Perfect gentleman's (dress) knife

[MsbS]

I'm trying to understand which knives are OK to carry with your business suit. I'm not interested in specific models though, but rather trying to understand how people feel about specific characteristics of such knives.

I have created a Google Survey to gather the people's opinions.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/vie ... E6MQ#gid=0


I think we might come up with some interesting or surprising results - it would be great if you could spend a few minutes to fill this in.


I will be on my holidays for a week, with potentially no access to Google Docs, I will be reading these forums though. When I get back, I will submit a summary of results.

[chuck_roxas45]

It would be nice if you were more forthcoming about what you're going to do with the data you gather. :D

[MsbS]

Oh, that's easy. I'm gonna get me a perfect gent's folder that will get people saying "Wow, this dude has S-T-Y-L-E!". I'm a knife buyer, not maker :p

EDIT: But, on a more serious note. I was considering buying a gent's knife to carry to work (at an office). There is a multitude of options. Some models are recommended, others are frowned upon. This got me thinking - what are the criteria for a gent's/non-gent's knife? In the hand watch world it's fairly easy - white dial, with as little lettering as possible, and a black leather strap. Does the knives world have a similar set of simple dress code rules?

[chuck_roxas45]

So why not just ask for recommendations and choose the one you like best or buy them all?

[arjay18]

Good thing I can carry anything to the office. I don't have to worry about what people think. We allow people to carry knives to the office as long as their not crazy or stupid enough to threaten anybody with it. A knife is a tool not a weapon. :p

[dbcad]

To the OP: Very subjective question :confused:

Any kind of answer would depend on what you think is classy, the exact type of atmosphere you're working in, what your coworkers are like, what you would want to use the knife for, the color of your suit etc.

The definition of "class" is quite broad. For me it means understated, tasteful, unpretentious, and capable. So I'll leave with a pic

Defining further exactly what you mean by "classy" would help with obtaining useful answers.

Have to add Focus on having integrity, focus on doing good work, focus on developing productive relationships with your coworkers. Perceptions are cheap, results and reputation matter.

[Splice]

A gentlemans folder should be as refined and tasteful as the person carrying it. A gentlemans folder looks slick but capable.

Two examples:

[kbuzbee]

Personally, if I were still working any of the office jobs I held over the years, had it been available, I would have carried a Balance. Before that, when I was "in the field" I'd have carried an M4 Manix (same caveat)

Ken

[KardinalSyn]

I am sorry but I am reluctant to participate on this survey. So I won't. The reason is that it is outside this forum and it is not endorsed by Spyderco. I like your ingenuity though.

The other reason being that I prefer blades that are not considered to be gentlemanly knives. See list below.

[The Deacon]

For me, it's more about looks than size. I'd go so far as to differentiate between gent's knives and knives which are simply "office friendly" and would consider the former to be a sub-set of the latter. I could rattle off the names of a few dozen Spyderco models I consider office friendly, but there are only three models they've ever made that I would label as true gent's knives "out of the box". Those are the original locking Kiwi and the plain edged all stainless versions of the Jester and Ladybug III. For me, anything with a clip is automatically disqualified, as is anything with teeth and, to me, the larger Chinese slip joints lack the necessary element of class.

[kens73]

Des Horn C153GP......problem solved :D

[dbcad]

I think the OP needs to learn what is right for him :) I went through the google poll, and if those are the results that govern his decision there's a good chance he might be pounding a square peg through a round hole

Experience and figure it out for yourself :) That's part of the fun :)

[Sonny]

Gentlemen prefer blondes; I do not. Ergo, I'm not a gentleman. Can't help you. (But some folks get all excited about William Henry knives.)
Sonny

[God'sMyJudge]

2.5" blade, organic material scale inlay

[gdwtvb]

I have thought about this subject quite a bit. While it is very true that one man's gent's knife is anothers pig sticker, I think there are some general criteria.

First relatively small. I doubt you could narrow down exact maximum dimensions but if you take any two knives of the same pattern, just different sizes, the smaller would be the gents knife....unless one was something like a novelty miniature.

Second I would say higher end materials for the scales. FRN is practically indestructable, and makes a great handle that lasts forever, but it just doesn't look nearly as classy as even stainless.

Finally Uniqueness. Natural materials are naturally unique. No two woods have exactly the same grain or color. Maybe engraved to make it unique. A gentleman doesn't just pull a random knife out of his pocket. It's his knife, it has a story. It was the one that his grandfather gave him...or one he found that was exactly like grandad's. It was a monogrammed gift for his wedding, or a gift he bought for himself when he got a major promotion.

People friendly, but this sometimes has more to do with how the knife is used and presented than what type of knife. Think about it, if someone asks for a knife and you whip out a tactical folder in the blink of an eye slice open the hotdogs like a Japanese chef and then the knife disappears back in your pocket before anyone has caught their breath, you might scare people. Try slowly and deliberately drawing your knife, slowly opening it with two hands...yes even if it is a flipper, carefully cutting the hotdogs open, wiping the blade off and carefully putting it back into your pocket. It makes a big difference.

I have to agree with Deacon, I believe clips are automatically a disqualification. Although this may change for the next generation of gentlemen that carry grandpa's old native.

I'm still waiting for spyderco to produce my grail gents knife: ti scaled ladybug. There was another thread and it looks like this has a chance of actually happening.

Grizz

(PS I would engrave and anodize the ti scales.)

[d.2.the.p]

I think a gentlmen's folder should be small and elegant. It shouldn't have a clip or exposed screws, and the handle is made from some sort of natural material such as bone, wood, stone, etc. I think the nail nick is the ideal deployment mechanism, but I own and have seen other knives with other deployment methods that I would still classify as gentlemen's folders.

[bh49]

I think a gentlmen's folder should be small and elegant. It shouldn't have a clip or exposed screws, and the handle is made from some sort of natural material such as bone, wood, stone, etc. I think the nail nick is the ideal deployment mechanism, but I own and have seen other knives with other deployment methods that I would still classify as gentlemen's folders.

+1
this is about where I am standing. Probably I can add CF and engraved Ti or SS for handle materials, but they are not on my preferred list.
this is my dream

and this is what I currently carry

of cause in addition to Persian and Caly3.5 :) :) I am working in manufacturing and do not have to be a gentleman all the time :D :D

[DeathBySnooSnoo]

You are going to get a lot of replies that vary greatly for this one. However, there are certain truths about what is and isn't a gentleman's folder.
However, regardless of what people say a gentleman's folder is a small, slim, lightweight knife and it will typically have a slender and fairly short blade. In my estimation I would say no more than abut 2.5 inches long. Also I would say that it is pretty traditional in looks and grind. Not really a tanto tip or nightmare grind kind of knife.
I would also say that natural materials are used for the scales, though I will say that a polished g10 or micarta could be acceptable depending on the knife.
In my personal opinion it is also clipless. To me as soon as you add a clip it becomes something else. I know that these days a lot of people will say that they won't carry without a clip and that a gentleman's knife can have a clip and still meet all the guidelines for being a gentleman's folder, but IMO they are wrong, very wrong, completely wrong.

Now if you want an office knife, I think that you are looking for something that is not really needed to be a gentleman's knife. Something like the Chaparral is an excellent Office Knife. A Native 5 might also make this category along with a Sage 1. If you want a really small Office Knife, try the G10 Manbug or the FG Urban or the Terzuola.
There are others for sure that would fit in this category...but I think that you probably get the idea. Smaller, handle materials can vary, subtle, easily slipped and carried.

[gbelleh]

A gentleman's knife can certainly have a clip, but it has to be a subtle, classy clip (like the CRK Mnandi, which is my idea of the quintessential gentleman's folder). For me, a knife without a clip is a desk ornament.

[Onionman]

Des Horn with a black wire clip from a Sage 1. Very light, smooth handle won't damage your pocket, and black clip makes it blend in nicely with any dark suit.