RFI: Christmas pocket knife for nephew

[ASH556]

Hey guys, need a little help before I just go to Academy or Wal-mart and pick something:

I need to get a pocket knife for my 11 y/o nephew for Christmas. I personally own everything from CRKT up through Spyderco and Benchmade. I don't have a ton of knives, maybe 5 or 6 that I'd call "real" knives. My EDC is a Benchmade Mini Griptilian and swapped to a Kershaw Chive for in-pocket dressier situations.

Based on their culture/demographic, I was looking more at something like a Buck 110. More southern gentleman than tactical ninja warrior. The 110 doesn't work for a couple reasons: price and size mostly.

Budget: $25
Requirements: 2" or less blade, single blade, locking blade.

Anything you can recommend?

Thanks!

[LOKNLOD]

Dad always had an Old Timer in his pocket when I was little, and my first knife was one he gave me.
This one is a bit big maybe but may help you find something similar?
Old Timer 194OT Gunstock Trapper Lockblade Folding Pocket Knife https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UW0JLI..._BvanAbWEPSBVM

[SeriousStudent]

Does it have to be brand new?

If not, I have a couple of Swiss Army Knives, I'll send one to you. They are not brand new in nice condition. Very few raised eyebrows with one of the 'harmless red knives".

[ASH556]

Does it have to be brand new?

If not, I have a couple of Swiss Army Knives, I'll send one to you. They are not brand new in nice condition. Very few raised eyebrows with one of the 'harmless red knives".

Thanks so much for the offer, very kind! I could get a Swiss Army in the budget (or I have one I could give also) but a single locking blade was specifically requested by the parents.

[Guerrero]

I really like the Spyderco Dragonfly, but it's twice your budget.

[okie john]

A kid needs a Barlow. Mine is an AG Russell Medium Barlow Lockback.

Most of the Barlows I've known thus far have been the kind of thing you find in a cigar box on a pawn-shop counter for a dollar each: cheap slip-joint folders with stamped bolsters, plastic scales, questionable fit, and clip-point blades. But this one is what you'd expect of Russell: solid bolsters, cocobolo scales (with two synthetic options), and the fit, while not perfect, is still pretty good. I especially like the spear-point blade, which tight-handed people can open with one hand. This knife is oddly slim for a Barlow, so it disappears into the watch pocket of a pair of jeans, yet the blade is big enough for serious work--in fact, it's pretty much the ideal size and shape for field-dressing our local blacktail deer, which run to the small side. The wood scales are decidedly un-milspec, which I believe adds a touch of class and may help comfort any uninitiated eyes that might see me cutting up an apple with it in the lunch room at work. Finally, it suffers absolutely no ornamentation. It is what Jeff Cooper once called "ostentatiously plain", and I like that aspect of it most of all.

Not very big, but big enough.




The long French cut can be used to open the knife one-handed, which is unusual in a Barlow.




The other side.




Fit and finish around the lock mechanism. Oddly slim overall.



Pretty nice little blade for just under $60 shipped. About the only thing that might not work for a kid is the locking mechanism, which can turn a pocket knife into an illegal weapon in some jurisdictions.

YMMV.


Okie John

[Jac]

I’d say Opinel #6, if you can fudge the blade to 2 3/4”... it’s their smallest model with the lock.

[Duelist]

Kershaw, Gerber, Spyderco's Byrd line, and others all make a knife like that. Single locking blade, stainless steel, plastic handle, under $25.00. Don't get a piece of junk. Get a brand name made of real steel.

[peterb]

I've used these inexpensive Ka-Bar folders as an everyday knife.
https://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-KA4062...0N3AZHMM6GHF58
Smaller version:
https://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-KA4072...folding+hunter
The "budget" section here had more ideas:
https://bladereviews.com/recommended-edc-knives/

[Rich@CCC]

CRKT's "Shrimp" from Gerry McGinnis' design is perfect for your needs. It may not be easy to find though. A brief search found everyone out of stock.

1.75" blade with a frame lock. A tiny knife built like a bigger blade.