I got a leatherman when I was a little younger (8 IIRC), and yes, I still have it. Up the budget a little bit, and get him the standard giant hunk O’metal Leatherman. He’ll have it his entire life.
I got a leatherman when I was a little younger (8 IIRC), and yes, I still have it. Up the budget a little bit, and get him the standard giant hunk O’metal Leatherman. He’ll have it his entire life.
Plus (whatever) on a Swiss army knife. I've carried one since middle school (back when nobody would blink at having a knife in school...). I just used the saw yesterday to clear a fallen sapling from the trail while bike riding. Make sure it has scissors. Can't imagine life without those.
Leatherman's are nice as well, although I prefer the scissors on the Swiss knives.
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Trey already has more than a few knives(for being 12)and is really into militaria. I’m sure if I asked him what he thinks is cool he would probably pull out a Bud K catalog.
In reply to slantvaliant :
The Tinker was my first idea, and also my current EDC. Maybe I’ll give him mine and I’ll buy a hiker for myself 
Swiss Army is the best for a first knife IMO. I think I got my first one for my 8th birthday.
I still carry the Swiss army knife I got as a young teenager every single day. It's got some patina but still hold an edge and I use the scissors many times a day.
Got a Swiss Army Knife for my nine year old a few months ago. It's been perfect so far. Just the basic $20 models work perfectly.
The Swiss Army knife always seemed more like a toy to me, too many gizmos and not a real tool. When I was 13, I got a Boy Scout Knife. It was larger, heavier and sturdier and I felt more like a man. The Scouts probably give little Swiss Army knives now, but this classic is still the way to go.
In Scouts I had the "Hiker" Swiss Army knife. Never found myself needing anything more then that. The ones with every feature were too big to use practically.
PseudoSport said:In Scouts I had the "Hiker" Swiss Army knife. Never found myself needing anything more then that. The ones with every feature were too big to use practically.
The scissors are truly useful to have.
My knife (linked earlier in the thread) is a good balance of size and stuff. It fits your hand well, better than some of the skinnier options.
Hands up if you've ever used the can opener!
Keith Tanner said:Hands up if you've ever used the can opener!
*Raises hand* Used it a bunch for canned corn beef hash when camping.
In reply to Keith Tanner :
Guilty.
Guilty, also used the corkscrew.
Any small pocket knife, meaning truly an EDC, had better have scissors on it for me. Most used item on the knife.
I would recommend trying to find a Victorinox Mechanic. It is a Tinker with a pair of the small pliers that fold in.
I used to be a Leatherman guy but have turned into a Victorinox convert. I own a Victorinox Spirit (one of their versions of a multitool) and don't think I could go back to Leatherman. All of the tools are on the outside of the Spirit and the only thing you have to open it up for is the pliers. Victorinox don't rust on you like Leathermans do (I've had them rust on me) and you can hunker down on the screwdrivers a little more also.
I use the can opener on mine almost once a week to open up cans of food for dinner.
The only thing of Leatherman I would carry any more is their Crater series of knives. Basically their version of a pocket knife with a one hand open feature and available with screwdrivers and a bottle opener..
Although a Victorinox Tinker was my daily carry for many years, and I love the less expensive Kershaw knives (had several as EDCs), if you want something with a Military twist, check out the CRKT M16-10KS. Under $30, 3" blade, easy to carry, tough as nails, and looks the business. I've been using one as my EDC for about a year now.
Side bar, I refuse to spend more than $30 on an EDC pocket knife because I WILL lose the damn thing eventually. Just how it goes.
One thing I've come the the realization of is that unless I'm out camping or something, I really don't need much. Knife, bottle opener, and scissors. Because of that, I now carry basically a Skeletool and/or a Style CS or Vic (anything with bottle opener and scissors). The Skeletool is so good for what you actually use a MT/pocket knife for. One handed opening knife, bottle opener at the ready. It has the pliers and screwdrivers always available for any quick fixes, but for more than that you go get a real tool.
Everything on a pocketknife/multitool is a compromise, it is an emergency resource. Well guess what? I have tools in my garage, basement, my cars... the MT is rarely used for a toolkit.
I have a Leatherman PST (the original hunk of metal) that I love, but I basically only use it while fishing since I can get the pliers out faster than a Gerber. I've owned a ton, and sold a ton. I have a bunch of cheapos that I've stashed around the house and cars, but, you need a lot less than you think you do. If I was going out camping, I'd have a Leatherman Fuse or Rebar, and a Huntsman. Thats it. Probably overkill even.
If you want a Skeletool for the kid, I'll send you one for $30 shipped. I also have a Gerber MPT (the real Leatherman looking one) for another $35. $60 for a package deal.
I have been carrying a Gerber Paraframe for many years. Light, sturdy, and inexpensive. It comes with a clip on the opposite side that I removed - two small torx screws. I have several multi-tool knives, but just don't carry them because of their bulk.
That Gerber Paraframe II looks interesting:
A lot like the Keshaw Vapor 1655 that's my EDC:
I, too, don't want to carry a $100 pocket knife. I don't lose that many of them, but I have lost them over the years and loosing a $30 one sucks. Losing a $100 one would suck a lot more.
Here's another vote for the SuperTinker. I've had mine since... before I was married and now all our kids are out of college and on their own. So, A long time. And a 13 year old does not need a corkscrew.
I also have a Gerber Legend, not really pocket sized. It was very useful when I was supporting the kids marching band activities. The blades, the saw, the pliers all saw duty fixing some instrument or prop one minute before their performance started...
Stu
It cost a little more, but I have had my SOG "Twitch II" on my person every day for almost 5 years, excluding the week I sent it in to get a new spring (lifetime warranty). 
I chose it for 4 reasons:
-smooth blade. I have zero use for serrated edges.
-the pocket clip is on the correct end of the handle
-slim design fits in any pocket. I hate bulky thinks in my pockets.
-assisted open.
It may be a little on the simple side for some, and more money than I would spend on a knife for a 13yo, but I use it every day and if something happened to it I would not hesitate to go buy another.
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