Knife / Knives for a gift help....

[jrebel]

One of the fondest memories I have as a child is getting my first buck knife from my dad.  It was a Christmas gift and it was a super nice knife for the time.  I have bought my boy some cheap knives over the years, anticipating they would be lost or just not used.  I have done most of my kids gutting and skinning to this point.....that is about to change.  My son took a ton of interest on his hunts this year with skinning and gutting.  I think it is time for me to buy him a quality knife....one that will last years and have meaning, much like my first buck knife. 

So....what knives would you recommend for a 12 y.o.

I want a leather sheath, good to great quality, one I can have engraved.  What about knives of alaska?  Any other thoughts?   

[GWP]

Be careful about making it ‘too fancy’. Not sure a 12 year old would have an issue using it, but I did with one given to me.
Have a good friend that had a super nice high end fancy knife made for me. It came in a fancy display box too.
He envisioned it worn and well used over the years.
Well, it has stayed in the fancy box, on display, and is as pristine as the day he gave it to me. It is so nice I don’t want to use it as I have quality ‘work horse’ knives, and if I ever seriously damaged it or lost it I would be very sad about it. So, on display it is.
The meaning of the gift will be that it came from you.
I take it your Buck served (serves) you well? Reminds you your Dad gave it to you?
There is your answer.

[millerwheeler]

Roe Morris builds some incredible knives my father has had one made for all of us boys and we have done the same for him  too notch quality , holds a very nice edge and leather sheath

[jrebel]

Be careful about making it ‘too fancy’. Not sure a 12 year old would have an issue using it, but I did with one given to me.
Have a good friend that had a super nice high end fancy knife made for me. It came in a fancy display box too.
He envisioned it worn and well used over the years.
Well, it has stayed in the fancy box, on display, and is as pristine as the day he gave it to me. It is so nice I don’t want to use it as I have quality ‘work horse’ knives, and if I ever seriously damaged it or lost it I would be very sad about it. So, on display it is.
The meaning of the gift will be that it came from you.
I take it your Buck served (serves) you well? Reminds you your Dad gave it to you?
There is your answer.

I 100% agree with your statements and why I am looking for a good quality workhorse.  Not looking at a custom for that exact reason.  My buck is laying on my reloading bench being used for opening boxes and cutting small things around the shop.  The blade has been sharpened so many times, I bet it has lost 1/3 of it's overall height....  

I don't want to buy him an outdoor edge or other cheap but very functional knife.  I want him to have a nice rig with nice leather sheath to wear on his belt.  I want it to be used and abused.   I want it to last a lifetime.

[Caseyd]

Still have my first Buck knife and it also has lost a lot of steel.

I’d recommend a benchmade.
https://www.benchmade.com/hidden-canyon-hunter-family-hunt.html

[bearhunter99]

I still have my first hunting knife that my grandfather gave me.  It is the old black handled Buck knife like the one used in the Scream movies.  I pack it with me every year and use it for breaking animals down because you just can't break or chip those heavy blades.  It is definitely a work horse, I use the havalon or outdoor edge for most skinning and field dressing but the old Buck gets bloody every year regardless.  Other knives have come and gone but it will be with me as long as I am still hunting.

[Stein]

I bought my son an engraved Leatherman when he crossed over into Boy Scouts.  Not a skinning knife for sure, but he'll get a ton of use out of it for a long time.

[Dan-o]

You might contact rainshadow1 on here.

One of his sons makes knives relatively inexpensively, and I was impressed enough I think I bought about 7 total.
All were very nice.

If he's still in business, he might make you a custom knife at a reasonable price.

 I was just super impressed with his workmanship.

Check out the young man's work:
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,246491.0.html

[fowl smacker]

While it doesn't come with a leather sheath, it comes with a kydex one, I bought a Benchmade steep country before this season and I am beyond impressed.  I've field dressed, skinned, caped out 2 deer now and haven't even touched it to a sharpener and it is still scary sharp.  If the sheath is a deal breaker you could maybe have someone build you one.  I can't wear a knife on my belt while wearing a pack, it drives me insane.  May be worth a look anyhow.  I've now had Buck, Outdoor Edge, and a Kodi Pack.  I'll take the steep country hands down.  Good luck on your search.

[b0bbyg]

You might contact rainshadow1 on here.

One of his sons makes knives relatively inexpensively, and I was impressed enough I think I bought about 7 total.
All were very nice.

If he's still in business, he might make you a custom knife at a reasonable price.

 I was just super impressed with his workmanship.

Check out the young man's work:
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,246491.0.html

Dan-o  , You beat me to it, couple of great knife makers here on the forum if your looking for an original quality blade.   

I have a knife my grandpa gave me, not super fancy or nice but represented pride in country, carried it in pocket for years still in nightstand.
Have a few old school hunting knives that were dads. Also have one fancy knife from parents, not the kind of knife you use the kind that you keep and pass along.  I'll never part with any of them unless it is to a future generation.

[Rat44]

I bought my son a Buck 112 folder earlier this year as a gift.
Was the new clip point version .
Buck has custom engraving available .
I use a Buck 103 skinner myself which is also available on line with custom options.
A great hunting knife.

[Skyvalhunter]

Knives make a great gift for a young hunter

[follow maggie]

Like a bunch of people on here, I think a Buck would be a good choice. My 110 folder has been serving me well for almost 30 years now & is still working great.  But if you’re looking for something a little further up the price ladder, Benchmade makes some great knives, as does Knives of Alaska.

[Farmer72]

I still have my Schrade Scrimshaw Sharp finger that my dad gave me as a christmas gift. I used it for several years but decided to retire it a few years ago for my Buck 110 and Buck 103. I think what ever knife you get him will have special meaning.

[pianoman9701]

One of the fondest memories I have as a child is getting my first buck knife from my dad.  It was a Christmas gift and it was a super nice knife for the time.  I have bought my boy some cheap knives over the years, anticipating they would be lost or just not used.  I have done most of my kids gutting and skinning to this point.....that is about to change.  My son took a ton of interest on his hunts this year with skinning and gutting.  I think it is time for me to buy him a quality knife....one that will last years and have meaning, much like my first buck knife. 

So....what knives would you recommend for a 12 y.o.

I want a leather sheath, good to great quality, one I can have engraved.  What about knives of alaska?  Any other thoughts?

Get a Benchmade and have them laser something meaningful on the blade - Elk or deer head, tracks, father and son hunting, something he relates to.

On second thought, Contact Rainshadow about a knife. I bet he's able to do engraving

[pianoman9701]

@rainshadow

[Boss .300 winmag]

@A. Cole

[wafisherman]

If you can't connect with one of the members, I ended up getting this knife for one of my daughters. She has another one, but carried it everywhere (pocket clip).  She lost it at school during recess.  So several months later, for her birthday, I ordered this one with her name on it.  That way if she lost it and someone from school found it, they would know it was hers and maybe she'd get it back.

It isn't a top of the line knife, but meant to be her everyday carry knife that I don't worry too much if it also gets lost.  She's 14 now, and goes through a knife about every other year.  Not bad really.  I do plan to get her a better long term knife she can use just for hunting and fishing that she'll have for the rest of her life.  And really, who can have too many knives?? 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091D9Q9S9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Tjv28]

My neighbor makes some pretty sweet knives. My buddy calls them “Valerian Steel”.

[rainshadow1]

If you have any interest in a custom, I'd point you at Alden right now. (A.Cole) Motivated! Looks like he's going to make a name for himself!

I'm just getting done with one litter of Lab puppies, and expecting another litter of Beagle puppies in a couple weeks... add to that a couple customs I still have sitting on the pegs, and I don't think I'll make Christmas!

Thanks for the nod, pianoman!

[A. Cole]

Lots of good advice. As has been said, and you know, any knife you give to your son will be special to him. I'll never part with my Case pocketknife from my Grandpa. I'm not well versed in production knives, because I haven't used many of them, so won't give my opinion on brands, but from what I've experienced you'll have a hard time trying to find a production knife with a well made leather sheath. A saddle mountain skinner (one of Benchmade's 8in. drop point models) lists on their website for $180. That's not too far off from a handmade knife of (in my opinion) better quality. A lot comes down to what style of knife do you like? Hope something in my rambling is helpful.
Alden

Tjv28: That is good craftsmanship.

[jrebel]

Well...buck wasn't my first choice, but after looking at a couple different brands that's the one I chose.  Couple things that swayed my decision;  1.  the knife given to me was a buck, 2.  I was able to completely customize the knife (Handle, blade, engraving, etc..)  3.  It is just a cool looking knife and the meaning it will have with the engraving pushed me over the edge. 

I was looking very hard at the Knives of Alaska brand and was about to pull the trigger....but the customization that buck offers pushed them over the edge. 

Thanks for all the input everyone.  I know at the end of the day, it really didn't matter and he would like anything I bought him.  This one now has extra special meaning with the engraving.   

[A. Cole]