What's a gentleman's folder

J

jzmtl

Joined
Jul 29, 2007
Messages
434
So what defines a knife as a gentleman's knife? I've never seen this term until I started to look at knives, and couldn't find a defination for it.
 
I think it's a generic term for a light, non-aggressive folding knife. I associate the term with clipless, single blade, locking knives which are slender and easily carried in pocket of slacks. Fine or exotic natural materials such as MOP, horn, ivory in addition to top grade steel are also common characteristics.

The Spyderco Kopa is a good example. You'll notice that handle offerings include turquoise, various corals, MOP, exotic woods etc.

Basically, masculine jewelry.
 
Longbeachguy hit the nail on the head IMO. My Black lip MOP Kiwi, would be considered a gents knife. Why? Because its basically, masculine jewelry.
 
Ditto and ditto

I'd also like to add that when I think of a gents folder (locking or non-locking) the design shouldn't be too elaborate or risk treading into "art knife" territory. Not that a gents folder isn't capable of being an art knife... I just think the high quality materials need to flow together simply and as smoothly as possible.

A lot of Moki designed knives come to mind as well.
 
sierra11b said:
Ditto and ditto

I'd also like to add that when I think of a gents folder (locking or non-locking) the design shouldn't be too elaborate or risk treading into "art knife" territory. Not that a gents folder isn't capable of being an art knife... I just think the high quality materials need to flow together simply and as smoothly as possible.

A lot of Moki designed knives come to mind as well.
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Very good point. A gent's folder should be above all elegant, as opposed to fancy or ostentatious.

Colog's black lip pearl Kiwi is an excellent example.
 
Well, I think that my 5-blade folders by Reese Bose and Joel Chamblin are gentleman's knives, even though some of you may not think that I am a gentleman.

:D
 
I agree with your definitions, with one caveat, the knife has to be pretty, that's why I hate your examples. The Kiwi and kopas are spydercos and with that hole, they are butt ugly. In my book, with that ugly opening hole, there is no way any spyderco is a "gentleman's knife." They also are certainly not "traditional."

A good example of a gentleman's knife would be Queen's Dan Burke Gentleman's Jack in pearl or abalone.
 
In the business, the gent's knife is normally a thin, satinless handled lockback folder of small size. Most of the manufacturers make one. Of course, you can define it as you like.
 
Pick your favorite gentleman. A man's man, if you will, but classy. Cary Grant? Clooney? Whoever.

What do you think he would carry?

That's a gentleman's knife to you, and that is what matters.
 
Hmm, guess none of my knives would qualify as gentleman's knife. :( (spyderco endura, byrd crossbill, gerber applegate, gerber gator)

Then again, gentleman's knife sounds pretty boring. :p
 
jzmtl said:
Hmm, guess none of my knives would qualify as gentleman's knife. :( (spyderco endura, byrd crossbill, gerber applegate, gerber gator)

Then again, gentleman's knife sounds pretty boring. :p
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I guess so, jzmtl...

Cary-Grant-Grace-Kelly---To-Catch-a-Thief--C10101763.jpeg
 
When I hear the term "gentlemans folder" I think of a small nicely made knife with two or more blades, made to fit in a gentlemans waistcoat pocket. If handle scales are pearl or nice stag, so much the better. I don't think in the old days there was such a term. I first saw it used in one of Ken Warners Knives anual back in the early 80's. I wonder if the term is something the 20th century knifemakers came up with?

I think s-k's pen knives come close to what a real gentleman in the age of Queen Victoria would have had on them.
 
brownshoe said:
I agree with your definitions, with one caveat, the knife has to be pretty, that's why I hate your examples. The Kiwi and kopas are spydercos and with that hole, they are butt ugly. In my book, with that ugly opening hole, there is no way any spyderco is a "gentleman's knife." They also are certainly not "traditional."

A good example of a gentleman's knife would be Queen's Dan Burke Gentleman's Jack in pearl or abalone.
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I agree wholeheartedly with your example, but no matter how much I try I just can't see the Spyderco Kopa as butt ugly.

Let me try one more time...

Kopa.jpg


Nope, I can't do it.
 
I think you are right about the term jackknife. For e.g., in the Wostenholm 1885 catalogue the lobster was called a 'nail knife' Even in the 1950s, small silver and gold handled pen knives, were listed as 'dress knives' particular suitable for presentation and always with a cartouche for engraving the recipent's initials.
 
Excellent points jackknife and s-k, but, then, what current knife would today's gentleman (lets assume that isn't an oxymoron yet) carry, in your opinion?
 
longbeachguy...I'm with you on this one...I don't think that a gentleman's knife necessarily has to be "traditional"...I like s-k's "small, classy, and well made" definition.

I think we could go on all day about whether or not we like the "hole", or pocket clips, or locks, but I think there is no questioning that that Kopa is "small, classy, and well made".
 
...and furthermore, jackknife...I think your "Sunday-go-to-meetin'" peanut (or anybody's go-to-meetin' knife) would definitely be classified as a gentleman's knife.

What's more civilized than that?
 
marcinek said:
...and furthermore, jackknife...I think your "Sunday-go-to-meetin'" peanut (or anybody's go-to-meetin' knife) would definitely be classified as a gentleman's knife.

What's more civilized than that?
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I certainly agree. I think the 'gentleman' refers to the owner rather than the knife. Given the large number and diversity of members here, one would expect a great variation in 'gentleman's' knives.
 
marcinek said:
Excellent points jackknife and s-k, but, then, what current knife would today's gentleman (lets assume that isn't an oxymoron yet) carry, in your opinion?
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Good question. But then what is todays gentleman?

I think of a suit type that has little need of a knife outside of light duty in the office like opening mail or whatever. A person who does not do blue collar labor, but does recognize that a small cutting tool is a handy thing to have. I am constantly amazed at how carrying a knife has gone out of fashion with the great yuppy masses. But if I had to name one little knife that seems to be the gentlemans folder of modern times, that being a small knife that is carried by those who don't think they may need a knife but have a small one around "just in case", how about the Victorinox classic? Sometimes it seems that every 2d non-knife person has a little red scratched up classic on their keyring.

So what wouldI think is todays gentlemans folder? Its a hard one to call because of the lack of edc of a pocket knife in general by the masses. A gentlemans knife would be picked out by a bonafied knife knut who appreatiates the craftmenship and function of a knife, all others do not seem to want to spend alot on a knife, let alone a decorated one. Sadly I think we account for a small percent of the populace today. Excluding what I see fellow knife enthusiests with, it seems to be a motley colection of simple cheap lockbacks in the keychain style, with a good does of Vic classics tossed in. I think the modern gentlemans folder is something the knifemakers have come up with to sell another kind of knife for commercial reasons, as the non-knife people out there have no appreation of such a thing. Indeed, the age is vanishing when a gentleman of any sort had a knife in his pocket if he has his pants on. If I sound a bit cynical, its only because of what I've seen most non-knife people carry if they carry at all. The couple times someone admired my peanut, and then asked what it costs, they thought that was way too expencive for a little pocket knife. They are happy with the black plastic 5.99 Chinese special. Yet they think nothing of driving a 40K dollar SUV.

I think the idustrial emergence of China was the death knell of all things gentlemanly, cutlery or otherwise.

Modern gentlemans knife?

For the traditional side we have the peanut, the pen knives like s-k makes us drool over, Mr. Ham's wonderfull knives. On the non traditional side I think we could count the Spyderco U.K. pen knife, some of the small Al Mar stuff and the like.
 
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