Looking for my next Gent's knife

[DRider]

I came here to post this. I LOVE mine, so classy, and WELL under your budget.

A little heavier than your specs, but still a beautiful gentleman's knife is the Kershaw Nakamura. 2 7/8ths, VG-10 clad in 420, and Quince wood scales. Around $ 100 to $ 125, depending on where you look...Pic stolen from New Graham.

My father was just showing me his new Nakamura. Very nice, very classy; the bolsters make it something special.

 

[Absintheur]

A gentleman, by definition, is someone of refinement who does not work. Instead he is able to live comfortably off the assets of his family and inheritance, either savings or by renting out land.
Gautier

I disagree completely with your definition of what a "gentleman" is, I consider myself to be a gentleman and I definitely do not live off the earnings of anyone, much less family. I managed to retire young because I was willing to work for it and I did. Rather than your definition I would offers these...

“Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.”
Theodore Roosevelt

“A gentleman can live through anything.”
William Faulkner

“A true gentleman is one who is never unintentionally rude”
Oscar Wilde

"A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.”
George Bernard Shaw

“A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.”
Kong Fu Zi

“I can make a lord, but only God can make a gentleman”
King James I

“This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him”
William Lyon Phelps

The Mcusta would be a fine knife for a gentleman as well and would fall into your $300.00 budget. Bob Lum also does a very nice knife in the $125 range...

I would also think the Lone Wolf Knives "Paul Perfecto with Gold Lip Pearl" would serve a gentleman nicely.

 

[Valpo Hawkeye]

I also have a Kershaw Nakamura and it's a great knife. My bolsters were a little loose from the factory and so I had to round up a T5 torx to tighten it up, but once I did all was/is well. They haven't loosened up since.

 

[Row]

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Absintheur Absintheur is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gautier View Post
A gentleman, by definition, is someone of refinement who does not work. Instead he is able to live comfortably off the assets of his family and inheritance, either savings or by renting out land.
Gautier
I disagree completely with your definition of what a "gentleman" is, I consider myself to be a gentleman and I definitely do not live off the earnings of anyone, much less family. I managed to retire young because I was willing to work for it and I did. Rather than your definition I would offers these...

“Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage.”
Theodore Roosevelt

“A gentleman can live through anything.”
William Faulkner

“A true gentleman is one who is never unintentionally rude”
Oscar Wilde

"A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.”
George Bernard Shaw

“A gentleman would be ashamed should his deeds not match his words.”
Kong Fu Zi

“I can make a lord, but only God can make a gentleman”
King James I

“This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him”
William Lyon Phelps

Could not have put it better myself, I was just going to go to Websters, but thats better.

 

[chuckschilling]

Gentlemen do not have knives. They have valets.

 

[Dagon]

Gentlemen knives are my favourite kind of knives. Here are a few recommendations:

> something unique

What do you think of a Spyderco Kiwi with dinosaur bone handles? Here's a pic:

Or, also very rare and in japanese style, a limited Mcusta or Moki. Beautiful gentlemen knives:

And another rare gem (I am happy with mine) is a Kyocera pocket knife with their high-end "HIP" ceramic blade material (which looks a bit damascus like):

Or perhaps a Laguiole, you cannot find many more elegant knives. I love mine.

It's only now that I realise that of the above knives, only the Kyocera has a clip! But I'll not delete the previous recommendations as they are so beautiful! I'd say that a Kopa is a nice alternative to the Kiwi, but I prefer the minuscule Kiwi.

Here's a new knife with clip that should be truly superb: Fallkniven PXL. But it is a bit heavier and bigger than you want. Still, I will buy it one day:

As others mentioned, the Mnandi or a Klotzli also merit your attention. I will eventually buy these as well.

 

[JTR357]

Gentlemen knives are my favourite kind of knives. Here are a few recommendations:

> something unique

What do you think of a Spyderco Kiwi with dinosaur bone handles? Here's a pic:

Or, also very rare and in japanese style, a limited Mcusta or Moki. Beautiful gentlemen knives:

And another rare gem (I am happy with mine) is a Kyocera pocket knife with their high-end "HIP" ceramic blade material (which looks a bit damascus like):

Or perhaps a Laguiole, you cannot find many more elegant knives. I love mine.

It's only now that I realise that of the above knives, only the Kyocera has a clip! But I'll not delete the previous recommendations as they are so beautiful! I'd say that a Kopa is a nice alternative to the Kiwi, but I prefer the minuscule Kiwi.

Here's a new knife with clip that should be truly superb: Fallkniven PXL. But it is a bit heavier and bigger than you want. Still, I will buy it one day:

As others mentioned, the Mnandi or a Klotzli also merit your attention. I will eventually buy these as well.

+1:thumbup:On all of your suggestions Dagon.

I'm a big fan of "Gent" folders & your post really caught my eye...especially the Fallkniven PXL.

 

[Gautier]

Well, the thing is, it's not MY definition.While all those quotations may sound very nice, they are based on a skewed meaning. Quotes aren't definitions, more like opinions.
These days, any polite or upstanding fellow can be called a gentleman based on manners or character that is considered beyond reproach.
The reason for this? That's the way a true "gentleman" was raised to act. Don't take my word for it, if you were going to Merriam-Webster, you'd have found the same thing. -- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentleman
Afraid I can't provide a link to the definition I was using, as it came from an old encyclopedic dictionary I have here, but I'll quote it; "gentleman - in strictly financial terms, a gentleman was someone who did not have to work for a living because he and his family had sufficient assets (savings land holdings) that they could live comfortably off the interest and/or rents. But the moral dimension of this word imparted the highest compliment one could give a Regency man. It had to do with being chivalrous, educated, reliable, kind, polite, helpful, respectable, intelligent, kind, and above all, always ready to do one’s duty without complaint. "
Now, based on the moral aspect of the word alone...Yes, Absintheur, I'd say that you are definitely a "gentleman" and I've always seen you act as such in your posts.

Sorry to detract from the OP, just didn't want anyone to think that I was pulling "definitions" out of thin air. I prefer to call things by their proper names is all. :thumbup:


Gautier

 

[Dagon]

> I'm a big fan of "Gent" folders & your post really caught my eye...especially the Fallkniven PXL.

Yes it looks great doesn't it. I only have the small Fallkniven U2: another great gentlemen knife, with good quality/price, but it doesn't have a clip.

Here are 2 wonderful, wonderful gent knives by Klotzli. With mother of pearl or apple coral inlays. Rare Swiss precision - what more could you want?. I don't know if these models have a clip, but you just know you want one:

Now, the one gent knife I am most lusting after, is a French custom. It's a wee bit expensive (435 euros), but eventually I'll crack. This one doesn't have a clip and honestly, it would destroy the refined looks (I posted these pics before in another thread, but it's so pretty that you'll forgive the duplication!):

BTW, a while ago I posted a pic of the most favorite knives in my small collection. Not all are gent knives, far from it, but most are small and unassuming enough for this kind of usage.

 

[Kazeryu]

I don't have a knife to contribute, but I was thinking of asking a similar question myself, so the contents are all interesting. I'll admit my budget is a fair bit lower, however...

As for the gentleman discussion, nobody is wrong, it's just that some of you are talking about 'Gentleman' as a social class, and some are talking about 'Gentleman' as an ideal or a role model.

 

[JTR357]

Spyderco Kopa

What defines "gentleman's knife," by the way?

In a few words..."Functional, Well Made Toolery"

 

[Dagon]

> I'll admit my budget is a fair bit lower, however...

I think that a nice Spyderco Dragonfly should then serve your needs very well:

 

[JTR357]

Here's a nice one I got coming in a few weeks...hopefully

Brian Yellowhorse Delica,Sun & Moon Inlay

...photo courtesy of my current favorite knife dealer

 

[SPXTrader]

Based on the re-definition of "gentleman".........

Damascus Leek $ 75 (and the pic) from the Pharmacy:

and the Composite Blade Leek 13C26 spine with a CPM D2 edge $ 63 (and again the pic) from NGK:

Both are better looking in person.....

 

[Dagon]

I always wondered about that Damascus Leek. It's so damn cheap for a damascus blade. Is it real damascus? Does the blade hold its edge well? I have been tempted before by this elegant pocket knife but I wonder if it's really good?

 

[GarageBoy]

Yup, real modern damascus, carbon steel IIRC

 

[cool_hand_luke]

Here's a new knife with clip that should be truly superb: Fallkniven PXL. But it is a bit heavier and bigger than you want. Still, I will buy it one day:

This is my next purchase, as soon as the knife becomes available. I am buying the PXL specifically because it appeals to me as a well-built 'gentleman's knife'. The only downside that I see with this knife is the weight. But I'd like to carry it around for a month or so before I pass judgment.

Andy

 

[Kazeryu]

> I'll admit my budget is a fair bit lower, however...

I think that a nice Spyderco Dragonfly should then serve your needs very well:

thanks, I liked the look of the SS Dragonfly but when I handled one at my local PriceGougers Inc. it seemed too small for my hands.

anyways, lets not veer this thread away. Back to the High-Test stuff.

 

[Dagon]

@Kazeryu,
not a high end suggestion, but a nice Opinel #8 is a perfectly ok rustic knife that could be seen as a gentlemen knife, and it has a tremendous quality/price ratio. Everyone should have at least one Opinel. At the price, there's no excuse not to.

 

[Kaizen1]

Spyderco:
CF/ZDP Caly 3
Kopa
Kiwi

Kershaw:
Damascus Leek or any other variant

Mcusta:
Anything

Fallkniven:
U1, U2
P
I don't think the Fallknivens have clips