Knife for 8 year old

[Snake Plissken]

Liner lock?

Is that what is it called?
That's what I was trying to reference in post #7 and didn't know what they were called...but yeah, that locking mechanism is a rough one for a kid.

[ChenPengFi]

Nice choice.
He'll be ready for a Kukri before you know it!

[tao.jonez]

Went with Kershaw, because of the multiple recommendations and my personal experience. The Chive was too dangerous because of liner lock so we went with a basic lockback:

http://www.kershawknives.com/product...&brand=kershaw

short blade, fits in his hand just right, easy to open/close, and it's shiny, so hopefully he won't lose it. Plus it was only $22 at the local shop. If I remember I'll do a proper review this summer once we've put it to the test.

[senseipookie]

Here are a couple more you could look at. Nothing fancy, just simple plain knives with decent steel in them

Gerber LST: http://www.gerbertools.com/Gerber/Kn.../LST-Fine-Edge
Schrade SP2 : http://stores.superknifesales.com/Detail.bok?no=72
Kershaw DWO: http://www.kershawknives.com/product...&brand=kershaw

Whatever you choose, just make sure it's comfortable in his hands and he can open and close it safely. And, as mentioned before, make sure he keeps it sharp - a sharp knife really is safer. It will slip less and cut with much less effort. And a semi-sharp knife might not cut rope or wood very well, but still cuts skin pretty easily.

[Robstafarian]

Liner lock? Just looked them up on the Kershaw page - apparently it does have a liner lock. Definitely not for an 8 year old. Look for a lightweight with the locking mechanism on the back. I've seen adults that can't even use a liner lock safely.

Liner locks, combined with my spastic hands, are why I don't have a Kershaw Lahar or a CRKT M21.

To the OP: how does the CRKT Lake 111 look to you?

[senseipookie]

Liner lock? Just looked them up on the Kershaw page - apparently it does have a liner lock. Definitely not for an 8 year old. Look for a lightweight with the locking mechanism on the back. I've seen adults that can't even use a liner lock safely.

[tao.jonez]

I avoided the Chive because of the SpeedSafe, liner lock, "stabby" profile and higher price.
None of those features strike me as being particularly "kid-friendly."

Damn it, I'm second guessing myself. I guess we'll wait and decide together once we put a few knives in his hand.

[Devil]

Call Cold Steel and have them send you a catalog. It will include a demo DVD of all their blades. Let him choose his own. If he doesn't pick the one that they cleanly decapitate a pig with in the video, then give him up for adoption. There's no hope.

[ChenPengFi]

Looks like the Chive is what we'll go with...

I avoided the Chive because of the SpeedSafe, liner lock, "stabby" profile and higher price.
None of those features strike me as being particularly "kid-friendly."

[Permalost]

It says lame right on the side. No way I'm getting him that.

I used to have one of those knives when I was a kid and it was decent, but yeah, it does say lame and I think you made a good call. Kinds are funny like that.

[tao.jonez]

Ok. So I am a day late and a dollar short but this thread remided me of one of the first knives I ever owned.
The Opinel folder.

It says lame right on the side. No way I'm getting him that.

[gregaquaman]

Ok. So I am a day late and a dollar short but this thread remided me of one of the first knives I ever owned.
The Opinel folder.
Locks closed and open with a twist thing. Carbon steel blade. Sizes tiny to almost machette.Cost almost nothing. And a great little knife for a kid.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=opinel

http://www.naturessecretlarder.co.uk...ves-around.htm

[2groggy]

...spring tension than the heavier models, so kids won't have to struggle to close them...

Yup, my son had that exact problem.

[Devil]

Interestingly, my son recently turned 8 and I bought him a knife for his birthday. He's been using a little two-blade folding knife for a while. I taught him how to use it properly and I let him carry it in his pocket when he's not at school.

For his birthday, I decided to step it up a bit. I bought him a Benchmade Mini Dejavoo. Is it overkill for an eight-year old. Yeah, I guess. Screw it, though. Kids are way more capable of learning proper handling of dangerous things than most people give them credit for.

[tao.jonez]

Looks like the Chive is what we'll go with - multiple good reviews from you guys, plus I own the Scallion and love it. Kershaw makes the right quality/price knife for us.

Thanks for the feedback gents.

I'll take him shopping this weekend.