Albury Local Court magistrate Miranda Moody said Ben Douglas Bakes' actions were spur-of-the-moment though still a serious crime.

"It's a nasty offence and it's a nasty injury, but I think it's borderline (on crossing the threshold for a jail sentence)," Ms Moody said.

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"Family arguments are fraught.

"There's always a complexity that lies underneath.

"These arguments can get way out of hand."

The court heard that Bakes, after his father walked towards him aggressively during their argument, reached back and grabbed whatever object came to hand.

That object was a serrated, 15-centimetre knife, which left the victim with a laceration that required sutures at Albury hospital.

As soon as he stabbed his father, Bakes told his stepmother to call for help.

Ms Moody expressed surprise to see someone like Bakes before the court, especially over such a "serious offence", given he had never been in trouble before.

Defence lawyer Tim Hemsley said Bakes, who also had no history of mental health issues, was a hard-working, single man with nothing adverse in his background.

The court was told Bakes had shared the house of his father and stepmother, their home of 20 years, since January, 2019.

The incident happened on June 11, 2020, about 6pm.

Bakes and his father had a brief chat before the older man began arguing with him about the way he treated his mother.

Bakes walked into the kitchen to get away from his father, who followed a short time later.

The argument got heated and Bakes backed away, grabbing the knife as he came up against the kitchen bench.

Bakes pleaded guilty on Thursday to malicious wounding.

He was convicted and fined $1000 and placed on an 18-month community corrections order.

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