How do you convince your mom to let you have a pocket knife?

Answer 1

Give them really good reasons why you should need a weapon. And by saying that, and being a parent, I doubt you will come up with good enough reasons. If you say your friends have knives they will imagine all of you in a knife fight. Tell them you are prepared to adjust to many rules regarding where to keep it, when to use it and how to use it.

Answer 2

Educate her that it is a tool, not a weapon. Teach her about the different types of pocket knives, and how you safely open and close it as well as how to safely grip the knife when it is in use. Educate her on the laws on pocket knives and repeat them back at her when you two have a pocket knife conversation.

It might help to compromise on the length of the knife and go with a smaller starting size. When she becomes comfortable with you managing that size, you can go larger.