Young boy's first pocket knife: What would you give, and why?

[Renze]

If somebody wants to carry pistol or revolver it should be in a holster on the outside like in the old cowboy movies.

the slogan of the pro-gun movement is: "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns" The same goes for the visible holster: the people you do not need to fear will abide, the trash you DO need to worry about will still carry the gun in the glove comartment...

 

[Redneck in training]

the slogan of the pro-gun movement is: "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns" The same goes for the visible holster: the people you do not need to fear will abide, the trash you DO need to worry about will still carry the gun in the glove comartment...

I thought that it would be funny to see the guys with thier guns "hanged damned too low". Somebody (in China) would make a ton of money making about 200 000 000 pistol belts.
It could also take care of the population growth removing certain undesirable individuals from the gene pool. While ago I stopped in Dodge City KS and went to a cementery on the Boothill. Lot of people burried there in turn of century died quite young. Google Dodge City to see what I mean. Here is an example: http://www.skyways.org/orgs/fordco/dodgecity.html

 

[buickanddeere]

Make him pay for part of it so he won't loose the knife.

 

[bullbreaker]

Make him pay for part of it so he won't loose the knife.

:laughing: :thumbsup:

 

[ENC]

That's the first one I had also. Still have it. The blade locks also which I think is a must for a first knife.
My 5 year old keeps asking for a real one. His now is a cheap lock blade he found in a box of tools that I bought at an auction and let him keep after I worked it over on the bench grinder

Not suggesting any particular knife but this thread bought me back memories of my first knife given to me by my parents when I first became a Cub Scout in elementary school. Never forgot my second knife I wheeled and dealed for on my own. A cheap but functioning black switchblade. After that my switchblade mysteriously disappeared from my underwear drawer. Always to this day thought my momma "confiiscated" it out of love to keep me out of trouble.

Boone

Not my original cub scout knive just a copy off net.

 

[Wagtail]

Not suggesting any particular knife but this thread bought me back memories of my first knife given to me by my parents when I first became a Cub Scout in elementary school.

Boone

The same story here. I was 5 and a Wolf Cub, but I only received the folding pocket knife (worn proudly on my belt) after I had earned the Knife Badge. It was taught as a tool and taught to be respected but the big thing was that you yourself were being entrusted.

Fast forward to today: I'm retired and, once a week, I'm a volunteer instructor at our town's Navy Cadet unit. The youth organisation is for 12.5 to 17 year olds. The reason I bring this up is the 'modern attitude' to mollycoddle the young these days... and I was astonished to find that the Cadets were not allowed to handle a knife! What's a "sailor" if they can't handle a knife?

It turns out that 'Headquarters', for safety (and liability) reasons had deemed knives as hazardous. So I gathered the entire unit together, gave them all a "safety lecture" on the proper handling of a knife, had them each "safely demonstrate" cutting a piece of rope and then pronounced that they were now competent to handle knives in a working (Cadet) environment. The various looks of 'responsibility, trust, relief & pride that I received from those 35 young people will stay with me forever.

 

[3930dave]

The same story here. I was 5 and a Wolf Cub, but I only received the folding pocket knife (worn proudly on my belt) after I had earned the Knife Badge. It was taught as a tool and taught to be respected but the big thing was that you yourself were being entrusted.

Fast forward to today: I'm retired and, once a week, I'm a volunteer instructor at our town's Navy Cadet unit. The youth organisation is for 12.5 to 17 year olds. The reason I bring this up is the 'modern attitude' to mollycoddle the young these days... and I was astonished to find that the Cadets were not allowed to handle a knife! What's a "sailor" if they can't handle a knife?

It turns out that 'Headquarters', for safety (and liability) reasons had deemed knives as hazardous. So I gathered the entire unit together, gave them all a "safety lecture" on the proper handling of a knife, had them each "safely demonstrate" cutting a piece of rope and then pronounced that they were now competent to handle knives in a working (Cadet) environment. The various looks of 'responsibility, trust, relief & pride that I received from those 35 young people will stay with me forever.

That contrast you presented well sums up what has gone off the rails with "modern" society, over a relatively (historical terms) short period of time.

While I'd expect what you describe in a generic school, the real irony here is we are talking about the NAVY. Are we expected to believe that the most dangerous situation a sailor will ever face is personally handling a sharp knife ?

Wow !

I salute you for being a "rebel" instructor ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[k0ua]

That contrast you presented well sums up what has gone off the rails with "modern" society, over a relatively (historical terms) short period of time.

While I'd expect what you describe in a generic school, the real irony here is we are talking about the NAVY. Are we expected to believe that the most dangerous situation a sailor will ever face is personally handling a sharp knife ?

Wow !

I salute you for being a "rebel" instructor ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

+1, I applaud your "rogue" instruction. My goodness, 12.5 to 17 year old kids. Yes knives are "hazardous". Especially when you are ignorant about their safe usage. Yet we hand car keys to 16+ years old's in my state. What causes ideas like this in modern society?

 

[3930dave]

What causes ideas like this in modern society?

Law schools.

Rgds, D.

 

[Wagtail]

While I'd expect what you describe in a generic school, the real irony here is we are talking about the NAVY. Are we expected to believe that the most dangerous situation a sailor will ever face is personally handling a sharp knife ?

I salute you for being a "rebel" instructor ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

Thanks Dave & James. The Navy Cadets is supported by Navy but run by civilian instructors (there are Army & Air Force Cadets too, who are supported by those respective Services). A lot of the instructors are ex-military but the rest are volunteer adults who are running their Units by the 'manual'... and "Safety" these days has become an industry. Almost to the point of "wrapping children & young adults up in cotton wool".

It's not the organisation's fault but, as Dave points out, fear of litigation and that fear leads to overprotective silliness. Fortunately, I did a 3 year posting at Navy Safety where we spent a great deal of time un-doing/modifying civilian safety standards as they applied to a military environment (Hey, we can get shot at = DANGER :laughing, so I knew the best way to satisfy the regulations whilst allowing the practice to continue.