"Gentleman's folder" nonsense.

I think there are a lot of good definitions here. The only thing I will add is that it seems like these knives get some bad press. I work in an office environment and love my knives.. I have everything from fixed blades like a fallkniven a1 down to small gentleman's folders. I would say that there are a lot of us who would love to carry something bigger but cannot, people will freak out. That being said I think even gent folders can be split into categories...like small casual folders like the Mnandi or a crkt eros, too tougher more tactical folders that actually can handle some real work, like a brous bionic or a kingdom armory samaritian., to your everything EDC like a small Sebenza or Gayle Bradley air...that M4 steel is tough, I kick the garbage out of mine and it never dulls. I love my smaller knives they are easy to carry, and most of the time I will not have to hard use the knife. That being said I still carry something larger i my EDC bag just in case.
 
uofaengr said:
High on aesthetics, little anything else. Cuts ok, but looks better doing it. Small and ornate. The Benchmade 707 and Sage 1 are labeled gent's folders because of their size and looks, but they're some of the most capable knives out there. They're not tactical blades or hard use blades; I put them in the category of small, general EDC suitable for formalwear...that's not a gent's folder IMO.

In some cases I consider it marketing to certain groups of people. I like the aesthetics of William Henry's, and they're the epitome of a gent's folder. But look at their website. Gifts for upper class Beemer driving men like cuff links and $750 pens...seriously. Mad Men type stuff. I think the WH E6 and E10 are reasonable for us common folk, but a lot of the stuff on there is for men who have nothing else to blow their money on. Or men who wanna be James Bond or Don Draper. That's what I think of when I think gent's folder.
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Except WH knives cut like the dickens. The core of their Damascus is usually ZDP189 with a near mirror polished edge. Combine that with thin blade stock and the thing is a LASER. Even the E6/10 with their 'lowly' D2 cut phenomenally.
 
Scurvy092 said:
Except WH knives cut like the dickens. The core of their Damascus is usually ZDP189 with a near mirror polished edge. Combine that with thin blade stock and the thing is a LASER. Even the E6/10 with their 'lowly' D2 cut phenomenally.
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You're 100% right. I was comparing them to what else is offered on their website regarding their "gentlemanly" status..or stigma, if you will.
 
Proof (albeit hyperbolic) that there is a gentleman's type knife, look at the Spyderco Sage 1, or ZT 770. Both slim, sleek, light, and small. Designed to ride deep in the pocket, and trade strength (liner locks, slick handles, slicer grinds) for style and ease of carry. Both knives would be equally at home in a pair of jeans or in a pair of slacks. That is what I call a gentleman's knife, something designed to be small, cut well, be unassuming, and look pretty.
 
dkb45 said:
Proof (albeit hyperbolic) that there is a gentleman's type knife, look at the Spyderco Sage 1, or ZT 770. Both slim, sleek, light, and small. Designed to ride deep in the pocket, and trade strength (liner locks, slick handles, slicer grinds) for style and ease of carry. Both knives would be equally at home in a pair of jeans or in a pair of slacks. That is what I call a gentleman's knife, something designed to be small, cut well, be unassuming, and look pretty.
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Can hyperbolic refer to hyperbole as well as hyperbolas?
 
Gentleman's folder would take two hands to open in a deliberate fashion to be used to cut the end off of a Cuban cigar or around the seal on a bottle of a fine Chianti.
Not a Kershaw Blur whooped out one handed to open a beer bottle at a barbeque.
 
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I've had negative comments about a spyderco dragonfly as a weapon, but an Alox Vic Soldier is given compliments at the workplace (medical lab). I think it's more about style/form than physical dimensions.
 
Murdamook said:
You pish-posh at labels and genres, write them off as such and such, then you seek the definition of the given label? To answer your question, I wouldn't use an FRN knife as a dress knife which seems to be the common situation for the gentleman's folder-or the office-but I wouldn't hesitate to carry it in any other situation. In the end, who really cares? I went to a wedding in a tux last week, had a cqc-11 in front right pocket, and my z-wear SnG in my back pocket.
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I guess you didn't do much dancing with that 11 in your front pocket :-)
 
I have been thinking about this for the last couple hours. I have not been able to think of one gentleman or one lady, still living.I think during the late 60's and the 70's,those notions were abandoned, with the exception of old farts,geeks and nerds. If i knew one (gentleman or lady) that was still living, i would converse with them on the subject. regards Henry
 
Quillan said:
As an aside, I paid $115CAN for my CF Chappie 3 years ago. The latest version, in some "3D" textured titanium scales retails for a whopping $350. I guess gentleman equals "lawyer, doctor, dentist, architect, or unionized longshoreman"....:p
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Funny actually, I worked as a unionized longshoreman for 8 years. Im still with the same company but in a different position.

I always felt that the gentlemans carry would be something you would reserve for special occasions like weddings, ceremonies, parties, etc., where you would tend to be a little bit fancier in attire. Now the fact that some folks think your Chaparral falls into that category? Oh well, whatever suits them.

I have a Caly 3 CF/ZDP189 and a Caly 3 CF/Damascus currently. I've been kind of eyeing up the nishijin fibre Stretch. Who knows. I have an 801CF to wait for yet too.
 
manowar669 said:
I've had negative comments about a spyderco dragonfly as a weapon, but an Alox Vic Soldier is given compliments at the workplace (medical lab). I think it's more about style/form than physical dimensions.
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I can actually do significantly more damage with a shoe than I could with a Dragonfly unless I used it shiv style, tackle and stab repeatedly. A pencil could do the same thing. Sounds like where you work 3 of the knives within 3 feet of me would make some eyes pop out of socket. I got my scary Böker AK74 Orange (I know it doesn't fit any criteria, but I feel like this one is a gents knife), my terrifying ZT 801, and my hysteria inducing BM Adamas.

Sounds like even my most tame one hand knives, my Spyderco Cat, SRM 763, and Spyderco Leafstorm would all cause a fuss, and I barely consider them knives!
 
I think a gentlemen's knife is mostly about being jewelry and cutting thread or a cigar. Also I believe the definition of gentleman is immense wealth.
 
HwangJino said:
....Also I believe the definition of gentleman is immense wealth.
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I know many gentlemen who have nothing even close to immense wealth and I've met wealthy men I'd never consider gentlemen. Wealth, immense or otherwise, does not make a gentleman.
 
When I hear gentle men's knife I think small, light, higher-end materials.

Like a Benchmade Shoki. Ever hold one? Weighs next to nothing. Seriously.

If you need a knife, you have one. But it is small, probably very light, made of higher-end materials and intended for light-duty use. No problem pulling your pants down on one side, or a big knife imprint in a dress pant pocket.

And expensive. Because they can market it that way.
 
Murdamook said:
You pish-posh at labels and genres, write them off as such and such, then you seek the definition of the given label? To answer your question, I wouldn't use an FRN knife as a dress knife which seems to be the common situation for the gentleman's folder-or the office-but I wouldn't hesitate to carry it in any other situation. In the end, who really cares? I went to a wedding in a tux last week, had a cqc-11 in front right pocket, and my z-wear SnG in my back pocket.
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And if you would've whooped either one of those out to cut a string from a little girl's dress, somebody would've called out the SWAT Team do disarm you (you ruffian, you)!
 
leghog said:
I know many gentlemen who have nothing even close to immense wealth and I've met wealthy men I'd never consider gentlemen. Wealth, immense or otherwise, does not make a gentleman.
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Yes, many can be a gentlemen. I thought we were talking about the wealthy ones. Otherwise this thread would be titled 'anyone's' knife.
 
leghog said:
I know many gentlemen who have nothing even close to immense wealth and I've met wealthy men I'd never consider gentlemen. Wealth, immense or otherwise, does not make a gentleman.
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Slightly off-topic, I met a very fine gentleman after an orchestra performance here in town. Afterwards my father (plays the cello in the orchestra) mentioned he'd seen me chatting with him, and told me he's a millionaire many times over and one of the richest men in my state. I'd have never guessed.
 
HwangJino said:
Yes, many can be a gentlemen. I thought we were talking about the wealthy ones. Otherwise this thread would be titled 'anyone's' knife.
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"Anyone" is not a gentlemen. For years that has been proven to me over and over again. A gentleman's knife, like the gentleman himself, will not be ostentatious, not put on airs, nor scream "NOTICE ME!".


RedLynx said:
Slightly off-topic, I met a very fine gentleman after an orchestra performance here in town. Afterwards my father (plays the cello in the orchestra) mentioned he'd seen me chatting with him, and told me he's a millionaire many times over and one of the richest men in my state. I'd have never guessed.
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Well put. Precisely my point, but you put it better.
 
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Being a "gentleman" has nothing to do with wealth and everything to do with manners and conduct irrespective of what knife or other object you carry. Unfortunately there are very few true "gentlemen" around these days. Manners are no longer being taught as they once were.

The term "gentleman's folder" is purely subjective. It's one of those "I know it when I see it" concepts.

(Although I do have to laugh when I see any ZT referred to as a gentleman's folder.)
 
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