Recommendation? Looking for a “gentleman’s folder”

[Mrhoades]

I’ve been lurking around BF and I’m trying to decide on a new folder for office carry. I am a “buy once, cry once” guy, but don’t want to go crazy. I would say my budget is <$200 and would prefer a pocket clip and sub-3” blade. I’ve recently considered the mass drop Gent, Boker mini trapper and LionSteel Opera.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[MSchott]

The Gent at far below $200.00 is a fine piece. I own the black version and it’s a bargain and a good gents knife. My only criticism is it’s not particularly dressy. Closer to your max price is the ZT0460.

 

[Mrhoades]

I like the Gent and don’t need anything too dressy, but I like instant gratification and the current drop doesn’t ship until November.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

I’ve been lurking around BF and I’m trying to decide on a new folder for office carry. I am a “buy once, cry once” guy, but don’t want to go crazy. I would say my budget is <$200 and would prefer a pocket clip and sub-3” blade. I’ve recently considered the mass drop Gent, Boker mini trapper and LionSteel Opera.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

I'm a big fan of the Boker Urban Trapper in cocobolo. That would probably be my choice with your criteria. The mini in your case.

I like the Opera from lionsteel, but the versions with the pocket clip are more tactical than they gentlemanly.

If you can stretch your budget a bit the full Ti Lionsteel Tre is quite nice.

EDIT: Somehow I forgot about the Benchmade Valet. It's an axis lock benchmade with gray g10, deep carry clip and m390 steel. That's the one to get.

 

[Mrhoades]

I'm a big fan of the Boker Urban Trapper in cocobolo. That would probably be my choice with your criteria. The mini in your case.

I like the Opera from lionsteel, but the versions with the pocket clip are more tactical than they gentlemanly.

If you can stretch your budget a bit the full Ti Lionsteel Tre is quite nice.

The pocket clip design or lack of one on the wood model is probably my biggest issue with the Opera. I may have to try out the Boker, it seems to fit the bill and doesn’t break the bank.

 

[whp]

The Spyderco Sage 1 is a very nice , underrated gentleman s folder. Well within your budget and very ergonomic.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

The pocket clip design or lack of one on the wood model is probably my biggest issue with the Opera. I may have to try out the Boker, it seems to fit the bill and doesn’t break the bank.

Just don't expect it to feel like a substantial knife. Its extremely light and feels frail. It isn't. It never had any problem with any work I threw at it, but it does feel like it'll snap in your hand.

The Valet on the other hand feels pretty solid for being such a small, lightweight knife.

 

[Mrhoades]

Just don't expect it to feel like a substantial knife. Its extremely light and feels frail. It isn't. It never had any problem with any work I threw at it, but it does feel like it'll snap in your hand.

The Valet on the other hand feels pretty solid for being such a small, lightweight knife.

The Valet is another one that I was looking at. Nice looking knife and I haven’t tried M390 steel yet.

 

[Daniel Thompson]

I've listed some options below, but I want to list my philosophy behind them first. To me, an office EDC needs to be good at office tasks, and non-threatening. The good at office tasks part just means it needs to be a thin enough blade to open things like envelopes and potentially slide apples (if you would need it to do that), while also being sturdy enough to get through hard cardboard. For the non-threatening part, I would say that means it needs to be relatively small (sub 3 inches), as well as having scales that look nice. More importantly, though, I think it also needs to be a knife that can be opened slowly (so ideally an opening method other than a flipper).

Now my suggestions.
1. CRK Mnandi. Obviously this is way above your price range, but it really is the king of office edc. You can grab one used for like $350 if you're lucky. The only drawback is the clip kind of sucks.
2. Boos Blades Aero mini. This is in your price range and works amazingly well as both an office EDC and an all around edc. If you can find one this is what I'd recommend, but they are next to impossible to get.
3. Benchmade Shinola Valet. This was my office EDC until I got a Mnandi, and I view it very much like a budget Mnandi. I would recommend handling one (or just the g10 version) before buying one, though, because the scaled down axis lock doesn't work for people with larger hands.
4. Benchmade blue bugout (or with CF scales). This is a bit of a wildcard, but functionally speaking it's a fantastic knife, and even though it's a bit bigger the blue scales make it look fairly non-threatening.
5. Spyderco Delica or Dragonfly (Ideally the pakawood versions from knifecenter). These are both tried and true knives that are highly functional, non-threatening, and fairly inexpensive. Throw on the pakawood scales and they are also pretty classy.

As for the three you listed, I've only ever handled the gent, and I do really love my gent. It's also currently dropping with rosewood scales which look fantastic and give it the extra bit of class it needed. That said, I wouldn't really recommend it as an office edc for two main reasons. (1) The spine is fairly thick (.12 iirc) so it's not the best slicer for a lot of office tasks, and (2) at least with mine, it's basically impossible to open slowly. Even with 2 hands I struggle to open it, which means the only option is the flipper tab. It's a really fun flipper tab as the blade really flies out, but I don't think it's very fitting for an office setting. That said, I do recommend the gent as an overall knife, so you might want to order a rosewood gent, then pick up a Delica or Dragonfly while you wait for the gent to arrive. If you went with a vg 10 version your total would still be under $200.

 

[Pomsbz]

Kizer Feist?

 

[Mrhoades]

I've listed some options below, but I want to list my philosophy behind them first. To me, an office EDC needs to be good at office tasks, and non-threatening. The good at office tasks part just means it needs to be a thin enough blade to open things like envelopes and potentially slide apples (if you would need it to do that), while also being sturdy enough to get through hard cardboard. For the non-threatening part, I would say that means it needs to be relatively small (sub 3 inches), as well as having scales that look nice. More importantly, though, I think it also needs to be a knife that can be opened slowly (so ideally an opening method other than a flipper).

Now my suggestions.
1. CRK Mnandi. Obviously this is way above your price range, but it really is the king of office edc. You can grab one used for like $350 if you're lucky. The only drawback is the clip kind of sucks.
2. Boos Blades Aero mini. This is in your price range and works amazingly well as both an office EDC and an all around edc. If you can find one this is what I'd recommend, but they are next to impossible to get.
3. Benchmade Shinola Valet. This was my office EDC until I got a Mnandi, and I view it very much like a budget Mnandi. I would recommend handling one (or just the g10 version) before buying one, though, because the scaled down axis lock doesn't work for people with larger hands.
4. Benchmade blue bugout (or with CF scales). This is a bit of a wildcard, but functionally speaking it's a fantastic knife, and even though it's a bit bigger the blue scales make it look fairly non-threatening.
5. Spyderco Delica or Dragonfly (Ideally the pakawood versions from knifecenter). These are both tried and true knives that are highly functional, non-threatening, and fairly inexpensive. Throw on the pakawood scales and they are also pretty classy.

As for the three you listed, I've only ever handled the gent, and I do really love my gent. It's also currently dropping with rosewood scales which look fantastic and give it the extra bit of class it needed. That said, I wouldn't really recommend it as an office edc for two main reasons. (1) The spine is fairly thick (.12 iirc) so it's not the best slicer for a lot of office tasks, and (2) at least with mine, it's basically impossible to open slowly. Even with 2 hands I struggle to open it, which means the only option is the flipper tab. It's a really fun flipper tab as the blade really flies out, but I don't think it's very fitting for an office setting. That said, I do recommend the gent as an overall knife, so you might want to order a rosewood gent, then pick up a Delica or Dragonfly while you wait for the gent to arrive. If you went with a vg 10 version your total would still be under $200.

Thanks for the input.

I have of course been drooling over the Mnandi, but just have a hard time spending that when I know that I will want more knives and could buy a few nice ones for that money.

I have been eying both the Bugout and Valet and like Benchmade, so I will probably end up with one or both of those. I have a ZDP-189 Dragonfly and it is part of my rotation and the Delica seems like a great knife for the money. I’m just not sure I love the Spyderco style and may end up selling my ti Sage, as it’s a little larger than I usually carry.

The feedback tells me I’m on the right track and will probably end up with a couple new knives! Maybe I’ll let go of my Sage and use those funds toward some of these.

 

[GB940Rookie]

I’ve been looking for a dress knife for some time now. Same $200 limit as you.

Spyderco Chaparral has been a popular choice for many. I tried it. Great little knife. Makes a great small EDC. Very slicey if that’s your thing. Office friendly. The utilitarian looking blade finish and overall looks of the knife turned me off so I sold it. If you’re ok with the looks, this may be your knife.

I’ve recently purchased the MD Gent in black G10. Well made. Seems like a lot of knife for the money. Solid build, nice blade shape. Rock solid lock up with no blade play and will shake shut.
IMO, flipping a knife in an office setting is a no no. You can get away with this by grasping the blade with the non flipper hand(fingers) and gently depressing the flipper tab as you pull on the blade. It will look like you did a two hand opening. This is another great small EDC folder but it’s probably not the dress folder I was searching for.

I looked at a Valet but the action felt crappy and the pocket clip had exposed screw heads, attaching the clip to the knife, which made it very difficult to seat the knife all the way down in the pocket.

My only real advise, to both of us, is stop being a cheap ass and buy a Mnandi.

 

[LastRodeo]

I second the Chapparal. For office carry (non traditional knives), I rotate a Chapparal, Gent, Mnandi and small Sebenza, depending on what I’m wearing.

 

[bikerector]

I think the spyderco chaparal fits this genre nicely, as another option. A lot of good knives listed here, boker urban trapper with the cocobolo mentioned is one that has stood out to me a few times for looks, I just don't like flippers.

I think kizer may have a few nice options but I haven't kept up with their current offerings.

Cold steel lucky may be an okay option too if that's within your flavor range.

 

[Daniel Thompson]

The valet is certainly not without it's flaws. They may have fixed it by now, but every Valet I've handled you have to choose between not having bladeplay or having a free-swinging action. And yea, the screws make getting the clip all the way down difficult. That said, I like to design enough to put up with a little blade play, and I got in the habit of not trying to push the clip past the screws and it worked fine that way. Basically, the bugout is a better knife, but the Valet is smaller and (at least the Shinola version) looks a lot better. If I was going to recommend one of the two, I'd say get the Bugout if you want an all around knife, and the Shinola Valet if you want one specifically for office carry.

 

[5pins]

No longer in production but you can still find them, and one of the few I regret selling, is the Benchmade 690 with carbon fiber/ Rosewood.

 

[Minnesota Man]

I recommend the Cold Steel Lucky for a gentleman's knife. Way under your budget, CF scales, good steel (CPM-S35VN) and solid half stop on both blades.

 

[Mrhoades]

I’ve been looking for a dress knife for some time now. Same $200 limit as you.

Spyderco Chaparral has been a popular choice for many. I tried it. Great little knife. Makes a great small EDC. Very slicey if that’s your thing. Office friendly. The utilitarian looking blade finish and overall looks of the knife turned me off so I sold it. If you’re ok with the looks, this may be your knife.

I’ve recently purchased the MD Gent in black G10. Well made. Seems like a lot of knife for the money. Solid build, nice blade shape. Rock solid lock up with no blade play and will shake shut.
IMO, flipping a knife in an office setting is a no no. You can get away with this by grasping the blade with the non flipper hand(fingers) and gently depressing the flipper tab as you pull on the blade. It will look like you did a two hand opening. This is another great small EDC folder but it’s probably not the dress folder I was searching for.

I looked at a Valet but the action felt crappy and the pocket clip had exposed screw heads, attaching the clip to the knife, which made it very difficult to seat the knife all the way down in the pocket.

My only real advise, to both of us, is stop being a cheap ass and buy a Mnandi.

I think you are right, because no matter what other choice is made, I’m sure we will still want the Mnandi.

 

[Mo2]

Kershaw Skyline in carbon fiber.

I also 2nd Boos Blades. Mini aero and smoke models.

 

[js1badsti]

take a look at the Lionsteel mini-it is every bit a gent knife and the fit and finish is impeccable.I have one in CF and it is smooth as butter and just a piece of art-which lionsteel knives are known for.