Knives like the Loveless City Knife?

[brancron]

I am absolutely in love with the Loveless folding City Knife design. I know that Lone Wolf did a production version, but it is very difficult to find:

I also know that Fantoni has the Dweller model, which is essentially the same profile:

I love the Dweller, and just purchased another version in Juniper wood (it's on its way from Europe).

So I was wondering, are there any other knives out there with a similar profile? It might be my favorite profile of any folding knife I've come across so far. And it is also extremely useful for the type of stuff I use a knife for on a day-to-day basis. The blade-to-handle ratio is shockingly askew at first, but you quickly get used to it, and (at least in my case) realize that you really don't need that much blade length in everyday use. That, along with the comfortable handle, the pointy tip for piercing, and the thin blade stock make it like a razor in your pocket. Elegant and supremely fit for its intended use.

Any suggestions similar to this design would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to track down a GEC #18 Coyote, which shares some of the attributes of the City Knife design.

Thanks!

 

[brancron]

I'm just going to bump this once, if I may be so bold (I initially posted it at an odd time and it quickly slid off the front page into oblivion). After that, I promise to let it die a natural death if that's what's in the cards!

 

[LastRodeo]

The #18 Coyote is quite a bit smaller than the City Knife, if that makes a difference to you. I am not aware of any other makers that do a true Loveless City Knife, except for customs.

 

[supratentorial]

They are nice looking knives. I don't have experience with the steel.... Lone Wolf is proprietary and a quick search of Bladeforums didn't show much enthusiasm about it. The other is an oddball for a Sandvik steel.... sounds like is more abrasion resistant with larger carbides and doesn't take as fine an edge as other Sandvik steels. It just depends on use and personal preferences though. The Moki Fish Owl has AUS-8 steel and some similarity... certainly some differences though. It's a bit more like a sodbuster. I think you'd like the Jess Horn knives as well-- customs as well as production knives from many different makers. The original customs were loosely based on an old Remington.

 

[kamagong]

Hiroaki Ohta's version of a Jess Horn knife.

 

[brancron]

The #18 Coyote is quite a bit smaller than the City Knife, if that makes a difference to you.

I actually really like smaller knives; for some reason when it came out I thought it was way bigger than it really was. Missed a chance to get one easily!

They are nice looking knives. I don't have experience with the steel.... Lone Wolf is proprietary and a quick search of Bladeforums didn't show much enthusiasm about it. The other is an oddball for a Sandvik steel.... sounds like is more abrasion resistant with larger carbides and doesn't take as fine an edge as other Sandvik steels. It just depends on use and personal preferences though. The Moki Fish Owl has AUS-8 steel and some similarity... certainly some differences though. It's a bit more like a sodbuster. I think you'd like the Jess Horn knives as well-- customs as well as production knives from many different makers. The original customs were loosely based on an old Remington.

That's a beautiful Jess Horn. I handled a couple of knives by him at Solvang Knives a few months ago; amazing! That Moki Fish Owl looks really interesting too--sort of halfway between a Sodbuster (which I'm a fan of) and the city knife profile. As for the Dweller's steel (19C27), I'm really liking it so far. It is hardened to 61 Rc so holds an edge well, and cuts amazingly well when kept honed. You're right though, it's more of a toothy edge, but a very aggressive one, which I like.

Hiroaki Ohta's version of a Jess Horn knife.

Another beauty! That and the Jess Horn posted above are right up my alley. I've been meaning to buy a tradition from Ohta (so far I've only purchased his friction folders).

Thanks for the info, everyone. And by the way, the juniper handled Dweller arrived yesterday:

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Reminds me of an Al Mar Hawk or Falcon with the regular grind. I like them a lot.

 

[brancron]

Reminds me of an Al Mar Hawk or Falcon with the regular grind. I like them a lot.

Al Mar is great. I used to own these two but foolishly sold them a while back:

 

[btb01]

While reading the OP's post and before scrolling through the replies, I was also thinking of Al Mar; good to see I wasn't alone.

I don't actually own an Al Mar, but they seem like very nice knives. brancron, that top one in your photo is beautiful. Is that Micarta?

 

[brancron]

I don't actually own an Al Mar, but they seem like very nice knives. brancron, that top one in your photo is beautiful. Is that Micarta?

Yessir, 2.875" ATS-34 blade, brass liners, ivory micarta scales, 2.6 ounces, made sometime in the mid-80s.

 

[Gevonovich]

Ohhh I like the micarta AL Mar too :thumbup:

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

While reading the OP's post and before scrolling through the replies, I was also thinking of Al Mar; good to see I wasn't alone.

I don't actually own an Al Mar, but they seem like very nice knives. brancron, that top one in your photo is beautiful. Is that Micarta?

I owned an MOP Osprey at one point, but never could bring myself to carry or use it so I gifted it away. The F&F on them is in a whole other league. I'd love to have another... if only they made a blonde one. Love that juniper fantoni.

 

[brownshoe]

IIRC Al Mar's of that type are made by Moki. The old micarta Al Mars command a premium these days. Particularly the ones with scrimshaw.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

How's the F&F on those Fantonis Brandon? Might have to pull the trigger on the Olive version.

 

[brancron]

How's the F&F on those Fantonis Brandon? Might have to pull the trigger on the Olive version.

The fit and finish is excellent. One thing I'd note though is that the spring on my micarta one is stronger than on the juniper one. I doubt it's the case that all the juniper ones are weaker, or anything, just that there is apparently some variance.

Here's a thorough overview from Blade Reviews: https://bladereviews.com/fantoni-dweller-revi

If you do get one I recommend the site Lamnia. The shipping is surprisingly inexpensive and fast from Europe. (No US dealer has them in stock, to my knowledge).

 

[kato725]

I'm just going to bump this once, if I may be so bold (I initially posted it at an odd time and it quickly slid off the front page into oblivion). After that, I promise to let it die a natural death if that's what's in the cards!

I also own 2 of the Fantoni Dwellers. One in Bocote wood and the other recently acquired in their Snake wood pattern. I'm relatively new to knives of this genre having most of my collection revolving around fixed and folding variants produced by some of the better US knife manufacturers but got the slip-joint gentleman's knife bug after acquiring a few Case and GEC models. Desiring a higher quality level I bought 2 LionSteel Round Head Barlow models and was hooked. The Fantonis with their Wharncliffe blade caught my eye and again I was drawn to buy a couple of them as well. While the F&F differs slightly between them the blade finish and edge grind geometry on both are flawless. They are a scalpel in a gentleman's folder package done exquisitely.