The Scout’s Guide to Picking the Perfect Knife
With the input of our Knife Buyer (who is a total gearhead and expert!), I’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you pick out the perfect knife for your Scout, whether they are in Cub Scouts or Scouts BSA. Here’s the thing – a well-selected knife can make the ideal gift for your outdoor adventurer, and with so many options on the table, it can be difficult to know if you are choosing the “right” one. It’s time to take the guesswork out of picking!
Cub Scouts
Cub Scout Pocket Knife: With a smaller, rubber grip handle for safety, this 2” lock-back folding knife is a great first knife for Cub Scouts. It’s got an easy-to-sharpen stainless steel blade and the lock-back feature keeps little hands safe.
Buck Cub Scout Spitfire Pocket Knife: Another great knife for older Cub Scouts (looking at you, Webelos!), this knife features a 3.25” blade, lock-back design, and a thumb hole for easy open. It’s got the BSA logo and is the ideal size that would transfer easily from Webelos to Scouts BSA. This would make a solid second knife for a young Scout.
Cub Scout Blue Tinker Knife: I’m a fan of this knife because it’s the ideal tool for everyday indoor and outdoor use. Thanks to its whopping 12 functions (including scissors, a can opener, and a Phillips screwdriver) you can build, cut, or repair anything with this multitool knife! I find this knife mightily convenient for DIY projects around the house.
Camillus CamLite Mini Pocket Knife: This knife is a winner when keeping an edge. It has a short, 2” blade that is perfect for getting into smaller spaces and an overall 5” length, making it easy for precise maneuverability when whittling. It is a really solid knife for older Cub Scouts.
Scouts BSA Pocket Knife: The Scouts BSA counterpart to the Cub Scouts version, this rubber-handled knife is the perfect first knife for Scouts in Scouts BSA. The strong, lock-back mechanism is one of the safest locking systems available and the stainless steel blade is easy to keep sharp.
Buck 112 Ranger LT Pocket Knife: This lightweight knife (2.5 oz) makes a great everyday carry! It’s got a molded nylon handle that’s easy to clean, and the ultra-sharp point is perfect for puncturing new belt holes or complex projects like wood carving. For those who prefer shorter blades, the Ranger 112 has a 3-inch blade (another shorter blade, but a little longer than the Camillus Camlite that features a 2-inch blade). One nifty quality is the corrosion-resistant blade that keeps it looking *sharp* for years to come. I love the Buck 112 because of its Lockback mechanism that locks the knife in the open position for added safety.
Camillus Eagle Scout Folding Pocket Knife: What I love the most about this knife is that it is designed to be both an everyday carry AND a piece that can be passed down from generation to generation. The Camillus collection of Eagle Scout knives was designed for outdoor enthusiasts looking for dependable and long-lasting blades. They were created with the values of Scouting and the Scout Motto in mind, and the attention to detail makes them the easy choice for an Eagle Scout gift.
Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool: Not designed for adventure, but survival! This outdoorsman multi-tool includes everything your Scout needs for the unexpected, like a fire-starter and emergency whistle. It’s got 19 tools in one, including a 2.75” blade, needlenose pliers, regular pliers, premium replaceable wire cutters, premium replaceable hard-wire cutters, wire strippers, 420HC combo knife, saw, hammer, awl with thread loop, can opener, bottle opener, 1/4"hex bit driver, bit driver, 1/4" box wrench, carabiner, 3/16" box wrench, safety whistle, ferrocerium rod, and a diamond-coated sharpener.
If you are leaning more toward a multi-tool, check out this blog that breaks down our selection of Leatherman tools!
Scouts BSA
From breaking down twigs for kindling and carving wood to pruning plants, puncturing belt holes, and even opening packages, a pocket knife is just one of those tools that will help with so many everyday activities. In the end, you can never really have too many of them! You can have fancier ones for big occasions or a simple carry for daily activities – the sky is the limit on these guys.
Where has your pocket knife come in handy? Share with us in the comments below, and ask if you've got questions!
