We've all seen threads about gent's knives, the "show us your gentleman's folders" threads, etc, and many of us have been a bit surprised at just what some people consider (or say they consider) to be a gentleman's folding knife. So, I thought maybe we could just discuss what exactly we mean by the term. Yes, I know that not everyone is going to agree, but at least we can get it out on the table.
First, let's not quibble over what a gentleman is. The original meaning, if memory serves, is a man of "good birth" but no aristocratic position. We don't have an aristocracy here (regardless of what some people think), so that definition is null and void here in the US.
Let us instead start with the idea of a knife you can take to church, a knife you can take to the opera, a knife you can take into a meeting with the CEO. I.e., your pocket jewelry. And no, I don't care how much glitter you slather on it, a Cold Steel Large Espada ain't it.
So, my person definition of a gent's knife is a folder of about 3" (a bit more might be tolerable, and a bit less is perfectly fine), generally a slim blade, wicked sharp, made with exceptionally attractive materials (some people demand all natural, some of us are perfectly OK with a well executed carbon fiber or G10). Personally, I think autos are out. I'm OK with assisted opening knives and some people aren't. I'm also OK with a locking blade (my personal preference, actually) and others say no, only a slip joint; some purists want multiple blades on their slippies. I'm OK with a drop point or a clip point or a Wharncliffe but not a tanto of any sort, nor a gut-hook nor a "skull crusher" nor a built-in meth pipe, whatever. I'm looking for elegance here, timelessness.
Not to hate on any brand in particular, but nothing Mantis has ever made will qualify as a gent's knife for me.
To be clear, I'm talking about a dressy knife, not just something that wouldn't get you arrested at the A&P. So, yes, I think the Delica is a very nice knife, but the standard Delica doesn't cut it as a gent's knife, IMO. Now, if you want to talk some of the damascus sprint runs, OK, we can have a conversation.
What I'm looking for here is some conversation, differing but entirely reasonable positions. I'm hoping to smoke out those with a similar way of thinking about these things.
First, let's not quibble over what a gentleman is. The original meaning, if memory serves, is a man of "good birth" but no aristocratic position. We don't have an aristocracy here (regardless of what some people think), so that definition is null and void here in the US.
Let us instead start with the idea of a knife you can take to church, a knife you can take to the opera, a knife you can take into a meeting with the CEO. I.e., your pocket jewelry. And no, I don't care how much glitter you slather on it, a Cold Steel Large Espada ain't it.
So, my person definition of a gent's knife is a folder of about 3" (a bit more might be tolerable, and a bit less is perfectly fine), generally a slim blade, wicked sharp, made with exceptionally attractive materials (some people demand all natural, some of us are perfectly OK with a well executed carbon fiber or G10). Personally, I think autos are out. I'm OK with assisted opening knives and some people aren't. I'm also OK with a locking blade (my personal preference, actually) and others say no, only a slip joint; some purists want multiple blades on their slippies. I'm OK with a drop point or a clip point or a Wharncliffe but not a tanto of any sort, nor a gut-hook nor a "skull crusher" nor a built-in meth pipe, whatever. I'm looking for elegance here, timelessness.
Not to hate on any brand in particular, but nothing Mantis has ever made will qualify as a gent's knife for me.
To be clear, I'm talking about a dressy knife, not just something that wouldn't get you arrested at the A&P. So, yes, I think the Delica is a very nice knife, but the standard Delica doesn't cut it as a gent's knife, IMO. Now, if you want to talk some of the damascus sprint runs, OK, we can have a conversation.
What I'm looking for here is some conversation, differing but entirely reasonable positions. I'm hoping to smoke out those with a similar way of thinking about these things.
