Good wood handle knife that is classy as a gift

eisman said:
Opinel ain't going to cut it. Buck looks like you work in a gas station.
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Exactly.
Wishfulthinker580 said:
I think that’s the key. Needs to be something comparable
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Makes sense.
Bob Denman said:
Friends don't keep running tallies...
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While this is true, and I never keep track of who picks up a tab if we go out, there is a big difference between a tally, where things have to be exact vs something roughly in the ballpark (whether that’s comparing monetary value or merely the thought going into the gift).

If one friend gives a $300 watch from his carefully curated collection, and the other returns that kindness with a $45 knife he could buy at Walmart, that’s not being a thoughtful friend.

I’ll second the post above about a nice GEC.

Other great options could be a traditional from Boker (the proper Solingen made ones) like one of their micarta Barlow, or maybe one of them made in big oak or with the wood from Schloss Berg. Now that’s classy and a unique piece.

Another one, kind of from a different perspective could be a Spyderco Chaparral in birds eye maple. Small enough to be unobtrusive and non-tactical, is a gentleman’s knife and classic looking because of the wood and flowing lines despite being modern in design.


Of course these are all guesses within a vacuum because we don’t know which watch the friend is getting. What you do know, as a friend is that you never get in trouble for being too thoughtful, so go for it and get him something meaningful.
 
Bob Denman said:
Friends don't keep running tallies...
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That's true...but this is a new friendship. One of them will likely have some feelings if there is a great disparity. Something akin to insult or disappointment on one side vs the potentially more likely regret or self loathing on the other.

* The reason I asked about the timeframe was the mention of Opinel.
**Edited to add: I just checked - they still have a few ebony 8s available. I figured they'd have been gone; and there would be a few months wait for the next. I gave away my black palm Opinel - it stung a little (sign of a good gift) but I was able to get another...just haven't reshaped the handle, yet; so it sits.
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I don’t know the right answer, but I would want to know more about how he might use it such as a gentleman’s folder versus a belt carry. My only advice is to never give a knife (to someone you like) that you would not carry/use yourself.
Good luck with your search!
 
hhmoore said:
That's true...but this is a new friendship. One of them will likely have some feelings if there is a great disparity. Something akin to insult or disappointment on one side vs the potentially more likely regret or self loathing on the other.

* The reason I asked about the timeframe was the mention of Opinel.
**Edited to add: I just checked - they still have a few ebony 8s available. I figured they'd have been gone; and there would be a few months wait for the next. I gave away my black palm Opinel - it stung a little (sign of a good gift) but I was able to get another...just haven't reshaped the handle, yet; so it sits.
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That one is very nice looking.
 
Just out of curiosity, aside from asking what he likes (which received a relatively vague response), have you showed him a variety of knives to get a feel for his thoughts?
If he doesn't carry a knife, he may be a clean slate that will be open to whatever....but not necessarily. I usually dislike when people give me knives, because I usually dislike the knives I'm given. I appreciate the intent; but I'm stuck with the knife.
Wood handles, classic, and elegant can mean just about anything depending on who's doing it. For example, the Buck 110 has been mentioned ...
Wood handles? Check
Classic? Check
Elegant? Hmmm - maybe to some
The thing is a pocket brick; and I wouldn't want to give it to somebody unless I knew it was what they wanted. I could agree with a nice wood covered GEC...but depending on the friend's age and experiences, that could be entirely the wrong direction.
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Buck 112 from Buck's Custom Shoppe.

This 112 has oak scales...

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Buck makes a good knife. I've owned dozens of them, different models, over the years. But the single blade patterns suffer from several things; first, they have been copied by everyone from Spain, to Japan, to Pakistan, and everybody knows this. So the perception is the knife you have is a cheap POS, because Joe Public isn't going to be able to tell the difference. Second, they were very popular with the leather and Harley crowd, which isn't anybody's idea of class. (I can't see one without the soundtrack for YMCA running through my head.) Use them if you got them, but if you're going to actually go "custom" get a Lanny's Clip from a reputable maker (there are plenty on this forum) and crawl out of the 1970's.
 
eisman said:
Buck makes a good knife. I've owned dozens of them, different models, over the years. But the single blade patterns suffer from several things; first, they have been copied by everyone from Spain, to Japan, to Pakistan, and everybody knows this. So the perception is the knife you have is a cheap POS, because Joe Public isn't going to be able to tell the difference. Second, they were very popular with the leather and Harley crowd, which isn't anybody's idea of class. (I can't see one without the soundtrack for YMCA running through my head.) Use them if you got them, but if you're going to actually go "custom" get a Lanny's Clip from a reputable maker (there are plenty on this forum) and crawl out of the 1970's.
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I’m part of the Harley crowd. I use proper manners, cordiality and etiquette.
 
Here is a small wood Laguiole as an example. Wife bought this one for me at a local store, came in a very nice leather sheath:

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Here is a custom one that I had made

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(go to the website for Couteau Laguiole Actiforge and you can pick steel, handle material, etc.; takes ca. two weeks to be delivered)

BTW, is automatic an option ?

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If yes, google Bill DeShivs, he's a member here, BTW.
 
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