Hello + recommendations for a gentleman's folder

S

stollio

Joined
Jan 20, 2015
Messages
74
Hello all. I've been lurking for a couple of months and decided I finally had a decent first post to make(I hope). I'm looking for recommendations for a gentleman's folder. To give you some direction, I am leaning towards a Mnandi, and am trying to offload my Chaparral(great slicer but it just wasn't for me). So $500 or less, around a 3inch blade, and nice aesthetics. Thanks in advance!
 
Welcome to BladeForums. :)

Mnandis are beautiful knives, but they're a bit too small for me. I prefer Small Sebenzas myself. I'd also suggest you look into William Henry knives. They make what some folks (myself included) consider to be the quintessential line of modern gentlemen's folders.
 
You definitely cannot go wrong with an Mnandi. Does it have to be a one hand opener? Because you could get a very nice custom slip joint for $500.
Check out Davison, menefee, coats, ohta, halfrich, Allen, etc.
 
yFWm2N.jpg


Lionsteel TiSpine. Dead sexy, and actually a nice user.
 
Thanks for the recs so far...I'll check them out. Also should have mentioned I just got a small micarta sebbie(which I love ☺) but it is a little more rugged looking than what I had in mind. I guess the polished handle with wood inlay would work though! I just don't really need 2 of them at the moment.
 
What are your needs/wants? Pocket clip? What kind of lock? Custom or production?

Check out Mel Pardue - he's currently taking orders and makes a very fine gentleman's folder.

Some plainer Warren Osborne and Koji Hara pieces can be had for around $500-600.
 
William Henry has some beautiful knives too! Thanks bld. Some of their models are pretty out there but the base models look very sleek.
 
asdf12345 - a clip is nice(deep carry preferred) but not strictly necessary. As for lock types, I like framlocks, lockbacks, or a good liner lock, but am open to trying something new there as well.
 
Crawford Frame Lock, I just got one as a gift and it is the bomb. One piece frame, one pivot screw, and three small ones that hold on the pocket clip. Sleek is an understatement, if you want something that you can use as a conversation starter...this is your knife.
 
My answer to this dilemma was a Leatherman Skeletool CX, the one with the carbon fiber piece.

I know, not properly a "knife". Let me explain.

The point of a gent's knife is to have a small, friendly-looking cutting tool for situations where the atmosphere, and the company, may be nervous, or even hostile, to a dedicated knife. The Skeletool gets around this, because the public perception of multitools is that they are tools, like a pen or a bottle opener.

I carry more than just a knife most days, but when I'm dressed up, having a bunch of tools suspended from my belt, or printing in my pockets, is not the way I want to go. So the Skeletool offers all the tools I'm likely to need in a social setting, and packages them neatly in one place. I can clip it to my pocket, and if a fellow knife enthusiast notices, I can pull it out without any reservations about offending those with delicate constitutions.

Good luck with your search, and be sure to post lots of big pictures, when you make your choice!
 
Here's a size comparison photo of some of my favourite gentleman's folders; each one can be had for less than $500...

gent01_zps5tjgiidr.jpg

Moki Serapis, CRK Mnandi, William Henry B12 Atlas, Mcusta Yoroi, CRK Small Sebenza 21 Insingo*, Case/Tony Bose Coffin Jack

*The small Seb is borderline for gent's class, imo... might fit better into the category with a fancy inlay or graphic

Good luck, OP! Let us know what you decide on! :)

-Brett
 
I would like to second William Henry, specifically their "EDC" line. I'm currently away from my computer so cannot post a picture, but search for William Henry EDC E-10 and you will see what I Amy talking about. Very slim, very nice button lock, good looks and steel.
 
Man this turned into a drool-worthy thread ☺ Thanks for all the recs...I have a lot of research to do now. I'll let you know what I decide on!

To anyone who has owned a Mnandi, how thick is it? Would it fit ok in a pair of slacks/dress pants? I haven't seen any pics of it down the spine.
 
stollio said:
... To anyone who has owned a Mnandi, how thick is it? Would it fit ok in a pair of slacks/dress pants? I haven't seen any pics of it down the spine.
Click to expand...

A Mnandi will fit comfortably in dress slacks. In fact it will even look like a pen clipped to a dress shirt pocket.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top