Most Formal Traditional Slipjoint?

I

ISKRA

Joined
Sep 19, 2016
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I hope this doesn't sound ridiculous. I've been thinking about this for a while now and just have to ask. New as I am, I don't know if there are rules about it, I imagine there are some, yet probably no definite answer.

What is the most formal traditional slipjoint possible? Imagine 1910, white tie, dinner party, fancy shmancy as hell. You attend and, the knife nut you are, you have to carry a folder in your pocket. :D What do you bring? It can be a knife you already own although I'm thinking more theoretical in this matter. What frame, which blade combo, number of blades, how are they ground and finished, nail nick or long pull, match strike or not, swedges, carbon or stainless, the sort of bolsters used, material of the bolsters, pins and liners, material of the scales, size, everything. Let's include as many aspects as can be done.

If possible, please, post a picture as well.

I thank you all in advance!

Cheers

Jean
 
One of those GEC 85 bullet end jacks in Elephant Ivory.

Out of knives I actually own? Probably my Ebony Washington Jack.

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Back in the day they had "Gentleman's" pen knives with among other choices, sterling silver, Ivory, Pearl, and Abalone covers. Some even had the covers and bolsters carved with arts.

I think today, it would be a small knife like a peanut, Barlow, maybe a canoe, or a Texas Jack with fancy covers
 
For a formal event I doubt there will be much need for a pocket knife. If there is no real need, the blade combo or model won't really matter. If one is carried, it would be in the pocket or coat pocket 99% of the time. If it was taken out it would more than likely be just for show.
The knife I would want to show off would depend on the audience. Is the audience family or even interested in knives? If not, then I would carry a knife that carried a story. This way the non-knife people may be at least interested in the story told. If the audience is family I would carry a knife to attach a story or memory to it. If the audience is not family yet may be interested in knives then I would carry one of my Laguiole knives.
 
Good thinking everyone, I like your ideas! :thumbup:

@KBA, imagine you're having dinner with a state governor, senator or something. An occassion when you don't need a knife at all and it's probably better if you don't pull one out. If you do, you don't want them to think you're a barbarian, so perhaps not a barlow. We don't want to scare them. :D

I was thinking something along the lines of an equal end whittler with a spear main blade (with a long pull) and the secondaries both being pen blades, perhaps one a phile. Long thin rectangular shield, mother of pearl scales and those very small tip bolsters. I've seen such in the Old Knives thread but for the love of god I can't find a picture of it. I must have looked for it over 20 minutes ...
 
New York Knife Co. in pearl in your vest pocket and a Camillus in pick bone in your right front pocket to gift the governor ;)

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If you were having wine a multitool might be the ticket;)

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Perhaps a Jenny Lin

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Or...if they were serving lobster:D

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I understand the question asked and agree for the most part with the knives suggested as the knife itself is a formal knife. I just disagree that the knife must have a shallow looks based only purpose to be carried.

In the event I was allowed carry and to meet or dine with a person or group of persons with position of influence, as suggested, I still would carry a knife with a story attached, as they would more than likely care less of the knife itself. The appearance and or model would not matter as much as the story it held even if it was a grand daddy Barlow.

I could sit across someone with a 3 1/2 inch William Henry pearl senator with gold and diamond inlays and it would be not be anything to me but an expensive piece of jewelry. Sure, it would look the part of a formal setting but there is no depth to just looks alone. I would want to know the story of why the person had the knife and what it meant to them.

Let them think of me as a Barbarian if they will. I suppose I would just rather a knife that meant something to me at a special event.

Yes, I know this is a fun hypothetical and I dove off the deep
end. I usually do
 
Some type of lobster, senator, small whittler.

I would take one of my customs: Taber, Oeser, Wiseman, LaRock, Cramer.
 
If this event were over a hundred years ago in 1910, there certainly would not be any stainless knives there....sorry for the pedantry.

If I got in a Time Machine and was back to that era in influential posh company, it's almost certain all the gents would have had some manner of knife about them, men of all classes carried knives then. Likely some ladies too, silver bladed fruit knives with MOP handles e.g. I would be sporting a Sheffield made Norfolk style knife, two blades one spring with either Tip Bolsters or Shadow in Tortoise or choice gnarled Stag. Wharncliffe/Pen, nicks as long pull doesn't suit Wharncliffes in my view. This would handle the pocket tasks of a gent: opening the post, scraping a pipe-bowl, trimming a cigar, cutting up fruit or snacks, taking cuttings of interesting plant specimens, sharpening sticks, carving initials on monuments, prodding about when bored or idle:D
 
Something like this perhaps, ideally smaller and would be made by a better company but you get the idea, I bought it because I loved the way it looks.
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KBA said:
I understand the question asked and agree for the most part with the knives suggested as the knife itself is a formal knife. I just disagree that the knife must have a shallow looks based only purpose to be carried.

In the event I was allowed carry and to meet or dine with a person or group of persons with position of influence, as suggested, I still would carry a knife with a story attached, as they would more than likely care less of the knife itself. The appearance and or model would not matter as much as the story it held even if it was a grand daddy Barlow.

I could sit across someone with a 3 1/2 inch William Henry pearl senator with gold and diamond inlays and it would be not be anything to me but an expensive piece of jewelry. Sure, it would look the part of a formal setting but there is no depth to just looks alone. I would want to know the story of why the person had the knife and what it meant to them.

Let them think of me as a Barbarian if they will. I suppose I would just rather a knife that meant something to me at a special event.

Yes, I know this is a fun hypothetical and I dove off the deep
end. I usually do
Click to expand...

Please excuse, if my reply came across as offensive, it wasn't ment that way. Knives, which get carried by their owners regularly and over a long time, develop an unique character and with it come many stories, without doubt. Especially if the knife was handed down by an ancestor, relative or dear friend. That makes them very special and I'm sure most of us would preffer this to fancy pristine ones, ment only to impress. I respect all traditional patterns because all of them exist for a reason and serve(d) their purpose. I was merely trying to imply that according to the task and environment, one would perhaps limit the choice of patterns to less heavy duty ones. The nature of this thread is purely subjective and opinions vary. All are welcome though and I love to hear them! :)



Great knives, everyone!

Gevonovich, the tuxedo completely slipped my mind. Thanks for bringing it up. That NYK co sure is lovely!

Thanks for correcting me, Will Power, you're right. The period doesn't enable us stainless parts, but it conpensates with materials like turtoise and ivory, which we can't use today anymore.
 
Will Power said:
If this event were over a hundred years ago in 1910, there certainly would not be any stainless knives there....sorry for the pedantry.

If I got in a Time Machine and was back to that era in influential posh company, it's almost certain all the gents would have had some manner of knife about them, men of all classes carried knives then. Likely some ladies too, silver bladed fruit knives with MOP handles e.g. I would be sporting a Sheffield made Norfolk style knife, two blades one spring with either Tip Bolsters or Shadow in Tortoise or choice gnarled Stag. Wharncliffe/Pen, nicks as long pull doesn't suit Wharncliffes in my view. This would handle the pocket tasks of a gent: opening the post, scraping a pipe-bowl, trimming a cigar, cutting up fruit or snacks, taking cuttings of interesting plant specimens, sharpening sticks, carving initials on monuments, prodding about when bored or idle:D
Click to expand...

This gave me a good laugh, Will:D I imagine in those days most would have also carried something more suitable for the job:eek::D
 
Most formal traditional slipjoint?

Why, a tuxedo of course!
 
In its day, a pearl Orange blossom (4-blade gunstock lobster whittler), was a very fancy knife ...and relatively expensive. I suppose any knife with mother of pearl or tortoise shell covers could go well with a top hat. ;)
 
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