First knife

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GunnyUSMC

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I got a table at the local gun show last weekend to sell the dog leashes, and other Paracord stuff that I make.
I have been teaching my 11yo niece how to make things with Paracord and asked if she wanted to help. She was very excited because she had never been to a gun show.
We got set up Saturday morning and did pretty good until the LUS vs Alabama game started.
We ended up doing $500 in sales.
She was very interested in the pocketknives that another vendor was selling. She said that her mom never let her mess with knives, not even in the kitchen.
Just before the show ended we walked over to the vendor with the knives. I asked which was her favorite and she pointed it out. I then bought the knife and gave it to her. You should have seen the look on her face.
On the way home she asked if she could come with me to the next gun show.
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Great mentoring.

Be sure to find good safe-handling webpages and videos and send them to her. Too much of the time we somehow expect kids to think and act like adults and forget we had to be taught (or find out the hard way) and there's too much garbage out there to just leave it up to them to find and recognize proper handling.

I've adapted some of the Scouting knife rules and added others I tell to beginners.
  • A knife is a tool, not a toy, but even tools can injure if used improperly.
  • Before you pick up your knife to use it, stretch your arm out and turn in a circle. If you can’t touch anyone else you aren't likely to hurt them with your knife.
  • Never carry an open pocketknife or an unsheathed fixed blade. The blade is only exposed for use or inspection.
  • When you are not using your knife, close it and put it away.
  • Always cut away from any part of your body and away from others. It is very easy to become distracted and change position so you end up cutting toward a leg or your other hand so remember to keep body parts out of the way of the blade.
  • Use a firm grip on your knife so you always have control of it.
  • When you are using the cutting blade take your time. Easy does it.
  • Any lock on a folding knife can fail so always cut to keep pressure from cutting pushing the blade open.
  • Avoid stabbing or prying or "drilling" with your knife. Tips break, locks fail and injuries are more likely.
  • Don't throw any knife that isn't specifically a throwing knife. The steel in them is different and less prone to break. Also, having your sharp/pointy knife bounce off a tree towards someone else or back towards you is dangerous.
  • If someone moves within the safety circle you made then stop and sheath or close the knife.
  • If you are going to hand a knife to someone (never hand one to someone that isn't safe and competent with it) close it first or sheath it. If sheathing it isn't practical put it down and let them pick it up.
  • If you drop the knife hop back away from it and let if fall. Never try to catch the knife since you are likely to grab the blade or catch the tip. Better it hit the floor than your foot or hand.
  • Know how to sharpen a knife. A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife because it is less likely to slip and cut you.
  • Learn how to use the knife for the task you are performing. Proper use is safer.

https://cubscoutideas.com/4053/cub-scout-whittling-chip-requirements-pocketknife-safety/




https://www.cutco.com/learn/kitchen-knife-safety-tips/
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/article/51/knife-safety-tips.html
https://www.buckknives.com/about-knives/usage-safety/
 
When I dropped her off, she showed her knife to her dad. My brother told it was nice and that she had to be careful with it.
I was told that when her mother picked her up and was shown the knife, she told her that it was very dangerous.
She then showed her mom that she knew how to open and close it and told her that Uncle Lee had showed her how to, and that I had talked to her about being safe with it.
She left the knife with her dad and told him to take care of it.
She’ll be back next weekend and come by on Saturday to learn to tie some different styles of bracelets.
I’ll have her watch those videos.
 
In the spirit of teaching young people how to correctly handle potentially dangerous tools that they will come across/need when they are older, instead of making them avoid them, the Scouts also have kids practice carving a bar of soap with a butter knife. Simulates wood and a sharp knife fairly well.
 
badkarmamib

the Scouts also have kids practice carving a bar of soap with a butter knife. Simulates wood and a sharp knife fairly well.

I can remember doing this in art class in Junior High School. I carved a gun in bas-relief, a S&W Model 3 as I recall.

Still have my first knife which I used when I was a Cub Scout. Couldn't afford the real thing so I picked this out of a prize catalog for selling magazine subscriptions. Carried it hooked onto a belt hanger at the monthly Pack meeting.

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The official Cub Scout knife that I have is a Camillus and it doesn't have a can opener on it.
The official Girl Scout knife that I have is a Kutmaster and it has a can opener and looks a lot like your Imperial but it has the GS emblem and green scales.
 
Shanghai McCoy

After buying the uniform shirt, pants, cap, and scarf (for me and my older brother), there just wasn't any money left for the official Cub Scout knife.
 
Shanghai McCoy

After buying the uniform shirt, pants, cap, and scarf (for me and my older brother), there just wasn't any money left for the official Cub Scout knife.
I'm pretty sure that if I had a knife when I was in Cubs, can't remember back then, it was one like yours as well for probably the same reasons...;)
We found the Official ones after the wife's father passed away. Were pretty sure that the Cub Scout knife had been her late brother's. Not sure about the GS knife..?
 
I promised my youngest she could pick out a Katana (shes into Japanese cartoons) at the last show if she got straight A's and earned the money herself. Unfortunately, all we saw was very poor quality and a few WW2 era officers swords in rough shape.

She ended up ordering a very practical one from Cold Steel. Function over flash, I couldnt be prouder.:)
 
When I dropped her off, she showed her knife to her dad. My brother told it was nice and that she had to be careful with it.
I was told that when her mother picked her up and was shown the knife, she told her that it was very dangerous.
She then showed her mom that she knew how to open and close it and told her that Uncle Lee had showed her how to, and that I had talked to her about being safe with it.
She left the knife with her dad and told him to take care of it.
She’ll be back next weekend and come by on Saturday to learn to tie some different styles of bracelets.
I’ll have her watch those videos.

No picture of the knife?

Still have my first knife which I used when I was a Cub Scout. Couldn't afford the real thing so I picked this out of a prize catalog for selling magazine subscriptions. Carried it hooked onto a belt hanger at the monthly Pack meeting.

I had one of those Kamp King knives.
 
Gunny, what other treasures did you find at the show? Did nobody have any WWII rifles for you to fondle?
My wife bought me a beer can opener at the last show we were at.
 
No picture of the knife?



I had one of those Kamp King knives.
I didn't get a good pic of the knife.
Gunny, what other treasures did you find at the show? Did nobody have any WWII rifles for you to fondle?
My wife bought me a beer can opener at the last show we were at.
I didn't get a chance to walk around much, but what I did see was way over priced.
 
It is so pleasant to me to see someone that actually instructs beginners in proper handling of knives and other dangerous devices.
The closest that I came to getting trained in knife handling was from my perpetually drunken grandpa, which led to the near amputation of my left fore-finger at the first knuckle. Luckily, the butcher knife that I was using wasn't sharp enough to cut the tendons, so I am still able to use it.
The scar is still pretty spectacular after 58 years.
 
It must be something about the name Lee that causes them to give nieces their first knife. I just hope you aren't forcing her to make a bow and arrow.

My first knife.. I had found a good sized chunk of what Uncle Lee called "bog iron." After he asked me for it the item went into his foundry furnace. Then after a lesson in practical chemistry he taught me how to do an analysis of the metal. He then made me turn the blower on his forge as he shaped the blank. After a month of "refining", folding and forging he had a knife. A couple weeks later he came back from town and handed me the tool in a leather sheath telling me since I had "helped" him through every stage and it was my iron to begin with it was only fair I keep the knife. The alloy is primitive and prone to rust if not protected but it holds an edge better than any other I've every had. It's a tool I cherish just from the memory of having my eyebrows singed from getting too close to the forge. And the memory of how much I loved that old man and miss him.

I can only hope and pray your niece will have the same appreciation.
 
have you thought about making paracord rifle slings with your niece? I got my daughter some bulk sling swivels off ebay once and she did a fairly brisk business selling them for awhile just word of mouth.
 
have you thought about making paracord rifle slings with your niece? I got my daughter some bulk sling swivels off ebay once and she did a fairly brisk business selling them for awhile just word of mouth.
Slings take a lot of time to make. I’ve made a few on special orders, but I don’t make and stock them.
 
It must be something about the name Lee that causes them to give nieces their first knife. I just hope you aren't forcing her to make a bow and arrow.

My first knife.. I had found a good sized chunk of what Uncle Lee called "bog iron." After he asked me for it the item went into his foundry furnace. Then after a lesson in practical chemistry he taught me how to do an analysis of the metal. He then made me turn the blower on his forge as he shaped the blank. After a month of "refining", folding and forging he had a knife. A couple weeks later he came back from town and handed me the tool in a leather sheath telling me since I had "helped" him through every stage and it was my iron to begin with it was only fair I keep the knife. The alloy is primitive and prone to rust if not protected but it holds an edge better than any other I've every had. It's a tool I cherish just from the memory of having my eyebrows singed from getting too close to the forge. And the memory of how much I loved that old man and miss him.

I can only hope and pray your niece will have the same appreciation.
I’ve been giving some thought to getting into knife making after I retire.
 
Gunny, great workmanship on that table... and starting them young is the only way to go...

This is a great thread - and should be required reading for everyone in the baby business (since they do grow up...).

Here's where I stand on teaching young'uns... and it's the way I end everyone of my fishing reports on the 'net (that go world wide...).

"Be a hero... take a kid fishing"
 
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