Our pick: the Victorinox Tinker for kids about 8 to 13: two small blades, a Phillips and two flat drivers in 2.2 oz, with blades that open with two hands. Under about 9: the rounded-tip My First Victorinox. Teens: Leatherman Wingman. No blade: Victorinox Jetsetter. Budget: Gerber Shard.
The honest caveat: makers rarely give an age. The only one we found is Leatherman’s “for ages 9 and up” on its kids’ Leap, which is now retired. The ages on this page are our rough guide; how careful your child is, and how closely you watch, matter more.
| Pick | Best for | Rough age | Blade | Weight | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victorinox Tinker | Best overall | 8–13 | Two small blades, no lock | 2.2 oz | $$ | Check price |
| Leatherman Micra | Best scissors tool | 8–13 | 1.6 in, no lock | 1.8 oz | $$ | Check price |
| Gerber Dime | Best first pliers | 11+ | 1.5 in; lock not stated | 2.2 oz | $$ | Check price |
| My First Victorinox | Best for young kids | 6–9 | Rounded tip, no lock | 1.6 oz | $$ | Check price |
| Opinel My First Opinel | Best for learning to whittle | 7–11 | Rounded tip, locks | 2 oz | $ | Check price |
| Leatherman Wingman | Best for teens | 14+ | 2.6 in, locks, one-hand opening | 7 oz | $$ | Check price |
| Victorinox Jetsetter | Best bladeless with scissors | 6+ | None | 0.8 oz | $ | Check price |
| Gerber Shard | Best budget | 6+ | None | 1.0 oz | $ | Check price |
| Leatherman Knifeless Rebar | Best bladeless for teens | 12+ | None (has a saw) | 6.7 oz | $$$ | Check price |
Rough ages are our editorial guide, not the makers’. Weights, blades and locks from each maker’s product page, October 2026. Price bands at maker list price, October 2026: $ under $25 · $$ $25–75 · $$$ over $75.
How we chose
Our writers reviewed the Micra, Dime and Wingman before 2023, and covered the Jetsetter and Knifeless Rebar in our bladeless roundup and the Shard in our one-piece roundup. We published our Tinker review in 2024; that card sticks to Victorinox’s specs. The two rounded-tip knives are new to us, and their cards say so.
For this October 2026 page (edited by Brian Hamilton), we checked every pick on its maker’s own site: that it’s still sold, the blade’s tip, whether it locks, whether it opens one-handed, and its size and weight. We also read what Leatherman, Opinel, Victorinox and Scouting America say about kids and knives.
That check ruled out:
- Leatherman’s Leap, the only pliers multi-tool we found made for kids. Leatherman’s page says it’s “no longer in production” (more below).
- Leatherman’s Squirt PS4 and FREE K2 and K4, all tagged retired on leatherman.com, and Gerber’s Dime Travel, gone from Gerber’s catalog.
- Kids’ kits sold only on Amazon, with no maker specs we could check.
What age is right for a multi-tool or pocket knife?
There’s no official age, and makers almost never publish one. Here’s everything we found from the four makers on this page:
- Leatherman: its retired Leap was “for ages 9 and up”. No current Leatherman page gives an age.
- Opinel: “The My First Opinel knives are not toys and are sharp. They should be used under adult supervision.”
- Victorinox: “the golden rule is that all children must be supervised whilst using a Swiss Army Knife.” Its kids’ knife page gives no age.
- Gerber: no age guidance on the Dime or Shard pages.
So the call is yours. Here’s how we’d match a tool to a child, with Scouting America’s tool rules as a cross-check.
| Rough age | What suits them | Watch for | Scouting America | Our picks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | No real tool yet; a toy for pretend play | Any real edge, even a rounded one | Lions: no tools | None; Victorinox sells a Pocket Knife Toy |
| 6–8 | No blade, or a rounded-tip knife used only with you | A rounded tip stops stabs, not cuts | Tigers: no tools; Wolves: hammers and screwdrivers, no knives | Jetsetter, Shard, My First Victorinox, My First Opinel |
| 8–11 | Small two-hand-opening knife or scissors tool, about 2 oz | Blades that don’t lock can fold onto fingers | Bears (3rd grade) and up: pocketknives once they’ve earned the Whittling Chip or Totin’ Chip | Tinker, Micra, My First Opinel |
| 11–14 | Small pliers, a Scout’s pocketknife, a no-knife pliers tool | Two cutting edges on small tools (blade plus package opener) | Scouts BSA: Totin’ Chip | Dime, Tinker, Knifeless Rebar |
| 14 and up | Full-size pliers tool with a locking blade | One-hand opening: quick to open, and to open by mistake | Scouts BSA: Totin’ Chip | Wingman, Knifeless Rebar |
Age bands are our editorial guide, not a maker or Scouting rule. Maker quotes from leatherman.com, opinel.com and victorinox.com; Scouting stages from Scouting America’s SAFE Project Tool Use guidelines (scoutingwire.org, August 2025) and its Totin’ Chip page (scouting.org), read October 2026.
Two signs matter more than a birthday: they follow a rule when you aren’t watching, and they close and put away a tool without being told. If not yet, wait or start bladeless.
Schools set their own rules on knives and tools, and a bladeless tool can still break one. Check before anything goes in a backpack.
Did you know? Victorinox says the rounded blade on its kids’ knife “is as sharp as that of our normal pocket knives”. The round tip prevents a stab, not a slice, so the cutting rules don’t change. Weight climbs fast too: our teen pick, the 7 oz Wingman, weighs more than four My First Victorinox knives.
Best multi-tools for kids 8 to 13
At this age a small pocketknife or keychain tool fits the hand and the jobs: whittling, string, packaging, a loose screw. All three of these weigh under 2.5 oz.
1. Victorinox Tinker: Best overall
A real pocketknife sized for a kid. It has a large and a small blade, a Phillips driver, flat drivers on the can and bottle openers, an awl, tweezers and a toothpick, in a 3.6 in body that weighs 2.2 oz.
Neither blade locks or opens one-handed, which suits a learner: each takes a deliberate two-handed pull. It’s a sensible size for a Cub Scout’s Whittling adventure or a Scout’s Totin’ Chip (rules below).
Our Victorinox Tinker review has more; the figures here are Victorinox’s.
Key specs: 2.2 oz · 3.6 × 1 × 0.6 in · 12 functions · two blades, don’t lock, no one-hand opening · Phillips, 3 mm and 6 mm flat drivers · Swiss made · lifetime warranty · $$
Pros
- Two blades and a real Phillips driver
- Blades open with two hands
- Kid-sized at 2.2 oz
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Pointed blades
- Nothing locks
- No scissors
- Tweezers and toothpick are easy to lose
Skip it if: your child hasn’t used a knife with you yet; start with the rounded-tip My First Victorinox. Want scissors and a saw too? The Victorinox Huntsman adds both at 3.4 oz.
2. Leatherman Micra: Best scissors tool
A keychain tool built around scissors rather than a blade. In our review the spring-action scissors were about the size of school safety scissors but much sharper, and cut heavy paper, plastic packaging and fishing line without trouble.
The 1.6 in blade doesn’t lock. The tweezers fold out of the handle, so they don’t get lost, and the extra-small driver fit most eyeglass screws. One warning from our review: the nail file darkens with pocket grime within a few weeks.
Key specs: 1.8 oz · 2.5 in closed, 4.2 in open · 10 tools · 1.6 in 420HC blade, doesn’t lock · key ring · 25-year warranty · $$
Pros
- Spring-action scissors that really cut
- Attached tweezers
- Short blade
- 25-year warranty
Cons
- Nothing locks
- No pliers
- Costs more than the Tinker
Skip it if: they want pliers; get the Dime. More in our Leatherman Micra review and our best multi-tools with scissors.
3. Gerber Dime: Best first pliers
The smallest real pliers here, for the kid who takes things apart. Spring-loaded needlenose pliers and a wire cutter sit in a 2.75 in keychain body, with a 1.5 in blade, a package opener, scissors, drivers, tweezers and a file.
The bottle opener is on the outside, so it works with the tool closed. Our Micra review rated the Micra’s build and scissors above the Dime’s, but only the Dime has pliers. Gerber doesn’t say whether the blade locks, so teach it as if it doesn’t.
Key specs: 2.2 oz · 2.75 in closed, 4.25 in open · 1.5 in blade · 10 tools in Gerber’s feature list · butterfly opening · limited lifetime warranty · $$
Pros
- Real pliers and wire cutters on a keychain
- Short 1.5 in blade
- Bottle opener works with the tool closed
Cons
- Two cutting edges: a blade and a package opener
- Tiny pliers, small jobs only
- Gerber doesn’t say if the blade locks
Skip it if: they mostly cut paper and string; the Micra’s scissors are better. More in our Gerber Dime review and our best keychain multi-tools.
Best first pocket knife for a young child
For kids under about 9, or older kids new to knives, a rounded tip is the safer start. Both of these are sharp knives, made for supervised carving.
4. Victorinox My First Victorinox: Best for young kids
New in this update. We haven’t used this one ourselves; it’s here on its maker’s specs.
Victorinox built this Swiss Army knife for children and “took the point off the blade to keep them safe”. It keeps nine functions, including a wood saw, a can opener and a 5 mm screwdriver, and comes with a chain and a lanyard.
The edge is a normal Victorinox edge, though. Nothing locks or opens one-handed, and Victorinox’s US page links a safety-rules sheet for kids.
Key specs: 1.6 oz · 3.3 × 0.9 × 0.6 in · 9 functions · rounded-tip blade, doesn’t lock · wood saw · chain and lanyard · Swiss made · Victorinox lifetime / 2-year warranty · $$
Pros
- Rounded tip
- Saw and openers, not just a blade
- Chain and lanyard to keep it from getting lost
- Lightest bladed pick at 1.6 oz
Cons
- The edge is fully sharp
- Blade doesn’t lock
- Costs about the same as the Tinker
Skip it if: your child is past about 10 and has handled a knife; the Tinker does more. Victorinox also sells a Pocket Knife Toy “for young children” if they’re not ready for a real edge.
5. Opinel My First Opinel: Best for learning to whittle
New in this update. We haven’t used this one ourselves; it’s here on its maker’s specs.
One round-tipped blade, a wooden handle, and the cheapest bladed pick here. Opinel’s Virobloc ring locks the 8 cm (3.1 in) stainless blade open while carving and shut in a pocket, which the My First Victorinox can’t do.
Opinel’s US store calls it “the perfect scout knife for children” and adds: “Note that this is a sharp knife, as a result young users should be supervised at all time.” Practice turning the ring together before the first carving session.
Key specs: 2 oz · 8 cm (3.1 in) round-tip stainless blade · 10 cm (3.9 in) handle · Virobloc ring locks open and closed · beech or hornbeam handle · made in France · lifetime warranty · $
Pros
- Blade locks open and shut
- Rounded tip
- Cheapest bladed pick
- One tool, nothing else to open
Cons
- Its 3.1 in blade is longer than the Wingman’s
- Just a knife: no drivers or openers
- The ring has to be turned by hand each time
Skip it if: you want a multi-tool; the My First Victorinox adds a saw and openers.
Best multi-tool for a teenager
A teen who has shown they can handle a knife is ready for full-size pliers. The difference from a kid’s tool is weight and speed: 7 oz, and a blade that opens with one hand.
6. Leatherman Wingman: Best for teens
The step up to a real pliers tool: spring-action pliers, wire cutters and scissors, a locking 2.6 in blade, a package opener, a file and three drivers, with a removable pocket clip.
When we compared it with the Wave+, we called the Wingman great bang for the buck. For a teen, the thing to teach is the blade: it opens one-handed, so it’s quick to open and needs a firm rule about closing it.
Key specs: 7 oz · 3.8 in closed, 6 in open · 14 tools · 2.6 in 420HC blade, locks, opens one-handed · pocket clip included · built in Portland, Oregon · 25-year warranty · $$
Pros
- Full-size pliers and scissors
- Blade locks open
- Clip included
- 25-year warranty
Cons
- One-hand blade opens fast
- Only the blade locks
- Heavy for a kid’s pocket at 7 oz
Skip it if: they’ll be somewhere blades aren’t allowed; the Knifeless Rebar below has no knife. Our Leatherman Wingman review goes tool by tool, and our best EDC multi-tools cover what to carry daily.
Best bladeless multi-tools for kids
For parents who want tools without a knife. Bladeless isn’t harmless: scissors, saws, awls and pry tips still need teaching, but there’s no knife edge to manage.
These three run from a 0.8 oz key-ring tool to full-size pliers. For more tools with no blade, and what TSA allows on each, see our best bladeless and TSA-compliant multi-tools.
7. Victorinox Jetsetter: Best bladeless with scissors
A small Swiss Army knife with the blade left out: scissors, a magnetic Phillips driver, a bottle opener with a wire stripper, tweezers and a toothpick on a 2.3 in key-ring body. Victorinox’s tagline: “Your bladeless and everyday companion.”
In our bladeless roundup the scissors handled paper and thin plastic, and the magnet made it easy to hold onto screws while driving them.
Key specs: 0.8 oz · 2.3 × 0.8 × 0.4 in · 7 functions · no blade · magnetic Phillips 0/1 · key ring · Swiss made · lifetime warranty · $
Pros
- No blade of any kind
- Scissors and a magnetic Phillips
- Lightest pick at 0.8 oz
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Small scissors, light jobs only
- Only one screwdriver
- Tweezers and toothpick slide out and get lost
Skip it if: they want to carve; nothing here cuts wood. Our best Swiss Army knife guide has the bladed models.
8. Gerber Shard: Best budget
The cheapest pick and the simplest: one piece of steel, so nothing folds and nothing pinches fingers. It has a pry bar, three drivers, a wire stripper, a bottle opener and a lanyard hole. Gerber calls it “Airline Safe”.
Our one-piece roundup rated the bottle opener one of the better ones on a tool this size; the drivers handle everyday screws but not really tight ones. Our EDC pry bar roundup found the pry bar great for popping picture nails out of drywall.
Key specs: 1.0 oz · 3.5 in in Gerber’s spec table (2.75 in in its description) · 7 functions · no blade · titanium nitride coating over stainless steel · limited lifetime warranty · $
Pros
- Cheapest pick
- No moving parts to catch fingers
- Keychain size
Cons
- Can’t cut anything
- Short drivers give little leverage
Skip it if: they want scissors; get the Jetsetter. More in our Gerber Shard review and best one-piece multi-tools.
9. Leatherman Knifeless Rebar: Best bladeless for teens
For a teen who wants the full toolbox without a knife. It’s Leatherman’s Rebar with spring-action scissors where the knives would be, keeping the pliers, replaceable wire cutters, crimper, drivers, file, awl and saw. Leatherman makes it for places that “don’t allow for knife blades”.
Everything but the plier head locks. In our bladeless roundup the scissors cut paper, plastic and cardboard cleanly, with a good spring. The saw and awl are still sharp, so teach it like a knife.
Key specs: 6.7 oz · 4 in closed, 6.25 in open · 16 tools · no knife; saw and awl · all tools lock except the plier head · sheath sold separately · 25-year warranty · $$$
Pros
- Full-size pliers with no knife
- Tools lock open (all but the plier head)
- Replaceable wire cutters
- 25-year warranty
Cons
- Most expensive pick
- Has a saw and an awl
- Sheath sold separately
Skip it if: you want no sharp parts at all; the Jetsetter is gentler. Our Leatherman Rebar review covers the shared frame.
Which kids’ knives lock, and which open one-handed?
For a child, two features matter as much as the tool list: whether the blade locks open, and whether it can be flicked open with one hand. Here’s every pick, from the makers’ pages.
| Pick | Tip | Blade length | Blade locks? | One-hand opening? | Closed length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| My First Victorinox | Rounded | — | No | No | 3.3 in | 1.6 oz |
| My First Opinel | Rounded | 3.1 in | Yes, ring locks open and shut | — | 3.9 in (handle) | 2 oz |
| Victorinox Tinker | Standard | — | No | No | 3.6 in | 2.2 oz |
| Leatherman Micra | Standard | 1.6 in | No | — | 2.5 in | 1.8 oz |
| Gerber Dime | Standard | 1.5 in | — | — | 2.75 in | 2.2 oz |
| Leatherman Wingman | Standard | 2.6 in | Yes | Yes | 3.8 in | 7 oz |
| Victorinox Jetsetter | No blade | 2.3 in | 0.8 oz | |||
| Gerber Shard | No blade; one piece, nothing folds | 3.5 in | 1.0 oz | |||
| Leatherman Knifeless Rebar | No knife; saw and other tools lock | 4 in | 6.7 oz | |||
From each maker’s product page, October 2026: Victorinox’s “Blade lockable” and “One hand blade” fields, Leatherman’s “Blade Lock” field and feature list, Gerber’s spec table, and opinel.com (blade 8 cm, handle 10 cm) with Opinel USA’s 2 oz weight. “—” means the maker doesn’t publish it. “Standard” means a normal pointed tip, not rounded.
What “doesn’t lock” means: most small Swiss Army knives are slip joints. A spring holds the blade open, but push on the back of the blade and it can fold toward the fingers. Teach a child to cut with the edge, never to press on the back of an unlocked blade.
Of our six bladed picks, two lock: the Opinel’s ring and the Wingman’s blade. Victorinox lists both of its bladed picks as non-locking, Leatherman says the same of the Micra, and Gerber doesn’t say for the Dime.
What do Cub Scouts and Scouts need before carrying a knife?
In Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), a knife is earned. Its SAFE Project Tool Use guidelines give Lions and Tigers, the kindergarten and first-grade ranks, “No tools”. For pocket or wood-carving knives, the youth must have “earned the Whittling Chip or Totin’ Chip”, and among Cub Scouts they start at Bear.
- Cub Scouts: a Bear (3rd grade) completes the Whittling adventure before using a knife at Cub Scout activities: promise to follow the knife safety rules, show the knife safety circle, show safe care and use of a pocketknife, and make two carvings. Webelos (4th grade) have a Chef’s Knife adventure.
- Scouts BSA: the Totin’ Chip covers the pocketknife, ax and saw. A Scout shows a leader they know the handbook’s woods-tool safety rules, handle and care for the tools properly, treat them as tools and not toys, keep others safe, cut trees only with permission and good reason, and follow the Outdoor Code.
Bears learn four short knife safety rules, worth teaching any child:
- Stop: make sure no one is within arm’s reach.
- Away: always cut away from your fingers and body.
- Sharp: a sharp, clean knife is a safe knife.
- Store: knives closed, in a sheath or knife block.
No brand is required. A small pocketknife like the Tinker or the My First Opinel handles the Whittling carvings; ask the den or troop leader what the unit expects before you buy.
How do you teach a kid to use a pocket knife safely?
Victorinox publishes nine safety rules for children, and they line up with what Scouts learn. In short:
- Sit or kneel to carve, both feet on the ground.
- Carve away from your body.
- Keep everyone at least an arm’s length away.
- Keep the blade sharp: a dull one needs more pressure and is more likely to slip.
- Open one tool at a time.
- Close the knife and put it away when you’re done.
- Only pass a closed knife.
- Don’t carve living trees.
- It’s never a weapon, even in play.
Keeping a child’s blade sharp is a parent’s job at first; our best pocket knife sharpener guide covers small sharpeners. For trip ideas once they’re carving, see camping with kids.
Is the Leatherman Leap still made?
No. Leatherman’s own page now says “This model is no longer in production”, and it can’t be ordered there. The Leap was the only pliers multi-tool we found that a major maker built for kids, “for ages 9 and up”.
It had 13 tools in 4.9 oz, safety locks, and a two-hand-opening blade that a parent could install later. The same page points to Leatherman Exchange, Leatherman’s resale marketplace, for buying retired tools from other owners.
New, the Micra is the nearest Leatherman for a 9-year-old. The Knifeless Rebar is the no-knife option for an older kid.
When doesn’t a kid need a multi-tool yet?
Under about 6, a real tool is more risk than use. Scouting America gives Lions and Tigers no tools, and Victorinox sells a Pocket Knife Toy “for young children” for pretend play.
Older kids don’t need one if nobody has time to teach and watch them, or if it would sit in a drawer. A 7 oz pliers tool is heavy for a 10-year-old’s pocket; a cheap Shard or Jetsetter shows whether they’ll carry anything at all.
Buying for an adult instead? See our multi-tool gift ideas.
