I have always been an advocate of giving a boy a pocket knife. Practically all the rights of passage have disappeared from modern life. So much so that young people invent their own. Unfortunately these usually involve bad decisions and illegal substances.

But give a boy a knife; lay down the rules of use, when/when not, how, safety, cleaning, sharpening; put it in his hands and tell him that his first steps to being a responsible citizen start now. All the onus and responsibility is now on his shoulders. There are very few boys in this world that do not step up, given the opportunity.

I think that this is a good idea. It does not matter that the knife might not be a 'real' knife. It is what the knife represents to the boy that matters, not what it is. Allowing a boy to own a knife is an act of trust and most importantly the boy knows that it is.

Yes, I think it is a good idea.

Regards

Chas