looking for a gentlemen folder

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the Mnandi is the ultimate gentleman's knife. The William Henry's are also great knives, but the thumbstuds on the blades, IMO, automatically makes them more "tactical" in my mind, and I don't think they are available in left-handed configurations. The Mnandi is available in a left-handed version.

I suggest a left handed Mnandi in an available premium wood of your choice. Cream Ivory is also a possibility, but much harder to find unless you order it directly from Chris Reeve Knives. You could get Bark Ivory but that would put you over your budget :) .
 
Myakka said:
Thanks for all the replies, I thnking of more of a slipjoint. I'm a lefty and really dont like frame locks because there not left hand friendy.


Thanks - Ron
Click to expand...

How about a custom slip joint? Check out Don Morrow's site.
 
Dressy gents slippy?

Well that is a horse of a different color. Go over to the MSA forum and touch base with John Cable (CWICable) and get one of the few Scagel reproductions by Northwoods. These are some classy folders. Top the line in fact and only so many were made. http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showforum.php?fid/66/

Queen made these for them so that should give you an idea of the quality. I have three of these (two of the three they produced) they are flawless and beautiful. Here is a pic. The stag on these is the best of the best.

The top one is a one of like six made for me by my friend and partner on my homepage. He took apart one of the middle model folders and put together two separate folders using some of the actual lignum vitae wood from Bill Scagels shop. (certified) It was his own personal stash of hand selected wood he used for knife handles.

STR
 
Well, at first I was going to suggest a Mnandi or William Henry, but if you want a lockback, Moki is hard to beat. Outstanding fit and finish.

http://www.knifecountryusa.com/store/manufacturer/66/1/moki-knives.html

Even one of the William Henry line is made by Moki:

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...william_henry_spire_with_black_lip_pearl.html

Of course, in your price range you can probably get a custom lefty framelock. I know the Mnandi can be had in a lefty version:

http://www.chrisreeve.com/mnandi.htm
 
I'll post another vote for the Mnandi. I just received my first, it's in snakewood, and it is beautiful, graceful even, but it also has a certain quality that tells me it's OK to really use it. It is a solid little knife. It certainly fits the bill that you've described and there is great variety, especially for left handers. It seemed a little small at first but that's also part of what makes it so light and graceful. Plus, it now makes my small classic Sebenza seem "not so small".
 
A knife you might want to take a look at is the Case Slimlock. You don't hear much about them on these forums but they have an extremely nice fit & finish and a top quality BG-42 blade. (from $162 to $262 @ NGK depending on handle material. Desert ironwood & abolone pictured below)
http://www.newgraham.com/caseslimlock.htm
CA5185.jpg

CA-5180.jpg
 
Myakka said:
Thanks for all the replies, I thnking of more of a slipjoint. I'm a lefty and really dont like frame locks because there not left hand friendy.

Most of my knife experiences is around wilderness fix-blade type knives

Thanks - Ron
Click to expand...

Reading the "traditional folders and fixed blade" forum would be a good place to start. There are alot of "classy" slipjoints in the < $100 price range.
For my job I need a folder under 3" blade length ( for legal purposes) that also won't freak out anyone. I carry a peanut or a mini toothpick or something of that ilk. Both Case , Queen , Schatt and Morgan make these patterns as well as other patterns in a variety of handle materials i.e. stag, cocobolo, barn board etc.
Google Cumberland Knife Works. You will see what I mean about alot of "classy" knives under $100! Have fun choosing just one.....
 
All CRK folding products including the Mnandi are available left handed. The clip for the Mnandi comes off. That PT Tomes knife is nice too.
 
So, have you chosen a knife yet? There have been some great suggestions. I am just curious.
 
As a lefty collector of gent's knives I can't add much to the list, but I can give you some thoughts in the price range you are looking for.

The Mnandi is a good choice and is available as a lefty.

Moki knives can be exquisite and are all lockbacks, so handedness is a non-issue there. In your price range I would try and hunt around for a vintage, more exotic pearl inlayed version. The new ones they are selling in the U.S. are nice, but the older ones are really prime if you can find them.

Wm. Henry knives are really ambidextrous with the buttonlock and "reversible" thumbstud. I put reversible in quotes because they use BLACK loctite on the threads of the stud and even with the proper sized Torx bit (T5 and smaller) I have yet to remove and flip one without buggering up the screw, and I've done 5 of these. You CAN get a replacement screw from Wm. Henry if you call and ask nicely.

Customs- You can get some nice custom slippies in your price range or even some lockback, but $500 will get you basic steel and MOP, not much more. The mid-upper level makers don't even really start until you hit $750 (Steigerwalt, Osborne, Sawby). I would look at Polk, Montjoy, Ray Cover Sr. in your price range if you want to go the custom route, which would put you around $400 at most. There is sort of a void in the $500 price range. I would look atwww.knifeart.com for the be selection in that price area. One thing I almost forgot, the South African makers make some AWESOME ambi knives with VERY low profile flippers in that price range (I have quite a few of those), but they have been moving toward thumbstud openers since they are more popular in the U.S. Andre van Heerden makes some that are especially nice and in your price range. They are ALMOST always linerlocks. www.bladegallery.com has a pretty good representation of what is available from the S.A. makers, as does knifeart.
 
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