My nephew will be turning 12 in February. Over the holidays, my brother and I briefly talked about me getting my nephew his first knife (my brother isn't much of a knife guy - I've actually bought several knives and multitools for him as gifts). I need to confirm more explicitly that he's okay with a knife as a gift, but I'm starting to look around and get some ideas in the meantime.
A few guidelines - this is a first knife and as such, may end up getting lost or destroyed, so I don't want to spend a lot of money; probably no more than $40. While I've considered a Swiss Army Knife or a multitool, it seems that a "first knife" should really be that - just a knife. Probably one or two blades, but no more than three. (FYI, my first knife was a two bladed Colonial Prov USA, like this one (https://knoxville.craigslist.org/for/d/knoxville-vintage-colonial-prov-ri/7709538125.html))
As such, I'm leaning toward something like one of the entry level Schrade or Buck knives. Probably a nail nick, rather than something like a flipper or thumb stud. He's a decent sized kid (already about 5'5") so hand size shouldn't be too much of an issue. If I get a locking blade, I'd prefer a lockback, as that seems like an easier mechanism to use for an inexperienced knife owner (even after 40 years of knife ownership, I still don't care for liner locks). And I'm thinking rather traditional with the knife design - wood, brass, stainless, faux horn, etc. No crazy colors / wild designs.
A few ideas so far:
- Buck Trapper 382 (https://a.co/d/aqDYNWu)
- Buck 389 Canoe (https://a.co/d/8JCxxWC)
- Schrade Old Timer (https://a.co/d/bucL7uD)
- Schrade Old Timer 33OT Middleman (https://a.co/d/gKLzmkg)
- Old Timer Heritage 5OT Bruin (https://a.co/d/6bDFJHG)
- Schrade Old Timer 7OT Cave Bear (https://a.co/d/bgAUDh2)
So what are your thoughts? Anything that I'm missing or reasons why I'm wrong about the considerations above? :D One other consideration - I won't be there in person to give it to him, so I'll have to rely on my brother to handle the instructions on use and safety. Given that I'm the one with scars from using a knife improperly as a kid, that might be better anyway...
Oh, and one more thing. Any suggestions on simple knife care / sharpening to go with it? Should I just get him a basic whetstone, or would it make more sense to get him something like a Sharpal (https://a.co/d/3lNOokh)sharpening tool?
Edit - I think CRKT or Gerber might be a better choice.
I would look at CRKT or Gerber. You really want a lock blade. Not over 3 inches. A simple wet stone and can of 3 n 1 oil. Or any small oil bottle that you can easily drip a drop at a time. With easy open and close cap. You also want a rough textured or rubber handle.
Why?
CRKT or Gerber is good but not expensive.
The only times I've cut myself on a knife. Was when it closed on my fingers. Same with about any kid handling a knife. Simple thumb stud.
Any longer than 3 inches us to long imho for a kid.
Whetstone all the way. Those V sharpeners are crap. And will ruin a blade. Anything fancier is for hair shaving adults. Once he learns how to sharpen with a whetstone he can sharpen anything. Even on a smooth rock. Which is a valuable survival skill. No V sharpeners growing on trees. Its also a light tension action. You can gkide the blade across. Verses the more extreme oressure the V type sharpeners take. Alot more likely to cut himself badly.
Oil for the stone. Any oil will work. It just needs to be in a small flip nozzle or twist nozzle. I like flip cause its positive close. You know when its fully closed.
Rough textured or rubber handle for grip. Way harder to slip out of young clumsy hands.
Cheaper if you don't buy from manufacturer website. These are just random ones I found that meet above criteria:
https://www.crkt.com/knife/tuna-compact-folding-knife-with-frame-lock
https://knife-depot.com/products/knife-140064
https://knife-depot.com/products/knife-338838
Small Keychain Thin Lightweight Pocket Knife for Kids, Men, Women Everyday Carry, Stainless Steel Blade G10 Handle Mini Pocket Folding Knife for Camping, Hunting, Survival, Outdoors (Green-B) ... https://a.co/d/bg5Sqvc
Any of those knives would make fine gifts. As far as a sharpener, definitely the Sharpal-type over the whetstone. You can theoretically get a better edge with a whetstone and it'll certainly last longer. But it requires patience and technique. That's a tall order for a 12 year old new to knives.
A whetsone like this does not require getting your opposite hand anywhere near the blade. And does not require a great deal of force. It also has a rubber bottom that holds it in place.
HURRICANE Whetstone Knife Sharpening Stone, 2 Side Grit 1000/6000 Waterstone, Whetstone Knife Sharpener, Non-Slip Bamboo Base & Angle Guide https://a.co/d/3ibBKyn
Screenshot_20240131_043200_Amazon Shopping.jpgScreenshot_20240131_043217_Amazon Shopping.jpg
Where as the hand held V notch type like above. Requires hand strength to hold the sharpener. And a fair amount of force to drag the blade between the V notch. It is not a light slide. It requires a strong grip on both sharpener and knife. With the left hand that close to the blade - with a handheld sharpener - the risk of a 12 yr old cutting himself is high.
With the whetstone he can start out with only the hand holding the knife. With the whetstone sitting solidly on a table. His left hand coming nowhere near the blade.
He also does not have to take a strong, fast or hard swipe with the sharpening stone. He can take just an easy slow glide across the stone. Which even when your an experienced knife sharpener takes little effort. And very little force.
Its not like the V notch ones where you have to pull really hard to drag it across the V shaped sharpening blades. You have to really drag the knife hard between those sharpening blades to get them to shave off metal.
Not to mention all that force being held by the couple fingers of your left hand holding the sharpener. It's really kind of a precarious device. And because it is not a smooth flat surface - but two sharp pointed blades - it will easily create waves and irregularities in the knifes blade.
Which is fine in say a factory or meat processing plant. Where they are normally used. As those cheap knives can be easily replaced. And speed is a factor in the processing. But I would not use one on a personal knife. Especially if it had any value. Using one of these is just setting him up to use an improper tool.
There are many very good tutorials for sharpening with a whetstone on youtube. It is really very simple once you get the angle figured out. And a cheap knife is the best thing to start with. (Your $50 budget is not cheap imho. But you get my meaning. But even if he gets the angle wrong a few times in a whetstone. That can be easily corrected. Which isn't the case with the V type. They take a great deal of metal each swipe. And could take a fair amount if time in a whetstone to fix.)
Sharpening with a whetstone it's very easy to see on the blade where you are grinding. And easy to get the angle right. It just takes a couple minutes of trial an error.
This is also only $9.99.
I've got a few kids around the age of 12, and plenty of friends with kids that age. The last birthday we went to, their boy really wanted a pocket knife, so we got him this Kershaw Brawler (https://www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Pocketknife-8Cr13MoV-Modified-SpeedSafe/dp/B005UE6GRC/ref=sr_1_43?crid=1NAWJ7ECY584D&keywords=crkt+pocket+knife+3inch&qid=1706712737&sprefix=crkt+pocket+knives+3%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-43) with a 3.0" blade. It's a solid knife, it locks in place, and fits his hand nicely. I agree with what a few of the others, a 3.0" blade is about right for a 12 year old boy, and teaching them how to sharpen it will go a long way towards a life long skill...
What about a small fixed blade ?
Might be safer for a knife newbie than a folder.
Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on January 31, 2024, 03:50:55 PMWhat about a small fixed blade ?
Might be safer for a knife newbie than a folder.
That would be safer. But I wouldn't be to worried with a 12 yr old. They should be able to handle a simple folding knife. If he was 5 then ya. I'd highly suggest a fixed blade.
Quote from: Moab on January 31, 2024, 04:33:23 PMQuote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on January 31, 2024, 03:50:55 PMWhat about a small fixed blade ?
Might be safer for a knife newbie than a folder.
That would be safer. But I wouldn't be to worried with a 12 yr old. They should be able to handle a simple folding knife. If he was 5 then ya. I'd highly suggest a fixed blade.
I'd say that probably depends on the 12 year old.
I've known some that are smarter than most adults and a few that probably need to be wrapped in Nerf padding for the rest of their lives for their own safety.
Now that I think about it, though, I know a lot of adults like that as well.
I think it's better to stick with a folding knife, as that allows him to carry it easily without people freaking out. He's home-schooled, so no issues with school zones. But most of the family's outside activities are through their church, and a fixed blade in a sheath wouldn't go over very well there.
Quote from: EBuff75 on January 31, 2024, 08:04:44 PMI think it's better to stick with a folding knife, as that allows him to carry it easily without people freaking out. He's home-schooled, so no issues with school zones. But most of the family's outside activities are through their church, and a fixed blade in a sheath wouldn't go over very well there.
Good point. A folder would be a lot easier to conceal than a fixed blade.
I think Moab is definitely on to something. I have a Gerber Paraframe that I love: solid locking mechanism, easy to sharpen blade, durable pocket clip with good retention...but it has a thumb stud, so maybe not...
Have you considered an Opinel?
Opinel (https://www.opinel-usa.com/collections/opinel-pocket-knives)
It's within your price range, is sharp and can be kept sharp easily, has a solid locking mechanism and is made of more traditional materials.
It's not too flashy either. Two hands to open and lock it, and a twist-to-lock mechanism that seems pretty fool proof. It can be locked closed or locked open.
I owned an Opinel as a boy, then a Swiss Army Knife for a while...it was the Swiss Army Knife that folded up on my finger and made me look for locking knives from then on.
Quote from: EBuff75 on January 31, 2024, 08:04:44 PMI think it's better to stick with a folding knife, as that allows him to carry it easily without people freaking out. He's home-schooled, so no issues with school zones. But most of the family's outside activities are through their church, and a fixed blade in a sheath wouldn't go over very well there.
That's funny. Cause in this day an age I assumed it wouldn't be anything he'd be allowed to carry.
Glad to hear he's in such a great situation. There were alot of things I wish I could have allowed my son. But living in Los Angeles it just wasn't an option.
Quote from: echo83 on January 31, 2024, 09:05:08 PMI think Moab is definitely on to something. I have a Gerber Paraframe that I love: solid locking mechanism, easy to sharpen blade, durable pocket clip with good retention...but it has a thumb stud, so maybe not...
Have you considered an Opinel?
Opinel (https://www.opinel-usa.com/collections/opinel-pocket-knives)
It's within your price range, is sharp and can be kept sharp easily, has a solid locking mechanism and is made of more traditional materials.
It's not too flashy either. Two hands to open and lock it, and a twist-to-lock mechanism that seems pretty fool proof. It can be locked closed or locked open.
I owned an Opinel as a boy, then a Swiss Army Knife for a while...it was the Swiss Army Knife that folded up on my finger and made me look for locking knives from then on.
I thought about that, but it might be a little
too old-school, if you know what I mean. I've got one, but it's more of a collectable / curiosity for me and isn't really a knife that I actually use. I'd be slightly concerned about him carrying one because the locking mechanism is manual - if you forget to twist the collar, it can open up while in your pocket.
I've got a pair of Opinel knives and I'd say they're not really something I'd hand a knife newbie.
I only bought mine because I had some money left on an Amazon gift card and needed something to qualify for free shipping on an order.
ETA: Victorinox also makes a locking blade SAK, but they're about 20 bucks over the 40 dollar budget.
It occurred to me that a Barlow style knife might be another good pick. Oddly, they seem to come in two varieties - cheap / crap and expensive / nice. There really wasn't much in the middle. The best I could find in my budget was the Rough Rider Denim RR2191 (https://a.co/d/fQiEuFv) at about $20. It's a T10 carbon steel blade, so it would require some maintenance to keep it from oxidizing. The handle on a Barlow is a bit chunky, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as it should help to keep a good grip on it.
Delete.
Quote from: EBuff75 on January 31, 2024, 10:22:27 PMIt occurred to me that a Barlow style knife might be another good pick. Oddly, they seem to come in two varieties - cheap / crap and expensive / nice. There really wasn't much in the middle. The best I could find in my budget was the Rough Rider Denim RR2191 (https://a.co/d/fQiEuFv) at about $20. It's a T10 carbon steel blade, so it would require some maintenance to keep it from oxidizing. The handle on a Barlow is a bit chunky, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, as it should help to keep a good grip on it.
Ganzo makes excellent knives. I bought one of their knock offs of a Steeve Reeves folder. It cost me $17. And it is the nicest and nicest finished knife I own. I don't own expensive knives. But it is way better than my Civivis, CRKT, Spyderco, ESEE and Kershaws to name a few. In fit and finish.
But this Ganzo - Spyderco knock off has a oerfect 2.93" blade, good course handle for a good grip, easy to open either using an easy stud type motion or opening it like you would a non locking folder with both hands, easy to care for stainless steel, and you can get it for him in orange. So he doesn't lose it.
GANZO Firebird F759M Pocket Folding Knife 440C Stainless Steel Blade Nylon Glass Fiber Anti-Slip Handle with Clip Tactical Survival Fishing Camping EDC Knife (Green) https://a.co/d/aIpGrS4
Ganzo has a nice selection of other styles too.
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I had a two blade Imperial when I was 7. Got it for 'Day Camping'. I think a 'pocket knife' is a better starter than a 'Tactical Folder' for a first knife. You can whittle with it and not freak out any observers.
(https://i.etsystatic.com/9840690/r/il/ea2714/1376221091/il_fullxfull.1376221091_h35g.jpg)
I second Moab's endorsement of Ganzo knives. They are seriously nice for the money.
Check your PMs, Ebuff75.
Finally got the okay from my brother this morning (I had to send him another note). He emphasized "starter" in his email, but did mention that my nephew has had some basic knife safety training, which is good. I sent my brother links to a few knives and he's okayed either of these:
Buck 375 Deuce (https://a.co/d/02Ae5mZ)
Buck_375_Deuce.jpg
Old Timer 33OT Middleman (https://a.co/d/iVCJGfL)
OldTimer_33OT_Middleman.jpg
I'm leaning toward the Buck, but any reasons I should go with the Old Timer instead?
Also, my brother said that they don't have anything for sharpening, other than whatever it is that they use for kitchen knives. I could get a sharpener to go with it (like a Smiths Pocket Pal (https://a.co/d/0NcSfT1)), but I sort of like the idea of an actual whetstone / sharpening stone instead.
This RH Preyda stone / oil / pocket (https://a.co/d/15g4XSH) seemed like a nice option. (I'd never heard of them, but they're a small, family-owned company in Arkansas). Thoughts?
RHPreyda_Arkansas_Pocket_Stone.jpg
Dawned on me that (at least at first) it might be good for him to have some cut-resistant gloves too. Yes, I know this sounds a bit over-the-top, but I'm actually somewhat surprised that my brother/sister-in-law are going along with me giving him a knife in the first place!
Something like these maybe? https://a.co/d/bpZNiYB
:greenguy:
Some of these too?
(https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mfasco.com%2F1719z.jpg%3Fresizeid%3D-2&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=e9c01681a33790d8637283cca17250a3f2f9bfe054bd31d8c2e92c04322456d6&ipo=images)
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Quote from: MacWa77ace on February 05, 2024, 11:20:37 AM:greenguy:
Some of these too?
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I think they've already got those covered! He's a pretty active kid and they've likely had to patch him up a few times already from various calamities! :smiley_clap:
An Arkansas stone is the best material for whetstone making available in the US. Should be good. Small is good for carrying it with your knife. But larger would be easier for a first time sharpener. More surface area means less likely to cut yourself. And easier to slide the knife across in a full motion. Versus an abbreviated smaller motion. Maybe buy him the small one and the larger $10 version I posted above with the non slip rubber base?
That same company does offer a stone that's mounted on a base: https://a.co/d/hO3iV7q and I had wondered if that might be a better choice. It's not a super-small stone (I've got some of those myself) in that both of them are 4-inch by 1.6-inch. That's seems like a good middle size and I think it would work well for a knife with a 2-inch blade.
The Old Timer is cheaper and therefore you're not out much money should it be lost, but the Buck has a lifetime warranty if it breaks.
ETA: I just checked the links and the Buck isn't actually that much more than the Old Timer. Maybe a couple bucks difference in price.
That said, I say go with the Buck.
Quote from: EBuff75 on February 05, 2024, 11:37:33 AMThat same company does offer a stone that's mounted on a base: https://a.co/d/hO3iV7q and I had wondered if that might be a better choice. It's not a super-small stone (I've got some of those myself) in that both of them are 4-inch by 1.6-inch. That's seems like a good middle size and I think it would work well for a knife with a 2-inch blade.
Thats plenty big. But yes the base is a wise choice for a kid.
Quote from: Moab on February 05, 2024, 11:30:59 AMAn Arkansas stone
This is how I initially interpreted these three words.
(https://www.theonering.net/torwp/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/977527_657818424253766_45016838738563239_o.jpg)
Nah. I'm WAAAAAY lazier than Bilbo, so there's no chance you'd even get me to leave on that quest!
"So you're saying that you want me to leave behind my comfy house, in my quiet town, where I have a fully stocked larder, and a collection of books that I can read in front of a crackling fire, to go walk hundreds of miles cross-country, facing danger the whole time, only to challenge a dragon for it's hoard when we get to the end? Uh, don't let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out Gandalf!" *slams and locks door, while shaking head in disbelief*
However, from the Wayback-Machine-of-EBuff's-Mind, one of the local BBS's that a friend and I used to use back in the 80's was named Minas Tirith. Since it wasn't as common (at the time) for people to really know about LOTR, it was a sort of fun thing for those of us who recognized the reference.
I also recall that one of the shareware games of my youth, (either 'Temple' or 'Castle') had a 'Palantir' as one of the items you had to find in order to win.
The geek is strong in these two ...
I could never get into the LOTR stuff. I watched the movies one time and the whole time I was cracking jokes about it ala MST3K (pissed off my sister's ex-fiancee when I did that, but I didn't care.)
Only geeky thing I ever really got into was Star Wars and then the prequels came out and screwed that up.
The funny part is, if I could've found a LOTR-related knife for him, my brother and sister-in-law would probably have been more enthusiastic, as they're huge fans!
Quote from: EBuff75 on February 05, 2024, 05:05:19 PMThe funny part is, if I could've found a LOTR-related knife for him, my brother and sister-in-law would probably have been more enthusiastic, as they're huge fans!
(https://64.media.tumblr.com/3917ac8a98e126f3a1ebd18bf1311066/afcf01ae00f3c98e-44/s540x810/cd96dc7f8d2a99cb7099597f8f0b84d349f841d2.gif)
Quote from: EBuff75 on February 05, 2024, 05:05:19 PMThe funny part is, if I could've found a LOTR-related knife for him, my brother and sister-in-law would probably have been more enthusiastic, as they're huge fans!
I did a quick search on Google for LOTR pocket knives and all I found were some Franklin Mint collectors ones.
And the quality on those is apparently just slightly above gas station levels.
Did find plenty of swords, but those might be a bit much for a 12 year old as a first knife, though.
Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 05, 2024, 06:01:37 PMQuote from: EBuff75 on February 05, 2024, 05:05:19 PMThe funny part is, if I could've found a LOTR-related knife for him, my brother and sister-in-law would probably have been more enthusiastic, as they're huge fans!
I did a quick search on Google for LOTR pocket knives and all I found were some Franklin Mint collectors ones.
And the quality on those is apparently just slightly above gas station levels.
Did find plenty of swords, but those might be a bit much for a 12 year old as a first knife, though.
Yeah, I did the same and got those same results. A mini-Sting pocketknife is a cool idea, but apparently there's a limited market for such things with any level of quality! :D
Quote from: EBuff75 on February 05, 2024, 07:05:02 PMQuote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 05, 2024, 06:01:37 PMQuote from: EBuff75 on February 05, 2024, 05:05:19 PMThe funny part is, if I could've found a LOTR-related knife for him, my brother and sister-in-law would probably have been more enthusiastic, as they're huge fans!
I did a quick search on Google for LOTR pocket knives and all I found were some Franklin Mint collectors ones.
And the quality on those is apparently just slightly above gas station levels.
Did find plenty of swords, but those might be a bit much for a 12 year old as a first knife, though.
Yeah, I did the same and got those same results. A mini-Sting pocketknife is a cool idea, but apparently there's a limited market for such things with any level of quality! :D
It would be kind of neat to see some good quality LOTR styled pocket knives.
Quote from: 12_Gauge_Chimp on February 05, 2024, 03:39:35 PMI could never get into the LOTR stuff. I watched the movies one time and the whole time I was cracking jokes about it ala MST3K (pissed off my sister's ex-fiancee when I did that, but I didn't care.)
Only geeky thing I ever really got into was Star Wars and then the prequels came out and screwed that up.
How can you not like LOTR ? ( the books )
Now silently the host of Rohan moved forward into the field of Gondor, pouring in slowly but steadily....
After a while the king led his men away somewhat eastward, to come between the fires of the siege and the outer fields. Still they were unchallenged, and still Théoden gave no signal.... A smell of burning was in the air and a very shadow of death. The horses were uneasy. But the king sat upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly by anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age. Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him.... They were too late! Too late was worse than never!....
Then suddenly Merry felt it at last, beyond doubt: a change. Wind was in his face! Light was glimmering....
But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle: and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great boom.
At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before:
Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains.
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!
Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them.
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I re-read the LOTR trilogy every 10 - 15 years and get something different out of it every time. Until Peter Jackson came along, I considered it absolutely unfilmable.
He did such an astonishingly good job (in spite of - or perhaps because of - leaving out so much of the source material) that I still forgive him for that hot, bloated mess he called "The Hobbit".
"There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10254806.The_Lord_of_the_Rings) and Atlas Shrugged (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9365.Atlas_Shrugged). One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs."
Well, the order is placed and everything should arrive this weekend (having it shipped directly to him, since I'm out of state). I went with the Buck 375 Deuce (https://a.co/d/gmplX65), sharpening stone with base (https://a.co/d/fmeuJRh), and some cut-resistant gloves (https://a.co/d/hITFcsD). My brother is planning to do a knife safety refresher with him once he opens them all.
Thanks to everyone for chiming in with advice (and movie/book references)!
I talked to my parents today and they said that at my mother's birthday party this week, my nephew quickly pulled out his pocket knife when a package needed to be opened! Success!! :smiley_clap:
Quote from: EBuff75 on February 25, 2024, 06:58:15 PMI talked to my parents today and they said that at my mother's birthday party this week, my nephew quickly pulled out his pocket knife when a package needed to be opened! Success!! :smiley_clap:
That's awesome! It's an important step for a young man, and the first of many experiences he'll have being there for others.