I gave each of my sons a pocket knife and a small Arkansas stone on their 7th birthday. Actually, we all would go to the hardware store and they could pick out any knife that they chose within reason). All three chose SAKs and they all wanted the biggest, fanciest one with the most tools on it. I warned them that it's impractical to carry a knife that large, but they wanted them, so I got them. All these years later, they all have them still. My oldest keeps it with him, though doesn't carry in his pocket (he has a smaller one for that). My youngest won a nice knife from the Boy Scouts for selling the most popcorn. It's a good bit smaller than the one I got him so he carries that when not in school. My middlest boy still has his, but doesn't have much need for one as a Lawyer. His wit is plenty sharp!

I always enjoyed the rite of passage! It's a tradition that the two married boys intend to carry on with their kids.

DC