What is a "Gentleman's Knife" to you?

tiguy, you've GOT to be kidding. :confused: Those are a couple of the ugliest knives EVER! :poop: In the interest of BF brotherhood, if you send them to me, I will see that they are properly disposed of. :D Please inform me about the one on the left so I do not accidentally buy one. (Actually, :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:)
 
BilboBaggins said:
This is likely the only knife in my collection that qualifies.

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Been away from the Forum for a good while; just came on this thread and read it through. I'm more than a little surprised that this is the only mention of the Lone Wolf Paul Prankster Folder. I bought my first Prankster direct from Lone Wolf shortly after its introduction. It was from the "First Production" run of four hundred knives, so marked on the blade, similar to the Prankster pictured above but with a tactical blade, 3.25" long and .125" thick, partially serrated near the hilt and built of Crucible S30V stainless, hardened to RC 60-62, a tougher and stronger steel than Crucible's standard 154CM. Lone Wolf built 400 of these knives, ran their tightest q.c. check and rejected ten percent of the production run or forty knives which were then disassembled. I loved this knife so much that I was lucky enough to acquire three additional First Production examples. Two went as gifts to my beloved wife's grandsons (unsurprisingly they do not appreciate the knives) and I still have two.
 
intrepid 11 said:
Been away from the Forum for a good while; just came on this thread and read it through. I'm more than a little surprised that this is the only mention of the Lone Wolf Paul Prankster Folder. I bought my first Prankster direct from Lone Wolf shortly after its introduction. It was from the "First Production" run of four hundred knives, so marked on the blade, similar to the Prankster pictured above but with a tactical blade, 3.25" long and .125" thick, partially serrated near the hilt and built of Crucible S30V stainless, hardened to RC 60-62, a tougher and stronger steel than Crucible's standard 154CM. Lone Wolf built 400 of these knives, ran their tightest q.c. check and rejected ten percent of the production run or forty knives which were then disassembled. I loved this knife so much that I was lucky enough to acquire three additional First Production examples. Two went as gifts to my beloved wife's grandsons (unsurprisingly they do not appreciate the knives) and I still have two.
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Here's 'First Production' Prankster that was just on eBay. Gorgeous knife and exactly the right size, compromise between easy carrying and adequate size for use
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I will say it is easier to come up with criteria for what isn't a gentleman's knife than what is. I have a knife that fits the category well for me but I am thinking about letting it go and replacing it problem I am finding atm is that most replacements I would look at are a higher cost or a more traditional knife. I have nothing against a traditional for a gentleman's knife and think they are probably the easiest answer for the question. I have a few for that I would like to find something more modern like the knife I have.
 
To me my Spyderco Centofante 3 or Sm. Sebenza seem to fit the bill. One of them always seems to get thrown into the pocket whenever I wear a suit:)
 
Dan of Bazz Clazz said:
This may have been asked before, but my search didn't turn up anything so I'll pretend I'm the very first one to think of it and ask, "What is a Gentleman's Knife?" what makes a "Gentleman's knife" different from a EDC, a Flipper, or a lock back? Particularly to someone who knows and loves knives. There are plenty out there that want to qualify, and may to some, if only because they are ridiculously small, are little more than a fob for a keychain and completely useless as a knife except possibly opening a package - and only then, the tape better be thin and weak.

From my point of view, a Gentleman's knife will have or omit the following characteristics.

A gentleman's knife is:

First and foremost a folder. Nothing would show hanging on a gentleman's belt except his pants. Ditto for neck knives. Only a tie goes around the neck. A fixed blade never makes the cut. Nor does a belt sheath for a folder. A pouch to hold and protect it in a pocket is an option. It is an EDC knife. For a Gentleman. For the rest of us, :) I classify it as Too nice or expensive for EDC, but what I carry when in a suit, on a date, or at a wedding or funeral. Ignoring for the time being, those that will argue the last 2 are the same thing. :cool:

It is small and light. No bulges appear in his pockets from carrying a 5" tactical monster. 4" blade would be the absolute max, but only for a large man. Much more likely a 3" blade or less. Likewise, a gentleman's knife is a light duty knife. Batoning firewood is not in it's list of uses. So thinner blade stock. It MAY have a clip, but it is never carried on the clip as it would show. The Gentleman's knife is not for advertising.

It normally has only a single blade. A second smaller blade or punch, only for cleaning under a dirty fingernail or as an emergency screwdriver if needed and it meets the other criteria. Swiss Army knives of more than 2 blades are definitely not gentleman's knives.

Any knife categorized as "Tactical", "Military", "Zombie Apocalypse" etc. are definitely not gentleman's knives. Likewise for anything serrated, with a saw spine or a file along the sides of it. A lanyard is walking a fine line but in most cases, not a part of the mix.

A Gentleman's knife has "Style". Classic lines, elegance, quality, all without being ostentatious. As Gen. Patton once said about his revolver grips. "They're Ivory! Only a New Orleans pimp has pearl handles". So the quality of the materials is huge in the makeup of the knife. Pearl, Abalone, Pine, Painted, Anodized, Knurled, Knitted or Knotted is out. Legal ivory, Ebony, Bone, Walnut, Ironwood, Spatted woods, Engraved ( by an artist, and not your nephew with a vibro-graver) are in. The resin based scales are the wildcard. Some micarta has an elegance to it. Most do not, and some scream no. Blades finished in mirror, satin, or bead blasted, or true Damascus qualify. Anodized, blackened, painted or camouflaged do not.

A Gentleman's knife is definitely NOT a knife that threatens or intimidates. Its intended use is never self defense. So if any of the following adjectives - "Wicked" "Mean" "Psycho" "Tough" "Phat" "Bling" "Evil" "Damn" or "Oh hell yes" can be applied to it, you are not looking at a gentleman's knife.

If it has a double edge, spear point, hawk beak or a trailing point that looks like your hand is holding an elf shoe, Not a gentleman's knife. A Tanto point, not a gentleman's knife - Unless you happen to be Japanese, preferably with a samurai heritage. Then you can go with it. lol Likewise other nationalities and cultures will definitely have alternate guidelines from what I am defining here for USA, western European heritages. So give the person the benefit of the doubt in such cases. A gentleman would.

So all that being said, here are just a few of what I would classify as gentleman's knives. Some I have, others are on my wish list. But they all qualify IMO. For what ever that is worth. What's yours?

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Chris Reeve

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Boker Magnum

Kershaw
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Kershaw


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Boker Magnum


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Kubey


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Arno Bernard


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Al Mar


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Zhen


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Moki
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The First Gentleman of the United States carried this

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https://blademag.com/knife-history/knife-history-penknife-saved-united-states-america

Zieg
 
In terms of gentleman's knives, I simply can't stand the William Henry-type that is basically a cacophony of gaudy decorative accents. Instead of being a handsome knife they just look like busy hot messes to me...hitting you over the head with "desirable elements" like Damascus, gemstones, mammoth bark, gold, complex engraved bolsters etc all crammed into one package.
 
Been quite awhile since I started this thread but saw some new activity, and since my buying hasn't stopped, thought I would post some of my latest additions to the gentleman's corner of my collection.


From A.G. Russell - Lightn' Bug 2.5" Blade, CF scales.
Small, Light, Simple, and elegant.
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Boker Plus Panatela 6" OAL, Titanium with CF inlay, Button lock
Discontinued but I was lucky enough to track NOS down.
Have no idea why this didn't catch on. It instantly became one of my favorite Gentleman's knives
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Case Peanut - Because some are just a no-brainer!

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LionSteel Roundhead and Shuffler both in White CF
Because sometimes you have to narrow it down to just 2 choices.

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Just picked this up last week. Got a mass-produced example before I jumped in blind on a pricey handmade version.
Antonini Resolza Pattada. Ox Horn handle, 9 cm Mirto leaf blade, Friction folder. Who says farm tools can't be classy!
Got the bug for a Sardinian Knife from BF, going through this thread I found, that started back in 2004!
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-sardinian-connection.1159722/
It's worth going through all 29 pages if only for the pictures IMO.
Now I definitely have to get a handmade, layered steel, Mouflon Horn, made in Pattada Sardinia version!
I knew joining BF was gonna be expensive.... :cool:

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A gentlemen's knife IMHO would be something small, slim profile, doesn't look intimidating when its deployed. Something like a the new introduced CRK impinda, small 21 sebenza or mnandi in a CRK leather sheath would be ideal.
 
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