What makes a Gentleman's Knife?

joshf128 said:
I feel like some sort of exotic material is a qualification. Not acrylic or imitation. Premium wood, bone, horn, etc.
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Obviously, I'd have to disagree. Acrylic certainly qualifies as it can be very complex looking, furthermore, it is the modern and stable version of Cell which in the early c20th would've appeared on smaller patterns too. Using faux Tortoise is in these times of environmental depletion more acceptable and necessary than using the shells of near extinct Turtles.

Regards, Will
 
Will Power said:
Obviously, I'd have to disagree. Acrylic certainly qualifies as it can be very complex looking, furthermore, it is the modern and stable version of Cell which in the early c20th would've appeared on smaller patterns too. Using faux Tortoise is in these times of environmental depletion more acceptable and necessary than using the shells of near extinct Turtles.

Regards, Will
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I understand your position and am definitely not advocating for the poaching of endangered wildlife for our knife handles. All I'm saying is that for me personally I would want premium materials if I was going to spend a lot if money on a gentleman folder rather than some cheap, albeit attractive, plastic.
 
kootenay joe said:
I was in the LePuy area of France about 20 years ago. I had a dinner with the local family that had hosted my daughter as she did her grade 11 there. The father sat at the head of the table and that was the only spot in which no knife had been set out. When the meat was served the father took out his Laguiole from his belt sheath, wiped the blade across his pant leg and used it to cut up his supper. He was a rural working man and he used the same knife for everything, every day.
If i understood correctly, it is common there for the man of the house to use his 'EDC' as his table knife. A sign of being master of the house, an old tradition in that area.
So, not really a Gent's knife.
kj
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Sooo...because he was a rural working man, who uses his knife to cut his dinner, you're saying he's not a gentleman? I would strongly disagree.
 
No, I realize you're not proposing the further depletion of rare animals, no offence meant or taken.:thumbup: Aesthetics are certainly subjective, I'm not at all keen on MOP or that snail shell material whose name escapes me, these are valuable and prized materials frequently seen on the 'Gent' style of knife. Lapis is another one although I think it looks really outstanding on some acrylics:D

Here's another Gent contender: William Nowill from the end of the c19th totally sunk joints (that's a mark of quality and no Gent wants his trouser pockets shredded by sharp coarse tangs:eek: ) cut-outs to access the three blades and one nail-file, 2 blades busted off and the survivor a splinter of its former self. Probably Ivory.

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Thing about Laguioles is that they come in many different forms and sizes. Some barehead, some double bolstered (often brass...:barf:) some are tough, loutish..working-knives, coarse and rather crude in construction or use..:D Others can be compact, covered in costly material or even with a Damascus blade- a fashion amongst Modern Gents knives for example.

This one from Fontenille-Pataud is a locking one and is highly finished in material and action, being compact I'd deem it a Gents one. You can still cut up your meals with it, gourmet mind:cool:

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Quote: "Sooo...because he was a rural working man, who uses his knife to cut his dinner, you're saying he's not a gentleman?"
No. That is not a logical extrapolation of what i said.
It is not a "Gent's knife" because he uses it every day for every thing. He might have a Gent's knife for Church, or funerals, weddings, Christmas Day, etc. A "Gent's knife" refers to one you take with you to the 'fancier' events in your life.
Maybe read a bit more carefully before posting.
kj
 
A gents swayback in mammoth from Jim Dunlap. I posted this picture in another thread earlier today. Small, elegant and fit to be carried at the office :)
 
kootenay joe said:
Quote: "Sooo...because he was a rural working man, who uses his knife to cut his dinner, you're saying he's not a gentleman?"
No. That is not a logical extrapolation of what i said.
It is not a "Gent's knife" because he uses it every day for every thing. He might have a Gent's knife for Church, or funerals, weddings, Christmas Day, etc. A "Gent's knife" refers to one you take with you to the 'fancier' events in your life.Maybe read a bit more carefully before posting.
kj
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No...that's your interpretation, condescending tho it may be.
 
kootenay joe said:
It is not a "Gent's knife" because he uses it every day for every thing. He might have a Gent's knife for Church, or funerals, weddings, Christmas Day, etc. A "Gent's knife" refers to one you take with you to the 'fancier' events in your life.
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I can't believe folks are arguing about this. Obviously there is some debate about the term, but the putative definition of a gent's knife is the one laid out by KJ.
 
Jack, wow, what a great group of knives you posted. I tried counting them 3x but lost track each time as i paused to stare at one of them.
kj
 
Le Comte does qualify?
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or perhaps this navette nogentaise (Nogent's "shuttle")?
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To me, A gentleman's knife is on that when the girls see it they might make the remark of how nice it is or say that they would like to have one like that in their purse.
I've lost more than a few nice little knives like that to the ladies.:)
 
I'm thinking Jack Black needs to change his name to "Gentleman Jack" since he obviously has some experience and knowledge in the gentlemen's knife arena. Nice collection Jack. Very nice.
 
kootenay joe said:
Jack, wow, what a great group of knives you posted. I tried counting them 3x but lost track each time as i paused to stare at one of them.
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Thanks Joe, those are just the ones I had existing pics of, it's a style of knife I do like :) Sorry my photography skills don't do them justice :o

Jolipapa said:
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That's an interesting knife JP, stunning too :thumbup:

btmccutcheon said:
I'm thinking Jack Black needs to change his name to "Gentleman Jack" since he obviously has some experience and knowledge in the gentlemen's knife arena. Nice collection Jack. Very nice.
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Thanks a lot my friend :thumbup:
 
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