• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). Now open to the forums as a whole. If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges. If there are customs issues? On you.

    User Name
    Serial number request

Another gentlemans knife thread

H

HFinn

Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
2,966
I am in the process of choosing me a "gentlemans knife", a suit knife or whatewer. I have narrowed my choises so far to these:

Linder Solingen Iltis Amboina
3085_LN113109-01.jpg


Benchmade Shoki Carbon
3046_BM480-1-01.jpg


Spyderco Des Horn, because I kind of like wharncliffe blades
3431_SCC153GP-01.jpg


G.Sakai Rip
6197_GS11165-01.jpg


Opinions on these, possible weaknesses etc? Clip is not necessary, but an option. If there is a tip down carry I most likely will remove the clip. My favorites are Linder and G.Sakai so far. A cheap option might be also a Buck 55.
 
The Linder isn't the greatest steel. Fairly soft to be honest.

In my opinion any of the other ones would be a fairly nice knife.
 
I wear business attire to work, so this is a subject near and dear to my heart. I like the Shoki out of the options you list. The G. Sakai Rip looks cute, but it's on the small side for my preferences. I'm usually looking for thin/light/pocket friendly blades in the 2.75" blade neighborhood.

Have you looked at the Mcustas? They make some nice, dressy knives. I've had this cute little one (framelock, 2.75" blade) since Christmas and I quite like it:

hs9zZ.jpg
 
LX_Emergency said:
The Linder isn't the greatest steel. Fairly soft to be honest.

In my opinion any of the other ones would be a fairly nice knife.
Click to expand...

That´s alright, so far. I would tend to look for a Friedrich Hartkopf as a gentleman´s knife. Pretty similar design. They have those neat Lockbacks in ebony/snakewood etc etc for sale and a nice steel with a great HT... I don´t know if they are available in the US.
 
Given the choices you have narrowed it down to, I would recommend the Benchmade Shoki.

No pocket clip, a leather pocket sheath a la William & Henry, anodized with file work....textbook "suit and tie" knife.
 
I have to agree with a few others , Id buy the Shoki.

If you want a lower cost alternative, I bought a Boker Plus "Elegance Carbon Fiber" folder.
It cost around $45.00. The frame is titanium, its very thin and light, but not tiny like some gentleman's folders.
It's nicer than this stock picture.

5838.jpg
 
I agree the Plus Carbon is a really nice knife in person, it's a nice size too.
 
I'd go for the Shoki except I'm not impressed with the Nak-Lok system. Otherwise, the Boker Plus Carbon on the low-end and Mcusta (or William Henry if you can afford it) on the top end.
 
The Gayle Bradley Air is another terrific alternative--very well made and light, with the excellent CPM-M4 steel.

DJK
 
The Des Horn is an elegant knife.

I love mine.

Have you considered the Canal Street Cutlery Half Moon Trapper?
 
If you like Wharncliffe blades and Spyderco's, you can't go wrong with the Spyderco Gayle Bradley Air.
Beautiful scales, nice titanium liner lock, light as a feather, CPM-M4 steel.
 
I don't know what your budget is, but the William Henry line includes a lot of ZDP-189 blades which impress me with their performance. The hollowed out Titanium handles keep the weight down. The button lock allows the blade to be flipped in both directions (if you're a north paw). They do Wharncliffs. My W/H EDC weighs 52 gms. and and sports a 3 1/8" blade.
 
I don't really consider any of those you list as Gentlemen's knives. The Linder is probably closest to the type. Slim, fancy, top quality materials for looks, slipjoint, and petite. Ideally the scales would be natural materials of very high quality; stag, ivory, pearl, abalone, ebony, etc. There's a lot to choose from out there. Here's a couple patterns with Wharncliff's; since you like those...you can get these in fancier versions.
P1060021.jpg
 
Another plus for the Shoki or maybe a Spyderco Valloton? Big knife but looks really nice. I dont think you'd scare people with it.

Vallaton_zps93eae05c.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top