This.

I still have my Buck Ranger folding knife (my first "real" knife) with my name and the 1978 date it was given to me (by my father) engraved on the handle. I plan to do the same for each of my girls.

Won't the girls rather have a fixed blade nail file? Just sayin.

Gotta agree with Sid on this. I was a Scoutmaster for years. just about every kid lost their knife.

Gerber has those Bear Grylls knives that are pretty decent. Would make a good starter knife for him.

i bought a winchester brand locking folding knife for $10 at 'big5'. believe it or not, the steel seems pretty darn good and it holds a very nice edge for a LONG time.

my other knife is a CRKT M4. not under $50.

Here's what I recommend for most youth I work with as a "starter knife":

http://kershaw.kaiusaltd.com/knives/knife/red-d.w.o.

I have the same black Gerber Folder Cliff posted. Had it for about 25 years, solid knife, and not too expensive.

Seriously, don't over think this. Go to Wal Mart and pick a medium sized folder for about $25, he will be fine.

My 11 year old boy is in Scouts and had the same requirement. I picked him up the somewhat cheesy Bear Gyrills fixed blade at Wally World. IMO a fixed balde is safer, no opening and closing and no risk of the knife closing due to a failed locking mechanism. This knife has an orange handle so it stands out. Comes with a nice nylon sheath and a retention strap. Don't remember the exact price but it couldnt have been more than $30.

Gerber is a pale shadow of what it was 25 years ago. Their quality is, frankly, in the toilet.

Not even clos to your price range, but the Ontario xm1 has one of the toughest locking mechanisms I've seen on a knife

I hope you got Cliff's fixed...

I own several folders but for a 14 year old, well, lets just say I can see the boys sitting around the fire seeing who can flip open their knife the fastest.

I also can't believe you guys recommending high end knifes... as a scout I used my knife for breaking up small branches for kindling, whittling, opening cans, poking at the fire, etc.

My buddy had a K-Bar that is probably still kicking around somewhere.

Now I'm looking for a knife for myself.

Purpose? None whatsoever. Just something fun.

How about this - thoughts on quality?

Ka-Bar Boot Knife

I would be all over that!

I really like the look of the Kershaw Military. They appear to be unobtanium.

http://www.gpknives.com/images/kershaw/4351[large].jpg

Can some one in the know go down the details, differences and recommendation of a Ka-Bar vs. the M9.

Hmm, seller is not that close by to me. Unless it is a very cool knife for some reason, or undervalued by a whole bunch, I think I will pass.

After some digging...I found one....dammit...

J.

sent you an email. got dyslexic on the address...not sure how this is gonna play out.

damn..sorry. lady down the street is gonna think she has a stalker. :(

When a father gives his son a knife, it should be heirloom quality. If he loses it, well that tells you a lot about the son. Certainly the father will never be known as the guy who gave that cheap ass knife to his son.

Actually, its a big guy with a diesel Ram and a Harley, he'll think you want to be his boyfriend.

Did you tell him you wanna give him your Buck Ranger?

some people call it a kaiser blade ... I call it a sling blade .... uh huh .....

fixed it for you...

I feel the same way, I still have the Old Timer my Father gave me..

I like this one:D


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372820966.jpg

Mine will get an heirloom quality knife when he graduates High School. For the scouts, he will get something of decent quality and function that nobody will care if it gets lost/stolen/broken.

Yep. A first Scout knife is a tool that will get used and abused for certain. Most likely lost within the year.

When i gradi-ated high school and headed off to engineering school, my father gave me his drafting set he used in college. It was really something special, made in the 40's and everything was swiss watch quality. Black leather box with felt lining, and it was full of sentimental value.

It meant a great deal to him giving me that set, it made me really nervous.

Two semesters later i had it locked up in my desk locker in drafting class, and someone broke it and stole it. Evidently someone had saw it and wanted it as that was the only drawer/locker that was broken into. I still suspect the professor did it.

I was sick, my father didn't make a fuss but I could tell he was seriously disapointed.

In hindsight I wish I had stuck it in a safe deposit box and never touched it.

My mother gave me her father's drafting set, from about 1910...I know what you mean.

Back on knives.

When I was in scouts, the typical knife was a non-locking "camping" folder, similar to the Swiss Army knives. Only the rich kids had actual Swiss Army knives. And the really rich wanna-bees had those giant Swiss knives with everything but the kitchen sink.

I can't remember the brand, but I carried a fairly standard fixed camping/hunting knife with a stout blade about 4" long. It had a straight unsharpened back. The Front was straight from the hilt until about 2/3rds from the hilt where it narrowed and eventually came to a point at the tip. It was not expensive and it lasted for years. I think it was lost in a college foot locker theft.

It looked a lot like this, except the back of the blade was straight all the way back.

http://www.steelhuntingknives.com/im...1233_large.jpg

I also remember it being a little bit pointier than the above knife.

This is the one I got for my son. I figured the orange would make it less likely to get lost, plus the Scout leader would be more likely to see it when my son inveriatably starts to play with it...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1372863502.jpg

Cue, "summer love"

If you're into "cut 'n' shoot" pieces check out Bruce Bump's work. The man is an mad genius with unbelievable skills.

http://www.brucebumpknives.com/images/liberty03.jpg

http://www.brucebumpknives.com/images/tortugaII02.jpg

http://www.brucebumpknives.com/image...dingPistol.jpg

http://www.brucebumpknives.com/images/vegasSpecial.jpg

http://www.brucebumpknives.com/image...-knife01-w.jpg

http://www.brucebumpknives.com/images/brutus_8x10.jpg

Dang it, I think I'm going to buy another one now...

I think I found it. Blade under 4", so it would have been legal...

The Ka-bar Deluxe Little Fin.

http://gunsandsupply.com/images/Ka-Bar/kabarpic1226.jpg

These are under $25 on Amazon. Great little knife.

J

any luck with the biker? haha.

He brought it over! Thank you! My son and I talked about how it was a special knife and had killed many deer and ferocious wild hogs (embellished a bit). He loves it. Thanks again!

The biker asked me about you. He seems interested. I think he'll be in touch. Methinks he fancies you.

(Don't worry. He is a RUB and married. Only a danger to anyone who messes up his lawn. He has the most perfect lawn I have ever seen.)

That is the fixed blade I had as a kid:D

You aren't kidding, thanks for sharing.

http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphoto...38833453_n.jpg

Hah,

The one you are describing is my first knife. Looks just like the pic but the blade is what you are describing.

Picked it up in Germany.

I still have it.

Let me dig it out and I'll post a pic.

I've got one made out of unobtanium. It's amazing. Cuts through the air like a knife.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1373157044.jpg

Made by A Wingen Jr., Solingen Germany

I have a strong opinion here as I have a similar aged son. My boy has a Mora fixed blade. Cost 8 bucks. High quality steel blade. High visibility handle. Nice safe guard on handle. Try Ragnars Swedish Knife Catalogue. I own a little more fancy Mora. The value is incredible.

Larry

thanks for giving advice I hope these are helpful for me
types of knife sharpener