Gentleman's Folder

[ShelterMe]

I hate the term "Gentleman's Folder." There. I said it. Thoughts?

I feel it pigeon-holes a knife to a certain catagory and excludes it from others. For instance... I overheard a discussion where the standard Case Trapper was referred to as a Gentleman's Folder and it set my teeth on edge. What's next? The Buck 112 is a Gentleman's Folder because it's smaller than a 110? Farmers and Ranchers and Hunters and Machinists and Dads have been "EDCing" (another term I hate) Trappers for decades. Do you call a Muskrat a Gentleman's Folder? A Sebenza? Delica? Is it because it's shiny, or pretty, or has thin blades or nice scales? Is a Gentleman's Folder any small knife? Or expensive knife? Or is any slim knife? Or any flashy knife?

Gideon's Tactical reviewed the CRKT Crossbones, which now sits on my coffee table, and referred to it by the term. It was a good video, I liked it, but the knife looks like it could filet Marlin or gut Wild Boar. John Wick killed a man with a PENCIL. A F*ING PENCIL! They didn't call it a F*ING GENTLEMAN'S PENCIL! Did they?

Maybe if the term were changed to Lightweight or Compact Folder, or Efficient Folder or Normal Duty Folder: just what you may need for a task but not anything overly cumbersome... I don't know. I also loathe the term "light-duty," as it is usually synonymous with Chinese-made Crap. Day to day I am not carving vampire stakes from tree trunks or chopping up frozen elk bones or shredding steel belted radials, so I don't need an overbuilt ZT knife often. Or even my heavy Buck 112, let alone the 110 (I take the 442 instead). If I liked SAK's, that would do for whatever mundane task I needed it for... If I'm going to work, or on a trip to the woods, etc, I take something more substantial, but if I'm going to the food store or a movie I just grab a knife to have a knife.

I just object to the term Gentleman's Folder. I feel that I can't carry it unless I'm geared up for a night on the town, or wearing a three-piece suit, or sitting at the piano bar in Rick's Café Américain. In my head it makes me feel ridiculous if I want to carry something deemed as such on a daily basis. I hate the connotation that I am unprepared for the Zombie hoard, or if I somehow wind up marooned and have to survive long-term in the Appalachian Wilderness with one arm on my way to get cigarettes.

Am I crazy? Insecure? Can we come up with a better term?

Thank you, Gentlemen.

 

[MSchott]

I don't see it as an issue with the term, but an issue with how it's defined. I certainly wouldn't consider the Case Trapper a Gentlemen's Folder. To me a gentleman's folder is a knife like the CRK Mnandi. It's small and it's elegant. A ZT0460 qualifies but the 0450 does not. A CRK Small Inkosi with a UG case qualifies but not a Plain Jane Small Inkosi. There needs to be an element of elegance to fit my definition.

 

[abcdef]

Yes, CRK Mnandi, that's a good gentleman.

 

[DrRollinstein]

Gentlemen's folders are just classy looking folders in my opinion. The one I have as a gentlemen's knife, for example, is my rosewood and Damascus Mcusta Tactillity. Uses some less common materials and isn't too huge or tacticool.

 

[jimmyd1982]

.

I just object to the term Gentleman's Folder. I feel that I can't carry it unless I'm geared up for a night on the town, or wearing a three-piece suit, or sitting at the piano bar in Rick's Café Américain. In my head it makes me feel ridiculous if I want to carry something deemed as such on a daily basis. I hate the connotation that I am unprepared for the Zombie hoard, or if I somehow wind up marooned and have to survive long-term in the Appalachian Wilderness with one arm on my way to get cigarettes.

Am I crazy? Insecure? Can we come up with a better term?

Thank you, Gentlemen.

I kind of see it the other way around. Just because it can be carried daily (like any traditional) doesn't exclude it from being a gentleman's knife. As long as the knife doesn't look out of place when wearing a suit it qualifies as a gent's folder.

I'd even go as far to say the pattern itself isn't the only qualifier. For example I'd carry a nice dyed bone or stag case stockman in a suit but probably wouldn't carry a yellow stockman.

Just my opinion, ymmv

 

[b00n]

Yes, you are insecure. First of all stop caring what classification a knife fall into, carry what you like. Some people feel bad about carrying something that is called "Tactical" even if it just means it's a mostly black knife. Gentlemans Knife just means (at least to) that it puts style first and function second, an element of class and maybe sophistication in a way. There are "dress variants" of knives for a reason, something you barely use and it's more jewelry.

 

[danbot]

Yes, you are insecure. First of all stop caring what classification a knife fall into, carry what you like. Some people feel bad about carrying something that is called "Tactical" even if it just means it's a mostly black knife. Gentlemans Knife just means (at least to) that it puts style first and function second, an element of class and maybe sophistication in a way. There are "dress variants" of knives for a reason, something you barely use and it's more jewelry.

I don't think a gentlemans knife should be defined as one that puts style over function. It should be stylish with full functionality as a knife.
But I'm a gentleman, so whatever knife I'm carrying is a gentlemans knife!

 

[Chariotz4]

I hate the term "Gentleman's Folder." There. I said it. Thoughts?

I feel it pigeon-holes a knife to a certain catagory and excludes it from others. For instance... I overheard a discussion where the standard Case Trapper was referred to as a Gentleman's Folder and it set my teeth on edge. What's next? The Buck 112 is a Gentleman's Folder because it's smaller than a 110? Farmers and Ranchers and Hunters and Machinists and Dads have been "EDCing" (another term I hate) Trappers for decades. Do you call a Muskrat a Gentleman's Folder? A Sebenza? Delica? Is it because it's shiny, or pretty, or has thin blades or nice scales? Is a Gentleman's Folder any small knife? Or expensive knife? Or is any slim knife? Or any flashy knife?

Gideon's Tactical reviewed the CRKT Crossbones, which now sits on my coffee table, and referred to it by the term. It was a good video, I liked it, but the knife looks like it could filet Marlin or gut Wild Boar. John Wick killed a man with a PENCIL. A F*ING PENCIL! They didn't call it a F*ING GENTLEMAN'S PENCIL! Did they?

Maybe if the term were changed to Lightweight or Compact Folder, or Efficient Folder or Normal Duty Folder: just what you may need for a task but not anything overly cumbersome... I don't know. I also loathe the term "light-duty," as it is usually synonymous with Chinese-made Crap. Day to day I am not carving vampire stakes from tree trunks or chopping up frozen elk bones or shredding steel belted radials, so I don't need an overbuilt ZT knife often. Or even my heavy Buck 112, let alone the 110 (I take the 442 instead). If I liked SAK's, that would do for whatever mundane task I needed it for... If I'm going to work, or on a trip to the woods, etc, I take something more substantial, but if I'm going to the food store or a movie I just grab a knife to have a knife.

I just object to the term Gentleman's Folder. I feel that I can't carry it unless I'm geared up for a night on the town, or wearing a three-piece suit, or sitting at the piano bar in Rick's Café Américain. In my head it makes me feel ridiculous if I want to carry something deemed as such on a daily basis. I hate the connotation that I am unprepared for the Zombie hoard, or if I somehow wind up marooned and have to survive long-term in the Appalachian Wilderness with one arm on my way to get cigarettes.

Am I crazy? Insecure? Can we come up with a better term?

Thank you, Gentlemen.

I find the main problem with a term such as "gentleman's folder" is that while it's meaning is generally agreed upon, it's defined loosely and it's exact definition can vary from person to person so certain people (such as yourself) may disagree with it.

It's a fact that when attempting to classify things, you have to draw a line somewhere to differentiate things, and the things that are on the fringes of either side of that distinction will naturally have people arguing both ways as to where they fall into the classification.

A prime example of this is when manufacturers make "mini" or "micro" versions of full-size knives. The name is true so far in that the mini version is indeed smaller than it's larger counterpart, but often as a standalone knife, it can be argued that they aren't all that "mini" (for example, the Benchmade Mini Rukus, or the Mini Crooked River). This is also relevant to your proposed alternate naming schemes. While you were probably just spit balling some terms off the top of you head, terms such as "lightweight folder" et al are relative to individuals.

While there is likely to be a general consensus that a knife in the sub 2 ounce weight range can be considered "lightweight", there's likely going to be some diagreement as to whether a knife weighing in at 3-3.5 ounces would also be considered as such. Alternatively, someone of average size and stature might find a something ZT 0452CF sized to be quite large while someone built like a NFL linebacker might consider the same knife quite small relatively speaking.

If you're getting frustrated with labels, it's probably best to just try not to be so caught up with them. Buy and use what you like and just be of the mindset that the labels are there for us to have some sort of reference point for a conversation etc. so that way when someone is asking for a suggestion for a hard use knife, the first suggestion isn't a 1.5" Damascus bladed slip joint with Mother of pearl inlays or the like, or if someone is asking for a "compact edc", the first suggestion isn't a cold steel espada XL.

As with everything, just my $0.02, ymmv.

 

[Lapedog]

You’re lucky the decided to call it a gentleman’s folder. They almost went with “Gurly mahn’s” folder. (Pronounced like arnold schwartznegger)

 

[Ajack60]

When I think of a gentleman knife, I think about a knife that’s not deemed offensive, scary, or looks intimidating to other people. It can be any brand of knife that a person carries regardless of their clothing selection.
A Bodega is a dressed out knife with a gorgeous design, but I wouldn’t consider it a gentleman’s knife. A William Henry or CRK Mnandi is not intimidating if it’s used in public, so for me, those would be gentlemen’s knives.
A gentlemen’s knife isn’t a dedicated knife for going out on the town, but rather one that will not create someone to become uneasy around it.

 

[19-3ben]

I have no problem with the term.
I’m an attorney and spend my time in a law firm, so to me, I use “gentleman’s knife” basically to mean one where if the partner walks into my office and sees me slicing an apple with my pocket knife, or if I use it to cut open a heavy envelope full of medical records in front of a client, nobody is going to look at me like I have six heads.

Generally but not always, it means subdued colors but not black, traditional materials, and something that looks fairly traditional. Disqualifying features are things like serrations, tanto blades, black coatings, billboards on the blade, etc....

As an example, my most carried knives are Vic Pioneer or Cadet in alox, Boker dark blue none single blade trapper, Boker Appaloosa trapper, GEC 15 crown lifter in green linen micarta... you get the idea. For modern knives I’ve found the Benchmade North Fork to excel at this role, as does a Kershaw Leek (so long as I open it with two hands rather than flipper).

They are all subdued, nothing flashy, no spikes, skulls, or any other hooey on them. They befit a gentleman. As soon as I’m not at work, I have no problem carrying a Manix 2, or whatever. Today I had my Izula 2 on my belt all day.

 

[Eric5273]

Who cares what it’s called? It’s a knife!

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I hate the term "Gentleman's Folder." There. I said it. Thoughts?

I feel it pigeon-holes a knife to a certain catagory and excludes it from others. For instance... I overheard a discussion where the standard Case Trapper was referred to as a Gentleman's Folder and it set my teeth on edge. What's next? The Buck 112 is a Gentleman's Folder because it's smaller than a 110? Farmers and Ranchers and Hunters and Machinists and Dads have been "EDCing" (another term I hate) Trappers for decades. Do you call a Muskrat a Gentleman's Folder? A Sebenza? Delica? Is it because it's shiny, or pretty, or has thin blades or nice scales? Is a Gentleman's Folder any small knife? Or expensive knife? Or is any slim knife? Or any flashy knife?

Gideon's Tactical reviewed the CRKT Crossbones, which now sits on my coffee table, and referred to it by the term. It was a good video, I liked it, but the knife looks like it could filet Marlin or gut Wild Boar. John Wick killed a man with a PENCIL. A F*ING PENCIL! They didn't call it a F*ING GENTLEMAN'S PENCIL! Did they?

Maybe if the term were changed to Lightweight or Compact Folder, or Efficient Folder or Normal Duty Folder: just what you may need for a task but not anything overly cumbersome... I don't know. I also loathe the term "light-duty," as it is usually synonymous with Chinese-made Crap. Day to day I am not carving vampire stakes from tree trunks or chopping up frozen elk bones or shredding steel belted radials, so I don't need an overbuilt ZT knife often. Or even my heavy Buck 112, let alone the 110 (I take the 442 instead). If I liked SAK's, that would do for whatever mundane task I needed it for... If I'm going to work, or on a trip to the woods, etc, I take something more substantial, but if I'm going to the food store or a movie I just grab a knife to have a knife.

I just object to the term Gentleman's Folder. I feel that I can't carry it unless I'm geared up for a night on the town, or wearing a three-piece suit, or sitting at the piano bar in Rick's Café Américain. In my head it makes me feel ridiculous if I want to carry something deemed as such on a daily basis. I hate the connotation that I am unprepared for the Zombie hoard, or if I somehow wind up marooned and have to survive long-term in the Appalachian Wilderness with one arm on my way to get cigarettes.

Am I crazy? Insecure? Can we come up with a better term?

Thank you, Gentlemen.

I kind of see it the other way around. Just because it can be carried daily (like any traditional) doesn't exclude it from being a gentleman's knife. As long as the knife doesn't look out of place when wearing a suit it qualifies as a gent's folder.

I'd even go as far to say the pattern itself isn't the only qualifier. For example I'd carry a nice dyed bone or stag case stockman in a suit but probably wouldn't carry a yellow stockman.

Just my opinion, ymmv

These two posts are good examples of prescriptive language versus descriptive language, and I'm very much in agreement with jimmyd1982 . If I describe something as a gentleman's folder I'm not restricting it to a certain role, but rather saying that it has the versatility to fill that role as well as any others it may be suited to.

For me, a gent's folder is something light enough to be carried in a suit pocket without discomfort and handsome or unassuming enough to be produced at a formal event without raising anyone's blood pressure. There are plenty of celidor SAKs that, IMO, can fill that role handily, though my own vanity might call for an alox or wood scaled model to carry in my suit pocket.

 

[ggw]

"gentleman's folder" = any folding knife a gentleman carries

 

[danbot]

These two posts are good examples of prescriptive language versus descriptive language, and I'm very much in agreement with jimmyd1982 . If I describe something as a gentleman's folder I'm not restricting it to a certain role, but rather saying that it has the versatility to fill that role as well as any others it may be suited to.

For me, a gent's folder is something light enough to be carried in a suit pocket without discomfort and handsome or unassuming enough to be produced at a formal event without raising anyone's blood pressure. There are plenty of celidor SAKs that, IMO, can fill that role handily, though my own vanity might call for an alox or wood scaled model to carry in my suit pocket.

Well said Sir!
You are a gentleman and a shcolar!

 

[22-rimfire]

I know a gentleman's knife when I see it. I tend to go in the direction of Insipid Moniker and 19-3ben. Being a gentleman and carrying a knife is not enough to categorize the term.

 

[danbot]

I know a gentlemans' knife when I see it. I tend to go in he direction of Insipid Moniker and 19-3ben. Being a gentleman and carrying a knife is not enough to categorize the term.

Catagorize, no. Simplify, yes.

 

[danbot]

But seriously, I don't get "dressed up" a lot. When I do I like to carry a fancy shmancy knife that looks better than I do!

Knives are a part of my life and maybe even a part of my indentity. I remember some good times that I associate with certain knives I was carrying at the time, whether I had an opportunity to use them or not. But more often than not, there's a hanging thread that needs a solution.

 

[Swampdog]

My "Gentleman's Folder" is a Case Tribal-Lock / Tony Bose model in ebony and nickel silver. Small and thin enough to fit my pocket without being noticeable, and very pleasing to look at. Sort of a "Sunday go to meetings" knife that I can use to cut pie or stab someone in the eye.

 

[22-rimfire]

I recently purchased the Fox Elite Gentleman's knife. It is thin, wood handled, single bladed, and has a liner lock. No clip. It's called a gentleman's knife by AG Russell and that's good enough for me. I feel very gentlemanly when I carry it in my pocket.