What's a "Gent's Folder"?

powernoodle said:
It is early Spring, and you are at a social gathering on the veranda of a Victorian mansion situated on 700 acres just outside of Charleston, SC. A cool spring breeze is bringing the smell of ribs from the grill. An intoxicating aroma of charcoal and sizzling meat.

The estate's owner, a very attractive young widow who recently inherited a shipping fortune of almost $800M, is clearly captivated by your charm and good humor. She approaches, accompanied by her twin sister who has returned just this morning from boarding school in Switzerland. After a shy giggle and a bit of conversation, the young widow flings her long, brown hair away from her face and asks if you might slice a lime for her Gin and Tonic. As she does so, you sense the slightest whiff of her scent, which is quickly replaced by that of the grill. You find yourself suddenly hungry, though for what you know not.

You:

a) remove your BK7 from an inside-the-waistband sheath, causing the widow to retract in fear and drop her Gin and Tonic; her security personnel wrestle you to the ground, beat the snot out of you in front of the twins, and remove you from the estate; or,

b) you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. You expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, and place a slice in the widow's drink. As you do so, your hand casually touches hers, precipitating her to blush. But the blush is accompanied by an unblinking stare into your own eyes, and you see her pupils dilate ever so subtly. After an embarrassed pause, she asks if you might accompany her and her sister on a private walking tour of the riding stables. You accept, and begin your stroll as the sun begins to set behind the adjacent hills.

If your answer is b), you were carrying a gent's folder.
Click to expand...

You forgot c):

You hear a rustling in the bushes, thinking that it may be a wild animal, you draw your BK7 causing the widow to retract in fear and drop her Gin and Tonic. As her security personnel approach to wrestle you to the ground, a horribly pissed horde of angry zombie-terrorist bursts out of the bushes easily dispatching the lightly armed security guards. As they begin to run towards you, organ parts and various bodily fluids dripping from their mouths, you look at her with a dashing grin and leap towards the crushing multitude of the undead. Easily parrying their clumsy blows and bites, you spin and twirl, annihilating one after another until the only zombie-terrorist is both legless and armless, which you dispatch with a foot-stamp of badassitude. You notice that the young widow has retreated to the house, so you take a dip in the fountain to clean yourself. As you embrace her and begin to shuffle to the nearest bedroom, you look at the camera and grin.

And d)

You hear a rustling in the bushes, but ignore it as you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. As you expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, a horribly pissed horde of angry zombie-terrorist bursts out of the bushes easily dispatching the lightly armed security guards. You debate with yourself whether or not you should use you finely crafted folder because it is made out of costly and exquisite materials.... Before you can decide, four zombie armbar and kneebar you, leaving you limbless to bleed to death as they chase after the young widow.
 
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darthsoaker said:
You forgot c):

You hear a rustling in the bushes, thinking that it may be a wild animal you draw your BK7 causing the widow to retract in fear and drop her Gin and Tonic. As her security personnel approach to wrestle you to the ground, a horribly pissed horde of angry zombie-terrorist bursts out of the bushes easily dispatching the lightly armed security guards. As they begin to run towards you, organ parts and various bodily fluids dripping from their mouths, you look at her with a dashing grin and leap towards the crushing multitude of the undead. Easily parrying their clumsy blows and bites you spin and twirl, annihilating one after another until the only zombie-terrorist is both legless and armless, which dispatch with a foot-stamp of badassitude. You notice that the young widow has retreated to the house, so you take a dip in the fountain to clean yourself As you embrace her and begin to shuffle to the nearest bedroom, you look at the camera and grin.

And d)

You hear a rustling in the bushes, but ignore it as you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. As you expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, a horribly pissed horde of angry zombie-terrorist bursts out of the bushes easily dispatching the lightly armed security guards. You debate with yourself whether or not you should use you finely crafted folder because it is made out of costly and exquisite materials.... Before you can decide, four zombie armbar and kneebar you, leaving you limbless to bleed to death as they chase after the young widow.
Click to expand...

Awesome!:thumbup::D
 
Gentleman knife can be an everyday knife, but to me it is especially an nice, small and elegent knife to go with your suit on special occasions. :)
 
gents folders are pretty and generally not tactical in any way. two handed opening, no pocket clips, very small blades+handles, and weaker materials are common. william henry is a gents knife company
 
Gentleman's knives are usually knives that are small that do not make much of an impression in your pocket. Just look at AG Russel's website and you will understand.
 
The best new inexpensive Gent's folder that I've seen recently is the Benchmade Nagara. Very nice materials, well finished and nice blade shape for lite (lime cutting :)) duty. The ladies would like it.
 
I guess we all have our own version of what a gentleman's knife is - in my mind a gentleman's folder has a sub 3" blade, (usually around 2 1/2") is rather elegant, and has a non-threatening appearance. Imo, the perfect example of this type knife would be a William Henry Kestral.

b09-ctd.jpg
 
walleyeguy7 said:
gents folders are pretty and generally not tactical in any way. two handed opening, no pocket clips, very small blades+handles, and weaker materials are common. william henry is a gents knife company
Click to expand...

wh's are one hand opening, and dont use weak materials.

ti, cf, and zdp 189 are commonly found in wh knives. they only lack a pocket clip, but the leather pouches have clips.

while many are fairly small, some are large enough to fill the hand.


i consider these gent's knives. no weak materials here...

soddie.jpg




yes, i know i keep posting this pic, but i just love these two slippies!!!
 
I don't have any real basis but my definition of a gent's folder is basically a smaller knife that matches a more formal environment and attire. For example, I would say that a Spyderco Caly 3 CF would be a gent's folder whereas a knife such as a Spyderco Military would not be.
 
thegeneral said:
I don't have any real basis but my definition of a gent's folder is basically a smaller knife that matches a more formal environment and attire. For example, I would say that a Spyderco Caly 3 CF would be a gent's folder whereas a knife such as a Spyderco Military would not be.
Click to expand...

Heck, compared to a Spyderco Civilian, the Military might just be considered a gent's folder!';)

I think you're right though, I too consider the Caly 3 (CF or G-10) to be a gent's knife.

Regards,
3G
 
Don't be silly guys. Everyone knows that it's the person that makes the knife. Gentlemen with knives therefore have gent's knives.

Please don't lynch me. I kid.

I consider lockbacks/slippies of the doctor ilk to be gent's folders.
 
powernoodle said:
It is early Spring, and you are at a social gathering on the veranda of a Victorian mansion situated on 700 acres just outside of Charleston, SC. A cool spring breeze is bringing the smell of ribs from the grill. An intoxicating aroma of charcoal and sizzling meat.

The estate's owner, a very attractive young widow who recently inherited a shipping fortune of almost $800M, is clearly captivated by your charm and good humor. She approaches, accompanied by her twin sister who has returned just this morning from boarding school in Switzerland. After a shy giggle and a bit of conversation, the young widow flings her long, brown hair away from her face and asks if you might slice a lime for her Gin and Tonic. As she does so, you sense the slightest whiff of her scent, which is quickly replaced by that of the grill. You find yourself suddenly hungry, though for what you know not.

You:

a) remove your BK7 from an inside-the-waistband sheath, causing the widow to retract in fear and drop her Gin and Tonic; her security personnel wrestle you to the ground, beat the snot out of you in front of the twins, and remove you from the estate; or,

b) you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. You expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, and place a slice in the widow's drink. As you do so, your hand casually touches hers, precipitating her to blush. But the blush is accompanied by an unblinking stare into your own eyes, and you see her pupils dilate ever so subtly. After an embarrassed pause, she asks if you might accompany her and her sister on a private walking tour of the riding stables. You accept, and begin your stroll as the sun begins to set behind the adjacent hills.

If your answer is b), you were carrying a gent's folder.
Click to expand...

Ok, so when will you post the next page? Can we skip to the part where she and her sister invites him to the swimming pool?:p

A gentleman's knife is something that doesn't ruin the sleek lines of your $2000 Armani suit trousers, and invokes a "wow" when you pull it out instead of "eek". It should be light and small enough that you can pinch it between your thumb and index finger to open that peach colored envelope for her from aunt Margaret (or to slice lime).
 
Same criteria as what denotes a gentleman's double barrelled shotgun. Size, within reason, is a secondary consideration and it's quality & elegance that sets the standard for a "gentleman's folder". i.e. what a gentleman would consider suitable to carry for the occasion and not just when wearing a 3-piece. IMO a custom damsascus Sebenza = GF. Basic Sebenza = tactical or utility.
 
To me, a gentalman's knife is a knife designed to cut and not a sharpened pry-bar. No AO, even 1 hand opening can be overboard. I think the lockbacks that AG Russell calls gentalmans knives are perfect examples of what the term means.
 
powernoodle said:
It is early Spring, and you are at a social gathering on the veranda of a Victorian mansion situated on 700 acres just outside of Charleston, SC. A cool spring breeze is bringing the smell of ribs from the grill. An intoxicating aroma of charcoal and sizzling meat.

The estate's owner, a very attractive young widow who recently inherited a shipping fortune of almost $800M, is clearly captivated by your charm and good humor. She approaches, accompanied by her twin sister who has returned just this morning from boarding school in Switzerland. After a shy giggle and a bit of conversation, the young widow flings her long, brown hair away from her face and asks if you might slice a lime for her Gin and Tonic. As she does so, you sense the slightest whiff of her scent, which is quickly replaced by that of the grill. You find yourself suddenly hungry, though for what you know not.

You:

a) remove your BK7 from an inside-the-waistband sheath, causing the widow to retract in fear and drop her Gin and Tonic; her security personnel wrestle you to the ground, beat the snot out of you in front of the twins, and remove you from the estate; or,

b) you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. You expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, and place a slice in the widow's drink. As you do so, your hand casually touches hers, precipitating her to blush. But the blush is accompanied by an unblinking stare into your own eyes, and you see her pupils dilate ever so subtly. After an embarrassed pause, she asks if you might accompany her and her sister on a private walking tour of the riding stables. You accept, and begin your stroll as the sun begins to set behind the adjacent hills.

If your answer is b), you were carrying a gent's folder.
Click to expand...

LOL, man, that was pretty funny ;).
 
ah! Well now you see, a Gent is the kinda man who packs exceptionally light; and in most circumstances appear absolutely cool headed, standing pretty with absolutely nothing but a lit smoke in hand. He outwardly doesn't appear to be carrying anything at all but for a fine silver lighter. All true Gents love embellishments and adore accessories that help create an air of distinction and finery for the added impression it brings. Nothing delights a gentleman more, than at the right opportune moment for him to withdrawout from within his pocket an embellished sterling silver cigar cutter. Even if he actually hates the overpowering smell of cigars. But then again it's all about commanding immediate public attention.
 
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