Best knives for a suit?

[bdmicarta]

The last time I wore a suit was at my daughter's wedding and I carried my Spyderco PM2 with carbon fiber and M4 steel.

 

[js1badsti]

lionsteel Mini gentlemans folder

 

[AlphaDog86]

For the longest time my go to “suit” knife was my Spyderco Centofante 3. Now my Sm. Sebenza 21 CF Insingo has taken it’s place.

 

[coinbuysell]

Before we went to jeans every day the flippers that I carried were either a ZT 0770CF, BM 940-01 or a Brous Bionic 2.0 auto (almost a flipper). I know you said you like steel/aluminum handles so maybe the regular 0770 or 940? That Brous opened in my pocket one time so I would not recommend that one anymore (I was leaning on a file cabinet and I guess the corner of the cabinet pushed the button?).

Carried a few other traditionals, etc. from time to time but they don't match what you were asking for.

But that Mnandi is SWEET

 

[sabre cat]

The last time I wore a suit was at my daughter's wedding and I carried my Spyderco PM2 with carbon fiber and M4 steel.

My daughter's wedding is on Friday. I will have a Case limited edition medium trapper, 1/500. Pearl scales. The plan is to pass that knife on to my first grandchild (if I ever get any). I admit that I am tempted to pass it on to my son-in-law or just keep it myself.

Traveling to and from the wedding I will carry my 551 Griptilian with orange scales. The same knife I carried for the road trip driving my daughter two states away for school.

 

[Ourorboros]

Not flippers, but that might not be right for suits - Moki Serapis MOP. Moki Pliant Arrow. A traditional in buffalo horn or mother of pearl.
Front flipper - Kizer Feist.

 

[K.O.D.]

Massdrop Ferrum Forge Gent select. (Now drop.com)

Carbon fiber over titanium, flips on bearings, CPM-S35VN, extremely lightweight, flipper on bearings. $120. I love mine. It's also available with rosewood, or, for $20 less, a variety of G-10 colors.

It's a nice size.

Personally, I carried a Lionsteel Opera when I got married. I no longer have it, my father absconded with it.

I live in United Socialist State of Illinois, and when I go into the city, I carry a Case Copperlock, plus the Vic super tinker that's always with me in my medicine bag. Which never leaves my side.

Another option is a Spyderco Dragonfly in pakkawood. Very nice lightweight, discreet little knife.

 

[buckeyejake]

If i couldn't carry my small sebenza . The lil native by syderco would be my second pick .
They are great little knife made right in Colorado.

Jake

 

[skyhorse]

The only suit I've ever owned was issued to me a lifetime ago but I'm thinking the ZT0450 would work nicely.

 

[Shorttime]

The one on my Skeletool CX.

It's not a knife. It's a multitool.

Now, this does nothing to satisfy your qualification for a flipper. I spent a lot of time looking at "gents" knives, and finally concluded that the knife is only about 70% of the situation. How you deploy it is the other part. With a flipper, the temptation is always to pop it open with a wrist flick, which can alarm the gentle people.

With a multitool, you usually don't have that option. There is also this weird public perception of Leatherman/SAK/type things as "proper tools", like a wrench or screwdriver, while knives fall into their own sub-category. People don't seem to be conscious of either making this distinction, or the fact that any of these implements are equally capable of doing harm or good, depending on the user's inclination.

tl;dr version: gentlemen's knives are a matter of managing other people's notions about knives and their uses. I choose to carry a multitool because other people look at them differently.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

The Protech Godson is the perfect size not only for regular everyday carry but also especially for a suit because it looks so classy to me. Black clip inside jacket pocket feels just right.

I’m definitely not saying that you’re wrong, but it feels a bit like you should add a plumed hat and some sort of fancy cane to that suit...

 

[JimMD]

I don't have anything that meets all your criteria if you wanted only to stick with metallic scales, but especially if you'd be open to using a blade hole, here are some knives I can recommend:
1. Massdrop Gent Select - great flipper action, titanium under layers of CF. Handle may be a bit short for XL hands
2. Spyderco Chaparral in either CF/G-10 or Raffir Noble - probably my first choice in this price range for wearing with a suit. Great ergonomics for such a small handle
3. TRM Neutron - great knife but hard to find and just over $150

If you like the Chaparral but want something bigger, the Spyderco Sage 5 is a larger version with a compression lock.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I wear suits and suit jackets daily and for me any knife with a pocket clip worn in the pocket is a no no nothing looks worse than a well fit suit with a goofy knife with a pocket clip hanging out of it.


So for me it’s a fixed blade worn in waistband or horizontal....it blends in and no one sees it. if I have to wear a folder that is also carried horizontally in a discreet sheath that blends in with my belt line

I'm a suit and tie every work day guy. I also have a work bag that has my Ipad/laptop/notebook and files. So I carry way too many knives every single day!! They go in the desk drawer at work, because I am in and out of secure areas multiple times a day. Both jail and courthouse.

Sash carryworks under suit. I usually have slipjoints in each pocket and a tiny custom fixed blade in back pocket (two rings for fingers, and box cutter style blade by J. Todd).

For clipped folders, I often clip the folder inside the waistband, behind the belt, front right. No assisted, flippers, or autos near the junk, however. I usually only do this when wearing a suit, and don't want the clip showing, or if I'm in jeans/shorts/casual, and either run out of pockets (ie front right has slipjoints, and front left has reloads) and I don't want to sit on the knife back pocket.

 

[Reitwagen]

I got my suit out last year to see if it still fit and it had holes. It had been so long since I had worn it that there was a comb in the coat pocket from when I had still had hair. I don't know why I'm reading this thread.

 

[marcus52AR]

I've never owned one, but William Henry makes some classy looking folders suitable for suit carry. I almost pulled the trigger on this one back when they were on sale. I can't remember the pricing on this particular model, but they vary drastically depending on inlays and other extras.

 

[katanas]

Personally, I carried a Lionsteel Opera when I got married. I no longer have it, my father absconded with it

Nice knife , Your father, well, maybe he had a little too much champagne.

 

[Nixelplix]

Carrying balisong of some kind whilst wearing a suit is classy.

 

[afishhunter]

I realize they are not in contention, but why not a multi-blade traditional, such as a Canoe, Barlow, Stockman, or Peanut?
None of these "print" in a suit pants pocket.

Why do you "need" a one hand opener or flipper in an office setting?
A traditional slipjoint is less likely to raise the eyebrows of your coworkers and supervisor (any one of which, or all of whom may be anti-knife) than a modern oho/flipper.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I realize they are not in contention, but why not a multi-blade traditional, such as a Canoe, Barlow, Stockman, or Peanut?
None of these "print" in a suit pants pocket.

Why do you "need" a one hand opener or flipper in an office setting?
A traditional slipjoint is less likely to raise the eyebrows of your coworkers and supervisor (any one of which, or all of whom may be anti-knife) than a modern oho/flipper.

I do both. Traditionals and at least one modern..... one hand opening at minimum. But usually a fixed blade too.

 

[Shanks4300]

Benchmade Valet. Nice and light, slim profile. Deep carry clip.