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

Yalius said:
Hmmmm...

First a Gentleman's knife is never openable one-handed. A gentleman is never in such a hurry as to need his knife quickly, and his valet is always at hand to hold whatever is necessary to allow both hands to be free.

Second, it would never be a knife that would be used for self-defense. A gentleman would never deign to use more force than good old-fashioned fisticuffs to settle a dispute... and even that would be considered a failing, in that his words could not defuse the situation.

Third, a gentleman's knife would never be a knife without a story. It's only after rescuing the Baroness' favorite hound from a thistle bush, or cutting free the diamond stickpin that became entangled in Her Grace's bonnet, that a dress knife or a pen knife becomes a Gentleman's knife.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, a Gentleman's knife is one that does not draw attention. It is always a Gentleman's actions, not his accoutrements, that define him. It should be subtle, understated, refined. A knife that draws attention is... uncouth.
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Well said!
 
Wowbagger said:
Are you asking about the Pocket Pal ? Or the first ones I posted ?
In both cases Swiss Army Knife and or Wenger. Some body bought out Wenger recently didn't they ?
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Actually, I was referring to the knife posted by Evilgreg. Not sure why my reply didn't get connected to his post. Sorry about that.
 
evilgreg said:
I have to wear business attire a fair bit and this is by far and away my favorite suit knife:

lQhB9pw.jpg
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Very Nice. Care to share the make & model? I don't recognize the TM.
 
Dan of Bazz Clazz said:
I get what you're saying. Nice little knife.
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I haven't handled a new china 33OT, but I've handled some other models and while they seem decent the handle color is just wrong.
I like the reddish chocolate brown that fades to caramel around the edges like the originals.

Either way the model / frame itself seems to be more gentlemanly in my eyes than a stockman which is meant for dirty work around the farm.
Now in today's world just about any smaller traditional pocket knife will seem so old timey and inoffensive to people compared to anything modern so they all make the cut.
Now 50-60 years ago though many pocket knives were recognized, carried, and used for their specific purposes , so things like trappers stockmans and sodbusters wouldn't have been seen as too elegant or classy.
 
Dan of Bazz Clazz said:
I'm a big Boker fan. Not sure how I missed this one. First time seeing it. Doesn't fit the category for me, but I like it and may pick one up in the near future.
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It is a wierd blade. I do like it though even though it has a very unique style blade that is a chisel grind.
Very easy to operate with one hand and..very sharp :thumbsup:
 
A true gentleman's knife MUST be a slip joint. It can be plain or elegant but must be a small knife. 2" to 2.5" blade or main blade is about perfect. My two most carried gentleman's knives are a red Delrin Case peanut and a Victorinox Alox Solo. A small 3 blade stockman will also suffice. Weight must be under 2oz.

Joe
 
For me there are 2 different kinds that qualify. You have the knives that people are comfortable seeing like a sak or peanut so they are all but ignored, and then you have the knives that are so aesthetically pleasing that they are admired by non knife people.

You pull out something small in Damascus with a nice dyed burl wood and people don't see a knife, they see pocket jewelery.
 
Dan (the OP),
I don't necessarily agree with your terms (I especially think you disqualify to many factors right off the bat) however I really enjoyed your writing style! Great thread!

I have two folders I consider gentleman's knives: small CF Sebenza 21 (high end, and note I've carried it to two weddings, one of which I was in and still carried it clipped to my tux left rear pocket ) and a Esee zancudo with a maroon micarta scale (low end but still pretty).

Personally I have less criteria but I do believe a gentleman's folder should be light and thin, ride low in the pocket (when clipped), be well refined and should absolutely not have any logos showing on the pocket clip if you are gonna clip it to a pocket.


Not mentioned in the first ~dozen or so replies I read would be an Enzo or a William Henry

Im not really carrying folders anymore and next time I need a gentleman's knife I'll be choosing from my FB's, I'm thinking a NorthArmsKnives Mallard in a horizontal leather belt sheath should fit the bill just fine and not net me any negative attention.
 
Dan of Bazz Clazz said:
Very Nice. Care to share the make & model? I don't recognize the TM.
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It's a William Henry E10-2. It's very light, ~1.8oz, especially for a knife with a ~3.4" blade. The best part of it is that it's a thin blade with a deep enough hollow grind to make it cut like an angry opinel. It may not be overbuilt, but it rocks at actually cutting stuff (it out-cuts pretty much all of the knives I regularly carry).
 
Wowbagger said:
At a minimum one of these. A Patriot, or Secretary or Bantam.



For the more sophisticated an Executive.
Second knife from top



. . . and for the gentleman who wants to “geeter DONE !’

a Gayle Bradley One
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Ditto, a small swiss army knife is a great gents knife. I EDC a GB but not when going to functions, etc. It really isn't what I would consider a gent's knife.

My little swiss army knife is perfect for such occasions.

 
Gentleman's knife.... why a Buck 110 (or similar) on the belt of course. :D

jc57 said:
It is a term that probably was used originally as a marketing term in the 1800s and on, to sell more expensive knives to the wealthier set (as opposed to a working man's knife). It would be applied to those who had servants to take care of most chores, so it would be for simpler tasks like opening envelopes, trimming threads, cleaning one's nails. Later on, the distinction would apply to the white collar managerial classes vs the blue-collar factory workers. They might have slimmer and more delicate blades and more expensive or fancier workmanship.

These days, it seems to more differentiate a knife from the categories of utilitarian or tactical, but still made of more expensive materials. My Case Peanut is probably not a Gentleman's knife in the stock bone handles and 420HC stainless, but if it were mammoth-ivory handled with damascus blades and cost $200, it would be. Same with my Vic Alox - but get the Sterling Silver version of the same knife, now you are in Gentlemen's knife category.
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My concept of a gentleman's knife follows along jc57'S line of thinking. For the most part it is a small knife that is thin in the pocket that is used for office type use. The cost of your chosen gentleman's knife will follow along with the deepness of your wallet and your concept of what works. The knife is very sheeple friendly overall, but it would likely bother a few regardless. A traditional peanut would work for me especially if it has nice scales.
 
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