Gentlemen’s knife

[mylest]

Very off the wall question but thoughts on whether or not a black coated blade could be considered when choosing a gentleman’s knife? Specifically the Shinola Benchmade 765 but I’m curious on opinions of coated blades for this role in general.

 

[strategy9]

Any blade will work so long as you're a gentleman...

That said, yes... wouldn't be my 1st choice, but it also won't be my knife so, go ahead!

 

[Insipid Moniker]

It would honestly give me pause, but if the rest of the knife measured up, I would be fine with it. All depends on personal taste. I think the key to most gentlemanly things is class, and that depends almost entirely on the individual. I know guys that can be classy as hell wearing Carhartt's, but would look like penguins in a tux. A classy knife in their hands is gonna be different from a classy knife in mine.

 

[Mo2]

Black blades are tacticool, not gentleman's knife. Could it work on the right knife? Probably.

 

[Night Rider]

IMO Black blades are not for gentleman's knives. Like Mo2 said ^ Black blades are Tacticool. A nice satin finished blade or a mirror polished blade with sleek CF scales screams Class. Black blades are for high speed low drag tactical operations. #No more black blades

 

[RBid]

Coated blades on small sized folders are the style equivalent of tactical loafers. They signal coworkers to let them know you’re the man to find if a squirrel uprising pops off with the office as the epicenter.

Satin, though...

 

[highestpoint]

I would think satin would be a better choice.. Or even better than that a polished DLC like a rockstead would be the best option.

 

[sgt1372]

FWIW, I think that my black Spyderco Southard looks very gentlemanly when compared w/my black Spyderco Military.

More seriously, I also think that my black bladed Kershaw Al-Mar AM-3 looks very gentlemanly and would not look out of place in a suit or tuxedo pocket. The red frame spacers are particularly nice "dressy" touch.

 

[RBid]

FWIW, I think that my black Spyderco Southard looks very gentlemanly when compared w/my black Spyderco Military.

More seriously, I also think that my black bladed Kershaw Al-Mar AM-3 looks very gentlemanly and would not look out of place in a suit or tuxedo pocket. The red frame spacers are particularly nice "dressy" touch.

Any of the slim Al Mar designs are so sleek, they could almost look classy in tiger stripes!

 

[mylest]

I think the Shinola 765 looks pretty classy except for those gaudy orange accents but those can easily be changed to satin. I’m just wondering if the regular 765 is more “gentlemanly”? A crowned spine could be added to it and the scales anodized but that’d all probably cost more than the shinola. I’ve got paralysis by analysis here

 

[Comeuppance]

A gentleman's knife, to me, is something that seems elegant but not overstated. Colors are almost entirely off the table, but a black blade can still work if the material contrast is right and the blade shape isn't too aggressive.

A 581BLK is one of few black-bladed knife I feel qualifies for this category. Black blade, satin bolsters, black handle - it's a knife in a tux.

A real gentleman's knife, though, probably falls into more strict criteria - it needs to be elegant and non-threatening (and a blade over 3" is definitely troublesome for that), and cannot be gaudy.

I would say a JE Made zulu tics just about every box imaginable for a "gentleman's" knife.

Disclaimer: All images have been shamelessly hotlinked.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I dunno, always thought this one was pretty classy; wish I still had her company, so many knives I wish I had back lol,

William Henry Attache, B15, they don't make em' like that any more though...

G2
​

 

[SpySmasher]

I dunno, always thought this one was pretty classy; wish I still had her company, so many knives I wish I had back lol,

William Henry Attache, B15, they don't make em' like that any more though...

G2
​

That's a looker for sure.

 

[GB940Rookie]

Generally I would say no, but I have seen black blades add to the “tuxedo” look of a knife. Like the example Gary just showed us.

 

[JPricey82]

A black coating usually screams Tactical to me. Gentlemen's folders are usually stainless with a satin finish IMO.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

Back in the 90’s, my father used to give out folding knives as gifts from his company.
They were EKA Swede 38 folders with dark blue handles like the one in this picture, but with the company logo in white and a black blade. I always thought they were pretty classy knives.

 

[ecallahan]

William Henry’s DLC looks great on a ‘Gents knife. My family would laugh out loud if anyone considered me a Gent though.

 

[Lapedog]

I would think satin would be a better choice.. Or even better than that a polished DLC like a rockstead would be the best option.

Too bad I can think of exactly 1 knife I have seen at an affordable price point that had a polished DLC blade; and it wasn’t very gentlemanly at all. I’m talkin’ bout the Kershaw Ripcord. Really regret losing mine, I miss that knife.

Polished dlc looks just amazing and I wish we could see it more. It looks almost like the lustre of hematite.

 

[Night Rider]

This Is what i'm talking about... Sexy. Comes in rosewood, also Sexy

 

[Tamernator]

When you wear black or white gentelman clothes, black knife also will fit in it.