium hardness blade. The lock blade for safety and the medium hardness so that he can learn how to sharpen, as well as use it.

MOSSY OAK 14-inch Bowie Knife, Full-tang Fixed Blade Wood

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Sophia · Answer

Some great answers and will add my life experience.
First, why does he want or do you want to give him a knife? My dad gave me my first pocket knife which was a two folding blade Case model about 3 inches in length (the frame). He just said the old generic “you never know when you might need a knife”. I carried it with me every day from first grade thru 6th grade; this was in the mid ’60s when no one gave weapons a glance. I used to pull it out and whittle sticks at recess just to say I used it. In 6th grade I got a “Sodbuster Jr” single blade folder which I carried through high school into college. Since then I’ve typically carried various models of Buck, Case, S&W, Cold Steel – a fairly even mix of folders and fixed blades.
I’ve bought each of my 3 sons knives at various ages and always some brand of folder with a 3″ blade. They’re all grown and out on their own and buy whatever they want.
Nowadays I carry a full size (4.5″ frame) autoknife (switchblade) with a 4″ blade. Switchblades are legal in Georgia (we don’t really restrict blades here) but you have to have your GWCL (Ga Weapons Carry License AKA our state’s equivalent to a handgun carry license) to carry any bladed weapon with a blade length of 6″ or more. I bought my two younger sons switchblades a few years back (they live in Ga and have their GWCLs). Had to exclude my oldest son since he lives in Louisiana where switchblades are illegal.
Having said all that and depending on how old he is and where he is, a nice compact 1 or 2 folding bladed Case or Schrader with about a 3″ frame should make a nice first knife.

Brielle · Answer

I carried a SOG folding knife for years. I worked in Lawn Care and needed a good cheap knife. I paid $20 for it at the time and was using it to cut open about 20 fert bags a day. By Friday night I would have to sharpen it but that is understandable with most knives being made with 420 steel. It held up respectfully well with the abuse I put it through. At the end of every year, I would have to pull out the tri-stones and reset the edge because during summer, I would be soaked by 9am. Hot and humid summers here and the blade would start to rust. Usually on the edge first. So little oil to keep it from rusting and weekly touch ups on the edge and end of the year full blown sharping was it’s life for years.
So along with what other brands people have said, I want to add SOG and Cold Steel to the list.

Sadie · Answer

Mtech Manual Rainbow Pocket Knife With Bottle Opener   Wholesale Price: $10.99   Part Number:   MT-1171RB  Knife features:  Pocket knife  Manual folding knife  5.25 inch overall open length  1.75 inch 3cr13 steel blade  3.5 inch polished blue tinite coated stainless steel handle  Includes carabiner and bottle opener        This is a small and sleek pocket knife that I would recommend you for your son. It have a bottle opener inside and also can use as a key chain. Go to Knife Import, put the part number in search and get your own knife.

Delilah · Answer

Hello! What I recommend for everyone children as well as adults is to carry the little the little Leatherman that comes pocket sized with no knife.
You won’t have trouble traveling with it and also will be less likely to get into a bar knife fight like most knife carriers inevitably do.

I want to get my son a pocket knife, what would be a good choice and why?

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