Recommendation? Seeking gentleman's locking folder

[pinnah]

Slim Buck 110/112: I like that they're US-made and favorably priced, but they just don't look elegant to me.

Not pressing the issue. Just making sure we're talking about the same knife. Here's a (stolen) image.

If that's not elegant enough and the risk of telling another man what kind of whiskey he should prefer... IMO, real elegance is better found in traditional patterns that lack pocket clips and thumb studs. Single bladed lock backs with blades in the 3" category carry surprisingly well loose in a front pocket, IMO.

My "gentleman folder" is a Buck 500. This is another stolen image. Mine is older and has maroon micarta scales.

I find traditionals in this size range big enough for many food tasks, have a big enough grip for reasonably hard work (not as good a full sized folder like the 110), and pretty/non-threatening enough to be deployed in nearly any social setting. Using a traditional 2 handed open and close is a big part of the gentlemanly polite open/close.

This said, lock backs of this sort can be one-hand opened and closed if you learn and practice the trick. Good skill to have.

 

[Rob72]

Since you mentioned AG Russell, I handled one of the early hand-ground versions of his one-handed knife, and they are beautiful. Different than the rest of the pack, and available from ~$60 to ~$400.

 

[Zuluninja]

lots of good options offered, I'll just throw mine as I got this one recently, a Nemesis MPR-2. Nemesis bought the rights to Al Mar and put out some designs that had not been made before. This one feels to me like a blur between the tactical and the gentleman. 3.5" hollow ground drop point VG-10 bearing flipper with crisp action, linerlock with G10/CF scales, can be found somewhere between 90-75$

 

[Nostimos]

. . . . IMO, real elegance is better found in traditional patterns that lack pocket clips and thumb studs. Single bladed lock backs with blades in the 3" category carry surprisingly well loose in a front pocket, IMO.
My "gentleman folder" is a Buck 500. This is another stolen image. Mine is older and has maroon micarta scales.

Totally agree.
It’s interesting how the definition of “gentleman folder” has changed through the years.
I myself, prefer a Kershaw 1993-2.

It’s now discontinued, but it was made by Moki, the same company that made similar knives for Al Mar. But the Kershaw 1993-2 was a bit better designed and had updated VG-10 Steel.
Still obtainable on the second hand market

 

[Smaug]

Not pressing the issue. Just making sure we're talking about the same knife. Here's a (stolen) image.

If that's not elegant enough and the risk of telling another man what kind of whiskey he should prefer... IMO, real elegance is better found in traditional patterns that lack pocket clips and thumb studs. Single bladed lock backs with blades in the 3" category carry surprisingly well loose in a front pocket, IMO.

My "gentleman folder" is a Buck 500. This is another stolen image. Mine is older and has maroon micarta scales.

I find traditionals in this size range big enough for many food tasks, have a big enough grip for reasonably hard work (not as good a full sized folder like the 110), and pretty/non-threatening enough to be deployed in nearly any social setting. Using a traditional 2 handed open and close is a big part of the gentlemanly polite open/close.

This said, lock backs of this sort can be one-hand opened and closed if you learn and practice the trick. Good skill to have.

Sorry, but that Buck 110 lite reminds me of Carhartt pants. I do have an excellent whiskey recommendation, if you want.

I have one of the 500 series Bucks; I love it. I think it's the smallest one though; not really big enough to cut up an apple without getting the works full of juice.

 

[Pilsner]

Sorry, but that Buck 110 lite reminds me of Carhartt pants. I do have an excellent whiskey recommendation, if you want.

I have one of the 500 series Bucks; I love it. I think it's the smallest one though; not really big enough to cut up an apple without getting the works full of juice.

You mean you don’t wear your Carharrt pants to the opera? [insert surprised monocle emoji]

 

[Smaug]

At this point, I'm leaning toward an A.G. Russell. I just read that A.G. died earlier this month during angioplasty surgery. His wife is at the helm now, but I wonder if she can steer the ship like the founder...

I hope the company stats in the family, run by someone who cares.

 

[Pilsner]

At this point, I'm leaning toward an A.G. Russell. I just read that A.G. died earlier this month during angioplasty surgery. His wife is at the helm now, but I wonder if she can steer the ship like the founder...

I hope the company stats in the family, run by someone who cares.

A good time to buy one, I’d say.

 

[pinnah]

Sorry, but that Buck 110 lite reminds me of Carhartt pants. I do have an excellent whiskey recommendation, if you want.

snork

 

[Pilsner]

Looks good. I added that to my BladeHQ list and will look closer at them later.

After this thread I took it out. It really is a beautiful knife. I took the clip off it when I bought it, as for a gents knife I don’t want a clip anyway.

It’s still a great call to get the AG Russell. But maybe for your next one...

Flicks open like an auto and has a rock solid lock up. Zero play. One of my more fidgety folders.

 

[Smaug]

Guys, I ordered an A.G. Russell medium gents hunter with cocobolo scales just now:

https://agrussell.com/knife/A-G-Russell-Cocobolo-Medium-Folding-Gents-Hunter--AGLB-C232CO

I decided that nearly $200 is more than I wanted to spend, so that eliminated a few. I think I will sell some stuff and get that 940 eventually.

I was concerned the Russell wouldn't be quick or flippy enough, but then I took a good look at my Kershaw; it's the same size and fills this role just fine. As some others pointed out, the classy knife doesn't necessarily need to be flippy.

The Urban Trapper looks a bit too much like a steak knife.

Thanks for all your input; it really helped with the soul-searching.

 

[SpySmasher]

Good choice on the scales.

 

[BD_01]

That's great looking knife!
I would love to hear what you think about it once it arrives.
I may have to pick up a Boxcar Jack....

 

[Dan of Bazz Clazz]

It amazes me what people mistake for "Gentleman's knives" lol

I have quite a few classic gentleman's knives, and from that group, these meet most or all of the requirements that you give. None is over $200. 1/2 of them are under $100. Most are available in scales other than Titanium too. My recommendations in the flipper / thumbstud category (2 are front flippers) would include the following:

AG Russell's Lightn' Bug

Boker Magnum Exskelibur 1

Boker Plus Panatela

Kershaw AM3

Kershaw Amplitude 3.25

Kizer Feist

Boker Kwaiken. Others have already posted those picts. I have 2 of the mini Kwaiken Tuxedo editions. Love em!

 

[pinnah]

Shrug.

I think "gentleman's folder" is something of a Rorschach Block Test - some akin to "A pretty but capable knife".

Personally I think modern styling is ugly and that any flipper or thumbstud knife is automatically excluded but a) I'm the vast minority with opinion and b) my opinion don't mean squat in terms of what the OP (or you) finds to be beautiful.

We all get to carry pretty knives even if they're different.

 

[DocT]

The Spyderco Caly3 is the same size as the Kershaw Leek, but many times the knife. The Caly 3.5 is about the same size but with a (3.4") blade.

 

[Smaug]

Here's another one I should've considered: Spyderco Pattada; made in Italy. $189 from AGRussel.com:

 

[Smaug]

Shrug.

I think "gentleman's folder" is something of a Rorschach Block Test - some akin to "A pretty but capable knife".

Personally I think modern styling is ugly and that any flipper or thumbstud knife is automatically excluded but a) I'm the vast minority with opinion and b) my opinion don't mean squat in terms of what the OP (or you) finds to be beautiful.

We all get to carry pretty knives even if they're different.

Why not share a pic of what you consider to be a gentleman's folder then?

 

[marchone]

Here's another Maserin liner lock to consider. A fruit knife needs to be a thin flat grind with shallow depth. This also makes a great steak knife and all around utility blade as well. Not too long at 100mm, about 4".

Maserin Gourmet 380 OL

 

[Smaug]

The specs on the FF/MD Gent call it a frame lock, but the scales completely cover both sides of the handle, so it has the exterior visual appearance of a liner lock. I’m not sure if the specs are incorrect or if there’s such a thing as a frame lock without an exposed lockbar, but at any rate the lockbar isn’t visible. For the record... I’m not any FF/MD maniac and I don’t mean to come across as any major fanboy here, but I do think their Gent is a “hard to go wrong with this one” knife for a small $80 flipper with a S35VN blade.

This is something I didn't think about. I have a few knives I thought were liner locks, but which are actually frame locks, with the frame lock bar covered by scales. That's OK; elegance recovered. I just don't like it when they laser cut right through the frame and it's visible. If they're still around next time I'm looking for a gentlemanly knive, I'll consider them again.