CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit

As a guy who runs a website that revolves around knives, I feel responsible to set a decent example for the knife community. While I try not to make a huge deal out of it, it’s something I do take seriously.

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So nothing pains me more than to hear people spouting misinformation about knives – you know, stuff like “knives are evil weapons and must be outlawed.” Usually these people are so close-minded it’s not worth getting into an argument (like the lady who insisted a “neck knife” meant a knife “designed for slitting throats” …I can’t make this stuff up). That said, I’ll certainly put my best foot forward and continue to advocate responsible use. And if I get a chance to educate someone well, hey, I’ll try my best.

That’s why when Glenn and Nathan Klecker of KleckerKnives.com approached me with [easyazon_link asin=”B0054QCDXC” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Nathan’s Knife Kit[/easyazon_link] I jumped at the opportunity to share something that is not only fun and educational, but also sends a very positive message about responsible knife use. For those unfamiliar with this product, it is a wood modeling kit of a lock-back folding knife. The kit is designed to be a craft project and toy for children 7 years and older.

So this will be a little departure from my typical reviews. I won’t pretend to compare this with a production folder, but lets cover some of the high points and then talk about the more intangible qualities of a kit like this.

The Kit

First of all, the kit is manufactured by CRKT and is designed to be a craft project for a child assisted by a parent/grandparent/mentor. The kit comes with everything you need to assemble one working knife. Naturally, when mine arrived the first thing I did was put it together. It took me about 5 minutes, but then again I’m 27 years old, so I guess I don’t win any prizes. Hopefully (for my sake) this takes a child a little while longer to fit together.

That said, putting it together is just the start. I think the real fun comes with sanding and painting everything, maybe even doing some wood burning or carving and then gluing it all together – you know, to make it your own. If you were to do this the kit could make for a nice afternoon project or be stretched out over over a couple days.

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to a lot of time or tools this summer so I just left mine stock (although I might throw some thumb studs and a pocket clip on there… ). After assembling everything I spent the next 15 minutes flicking the knife open and closed. Maybe I’m easily amused, but I was surprised how smooth and crisp the locking action was. The knife opens and shuts with a really cool snapping sound that I found strangely satisfying.

Good Clean Fun

I’ll confess that when I grew up we played plenty of video games, listened to our cd players and spent more time than we should have in front of the TV. However, my fondest childhood memories include playing outside with kids in my neighborhood, riding my bike, fishing, swimming… you know, generally running around and getting into trouble. By anyone’s standards this was a privileged all-American childhood (and it was), and these activities turned into life long passions that I still enjoy today.

Kids Today

Ok, I don’t want to come off like an old codger, but kids today seem to have a lot more distractions – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. If my parents thought my generation engaged in too much sitting and not enough doing, well, one look around shows this has only gotten worse.

That is why I love stuff like this knife kit. It takes me back to my days tooling around in my parents garage, building a skateboard ramp or carving little “boats” to float down the creek by my house. This little blade embodies so many of the great things from my youth – it’s just good clean fun. If there was ever an excuse to power down the iphone and hide the remote well, in my opinion this knife would be it.

And lets not forget the potential for education here. I’m not saying this is Timmy’s ticket to the Dean’s list, but kids will learn the mechanics of a back-lock, use fine motor skills for assembly and can be as creative as they would like with the finishing work. Furthermore, parents could use this knife as a tool to teach their child about responsible knife use. And if we educate our children about the value of knives today, we can help ensure that Americans will continue to enjoy all kinds of knives tomorrow.

CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit Review – Final Thoughts

Nathan’s Knife Kit is fun project that I would definitely recommend. Whether there is a child in your life you want to inspire and educate, or you are simply looking for a trip down memory lane, Nathan has you covered. Based on my experience your kids will learn some new skills, and get hours of entertainment out of this kit. For those reasons Nathan’s Knife gets my full endorsement.

You can check out the kit at Glenn and Nathan Klecker’s Website.

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I recommend buying Nathan’s Knife Kit at [easyazon_link asin=”B0054QCDXC” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Amazon[/easyazon_link]. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.