Good knife for an older guy?

Victorinox alox


Or maybe this one with the easier to open main blade, it's actually quite light weight also.
 
draggat, etc;

I've circled the sun a few more times than your f-i-l - and I have lost some feeling in my fingertips - and strength in my hands too. Blame it on CTS and a neck injury, among other things. I added Case knives to my collection a few years ago - and no more - my thumbnails aren't strong enough for openning some - like my Seahorse Whittlers - without break-in. I much prefer German-made 'classic' Bokers - Tree Brand, for example. I feel they are excellent buys in 'traditional' slipjoint knives (Stockman, Trapper, Canoe, etc.). I have a small collection of them... and SAK's... which I hardly ever carry. I can be found most days with a Benchmade, Buck, CR, Kershaw/ZT, or Spyderco 'modern' folder in my pocket. My beloved Buck 110 is a great knife - I even have Buck Custom Shop examples - but many of them are difficult to close, so I am selective as to which ones I can carry. I have never had trouble opening or closing a Benchmade, whether an AXIS lock, liner/frame lock, or lockback. I am not fond of assisted knives - or full auto's, either. I also don't care for pocket clips as I prefer to carry my pocket knives 'in my pocket'. My latest pair - a ZT-0566 and ZT-0770CF - had both their assist springs and clips removed after arriving home. They are great knives - now - to me (YMMV). As to Syderco, I cannot say enough about the utility of my latest Native series - the Native5 in G10 (C41G5). It weighs an ounce more than the staked FRN handled version with it's hollow-ground S30V blade (C41BK) like I carried for years, but you get a screwed on G10 scales over skeletonized SS liners/full flat ground S35VN bladed knife. Both have sturdy yet easy to close lockback actions.

Now, if you have a dealer with Benchmades, give both the AXIS lock and lockback 'Bone Collector' series folders a look. The small Bone Collector AXIS lock, 15030 series, is a handy size - and available in walnut wood or G10 scales. All have D2 blades. If you think he may want a smaller, aka 'Gent's' knife, consider the 482 Megumi in CF & Cocobolo wood with a 2.48" x 0.11" blade of S30V - with a push-button liner lock. It looks and functions great - especially nice as a Sunday knife! I have what I've suggested - and you should be able to secure them for <$200/each.

If money weren't an object, I'd look at getting him perfection - a Ti frame-lock with an S35VN blade - a small CR Sebenza. Even the 'plain' variant won't leave much left of four Benjamins... but what a perfect, if God-awfully plain, knife!

Stainz

PS Have you thought about gifting him a gift card to a local store and going with him to peruse their stock? My son did that to me some years ago to a local shop... it started this knife-collecting madness!
 
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Without knowing more abut the gentleman, it's impossible to make any accurate prediction of what he may like. How does he spend his leisure time, How does he dress? What does he do for a living? What are the weight parameters of what he'd accept in his pocket? Does he have any arthritis issues in his hands or fingers? All of this will make a large difference in what he likes.
 
My first thought is a Spyderco Air...light and flat like traditional folders, but with a Spydie hole to open. Liner lock is not difficult to close and mine is smooth as butter with no break-in needed.

It's also simple and doesn't require the coordination of an Axis lock or an AO.
 
Maybe think about a traditional-styled lockback? The nice thing about those is they have light spring pressure, and many of them can be opened just by pinching the blade between your fingers and opening it two-handed. If his hands are giving him trouble now, then (I admit I'm guessing) the passing of the years to come will make him less inclined to one-hand-open his knife.

Buck 503, or 501 -- the 501 is available from the custom shop with S30V and fancy handle options. He will likely know and respect Buck as a brand, too, which can help get the sentiment across. Similarly, Case makes a beautiful thing in the Mini Copperlock with various bone scales, but the steel is nothing to write home about (I would say stick with lighter colors, Case's bone dyeing is pretty inconsistent.)

At the fancier end there's Moki and Al Mar, but I don't know much about them other than they're purdy. :) GEC makes a few lockbacks as well, but with them you always have to spend some time figuring out what's out there to buy right now. AG Russell has a bunch of nice traditional styled lockbacks, too -- gunstocks and barlows and such. Lots of options out there in traditional-land -- that's half the fun!
 
In reality, none of us know what style of pocket knife he'd like. People are different.

I'm 66 and have no use at all for traditional slip joints or for pocket weights like the Buck 110s. I use only pocket knives with a clip and one-handed opening. I like my Military because it carries well, opens and closes easily and has a high-performance grind.

Why don't you show your father-in-law your collection, and see what he likes. Then go from there.
 
My Father who is in his late 70's loves his Boker Top Lock Cocobolo auto. It a nice knife classic and modern. He is missing his pinky finger and likes how the knife deploys and feels in his hand. I have replaced the spring on it 1 time for him, but it has been his EDC for 10 years.
 
I'm going to assume the guy isn't totally palsied and recommend an automatic, esp. if he's never had one. He'll probably play around with it and find it more novel than anything else you could give him. Some of the little Protechs are pretty cool and CA legal too.

Or...if he's a rocker buy him a Grayman; if he's jazz a Mnandi; if he's classical a William Henry.

If he's really that shaky or weak then get him something "pretty" like a SAK---never a bad gift.
 
67 and my Buck Alpha Dorada folder is one great looking knife. I have the Rosewood handles
. My hands are medium and the knife just feels good to hold.
 
Hard to go wrong with a Victorinox Rambler. It won't do heavy cutting or prying but perhaps that is not needed on a day to day basis. It'll open bottles, cut packages and string, clip off hang nails, pull out splinters, unscrew simple screws etc.
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Wenger nail clippers are also very handy tools if you prefer nail clippers to bottle openers.
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Lots of my old buddies (and I is one) like the traditionals. I got my brother a basic Buck Stockman in yellow last year that he just loves. You can get the same thing except made by Case and they are both fine knives at a cost of $35 - $40 and are made in the USA.
 
There are many excellent suggestions in the above posts, and I'll give you mine.

I'm sorta on the top end of the age range here, and will show some pics of my favorites. None should run you over $150 tops and most can be found ANIB here on the Exchange. I am a real Spyderco fan. I love the Spydie "hole" and the blades open easily. I "go through" a lot of folders for fun/hobby and I "NEVER" buy new from a dealer...well, almost never.
This pic shows Spyderco Sage models: Sage 3 in carbon fiber, Sage 3 in blue G10, Sage 2 in titanium. Wonderful 3"-bladed folders.


Below shows Spyderco Caly in 3" and in 3.5" ZDP189 steel. Again, outstanding (IMO) EDC folders.


The one below is a favorite of many knife-guys...the Spyderco Paramilitary 2. You can find this knife in many blade-steels, but the most common is S30V, a good steel and you can find MANY of these NEW or ANIB for $120 or so. The blade is about 3.3"; a great EDC for just about any guy, regardless of age. (I'm much older than your father-in-law)
 
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I'm a 60+ guy, not a knife expert, but can say my favorite is an axis lock Benchmade. I prefer a Mini Grip for EDC.
 
A quality Multitool , with the main blades on the outside that can be accessed easily both two or one handed .
For a person who isn't a real knife aficionado a Multitool will be appreciated and get used the most .
I have gifted a number of knives to relatives over the years and can honestly say a Leatherman or similar is never a bad choice and even if they aren't a carry a knife everyday kind of a person , they will probably keep the Multi in their car or an easily accessible place at home . The same can't always be said of a single bladed knife when it comes to non knife people .
Good luck choosing , you sound like a good Son in-law to have :)

Ken

Edit - if he is knowledgable of knives then a Spyderco would probably be my pick , but then you would have to decide what lock type would suit him and the dexterity of his fingers .
 
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I think an SAK Alox Farmer would be a good choice or if you want something a little more special how about one of GECs Easy Open Jacks? He's lucky to have someone like you for a son in law. :)
 
I am 68 years old and I am more a fan of modern designs and materials than traditionals. My Favorite EDC's are a LionSteel SR1 for jeans wear and an SR2 for more dressy occasions.
My hands are shaky, too, but I can handle a thumb stud or spydie hole just fine.

Don't assume that because he is older he wants a traditional slip joint.

Incidently, I think that the Spyderco Native is one of the finest, most versatile smaller hard-use folding knives ever made. One of the best, but often overlooked, small knives is the Al Mar Nomad.

One other sure-fire ploy if you go the traditional route is to find out what he carried as a young man and get an up-scale version of that. I wouldn't turn my nose up at a nice stag-handled two-blade trapper.
 
Twindog said:
Why don't you show your father-in-law your collection, and see what he likes. Then go from there.
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After seeing all of your responses, I think this is what I'll do. I actually have quite a few of the suggested knives myself. I would hate to spend a bunch of money on a knife he didn't like. Thanks for all of the responses, especially from you guys who have problems with your hands. Unfortunately this is something I will probably have to look forward to someday as well. Both my dad and his dad had mild Parkinsons and shook like crazy.
 
A.P.F. said:
Well, I am over 60 so I guess that I qualify. I would get him a Buck Custom 112 folder in S30V. You have a good selection of scale materials to choose from and engraving is available. Any 'man of years' would be pleased with such a gift.
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This!!! I recently got my 53y dad a custom 110 with S30v and he loved it.
 
I would say either the Spyderco Domino or Southard, both are flippers and very smooth and you can open the blade almost effortless using both the flipper tab and finish opening with the Spyder hole. A twofold opening option. The lock bar on both knives isn't so strong that he will have a difficult time closing either one. :)
 
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