Looking for a traditional gentlemen's knife

[wongtheo]

Hi,

New to the forum and knives in general. My EDC is a Bench Made Griptillian which I love. But every time I pull it out in the office environment, people of a certain bent start throwing castigating stares and murmurs of reporting to HR about a psycho that may go postal. You would have thought I just pulled out my AR at a church ice cream social. With that in mind, I'm looking for an equivalent substitute in a traditional folder that won't elicit such a response. A kindler and gentler knife, if you will. I am partial to GEC knives even though I don't own one yet. I use my knife for normal things a city slicker would use with a knife, i.e. opening Amazon boxes, cutting zip-ties, etc. I would also use the knife when camping with the Boy Scouts once a month. So lots of making kindling and shavings for camp fires, cutting rope, and food prep.

Regards,

Tedd

 

[EyeDog]

You might start by looking at what are called "trappers." Case, S&M, GEC and many others make them.

Here's a nice cary that won't terrify the office, a GEC 79 in smooth bone.

 

[justsomedude]

You can't go wrong with GEC and the 79 is a fantastic pattern! The coping blade is perfect for packaging and zip ties while the fat bellied spear point can both cut the bananas and spread the PB for your lunch.

GEC's one flaw is inconsistent sharpness out of the box, so beware of them if you are not yet comfortable sharpening your own knives.

SAKs are another great option, ALOX models are considered gentlemanly by many. I don't personally care for them, no romance.

It sounds like you might benefit from a locking blade considering some of the tasks you intend to use this knife for. Although it can be difficult to find a gentlemanly locking knife, many traditional lock-backs accomplish the goal.

I'm just going to whisper the words William Henry and CRK Mnandi down here since this is the traditionals forum, but you might like 'em.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Go with a traditional pattern, preferably old and pocket worn. A stockman, perhaps. Or a Swiss Army Knife — they usually get a pass from the easily freaked-out. No pocket clip models; stag or wood scales good. Go for small, go for old. Taking a vintage Scout knife (Imperial, Ulster) to a Scout campout would be neat.

 

[catfish579]

Going along with EyeDogs idea of a trapper, GEC makes the #15 farmboy which has two long blades. One for food and one for jobs. Case also makes a mini trapper model that comes with a bunch of handle materials and in both of their steel options. Both are not what i'd call gentlemens knives, but they a class of their own that makes them EDC material.

 

[matt009au]

If it was me I'd be looking at something small and non threatening. A queen small stockman or #2 jack comes to mind. However, working in a similar office environment the best success I have had was with a case peanut with a bail so I could attach it to my key chain. For some reason once the knife was on the keys people seemed to care less about it.

 

[RobbW]

Since you're coming from modern folders, you might like something with more of a premium steel than the typical traditional knive. The Queen-made Northwoods Indian River Jack is a single blade (nice and thin for slacks) in 154CM. Many of the Queen knives are D2, but some "heritage" series are 1095, so pay attention. I find a two-blade knife is comfortable in slacks up to 3.5" (overall length not blade length, which is how traditionals are measured). Single blades up to 3.75" are comfortable in slacks. You might want to check out Copperheads, Canoes, mini-trappers. If you're OK with 1095 or Case CV which is like 1095, check out GEC #6, #15, #77, #56 and #57, oh, and #92. For Case, check out the Peanut (in Damascus is really office friendly--people say adorable), small or medium stockmans, Canoes, Copperheads, Pens. The above are probably the most popular patterns. If you can, get to a store in person so you can handle them in person. Good luck!!

 

[LastRodeo]

Robb narrowed it down to about 60 knives of so....

 

[black mamba]

I find that stainless steels work better in populated environments because a carbon blade with patina looks "dirty" to the uninformed. Something like this Great Eastern #61 half congress would work very well. The sheepfoot blade is perfect for rough work like opening boxes and packages, while the smaller pen can be kept very sharp for finer work.

Another choice would be the Queen #06L teardrop linerlock. This one is in amber stag bone, but it also can be found in a beautiful curly zebrawood. The D2 steel holds a great edge, and resists staining almost as well as the 440C in the GEC above. The linerlock is very inconspicuous, and totally non-tactical.

 

[qncygnnr]

The Queen Whittler (pattern 48) in D2 is 3.5" closed and very slim. I edc one 7 days a week ... Clip, pen, and coping blades. What's not to like. The utility of the stockman without the spey blade. I don't use my EDCs for food prep other than cutting fruit, etc. If a bit more food prep is required then I agree with the GEC 79 (2 blade version). It is very slim for it's length and does ride discretely in the front pocket ... Plus it is a very handsome knife.

 

[JustinR]

Canal Street Pinch, variety of handle options, locks, and comes in D2. For a more gentlemanly knife I would recommend a Case teardrop jack.

 

[jc57]

A gentleman's knife that's also useful out camping making kindling, shavings, cutting rope, and food prep? Seems like opposite ends of the knife spectrum. Why not use your Mini Grip for the bushcrafty things and go for a true discreet gentleman's knife?

If you like GEC then you will need to like 1095 carbon steel, since their offerings in stainless are limited.

What is your budget? Preferred size? Number of blades?

 

[mrszeontestpilot]

Buck 501 squire. Custom shop, perhaps.

 

[arizonaranchman]

Nobody could possibly take offense with the humble little Peanut... OAL closed is 2 7/8" and the main blade is just under 2". It's been known to be referred to as "cute" even in the most sensitive circles.

 

[wongtheo]

Thanks all for great recommendations. I've got lots to consider. I think jc57 probably nailed it, my Grip which is the big one for the outdoors and a more discreet one for civilization. The Case Peanut is definitely on the radar if they can still be acquired easily. So another knife it is. By the way, is this the way the knife collecting addiction starts? Am I in trouble?

 

[qncygnnr]

So another knife it is. By the way, is this the way the knife collecting addiction starts? Am I in trouble?

if you have to ask you're already there! "Hello, my name is Scott and I'm a KnifeNut" There are worse things to be than a KnifeNut ...

CASE Peanuts are readily available. You should also check out the BF "approved" vendors - that will really stoke the fires and if you're an unrepentant "nut" the quest for a Grail will go from an ember to a small bonfire in short order.

Welcome Brother (or Sister). Please consider upgrading your BF membership because the additional features of each level make the visits more enjoyable (IMHO) and certainly allow for more sophisticated posts and the ability to have private dialogues through PMs.

Best regards,
Scott D (last name withheld in case my wife is reading this)

 

[kootenay joe]

A true "Gent's Knife" is usually a dressed up, fancy type knife. I have recently bought 3 "Rock Creek Hanwei" 3 7/8" Lockback. This has an integral construction with inlaid pearl and abalone and the surrounding steel is engraved. The blade is thinly ground and hair poppin' sharp. These originally sold for about $180 but were not popular and lately at least 2 ebay sellers are listing these as open auctions. I have paid an average of ~ $40 for the 3 i have won.
These are exquisite knives, extremely well made and are as much pocket jewelry as pocket knife. Your co-workers are more likely to react with "ooohhh's" and "aaahhh's" and, "may i see it please", than with disparaging looks.
I will try to post a pic once the sun arises in about 4 hours time.
kj

Knife is much nicer than my pictures
kj

 

[Stich2442]

Whenever anybody is venturing into a first traditional knife pattern I always steer them to the Stockman pattern, it's a nice way to try out 3 different blade styles, depending on the configuration as there are many within the pattern, I suggest the classic clip, sheepsfoot, spey version. I've never worked in a knife sensitive environment and the closest thing to an office was when I was running a metal shop, and prior to the shop in the field I carried a Opinel #9 and a stockman. In the shop the stockman was king, sheepsfoot for opening packages, cutting heavy zipties, spey worked great for delicate jobs, like removing serial #'s from boxes for warranty information, rebates and inventory etc. clip good for food type things. Stockman was/is a great camp knife, from setting up camp, fishing, processing game, fire making chores to campfire whittling I can't think of a single thing a stockman can't do. In a knife sensitive office environment I don't think something like a trapper would be any less threatening to a non knife person with it's two larger blades, but with the stockman you have two smaller blades that could handle all your cutting needs you would most likely be using the sheepsfoot blade and I doubt it would raise a eyebrow, in most cases I find discretion is always key no matter what size the knife is anyways. As for the peanut I'm a fan I carry one everyday without fail for over 3 years, but I think if you are used to a modern type folder, I don't think the peanut would be a good first choice and I'm a fan of the pattern, I think transition would be fairly drastic and not fill the need to replace your Griptillian I think the peanut would seem very delicate compared to the build of your Griptillian, but the peanut would be a great second knife in your venture into the traditional realm, but Griptillian to peanut is a big leap IMO.

Good luck and welcome

Pete

 

[jc57]

Thanks all for great recommendations. I've got lots to consider. I think jc57 probably nailed it, my Grip which is the big one for the outdoors and a more discreet one for civilization. The Case Peanut is definitely on the radar if they can still be acquired easily. So another knife it is. By the way, is this the way the knife collecting addiction starts? Am I in trouble?

There are really so many options to choose from, any one of which would meet your needs.

I am a big fan of the silver Alox-handled Victorinox knives for "civilized" use. The textured silver surface has always had a look of "gentleman's desk set accessory" to me, and the Swiss Army knife connotation de-weaponizes it immediately for most people. I have had people who sort of looked at it a little funny when I was using the knife blade, then I just open the can opener or nail file and immediately you can see their expression change as it clicks into an existing slot in their brain as "boy scout knife." Plus I find the other tools about as equally used as the main blade for my daily office worker life.

Victorinox Alox Cadet and Case Peanut:


Same Cadet with Case Small Texas Jack:


Very thin profile for pocket carry:


Another Cadet (in green) along with larger relatives - Pioneer (black) and Farmer (silver):

 

[nugun55]

Closest I have to "Gentlemans" knife. But, I think it could pass.

Chambriard Compact