Recommendation? Seeking gentleman's locking folder

[Smaug]

...Can't take the Chaparral out of my mind though.
It's a great knife, had two before, just not too fun because of the backlock.
I'm one of those guys who can't flick Spyderco backlocks...

I suspect they're designed NOT to be flippable. Even the "Spyderco Flick" in which you grab the blade and flip the handle down, is really clumsy; it's much faster just to slowly open it with the thumb.

 

[Smaug]

I don't see Calys as elegant, even in CF.

I kinda like the idea of a Leek. The sharp tip makes me nervous, come sharpening time though...

 

[Pilsner]

I don't see Calys as elegant, even in CF.

I kinda like the idea of a Leek. The sharp tip makes me nervous, come sharpening time though...

Yeah, very easy to accidentally ‘modify’ a very pointy tip! Been there, got the t-shirt.

 

[eisman]

Have you looked at the Case/Bose lock back? In ebony or mother of pearl it’s a real gentleman’s knife. Unlike most of the “tacticool” recommendations you’re getting.

 

[pinnah]

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

Of the knives I own, the closest to what I think of as a "gentleman's knife" is the Buck 500, which I already posted a stolen picture of. Here's my own shot of my own knife.

Buck 500 Duke and Micra by Pinnah, on Flickr

I sit with concept of a gentleman's knife a bit uncomfortably. There is an element of the use of the term that smacks of Roger Moore-era James Bond and gentleman's clubs in which "classy" means classy like Smokey and Bandit-style Firebird is classy. Which is to say, it's a bit more self-aware glitz that I generally care for. But, perhaps I too closely resemble this commentary, I regularly carry that Buck 500.

IMO, a gentleman's knife should have 4 qualities.
1) It should be a full sized folder or nearly a full sized folder. IMO, it's meant to be intentionally bigger than a small pocket knife and thus impart a sense of rougher tougher capability. Think "gentleman farmer" in all of its negative connotations.
2) It should be a pretty or a bit ornate. Glitzy looking in way that cuff-links or expensive dress shoes are.
3) It should exude a sense of price. A gentleman should drive a Lexus, not a Toyota sort of thing. Gentleman wear expensive watches because they are expensive, not because they keep better time than a Timex or Casio. His knife should match that.
4) IMO, it should be tied to tradition.

Of the knives I own, the (old Script logo) Buck 500 hits all these marks. When I'm dressed up at a wedding a knife needs to make an appearance, this is what will get flashed. It's really a LOT more knife than is needed in a gentlemanly sort of social setting. Much more than a smaller pocket knife like the 501 or 503.

For the dress slacks on which I've modified the right rear pocket for knife carry, I'll sometimes carry this lightweight aluminum and Micarta Buck 110 from Copper & Clad. It's a bit blingy and way, way, way too much knife for gentleman's social setting, which is, I think exactly the point of a gentleman's knife.

 

[abbazaba]

Spyderco Chaparral with Raffir Noble scales is a beautiful little gent's with CTS-XHP steel. Very light at 2.3 oz.

What a great photo!

 

[whp]

Just a thought for your next Gentlemen s folder. Look at the Maverick on SKBlades. Very nice natural micarta scales on a Vantage Pro platform,
excellent Bos 20cm blade, and a flipper which requires a wrist action. Fine knife if you think it looks elegant enough for a gentlemen s knife. Very
sturdy . Great slicer.
Oh, the price is a steal. But the limited edition will run out.

 

[hectorsn]

Viper Orso in carbon fiber. I have the Ti version for work but the CF scales are more gentlemanly and over an ounce lighter. I will likely gift myself one for Christmas since I like myself so much!

You can get them for under $200 if you look around and for that you get CF, M390, bearings, Ti milled clip (that works extremely well) and backspacer.

What makes it a gents folder to me? Handsome looks, liner lock, lightweight (3 oz), fairly thin handle width, under 3.5" blade that is not tall, and a minimal flipper tab. There are two blade finishes with a satin or stonewashed. Can't decide which is more gentlemanly.

Oh, and you can open it easily without flipping it. Obviously you can two-hand open it. Or one-handed by rolling your knuckle of your index finger over the flipper while using your thumb to stop the blade from flying open then pressing thumb on blade to open. I can also open it one-handed using my thumb and middle finger to grab the blade near the ricasso since there is enough of it poking out when closed by the lock access. No, the detent is not weak as it does take a bit of tenacity from your fingers to do this.

What makes it a great knife to me? As mentioned I don't have the CF version but the Ti and it is my favorite folder right now in my collection. The blade shape is stunning to me. And it cuts as good as it looks. The M390 is very well done. There isn't a single sharp edge on this knife; everything is crowned or relieved. The pocket clip is perfection. The flipper tab is small and functions very well. Flipping action is great. Lock up is dead nuts reliable. Centering is perfect. I've read a few complaints about Viper QC but can't find a single issue with mine other than maybe some grittyness when I first got it although I've had that on a number of knives. As always, YMMV.

 

[Smaug]

Just to follow through, I got the AG Russell Medium Gents Folding Hunter yesterday. It's beautiful, and it has a nice, light, smooth action. I sharpened it up and have used it for some light duty tasks already.

Only complaint so far is that the wood doesn't look like cocobolo, as advertised, but cheap Chinese mango, stained to look like cocobolo. (Former woodworker here, I recognize mango grain anywhere)

I'm gonna carry it a few days, do some more cutting, then look for a review from me.

 

[Joshua25]

Here is one I have been keeping my eye on, the benchmade Northfork in dymondwood. Looks super classy though it may be a bit smaller than you want.

The next knife is cheap, with cheap handle material and a cheap blade.

However, it is a knife my wife bought me after I proposed to her, and I find it to be a very classy knife, one that I am actually afraid to use too often, despite it's low pricetag

The CRKT swindle! Very unique look, based on the old swayback folding knives

 

[Smaug]

The new knife saw some pleasant use today:

 

[Babyboomer]

Just to follow through, I got the AG Russell Medium Gents Folding Hunter yesterday. It's beautiful, and it has a nice, light, smooth action. I sharpened it up and have used it for some light duty tasks already.

Only complaint so far is that the wood doesn't look like cocobolo, as advertised, but cheap Chinese mango, stained to look like cocobolo. (Former woodworker here, I recognize mango grain anywhere)

I'm gonna carry it a few days, do some more cutting, then look for a review from me.

That's a nice looking knife. I've noticed that "Cocobolo" is often spec'd, misleadingly, as a color rather than an actual wood. It's irritating, especially when they use dymondwood (plywood) and call it cocobolo.

 

[strategy9]

If you ever revisit this quest, consider the Viper Ten.

Great ergos and flipping action. The micarta with the adjustable titanium sub-framelock give it a bit of an industrial design, and the Italian build and styling holds enough elegance for a gentleman, but still with plenty enough ruggedness for EDC.

I love my Italian redhead... one of the few knives I actually want in another color, just not a priority since I already own this sexy one.
http://imgur.com/a/Qez9M

 

[fjblair]

Google image search for: mcusta folding knives. You'll see alot of cool jdm gentleman's knives, some of which should fall into your categories. No flippers. Great prices. Steel that gets super sharp and easy to sharpen.

I avoid boker like the plauge and those specific models would not be idea for my use case. of the choices you've made I'd go 940. The 940-1 is a step up in gentleman's carry due to the carbon fiber. It's worth saving for and often in the exchange for cheaper than new. The 940 pictured is not a great slicer. BM is known for poor qc but I think boker is way less value, less qc etc than Benchmade's.

Ill take my 940-1 whenever I need something small and classy. Light use edc. Jogging or workout. Really light weight. A bit long to reprofile and use of diamonds helps. S30v is good though also recommend diamonds for sharpening but easier to sharpen than s90v.

Benchmade is not "known for poor quality control".

 

[Smaug]

Benchmade is not "known for poor quality control".

I just watched a review from Nick Shabazz on the 940-2, the $270 carbon fiber model. It had an uneven blade grind, and set screws poking through the liners to the blade area.

I've got a 940 on the way. for a knife in this price range, things like this are simply unacceptable. I can buy a $30 Chinese copy with a perfect grind. Why should a $180 Made in American original have these flaws?

They may be minor, but they're just not acceptable at this price point. Even Kershaw can do better on a $20 Chinese-made model.

 

[Mo2]

Benchmade is not "known for poor quality control".

Actually they are very well known for bad qc.

 

[evilgreg]

I just watched a review from Nick Shabazz on the 940-2, the $270 carbon fiber model. It had an uneven blade grind, and set screws poking through the liners to the blade area.

I've got a 940 on the way. for a knife in this price range, things like this are simply unacceptable. I can buy a $30 Chinese copy with a perfect grind. Why should a $180 Made in American original have these flaws?

They may be minor, but they're just not acceptable at this price point. Even Kershaw can do better on a $20 Chinese-made model.

Isn't the cf version the 940-1?

I'm carrying my favorite 940 version today, the 940-1701, and while it did have a slightly wonky edge grind near the tip I love the knife altogether.

 

[Smaug]

If you ever revisit this quest, consider the Viper Ten.

Great ergos and flipping action. The micarta with the adjustable titanium sub-framelock give it a bit of an industrial design, and the Italian build and styling holds enough elegance for a gentleman, but still with plenty enough ruggedness for EDC.

I love my Italian redhead... one of the few knives I actually want in another color, just not a priority since I already own this sexy one.
http://imgur.com/a/Qez9M

YOURS looks great, but the carbon fiber and black G10 don't do anything for me.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

.

 

[fjblair]

I just watched a review from Nick Shabazz on the 940-2, the $270 carbon fiber model. It had an uneven blade grind, and set screws poking through the liners to the blade area.

I've got a 940 on the way. for a knife in this price range, things like this are simply unacceptable. I can buy a $30 Chinese copy with a perfect grind. Why should a $180 Made in American original have these flaws?

They may be minor, but they're just not acceptable at this price point. Even Kershaw can do better on a $20 Chinese-made model.

I guess I'm just lucky. I have owned them since the 90's and never experienced the legendary poor quality control. They are a big player and sell a lot of knives, which makes them an easy target for internet bashing. You can find a video to fit whatever narrative you choose.