When you think back to your first pocket knife, do you remember what kind it was? Odds are most of you still have it either stored away or in your pocket right now. Many of you probably have children and are clamoring at the idea of passing on your love of knives on to them. But when is the right time to introduce your love of pocket knives to your children? They are certainly not toys to be played with and need to be treated with care and respect. Luckily in today’s world, there are many safe introductions into the world of pocket knives, even if your child is not ready for a real blade yet.
There are all wooden pocket knives, plastic dummy knives, and even steel knives that are blunter than a butter knife. The idea is to get kids familiar with what it is like with a blade in their hands. Teaching proper pocket knife etiquette is not only important to the child using it, but for the people, the child will be around. These knives made specifically for kids is a great way to teach pocket knife safety at a young age.
Even with that, there are many different types of beginner knives to choose from. Some may be more appropriate for kids of older ages even though they are all relatively safe. Choosing the correct knife for the right age group can be difficult. What is the best pocket knife for a kid? Luckily we have assembled a list of the 5 best kids pocket knives.
1. Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-tool, Evolution Pocket Knife – Multipurpose Training Knife
Victorinox has been around for decades and is widely renowned for its Swiss army knives. The 9 junior pocket knife not only brings the fun of a Swiss army knife but is a great introduction into the world of knife collecting for kids.
Altogether there are 8 total functions that this knife can fulfill. The main attraction is the 2.5-inch rounded blade that locks in place. With the rounded blade, there is no need to worry about your kid poking themselves or anyone else for that matter. There is a small serrated saw blade for any sticks or branches that need to be cut. Also included is a Philips screwdriver for any screwing that needs to be done. And lastly, a nail file, teaching proper hygiene at a young age is vital. Altogether this is a great knife to teach overall survival and outdoor skills with. Much of which can carry over to more mature knives.
Each instrument is made from stainless steel and the handle is high-quality plastic. The knife is just the right size for a kid at just over 3-inches in length. And with its ergonomic handle, it will fit securely in your child’s hand, or yours if you plan to buy one for yourself. Overall this is a great pocket knife for a kid. Click here to see the best price.
- 7 implements to choose from
- Rounded blade keeps your child safe
- The ergonomic handle is a comfort to hold
- Swiss made
- The blade may be stiff to open if not broken in
2. Kids Pocket Knife and Survival Kit – A Blade For Young Survivalists
The Loma Creek survival pocket knife should be considered an intermediate blade. Made for kids who already have experience with knives and the outdoors.
After all, this package is designed to be an outdoor survival kit. Making it perfect for any kids in the boy scouts or any general interest in the outdoors.
There is a lot to cover within this kit, so let’s start with the main draw, the pocket knife. The overall length of the while extended is 6-inches. The blade is made from stainless steel with the handle being made from both stainless steel and wood finish. Locking mechanisms in knives designed for adults can oftentimes be difficult to press closed. With the Loma Creek knife, there is an EZ press safety button. Making it easier for kids to open and close their knife without risk of injury.
The rest of the kit comes with your basic survival gear. It comes with everything from an emergency whistle to a card tool that has multiple uses in and of itself. The most important addition outside of the knife itself is an instant fire starter. The number one thing in a survival situation is the ability to start a fire. Fire can provide warmth, the ability to cook, and even start a signal fire. This kit has everything you would want your child to have if they were to ever get lost. While this might not be the best first pocket knife, it is a great pocket knife for a kid with experience. Click here to see the best price.
- Complete survival kit comes with the knife
- The knife is solid and expertly built
- EZ press lock mechanism
- The knife may not be appropriate for younger ages
3. CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit: Wooden Pocket Knife – Great Teaching Tool
CRKT is a well-renowned knife and toolmaker. Now with their Nathan’s knife, they are reaching their market at a young age. And who could blame them?
This all wooden fixed knife is designed purely for teaching knife safety and etiquette. The mock knife blade is a little over three inches long and made from beech wood, which is very hard and stiff. Making this mock knife great for training. There is no need for inadvertently snapping the knife too easily. The knife is completely foldable and even has a locking mechanism. Nathan’s knife is a great way for your child to get an understanding of how a knife functions without the risk of injury.
The best part of this knife is the fact that you get to build it with your kid. Everything snaps together, no tools are required to build it whatsoever. Once it is all assembled you can even go as far as to paint a design onto the blank canvas of the knife. No matter what you buy this kit for it will provide a safety lesson for you and your child and a cool project to work on together. The origin of this training knife is a wholesome story between father and son. And through that story, you can create unforgettable memories with your children as well. The CRKT training knife is a great first step to a kid’s first pocket knife. And an overall great pocket knife for a kid. Click here to see the best price.
- Made from durable beech wood
- Great knife safety training tool
- Cool project for parents and kids to work on
- Not a real knife
- Some pegs may be loose
4. Imperial Stockman Stainless Steel Folding Knife – Strong Yet Weightless Build
The Schrode Cutlery Company has been producing high-quality knives and tools since 1904. With well over 100 years of experience going into each knife they produce, it is no wonder the Sockman made it on our list, it will make a great pocket knife for a kid.
With an overall length of 5.9 inches and a blade length of 2.5 inches, this pocket knife is the perfect size for someone new to pocket knives. Weighing in at only 1.9 ounces the Stockman is ultra-light to hold. It is virtually weightless. The lightweight is thanks to the top of the line materials that went into its design. With a stainless steel blade, bolsters, and brass pins everything is held tightly in place without sacrificing weight. The handle is made from swirl POM, giving it a unique yet natural design that almost looks like stained wood, but with the durability of synthetic material.
You would think with this knife being under 3 ounces that there wouldn’t be any added features, think again. There are an additional 2 blades near the pommel and the other near the main blade. Imperial Schrode packed a lot into this little knife. With this being a smaller less intimidating knife, it would make a great first pocket knife or a pocket knife for a kid. Click here to see the best price.
- Three blades in a 1.9-ounce knife
- Made from high-quality materials
- Will make a great beginner knife
- Two smaller blades may be difficult to open
5. Opinel Stainless Steel Kids Pocket Knife – Excellent Starter Knife
Opinel, a French-based knife company has been producing knives since the 1890s. The Inox is designed for the next generation of knife owners looking to hone their skills at a young age.
The 3.5-inch stainless steel blade is rounded at the tip, but do not let that fool you, The blade is very sharp, so while you do not need to worry about stab wounds it is important to supervise your children as they use this knife. The handle is made from wood and has a pretty neat lion decal with red paint for a backdrop. Unless you are a big fan of lions and pocket knives rounded at the tip, this is clearly a pocket knife for a kid. That being said, this is probably an intermediate level pocket knife. When folded the knife comes out to 4.2 inches in length, perfect for smaller hands.
All in all, this is a pretty basic knife, but that is what makes it great for a first pocket knife. There is no need for bells and whistles when teaching knife etiquette. The focus should be on knife safety using while using a high-quality blade. And with a cool lion themed handle kids will be drawn to it as well. Click here to see the best price.
- Cool lion decal will appeal to kids
- The rounded blade tip makes it a great training knife
- The stainless steel blade is extremely durable
- Perfect size for kids
- May be too sharp for certain ages
What To Look For In a Kids Pocket Knife
Now that you have a good idea of what kind of pocket knives are available to kids it’s time to decide which is best for your child. There are many different types we highlighted in our list of 5, each with a different maturity level needed to handle them. With that, it is still important to know the basics of knife safety for kids, no matter what age. In the next section, we will go over some fundamentals of knife safety, and what parents need to look out for while they are training their young ones.
Proper Knife Safety For Kids
When it comes to knife safety for kids most of what they will learn will apply to adults as well. There will be some major differences as well. So let’s get started.
Always Ask For Permission
Using a knife can be very dangerous, even for experienced users. For this reason, it is important to get permission from parents or guardians before a child can even pick up a knife. Setting this boundary will remind a child that a knife is not a toy and they need you around when they are using it. Even though a pocket knife for a kid seems harmless it is far from a toy and needs to be treated with extreme caution.
Supervision
As parents, we all know what it is like to walk away for 2 seconds to only hear crying seemingly right when we turn our backs. So if you intend to give your child a knife it is imperative you keep them well within eyesight at all times. It is also advised that you do not allow your child to keep the knife with them when you and they are done using it. Store it in a place where you know you will be the only one to find the knife.
Storage
When the knife is not be used it is important to keep it stored properly. Depending on what type of knife you have will dictate how it will need to be stored. A fixed knife should always be stored in its sheath when not in use. With fixed blades, in particular, you do not want to leave the blade exposed posing a danger to anyone who may grab where it is stored without knowing it is there, to begin with. Folding blades should always be closed when not in use. Mainly for the same reason, I explained above. One major difference is that a lot of people keep them in their pockets, which is an extremely vulnerable place for a knife to be. Also, be sure the knife is completely closed before you attach to your belt or place it in your pocket.
Laws
Knowing the local laws and rules of private venues you will be visiting is vital to knife safety. Not every state or even city has the same ideas on what a legal knife is or is not. Being up to date with these laws can keep you out of legal and financial troubles. Another important thing to keep in mind is private institutions, especially schools. Many restaurants, movie theaters, and concert venues prohibit weapons of any kind, including pockets knives. Be sure to know if a place allows pocket knives or fixed blade knives before you head in with one. Teach these local laws and rules to your kids as you teach them proper etiquette.
Cutting
The most important rule to remember when using a knife is to never cut towards yourself. It will only take one slip or minor movement to send the knife directly towards your own flesh. And the human body is a very fragile thing, it only takes an inch or two in the wrong spot to send you to the hospital or worse, the grave. Also, be aware of who is around when using the knife. Since often times you will be cutting away from yourself, it is important to know who is around you. If someone walks into your cutting lane you could inadvertently cut or stab them. Also, if you drop a knife, do not try to catch it, that is just dumb. This is why ensuring that you have a tight grip on your knife is very important.
Maintenance
Maintaining your knife is just as important as using it safely, in fact, they go hand in hand. Keeping your blade sharp may seem dangerous, but in fact, it will actually keep you safer than having a dull blade. When a blade begins to dull the user then needs to apply more pressure than before. Dull blades oftentimes slip from the item that you may happen to cut. When you add those to variables together with more pressure and a slipping knife, it is a recipe for disaster. It can lead to inadvertent cut or stab wounds.
Another important aspect of maintenance is keeping both the handle and blade clean. If the handle is dirty it can compromise your grip on the knife. And as we stated earlier having a secure grip on your blade is very important for safety. A dirty blade will lose its sharp edge much more quickly than a clean blade. Any dirt or grime will get between the blade and what you are cutting causing abrasions and dents over time.
How To Use
How you will use your new pocket knife will depend on the task you need to complete. If you need to attach a spear you will need to whittle the tip of a sturdy stick. Before you get started you will either need to open the knife it is folded or remove from its sheath. Before any cutting or whittling is started you need to be sure that your blade is sharp enough to complete the job safely. If it is not going ahead and do so. It is important to note that once you start whittling to cut away from yourself. And if this is a pocket knife for a kid, supervise them along every step on the way. If this is you, kids, first pocket knife it is probably better to start with the fundamentals of knife safety before any real work is attempted. There are plenty of great starter knives to choose from including some that are constructed completely from wood. The number 3 knife on our list the CRKT Nathan’s knife is a perfect example of a wooden training knife. All in all the most important aspects of using a pocket knife is safety first and always cut away from yourself.
FAQs
What age is appropriate for a pocket knife?
This will ultimately come down to the discretion of the parent. There are many factors that can determine if a child is ready for a pocket knife maturity level, age, and intention of use are all important factors that need to be considered before giving a child a knife. There are also many different types of knives that are appropriate for different ages as well.
What age for a Swiss army knife?
Again this will depend on age and maturity level. That said, Swiss army knives are a bit of a different animal when compared to traditional pocket knives. There are so many different functions available on Swiss knives that it is hard to deny their educational value, especially for outdoor survival use. The cub scouts do not allow kids to use Swiss army knives until the third grade, which is about 8-9 years old. A great pocket knife for a kid is the Swiss army knife.
Is it legal for a kid to carry a knife?
This is a tricky question because technically a 17-year-old is still a kid. But would they get in trouble if it was a legal knife? That is a tough question to answer. It will definitely differ from region to region when you take into account local laws. If a pocket knife is intended for a child they should not be left alone with it, to begin with. It will be up to the parent or guardian on top of local laws to dictate if it is legal or appropriate.
What happens if you bring a pocket knife to school?
The short answer is nothing good, most schools in the United States have zero-tolerance rules when it comes to bringing weapons on campus. This means if your child is found with a knife they will more than likely expelled. Which is the worst-case scenario if your child has one in their possession.
Best Selling Pocket Knives For Kids
- This kids knife has good steel on its 3-inch blade and a very grippy ergonomic handle, so it will stay in a kids dirty hands. If you want to go all in, the dog knife has a rounded tip.
- Child friendly：The axis lock system offers a unique, thoughtful, and easy to use safety mechanism for locking the blade during use, during transport, and during storage.
- A junior sized companion: This heavy-duty junior knife features a 2.5 mm thick 12C27 Sandvik blade with a rounded safety tip, an integrated 4 seasons 110 db. survival whistle and a shackle key.
- Sadvik Stainless Steel Blade: 12C27 modified stainless steel blade provides an excellent cutting edge and superior corrosion resistance. Each blade is stamped with the Crowned Hand, Joseph Opinel’s chosen maker’s mark, to guarantee authenticity.
- Convenient & useful - This pocket folding cleaver knife is perfect EDC knife for camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, outdoors. Featuring a sharp and durable 440 stainless steel, razor sharp cleaver blade, great hardness and edge retention, thumb stud and flipper for one hand open, this knife will work great for any task, meets all needs in job
- Resistant to fading, scratching & corrosion; the stone tumbled finish blade, stainless steel frame with G10 handle, the compact design makes knife lightweight and easy open, comfortably in your hand and offers an excellent grip
- Personalised with name or word for gift giving of the fake knife with engraving on one side and blank on the other
- Perfect for Christmas, Birthdays, Weddings, Groomsman, Toddlers, Kids, Boyfriends, Fathers, Husbands
- Convenient & useful - This 5.5" Gowill strong, light and slim knife is the perfect tool to carry around in your pocket. Featuring a sharp and durable 7CR17MOV stainless steel blade, this knife will work great for any task
- Resistant to fading, scratching & corrosion; the stainless steel handle with anodized aluminum scale fits comfortably in your hand and offers an excellent grip
