10 year olds 1st Spidie. Which is best?

[lfootmatt]

Contemplating an EDC (minus school of course) for my oldest boy. Doesn't need anything big. Just something suitable to show the boy the difference between a real knife and all of that $4.99 Chinese crap out there he always begs for at the parts store checkout line.

Also, it should be good as a hunting knife too. He got drawn for spring Turkey and Javelina.

Thanks,

Matt

PS are these Byrd Spidies out of China any good?

[ozspyder]

The Byrd line of knives represent some of the knife world's best buys for sure. Essentially they are Spyderco's with a different shaped hole

Otherwise a Military or Manix would make a nice hunting knife. If you think they are too large, I can highly recommend a Native as a great starter knife. Or a Delica. However I think a Native with its leaf blade and pointier tip would make a nice hunting knife or EDC.

Cheers
Dan

[The Deacon]

Contemplating an EDC (minus school of course) for my oldest boy. Doesn't need anything big. Just something suitable to show the boy the difference between a real knife and all of that $4.99 Chinese crap out there he always begs for at the parts store checkout line.

Also, it should be good as a hunting knife too. He got drawn for spring Turkey and Javelina.

Thanks,

Matt

PS are these Byrd Spidies out of China any good?

Last things first. The Byrds are head and shoulders above 99% of what comes out of China. Quality is still not as good as the average Japanese knife, but light years better than anything you'll find at NAPA or PepBoys for five bucks.

That said, you might want to look around for a good price on an Ocelot. Its a decent size blade in a handle that smaller hands can get a good grip on. Blade is also narrow enough to be good for hunting, although I prefer fixed blades for that myself.

[J.B]

I still have my Ocelot and like it a lot. It´s a great knife for use in rather clean environments but not for hunting, sorry, Paul.

How about a Lava? Not too big, secure grip, especially for smaller hands, very nice not too pointed skinner blade, easy to clean and should come very well fitted and finished.

JB

[ergoproxy]

The $40 Walmart Native or for non-Spydie, the venerable Buck 110.

[Blackhair]

or for non-Spydie, the venerable Buck 110.

Shut your mouth, blasphemer! :eek: :p :D

Personally, I would recommend the Byrd Meadowlark G-10 if you want something cheap, or, if you're willing to spend a little bit more, I think that the Delica 4 is always a winner.

Personally, I don't like using a folder for hunting, but you might want to look into the Salt series. The Salt1 is the same size as the Delica, but is completely rustproof.

[The CoPilot]

I still have my Ocelot and like it a lot. It´s a great knife for use in rather clean environments but not for hunting

I have to agree with that. The Ocelot is a great knife and designed by Tim Wegner (a hunter himself). The only major flaw with the Ocelot is those cut out paw prints that accumulate and hold the gunk that gets on your hands and knife when field dressing game.

For a youngster's first Spyderco where you don't want to break the bank in case the knife gets lost, the C41 Native or the C78 Native III are excellent choices. The C41 is available through Wal Mart's website for $39.99 and they offer free shipping to your local Wal Mart where you can pick it up.

You don't need a large blade for hunting applications. Manix or Mini Manix would be overkill, IMHO, especially for turkeys. Large blades often mean less control, and when you are working with knives and slippery hands, control is very important.

If you want a really excellent hunting knife that is easy to small, tough, and easy to keep clean, I'd recommend either the C13 Pro Grip or the C32 Spur. Both are were designed with hunting applications in mind. Each knife has a curved "belly" on the blade that is idea for skinning. Both knives are long discontinued, but can still be found on eBay (in fact there are several Spurs on there right now). I have and use both of these knives for hunting deer, antelope, turkey, and pheasants. I'm waiting for the opportunity to field dress a whitetail with my Spur, and am certain that it can be done with ease.

Expect to pay about $60-70 for a Spur and about $90 for a Pro Grip. These may be options later on down the road when you son is older.

I'm sure that your son will enjoy whatever you decide to give him. A hunting knife from father to son is a very special gift.

[LOOKABIRD]

I think the Delica 4 would be a good choice also. I've never handles a mini-manix but from what I ehar I think that it would be a good choice. It's getting discontinued, a smaller handle than the big manix for smaller hands, and it's rock solid. Anoth suggestion would be the Adventura. I dont know how it would hold up in hunting but it's really futuristic and on the cheaper side of Spydercos. I would think that someone his age would appreciate its style and looks. It also has a really thin handle and would worlk really well for an EDC.

TOM

[mrappraisit]

Congrats to your Son for getting two nice draws. My vote, although I dont have a bunch of Spydies is for the Wallyworld Native PE (C41PBK). That was my first :spyder: It's priced well, in case it gets lost. Easy to handle, in case he does dress with it, (large choil for good grip) although I figure you probably already have field knives.
It also reminds me of my first knife a Boy Scout Gerber lockback, only better :D
Good luck hunting, father and son time is the best!!
Shawn

[boxer93]

Matt,
I'll echo the Native. It's a good size especially while he is growing. My son has been using one for 4+ years now (he just lost it ). I think the hollow ground blade would work well with hunting too. I even had some Natives engraved for Eagle scouts. (Boys <18)
My .03US
Chris

[bladese97]

:spyder: :spyder: :cool: :spyder: :spyder: Hey dude; I thought about this for a while before posting, and my sugjestion would be the D4/fg....It's a kick@$$ knife that will serve him well in both respects, and will give him a scense of PRIDE, after you explain where the frn color came from, and what it stands for. With that said, even if this might not be what he, or you choose, I'm sure the boy has a :cool: dad, so....No worrys! Good luck!

[lfootmatt]

You guys rule!!!

No time to check now, but after work I'll sit down and look them all up. After all he needs a bit of the carrot once in a while. Third year in a row making the top tier region wide youth football all academic team!!! Not to mention he is a stud player also! 10 years old 5'4" 105 pounds and can run!!!

A knife to take pride in is exactly what I'm looking for. Wife thinks he'll still pine for all of the junk knives he sees. I think otherwise!

Thanks again!

Matt

[Raqudu]

I think I would go with the D4, and if the budget permits, have it engraved with his name. No junk knife would ever come close again.

[dialex]

For a young boy I'd rather pick a full flat grind knife.
And this could be either the Dragonfly or the Calypso. Both are small enough, lightweight, with a reliable lock and an excellent blade geometry.

[Jazz]

Delica 4 - no question about it. It's a terrific all-around knife.

- best wishes, Jazz.

P.S. Plain edge.

[Joshua J.]

I think the 75mm Persian would be good, the blade profile should make a good hunter, and it has a very classic look.
Or an H-1 knife might not be a bad idea.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: black zdp-189 caly jr.! First spydie can be a collectable and exotic steel for under $70! http://www.newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=7183 :spyder:

[araneae]

Another vote for the Delica, although a Dragonfly is a nice little knife as well.

[vampyrewolf]

I'll be getting my niece either an frn dragonfly or byrd robin for her first (still got a couple years, but that doesn't stop me from buying now). Just have to test her little hands and see how my ss fly fits em.

I personally started with an frn delica and it all went from there.

[thread]

whatever your decision (I wholeheartedly support a D4), have the blade engraved with something special.
it may wind up being a keepsake he has for a long, long time.
best of luck.