Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Good evening all, I am in the market for a “classier” knife. I’m getting married this summer and want to get a gentleman’s knife for the occasion.
What are your recommendations? I’m not opposed to dressing up a cheaper blade with nicer scales or buying something older on the secondary market, I just want something a little unique and special.
Here are my considerations:
Budget: $200
Steel: Don’t care
Size: Smaller than a PM2
Lock Preference: None
If you were in my shoes, what would you be looking at?
What are your recommendations? I’m not opposed to dressing up a cheaper blade with nicer scales or buying something older on the secondary market, I just want something a little unique and special.
Here are my considerations:
Budget: $200
Steel: Don’t care
Size: Smaller than a PM2
Lock Preference: None
If you were in my shoes, what would you be looking at?
Tenacious G10 PE, Tasman Salt 2 PE, Tasman Salt 2 SE, Yojimbo 2, KJ Endura 4 D.P.S. 15 VG-10, LadyBug K390, TKJ Jester 20CV, UKPK Salt, Crucarta PM2, 204 Sharpmaker
-
- Member
- Posts: 3720
- Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2013 6:23 pm
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Chaparral Raffir Noble
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Chaparral Carbon Fiber or Birdseye Maple
Bonus: Any Chaparral is one of the most practical EDCs you can own.
Bonus: Any Chaparral is one of the most practical EDCs you can own.
- Fly Fishing Rick
- Member
- Posts: 780
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2022 7:54 am
- Location: Upstate NY
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Chaparral in whatever style you like most, I carry a FRN version as my EDC often and love it.
-Jimmy
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Check out the M390 Spyopera as well.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Both of the said options are great.
The Chapparal looks fantastic! (I want one!)
I have the Spyopera amd use it for one of my "classier" folders.
The Chapparal looks fantastic! (I want one!)
I have the Spyopera amd use it for one of my "classier" folders.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
ikuchi or spydiechef would get my vote. a ukpk might be nice too for something simple and elegant. if you were willing to go a little bigger, the vallotton and tropen are very unique and classy. kapara looks nice too. otherwise, it's hard to beat a delica or endura with some fancy new scales in a nice material. the sage 5 lw would be another option for a nice scale upgrade platform.
keep your knife sharp and your focus sharper.
current collection:
C36MCW2, C258YL, C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
H2, CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C
current collection:
C36MCW2, C258YL, C253GBBK, C258GFBL, C101GBBK2, C11GYW, C11FWNB20CV, C101GBN15V2, C101GODFDE2, C60GGY, C149G, C189, C101GBN2, MT35, C211TI, C242CF, C217GSSF, C101BN2, C85G2, C91BBK, C142G, C122GBBK, LBK, LYL3HB, C193, C28YL2, C11ZPGYD, C41YL5, C252G, C130G, PLKIT1
spyderco steels:
H2, CPM 20CV, CPM 15V, CTS 204P, CPM CRUWEAR, CPM S30V, N690Co, M390, CPM MagnaCut, LC200N, CTS XHP, H1, 8Cr13MoV, GIN-1, CTS BD1, VG-10, VG-10/Damascus, 440C
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Any Chaparral would be great, but I'd pick the Sun & Moon. I'd say choose the Raffir Noble, but you can't count on getting an attractive one as there is considerable variation among specimens.
- WilliamMunny
- Member
- Posts: 1184
- Joined: Fri Jan 29, 2021 1:20 pm
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
A G-10 Native 5. It’s smaller and not aggressive looking. But it has a 3” blade that can do a lot and enough handle to fill out most hands. Extremely nice knife.
Endura AUS-8, Manix 2 S30V, Alcyone BD1N, PM2 Micarta Cruwear, Native 5 Maxamet (2nd), Para 3 Maxamet (2nd), Magnacut Mule, Z-Wear Mule, BBB 15V Manix 2, REC PM3 10V Satin, Dragonfly Salt 2, GB2 M4.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Chaparral with bird's eye maple scales is classy. That would be my choice.
The Marcin Slysz knives are pretty nice too but they're well over $200
The Marcin Slysz knives are pretty nice too but they're well over $200
-
- Member
- Posts: 166
- Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2021 9:42 pm
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
There are still a few of Knifecenters dealer exclusive Damascus/black pakkawood Delicas as well as the hap40/mahogany pakkawood version still kicking around.
They're pretty slick..
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP11WD ... -exclusive
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP11WD ... -exclusive
Edit: to include both versions
They're pretty slick..
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP11WD ... -exclusive
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP11WD ... -exclusive
Edit: to include both versions
Last edited by Meadowlark on Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
I think the Knifecenter Pakkawood Delica is pretty classy, and nice and small.
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP11WD ... -exclusive
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/SP11WD ... -exclusive
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
The titanium Delica with damascus blade would be my choice. It’s a little over your budget but you will be the proud owner of a classy iconic spydie.
Marius
" A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it "
( Rabindranath Tagore )
Proud member of the old school spyderedge nation
" A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it "
( Rabindranath Tagore )
Proud member of the old school spyderedge nation
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Another vote for the Pakkawood Delica. Congrats on the upcoming nuptials.
- kennethsime
- Member
- Posts: 4786
- Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:28 pm
- Location: California
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Congrats!
Chapparal in Birdseye Maple would be my recommendation.
I’m also getting married this summer, and will probably carry my Sebenza when I’m wearing pants and a small fixed blade when I’m not.
Chapparal in Birdseye Maple would be my recommendation.
I’m also getting married this summer, and will probably carry my Sebenza when I’m wearing pants and a small fixed blade when I’m not.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
- Doc Dan
- Member
- Posts: 14836
- Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:25 am
- Location: In a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Dragonfly G10. If you can find a nishijin model, get that amazing knife. The Chaparral is also a great choice. I have all of these and these are what I think of when speaking of a gentleman's knife.
I Pray Heaven to Bestow The Best of Blessing on THIS HOUSE, and on ALL that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under This Roof! (John Adams regarding the White House)
Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
NRA Life Member
Spydernation 0050
Follow the Christ, the King,
Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--
Else, wherefore born?" (Tennyson)
NRA Life Member
Spydernation 0050
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
First and foremost: Congrats of course!
Then: Just can echo all the Chaparral recommendations.
It is kind of a "mutlitool" : Perfect gents knife, but also (or even more so) real workhorse and great, sturdy EDC.
I think even the FRN version looks very classy already with its grey color, Taichung texture and wire clip.
Also quite unobtrusive, and on top probably the most "user and beater" version (for the times when you don´t need the "gents" aspect).
If you want it to be even classier, but still unobtrusive:
CF version.
Raffir noble, maple and sun and moon are gorgeous too of course.
Maple and especially sun and moon (since the clip is on the bright, white side of the latter) will be a bit more "visible" in your pocket, though not a lot of the knife is sticking out when carried.
/ Now next question: What knife is SHE gonna carry? (And where?)
Top three going by pocket-time (update March 24):
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
- EDC: Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10); Wayne Goddard PE (4V), Endela SE (VG10)
-Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 1 SE (H1), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), and also Wayne Goddard PE (4V)
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
I use my Mantra 2 as a dining out steak knife.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Dragonfly Tattoo is a fine-looking piece.
Re: Gentleman’s Knife Recommendation
Chaparral. In Birdseye Maple or CF.
Better is only Caly 3.5, but you need to increase your budget quite a bit...
Better is only Caly 3.5, but you need to increase your budget quite a bit...
Recent favourites: Massad Ayoob CPM CRU-WEAR PE & SE, Yojimbo 2, Lil' Temperance 3.