Larger Gentleman's Folder Suggestion Thread

O

Oakengroves

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Sep 4, 2012
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418
Evening gents,

My birthday is coming up and family members are clamoring for gift suggestions. I have a fairly wide arsenal of quality folders assembled but desire to extend the type of blade I carry most often: a larger gentleman's folder.

By a larger gentleman's folder, I am referring to a knife with a 3.3"ish to 4.0"ish blade, classy handle (CF, wood inlays, textured G10, etc), maximum blade-to-handle ratio, and weight of around 3-5 ozs. I prefer axis, liner, and framelocks.

I seek suggestions and wisdom regarding what larger gentleman's folders I should request. Prices can range anywhere from $100-$300. Around $150 is ideal.

Blades I own and love:

Benchmade 940 (perfect size);
Spyderco Caly 3.5 CF/ZDP-189 (perfect size);
Spyderco Gayle Bradley (bit too big);
Spyderco Sage 1 (bit too small).

Blades I own and do not enjoy so much:

Spyderco PM 2 (poor blade-to-handle ratio; excessively grippy handle);
Benchmade 530 (too small and dagger like);
Benchmade Minigrip (handle too plastic-like and fat).

Blades I am currently considering:

Mcusta Tactility;
LE 940s (bit too expensive and duplicative of the 940 I currently own).

Thanks for the suggestions!
 
My new favorite that kicked almost every other knife out of my pocket....


5BCEFF8D-120A-477A-90A1-02D54F05BCB0-8873-000005B77DCBC36A.jpg



Case trapperlock.
 
For classy up to 300 I would suggest the William Henry EDC. It is at the top of your limit, but is a very lighweight and nicely finished knife. Here is one with burl scales:

wh.jpg
 
Mcusta tactility is a good choice.

BM- ares, 960, 943

Lion Steel TiSpine

SOG Arcitech

Viper Keeper

Bradley Alias I or II

Al Mar

Buck TNT (by Tom Mayo)

spyderco- gayle bradley, lum tanto, strech cf

CRKT- ripple, summa, premonition
 
Benchmade 581

Mcusta also has some that might meet your specs, although most of them have blades less than 3".
 
The first and only one that comes to mind is a large CRK Sebenza. You can get one in many varieties of exotic wood inlay, mammoth and others. I've had a lot of Sebbies along the way, but I have two large Sebenzas (3.5" blade, S30V or S35V) that are keepers: my Classic model and the Regular model. You would be extremely pleased with a standard model 21, or the newest model 25. Contact CRK for selection and pricing. Get just as fancy as you want. A large Sebenza is a lifetime knife; no kidding.
I'm a CRK fanboy, of course. Yes, I also like Spyderco and few BenchMades, but for what you're after, you need to look at Chris Reeve Knives.
 
Oakengroves said:
By a larger gentleman's folder, I am referring to a knife with a 3.3"ish to 4.0"ish blade, classy handle (CF, wood inlays, textured G10, etc), maximum blade-to-handle ratio, and weight of around 3-5 ozs. I prefer axis, liner, and framelocks.
Click to expand...

What is the problem with the GayleBradley? It is well under 4" and just barely over 5 oz. Is it the height of the handle/blade or maybe the weight?

In the knives that I am interested in I would suggest the Benchmade 890 Torrent. It is within your size and weight range and has sculpted scales. I also like the Benchmade 913 but it is not as dressy looking, and the 581 barrage but it is probably too thick and heavy for you. Another in my EDC rotation that might work for you is the Bradley Alias I. Benchmade makes a similar model that I think is the 790.
 
As the owner of a plain Mcusta I'd say get that one. They're smooth and tight and sharper than you'll believe.
 
Sonnydaze said:
The first and only one that comes to mind is a large CRK Sebenza. You can get one in many varieties of exotic wood inlay, mammoth and others. I've had a lot of Sebbies along the way, but I have two large Sebenzas (3.5" blade, S30V or S35V) that are keepers: my Classic model and the Regular model. You would be extremely pleased with a standard model 21, or the newest model 25. Contact CRK for selection and pricing. Get just as fancy as you want. A large Sebenza is a lifetime knife; no kidding.
I'm a CRK fanboy, of course. Yes, I also like Spyderco and few BenchMades, but for what you're after, you need to look at Chris Reeve Knives.
Click to expand...

Wise words and I do agree.
 
Why not have a "CUSTOM" knife made for yourself! Robert Carter makes some very nice gentlemen folders. Send him a PM-see what he can do!

This one is 154 CM Built like a tank.

zzz4.jpg
 
Another William Henry vote--I've been struggling with a serious urge to buy the CF inlay version (E10-3). I just haven't figured out how I'll navigate the "you bought another $300 knife?" conversation with my wife just yet. Maybe if I wait until Valentine's day and use the old buy something expensive for yourself timed with buying something expensive for her trick . . .
 
That trick works. Even thought my wife knows it's a trick. Still works.

I own 4 Wiliiam Henry's and would vote for the less expensive EDC version ($250 - 300 new). Same high quality and tolerances, but with less exotic materials.

evilgreg said:
Another William Henry vote--I've been struggling with a serious urge to buy the CF inlay version (E10-3). I just haven't figured out how I'll navigate the "you bought another $300 knife?" conversation with my wife just yet. Maybe if I wait until Valentine's day and use the old buy something expensive for yourself timed with buying something expensive for her trick . . .
Click to expand...
 
Spyderco Stretch II CF ZDP-189

Out of all my knives, this is THE blade I put in my pocket when I want a lightweight, thin and super-sharp blade that is not bulky.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I own 4 Wiliiam Henry's and would vote for the less expensive EDC version ($250 - 300 new). Same high quality and tolerances, but with less exotic materials.
Click to expand...

I'm climbing on board this train. If you've got $300.00 to spend on a larger gentleman's folder, Oakengroves, do NOT buy a knife until you've checked out a William Henry E10. In my opinion, William Henry sets the standard in the production gentleman's folder category. A William Henry is to gentlemen's folders what a Rolex is to watches.
 
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Thanks for the great feedback, everyone.

I'll browse around some more on William Henry's (most seem a little small and slightly too embellished from my initial research). Does anyone have experience with William Henry's warranty service?

Also, how is the lock on the Stretch II carbon fiber? It looks like a similar lock to the caly 3.5 (which opens quite poorly).

To address a few questions people mentioned:

(1) I'm hesitant to jump into the custom market because I use the living hell out of my knives and love the strong, guaranteed, warranty services that good production companies offer [i.e. - spyderco, BM, kershaw, etc]. A lot of great makers back their products up, but one never has to worry about Benchmade or Spyderco getting sick or going on an extended hiatus.

(2) Sebenza.... I've always been on the fence over a sebenza. It is one of those knives that I would really like to see and handle in person before thinking about buying one. I'm well aware of its mythical fit-and-finish, but something about the sebenza has always appeared aesthetically boring. Also, as stated, I love using the living hell out of my knives, and some of the literature out there concerning CRK's warranty service concerns me [i.e.: opening and closing a knife too much is considered abuse, etc.].

(3) The Gayle Bradley is a great knife (one of my favorites that I love wearing with jeans), but it is slightly bulky and large in dress slacks (aka: the crap I wear to work most days of the week).
 
I have sent one knife back to William Henry, but it was my issue not theirs. I dropped my knife on concrete and scuffed it up pretty badly. I wanted to cry:( I sent it in and they fixed it up for me, and even sharpened it while it was there. I believe it cost me 30$. However, if it was their fault there would not have been a charge. I had my knife back in 2 weeks. Every time I have called they answer right away and are very pleasant.
The edc uses d2 steel and has an anodized aluminum handle, they are strong despite feeling so light. However, these are not your "tank" knives. Well built, yes, but what kind of abuse are you talking about with your knives?
 
Ernie1980 said:
I have sent one knife back to William Henry, but it was my issue not theirs. I dropped my knife on concrete and scuffed it up pretty badly. I wanted to cry:( I sent it in and they fixed it up for me, and even sharpened it while it was there. I believe it cost me 30$. However, if it was their fault there would not have been a charge. I had my knife back in 2 weeks. Every time I have called they answer right away and are very pleasant.
The edc uses d2 steel and has an anodized aluminum handle, they are strong despite feeling so light. However, these are not your "tank" knives. Well built, yes, but what kind of abuse are you talking about with your knives?
Click to expand...

Cutting through generous amounts of cardboard, light bushcraft for the hell of it after work (no batoning), dropping the knife on occasion because I am stupid, questionable sharp marker touch ups, and accidentally sliding the blade across metal or tile because, again, I am stupid.

Good to know William Henry has what sounds like a solid warranty service.
 
I think for larger gentleman's carry, I like the benchmade 960. It's a little shorter than you wanted, 3.12, but it's very thin and light. the blade is in great proportion to the handle. The best part is if you can find one, you can get a 960-801 which is M4 steel. It's one of my favorite daily carries. I can tell you that I have a william henry e10, which is one of their bigger knives, and I would not be comfortable doing any kind of hard use with it. In general william henry knives are slicers, and great ones, but I would not put them through the abuses I would put a 960 through. Basically the 960 is every bit the knife the 940 is, but a little dressier.

As for the 940... there is supposed to be a limited run of G10 versions coming very soon. LE's are a lot cheaper to buy when you get them brand new instead of getting them 5 years after they were discontinued.
 
deathofallthings said:
I think for larger gentleman's carry, I like the benchmade 960. It's a little shorter than you wanted, 3.12, but it's very thin and light. the blade is in great proportion to the handle. The best part is if you can find one, you can get a 960-801 which is M4 steel. It's one of my favorite daily carries. I can tell you that I have a william henry e10, which is one of their bigger knives, and I would not be comfortable doing any kind of hard use with it. In general william henry knives are slicers, and great ones, but I would not put them through the abuses I would put a 960 through. Basically the 960 is every bit the knife the 940 is, but a little dressier.

As for the 940... there is supposed to be a limited run of G10 versions coming very soon. LE's are a lot cheaper to buy when you get them brand new instead of getting them 5 years after they were discontinued.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. Good to hear your view on William Henry. William Henry knives are beautiful, but appear so ornate that I'd be worried about dropping them or doing stupid things with them after a few beers, haha.

And yeah, I plan on pouncing on that LE G10 940... I hope I see it before it sells out, :D!
 
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