need gentleman's knife recommendation - it's complicated :)

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FiddlerMD

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Jun 29, 2015
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OK so i finally decided to splurge a bit on something i wont use too often.. but i just love knives - i'm sure you all understand.. anyway. i want something with the following properties:
1 - under $100 (preferably under 70)
2 - one-handed - that is to open and to close. (no lock-backs or fingernail nicks)
3 - slim/light
4 - decent steel - don't need super-steel but something that won't lose an edge after one piece of cardboard
5 - no spyderco - i just don't like their designs .. they look ugly to me... i do like the military titanium but it's way too pricy
6 - no crazy super-pointy blades (like crkt eros)

I recently tried both versions of the crkt ripple (steel and aluminum) .. i found the flipper to be inadequate and the ribs on the handle too aggressive. I tried the skyline and don't get what the fuss is about - felt kinda cheap or something.. not quite sure. Boker Urban Trapper looks interesting but I'm concerned the flipper alone isnt a good opening method. i am a fan of thumb studs and thumb holes but on my SRM 710, it's super-difficult to get purchase cause of the poor filing on the G10 scales leading to the stud.

like i said - it's complicated.. i'm picky.

I'm a fan of slim knives with deep carry pocket clips..

basically i want something that feels good in the hand and is reasonably priced while looking fine at the office.

Love the look of LionSteel knives but they're pricy.. obviously small sebenza and mnandi out of reach...
I feel like i've looked at everything and nothing fits all this criteria (Granted I'm being way too picky for the price range perhaps).

and so i'm here - figured if you guys can't figure it out, then I'm way out of my league. if you could include pictures with your recommendations, that would be awesome.

Thanks!
 
Bolt a kwik-thumbstud onto the Urban Trapper. Makes it a whole new knife.
It also comes in CF and cocobolo scales now, I believe.
 
Second on the urban trapper; had one in cocobolo that was just awesome. Little small for me so it moved on, but it sounds like it'd be great for you. G10 and CF options too if you don't like wood. Flipper is all I prefer these days so since it seems like you're "new" to the scene I say jump in man...worst that happens is you sell it here and get most of your money back.

For a little more unstabby shape try looking for a lightly used Benchmade Mini Griptilian. Modified wharncliffe/sheepsfoot style that few would ever find threatening.
 
Sonnemann said:
Bolt a kwik-thumbstud onto the Urban Trapper. Makes it a whole new knife.
It also comes in CF and cocobolo scales now, I believe.
Click to expand...

i didnt know about this product but seems like it would make a beautiful knife look kinda ghetto .. if anything, i'd rather drill/tap and install a real one
 
My suggestion would be a Kershaw Leek, Scallion, Knockout or Camber.

If you are willing to put in more money seriously consider the ZT0900. Deep carry clip, small, fun and insanely built!
 
the leek and scallion i'm not a big fan due to weird blade shape and the assist.. i have a chive and the spring assist is too ready to go.. so i gotta engage the lock - i dont like that extra step of locking and I don't want this opening in my pocket or by accident. knockout seems decent but a little beefier than i wanted. same with camber. I love the ZT 0450 actually in terms of the size. you seem to be recommending larger knives. i'm looking for more of a subdued gentleman's folder - thanks for the suggestions though
 
I would have said Kershaw Shallot...but it may be a bit large for a "gentleman's" knife, or for use in/around the officeplace. Drop it down a notch to the Leek.
If you don't like the assisted open, and are willing to LOOK at a Spyderco; check out the Sage 2. Still a bit heavy for dress pants, IMO, but I don't know what you wear at the office.
 
I'd suggest taking a look at the A.G. Russell Skorpion or Small Skorpion. It sounds like it might be exactly what you're looking for.
 
You might want to try the lion steel dagettha.. it is a lockback but it is a great knife, feels solid (at least mine did, you might need to bend the pocket clip like i did on mine). Unfortunatly I lost mine, replaced it with the benchmade 530 which I love as well.
 
buck Vantage pro series?
Camillus carbonitride series?
also do a search on boker plus and Maserin they have some decent gent's knives in that range
 
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Urban Trapper opens fine one handed with the flipper with just a quick flick of the wrist.

Kershaw Piston migh be right up your ally though.

CRKT Carson m4-02 (w/ white bone handle) looks like a sharp gent's folder too
 
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In that price range I would go for the Buck Vantage Pro/Force in S30v or a Kershaw Camber, also in S30v. Boker's Decade Edition line has some pretty nice offerings with carbon fiber and VG-10 steel.
 
Thanks for all the recommendations.. the one thing i would like is a slim profile. knives like the buck vantage line are on the "comfortable" side of the handle .. and thus are kinda thick.
Piston seems nice but is too big. Camber looks like a good candidate.. though kinda boring looking. Maserin 392 looks really nice to me .. i'm concerned about the deployment system. like the boker urban trapper, there's no thumbstud and i'm not sure how it will work out.. also i've read some things about attention to detail being sub-par on them (maybe this is wrong?)

keep'em coming - i love seeing new stuff i havent found yet
 
I have a CRKT Delegate for dress carry, although I generally carry my much larger Benchmade 890 Torrent.
If you can go $100 I would suggest the Spyderco Sage. And yes their designs do look funny to some people but you buy a knife to use and the Spydercos are designed to be used. You will discover this if you buy one and you will not buy ordinary knives again.
 
mcusta are beautiful but too expensive. i prefer to get them on places like amazon so that i can return easily if i dont like it
 
bdmicarta said:
I have a CRKT Delegate for dress carry, although I generally carry my much larger Benchmade 890 Torrent.
If you can go $100 I would suggest the Spyderco Sage. And yes their designs do look funny to some people but you buy a knife to use and the Spydercos are designed to be used. You will discover this if you buy one and you will not buy ordinary knives again.
Click to expand...

I agree.. The sage is a fantastic choice. I also have a caly 3 zdp-189 that I got on the exchange for 90 bucks and now I almost always carry that in gentlemen setting. I know the spyderco knives can look a little weird.. But once you use one you'll curse yourself for not buying one sooner. If you can go a little higher in the price range you open yourself up to a bunch of other great knives.. but it's a slippery slope..
 
I have a Buck Vantage for sale that may suit your needs, beautiful knife but not the lightest or slimmest: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...e-Presidio-520SBK-and-Buck-Vantage-345-GYS-WM

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Another thought is the Boker Exskelibur I - again not super light or slim nor deep-carry, but worth a look:

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