Help me decide on a Gentleman's Folder, Please!

T

tr3nt00n

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Aug 22, 2013
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I've been searching for an edc blade for an office environment, a "gentleman's folder" rather than a tactical or outdoors use. I want something aesthetically pleasing so that I'm happy to give up some pocket space for it. Price should be around $100, mainly because I don't want to worry if it gets lost or stolen, but I want good quality.

I was originally looking for something like the Benchmade Shoki or the CRK Mnandi, but the Shoki sounds poorly made for the price and the Mnandi is out of my price range. I particularly like the idea of wood scales, but I haven't found a wood scaled knife that was both beautiful and functional. I'd love to get one of the Mcustas if the liner locks weren't such a pain to actuate.

So I branched out from wooden handles and settled on these two:

Spyderco Chapparal Carbon Fiber
-I love the ergonomics both in the grip they give and in the beauty of the curves
-Spyderholes are my preferred opening method
-S30V is a quality steel I can be happy with, I haven't found any way to buy the XHP version yet.
-The carbon fiber scales are not the best scales I've ever seen, but they're more attractive than G-10
-The pocket clip isn't the best I've ever seen, but it's good enough that I won't mind using it when I want to

-I've heard some stories of poor quality control, both in the locking mechanism being too tight and with gaps between the scales and the liner
-While I like the choil design, it also has a downside that the actual cutting edge is even shorter than it would normally be on this blade length


Al Mar Hawk
-Amazing weight to blade length ratio
-I like the Micarta handle
-Seems to be top quality Fit and Finish
-Never have to worry about scaring someone when I pull it out

-Less impressive blade steel, particularly for the price
-The look has an understated elegance, but sometimes it just looks plain
-The gap between the base of the blade and the handle choil when it's closed is a pet peeve of mine
-No clip option


I've probably forgotten some pros and cons, but this is a basic outline. I'm tearing my hair out over this and reaching the point where I'm about to buy both of them just to be done. Hopefully you all can save me from this dilemma!
 
I've been carrying around a mini trapper traditional and love it.

This is a favorite though, it is Centofante inspired, comes in two sizes, micarta handles with a nice sharp blade out of the box. CRKT Tribute

mbmuzr.jpg
 
I think the only advantage of the Sage 1 over the Chaparral is the size, and that's not an advantage when it's in my pocket (most of the time), so I chose the Chaparral.


Thanks for reminding me about the CRKT Tribute. When I saw it a few days ago I dismissed it because it lacks 1-handed opening, but I suppose that's not a dealbreaker at that price.
 
This is an easy one... The CRKT Eros. I have the 3" version and love it. I got mine here on the exchange for < $100. The detente in combination with the IKBS makes it flip like it's assisted. The Acuto+ blade is like a scalpel. Titanium handle, super lightweight. Mcusta also make some very nice gentleman's knives and their QC is very good. I have the BM Shoki as well and that would be my second recommendation. Mine has no issues. There are also a ton of traditional slip joint folders that are quite gentlemanly. Here are a couple pics:

Eros:


Mcusta Yoroi:


Shoki:


GEC #15 in Smooth Ivory Bone
 
Nothing classier than a traditional pattern, imo. But if you're set on a one-hander for around $100, maybe look at the Spyderco Terzuola SLIPIT. Discontinued but still readily available... one heck of a sporty lookin' knife! :cool:

bobsb01.jpg


Good luck! :)

-Brett
 
I have the Spyderco Chaparral in both CF & Titanium handles. No issues at all.

My Mcusta Moroi is also great and no issues.

I carry the CRKT Eros most and have a spare since I like it so much.

The one you shoud check out is the Spyderco Air Bradley. So light, practical and beautiful.

C159GF_L.jpg


Another is Spyderco Memory Centofante.

C155TI_L.jpg


Fallkniven GP is another great one.

Then, there are the William Henry EDC E-6 and E-10 with 2.75" and 3.25" blade lengths respectively but the prices are up there as well.

Let me know if you'd like pictures of all the aforementioned together.
 
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Ahhh yes, RamZar comes through with some good ones! One of the knives I really regret selling is my GB Air. No pocket clip, but none is needed because it is very light. The Centofante Memory is beautiful but it seems a bit heavy for it's size. Maybe not a big deal though. The WH E6 and E10 are ridiculous. Fantastic fit and finish and super light. Unfortunately, as stated above, quite bit more than $100. :(
 
I'm at the office right now reading this post with a Chaparral in my front pocket. Can't even tell its there & I've never had a coworker give me a weird look when I used it around non-knife folks. Great all around knife plus aesthetically it's beautiful.
 
Wow, lots of suggestions. Let me see if I can go through and give you guys some responses so you'll understand my preferences. But first I want to mention that I've been thinking about it and I want to go for around a 3" blade. I've decided that's small enough not to be threatening, and big enough to be functional. That means the Spyderco Chapparal is too short (because the actual blade is like 2.2 inches), but the Sage 1 works. The Al Mar is also pretty short, so I'm thinking I prefer the 3" CRKT Tribute over that one (it's got a good length blade, and I'm okay with lower quality if it's so cheap I don't mind replacing it).

CRKT Eros: I think it's a good looking knife, but it might be a little to exotic for the office. The blade is only 3" so I'm not sure, I don't have a good "is this knife threatening?" meter. In any case I'm not a fan of flippers, either in the pocket or in the deployment. The price is the nail in the coffin, since I'm not in love with it.

Mcusta Yoroi: Wow that is just gorgeous! I absolutely love the look of Mcustas, and I haven't heard anything bad about the quality, but the difficult liner lock is a dealbreaker. If there was a version of Mcustas that had a more accessible liner lock, or a different type of lock, I'd be happy to check it out.

Shoki: This is a little higher than my price range, but I'd be willing to buy it just because of how great it looks and I like the locking mechanism.... if I hadn't heard so many bad stories about blade play and failed locking. There are lots of lower-priced knives with better reputations.

GEC/Case/Traditional Knives: Unfortunately, this style of knife just looks unattractive to me. I think the old Buck knives looked okay, but I'm looking for something much better than okay.

Slipjoints: I wouldn't mind a high quality one with a mid-way stop to prevent it swinging closed. There were some european slipjoints that looked pretty good... the Fantoni Dweller and the "Le Thiers" knives, but those are fallback options right now if I don't find something better.

Spyderco Terzuola SLIPIT: I prefer the locking Sage 1, especially for a 3" blade.

Spyderco Air Bradley: At the small end of the acceptable range, perhaps too small. The price is a bit too high, but not a dealbreaker. The looks... I like what they were going for, but not what they got. No clip, but it's small enough not to matter. So far, I'm not excited about it, and that means no.

Spyderco Memory Centofante: Very attractive, but at that price I want no flaws. Flaw #1 is the pocket clip isn't low enough, flaw #2 is the scale is only on 1 side. If it was $150 or less I'd be more interested.

William Henry Knives: Yep, they're beautiful, but too expensive.


Thanks for the suggestions everyone, but I'm still undecided. Right now it's looking like the Spyderco Sage 1 (best function while still attractive) or the CRKT Tribute (best looks while being low price). I'm thinking I should look at some slightly larger knives (3+ inch blades) with really slim handles to remain subtle in the pocket.
 
The Boker Plus Elegance is another option. No pocket clip. 440C steel, titanium handles, button lock, and only 2.5 oz. They have an all carbon fiber version and a G10 with titanium bolsters version. Around $60. Mine had no fit and finish issues but my experience with Boker is you never know what you are going to get.

 
The C22 Michael Walker in CF and ZDP is a classy folder that cuts like a large knife and carries well at 55g.



So good I bought a spare :D
 
Sorry, I was typing my post above before I read your response so the blade on the Boker is probably too short. The Sage 1 is a great knife, you can't go wrong with that choice. Another option would be the Caly 3 with carbon fiber and ZDP-189. It can be had for around $130.
 
If you like the Spyderco SAGE 1 then also consider Caly3. Both have 3" blades but Caly3 is narrower with a great ZDP-189 laminate.
 
I can tell you with certainty that they manufacture the Tribute correctly, I've purchased and given away three of them to friends and family. But I've received many CRKT products and sometimes the blade has tool marks or scratched on the scales. The Tribute had none of those issues as I'm presuming the design was so simple and elegant that it was easy to produce.

It feels like a $50-$60 knife. What is nice about it is that 1)its thin and razor sharp out of the box, the grind is a little toothy but only a little, a little stropping will fix that quick 2) the micarta feels great and 3) it disappears in the pocket. I've been thinking about just getting the 3 inch for myself just to have before they switch over their models and discontinue it if they haven't already. Plus its a Frank Centofante designed piece and his stuff was always beautiful. For me overdoing it on a pocket knife these days in my situation is just overdoing it and not needed. I work in an office and just need something with a thin blade that cuts clean and nice!

That said I still carry a traditional right now and am loving it. The fact that neither of these knives flick open with one hand or would scare anyone around the office is a plus for me.

Almost forgot this Kai has limited quantities at Williams Sonoma I think you will have to call the stores. [video=youtube;RbFY8MJX25E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbFY8MJX25E[/video] It felt like a $75-$90 knife. it was made in China and another forum member said that the "Navy" K611 might be identical. Also a 3 inch lockback.
 
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Is the Caly 3 unable to be disassembled? I'm not sure there's enough difference between the Sage 1 and Caly 3 for me to choose based on anything other than price.

EDIT: As for the CRKT Tribute it sounds like a Quality Control lottery.
 
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I've had two short Tributes and one three inch, all came perfect. No tool marks or anything. The people that I gifted them to loved them and carry them still.

tr3nt00n said:
Is the Caly 3 unable to be disassembled? I'm not sure there's enough difference between the Sage 1 and Caly 3 for me to choose based on anything other than price.

EDIT: As for the CRKT Tribute it sounds like a Quality Control lottery.
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Opinel #6 Bubinga Handle, polished blade. Fine looking knife. It is my travel knife, I can put it in my checked bag & not worry about losing it because it is only $24.
I can open it up in an office environment & no one gets worried.
OP6-M.jpg
 
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