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What’s a good beginner pocketknife for an 8-year-old?

Q. I want to buy a pocketknife for my 8-year-old nephew. He has just started a pocketknife collection and has about 8 knives. Can you recommend a good knife for a boy that age?
— Aunt Debra, Houston, Texas

A. You must be a cool aunt to be buying your nephew a knife! Will you be my auntie too? OK, seriously, good knives for an 8-year-old? Here are two that I think he’d be sure to dig:

BSA Official Cub Scouts Pocket Knife ($19.99; www.scoutstuff.org) You just can’t go wrong with the official Cub Scouts pocketknife! It’s got a stainless steel 2¼”-long blade with a flat head screwdriver, cap lifter and punch blade folded inside.

Gerber Mini Paraframe ($16.26; www.gerbergear.com) This folding knife has an open stainless steel handle, which makes it both lightweight (just 1.4 ounces) and cool-looking! The 2.22”-long locking blade is high carbon stainless steel with a fine edge and it comes with a handy pocket clip too.


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16 Comments on What’s a good beginner pocketknife for an 8-year-old?

  1. Nice thought, but I think an 8 year-old is too young for knives. However, if you insist, get him one of those super – tiny colored pocket – knives they sell at Wal-Mart that couldn’t damage a glass ball.

    • Actually according to the Guide to Safe Scouting, a knife is appropriate for Wolves and above, ages 7+, and is a requirement for Bears, age 8. I remember working on the requirements as a Bear back in the day.

    • webelosleader // April 1, 2011 at 8:53 am // Reply

      to Campking-8 year olds are Bears in Cub Scouts which is when they receive training for their Whittlin’ Chip. They absolutely are not too young to learn to use a knife safely!

  2. get him a lock blade. if you want him to remember it and stuff by one at a trading post around 10-30 dollars. you could also engrave it with your name or his.

  3. Academy Sports, WalMart and Target sell a knife that any Cub would think was very cool. It has a spoon, knife, fork and can opener. I beleive that it is a Coleman. It is not very expensive either. Have someone that knows what they’re doing put a good edge on the blade as well.

  4. camleback222 // December 12, 2010 at 1:26 pm // Reply

    usally if they are cubscouts they cannot use a knife
    but if they aren`t a cub scout it is even worse to get them a kinfe
    if u want a good knife try target or wal mart the aren`t the best knifes but the are in price range

  5. get a lock blade, they don’t shut on fingers

  6. THE PARAFRAME IS CHEAPER AT WAL MART DONT BUY FROM WEBSITE REPEAT DONT BUY FROM WEBSITE ABOUT $11 FROM WAL MART IT IS A GREAT KNIFE I RECOMMEND IT

  7. i like the victorinox tinker its $20 at wal mart it is a great knife

  8. I found a knife set made by Gerber for my grandson, the set was two different sizes. My grandson is 8 and a cubscout, so next year he will be ready for his whittlin chit.

  9. I Love Camping Hammocks // December 8, 2010 at 3:08 pm // Reply

    awsome link i love lockblades

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