First pocket knife

[lazerblazer]

This could be a good choice, user added blade when ready plus other tools to learn about and use. http://www.leatherman.com/leap-358.html#q=Leap&start=1

sent from LazerPhone

[pointblank4445]

A solid choice:
http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/...0.9663.MWC4US2

- It's classic Swiss Army so it has that classic first-knife mystique most of us started on
- Locking blade (as discussed)
- no superfluous tools (toothpick to lose, just blades and screw drivers)

Added bonus: this one's got "Ranger" in the title.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Hard to beat a Swiss Army knife for a boy's first. Still have my old Wenger my first, they were bought out in 2005 by Victorinox.

[ScottsBad]

A solid choice:
http://www.swissarmy.com/us/product/...0.9663.MWC4US2

- It's classic Swiss Army so it has that classic first-knife mystique most of us started on
- Locking blade (as discussed)
- no superfluous tools (toothpick to lose, just blades and screw drivers)

Added bonus: this one's got "Ranger" in the title.

Yeah, I gave my kids pocket knives with sharp locking blades. I had a Boy Scout knife when I was a kid and managed to cut myself 2 or 3 times because the blades did not lock. Make sure the blades lock.

[JasonB1]

Sharp edge, blunt tips:

http://www.moraofsweden.se/allround/...afe-50.0.524.2

http://www.victorinox.com/ch/app/pro...inox/0.2373.T5

[Frailer]

First: awesome post.

I suppose all of us remember our first knife. Mine was a small, dual bladed pen knife, and I think I was around six years old when I received it. Each Sunday at church a family friend--and a true "man's man"--would ask me if I had my knife in my pocket; I'd proudly pull it out to show him I did. It was my first initiation into manhood.

I'd definitely *not* give him a dull blade. He's going to pick up a few minor cuts along the way regardless, and he needs to learn to be careful. I'd also avoid a locking blade; I've never had a slipjoint close on my fingers, but I have picked up a few nicks fumbling around with a stubborn lock.

Should I ever have a grandson or -daughter (fingers crossed) he or she is going to receive a Victorinox alox Cadet. Truth be told, I already have it. ;-)

[Averageman]

Cub Scout knife my Granny bought me.
She was a gem.

[militarymoron]

This is the knife that I begged my dad to buy for me back in 1980 or so:
http://www.knifecenter.com/item/PU23...-28-inch-Blade
It wasn't my first pocket knife, but it was my first quality pocket knife, and the only one I still have from my childhood.
It's actually in the original pocket sheath on my nightstand right now and it's going to be my son's first pocket knife (he's now 7).

Eventually, he's going to get serial #001 of my MM knife:
http://www.skdtac.com/Zero-Tolerance...-p/zto.124.htm

[ubet]

My first knife was sharp enough to cut, we aren't talking shave sharp across a 32k grit stone sharp, but sharp enough it would bite me. Was a Swiss army knife, loved that thing.

[Jellybean]

As has been mentioned, be sure it has a locking blade/saw/etc. I cannot count how many times as a kid I would try to cut something that couldn't really be cut with it, or pry something and *snap*... damn blade would close on my hand. Stupid POS walmart knives...
Luckily, they were POS walmart knives and about as sharp as a dull paring knife, so the injuries were not severe.

Which brings me back to the point talked about starting with a dull knife. While we all agree a dull knife is a dangerous knife... kids will be kids, and even some of us adults are more prone to knife related injuries (not that I'd know anything about this.... ), so I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but something with a blade sharp enough for him to play outside with, whittle sticks and make spears or whatever, but not super-sharp like all the knife guys are about....

To that end... a knife with a blade actually big enough to do fun outside stuff with could be a plus. I know when my parents finally relented and let me have a knife when I was a kid, it was this super-pathetic little 3-blade pocket knife. Hated that damn thing- blades were to small to do anything with, not to mention paper thin; I probably could have snapped a blade on that thing doing anything serious with it.
Luckily the OP is a smart parent looking for a "real" first knife not some gay-ass faux-knife, and for that, we thank you.

Now, my $0.02:
Anything with multiple functions. Kids love that. I know when I got my second knife- a crappy advance auto parts special multi-tool- I just went ape-shit over that thing. Even though I never really used any of the tools, it was still fun to have it and take them all out and run around with the thing in its belt sheath being Mr. Fixit around the house.
So that small Leatherman linked up top would probably be a great choice, and it's a bright color to minimize loss.
Although recent experience has taught me that Leatherman's blades are insanely sharp...

That being said, does your kid like guns and Army stuff?
If so he'd probably go ape over that Ranger Victorinox.... I know I did, and I would have. Hell, I went nuts over an OD green watch from walmart when I was a kid. I could have conquered the world with that, a pair of camo pants, and my trusty multitool...
That being said... I think a kid would get frustrated really quick with the Ranger, as it doesn't have a real blade- would be hard to use for thing that require and actual blade.

Here's a thought-If he's pretty thoughtful and dexterous I'd take a risk with the sharpness and get him the Leatherman for his "EDC", and then also get him a MORA for his "outdoor" knife that he can take with his Dad camping or roaming around the woods. Hell, he can even wear it on his belt and feel extra badass.
It even comes in OD or Desert camo, Stainless, so he shouldn't have to do to much to take care of it.

Plus, another thing to think about is if he's trying to pry/cut/stab something, on a pocket knife or multitool there's nothing to stop your hand from sliding up the handle and onto the blade. So if you go with a second knife that's got at least a little finger choil [?] to work with in a fixed blade design, you help remove the sliding and snapping closed issues from the labor-intensive situations that are likely to cause those things to happen.

http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/FT1...plastic-sheath
http://www2.knifecenter.com/item/FT1...-rubber-handle