What are the nicest ‘Gentleman’s Pocket Knives’ today? Non tactical, non aggressive, but practical and nicely made.
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “best gentleman’s knife 2021“
About Peyton
Written by: Peyton
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What are the nicest ‘Gentleman’s Pocket Knives’ today? Non tactical, non aggressive, but practical and nicely made.
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “best gentleman’s knife 2021“
About Peyton
Frankly, if you depend on your pocket knife to confirm your status as a “gentleman” then chances are you’re NOT a gentleman. That said, it’s hard to go wrong with the classics. A Victorinox Swiss Army Knife is exceedingly useful, and are always well made. You can buy them with wood scales, which might suit your idea of a gentleman’s aesthetic better than red plastic. They blend better with the dark wood paneling of a gunroom or library.
If you just want a small sharp knife to take care of everyday tasks like twine, envelopes, cheese on a picnic and so forth, then Boker makes a nice folding “bird & trout” style knife for about $150 US. I doubt I’d pay it, but it does look good, and Boker makes nice knives, in my opinion. In any event, the bird & trout pattern is likely to find you some good looking knives, and will tend to be small enough to fit in a pocket. The name comes from the original use, which is dressing out small game and fish. Typically only a gentleman would carry an expensive knife with such a specific purpose.
I’ve included a couple of pictures below. Hopefully this will give you a starting point.
Authentic XYJ Since 1986,Outstanding Ancient Forging,6.7 Inch Full Tang
I am a big fan of the “old fashioned gentlemans pocket knife”.
I have carried a pocket knife since the 5th grade. Something that would be “socially unacceptable” now. You can define “socially unacceptable” in this case as “would be arrested and turned over to Child Protective Services for re-education”, but, let’s not get into that.
I started carrying my fathers Schrade “Old Timer” model 34OT “stockman”.
By the end of High School, I’d just about worn that knife out. The hinges were getting loose, and I’d over-sharpened the clip blade to where it was looking awfully tired. I retired that knife to an honored drawer and still have it today.
I went through a few other knives, until I finally bought another Schrade “Old Timer” 34OT model. I carried THAT one for years, until I finally misplaced it… then got ANOTHER one. Unfortunately, by that time, the 34OT had switched to being made in asia, rather than the U.S. A few years later, I got a “new old stock” U.S. made 34OT that I still carry today (and take better care of).
I use that knife every day. Opening boxes, cutting up fruit, opening plastic blister packages, trimming my nails, cutting string, digging out splinter… It lives in my pocket with my keys. It’s there every day, everywhere I need it. I don’t have to think about if I “might” need it that day or not.. when I get dressed, it goes in my pocket. You don’t notice how often you use it until you travel and the TSA won’t let you fly with it – it makes an impromptu picnic a pain in the ass of trying to cut bread with a plastic knife and trying to open packages with your teeth.
What would I suggest? I would suggest something in a similar size range as the basic “Stockman” style of the Schrade “Old Timer”. Case, Buck, and Boker all make very similar knives, all of the “Stockman” three-blade pattern.
Maybe you want a slightly larger two blade model, or a single blade whittling knife… Figure out what you want, and buy one! Carry it for a few months and see if it meets your needs.
Some people find the classic “swiss army knife” meets their needs. I’ve always found them too thick and bulky to carry. If I’m not carrying it, what good is it?
My buddy carries a larger locking blade knife. He’s a contractor, and has more daily use for a larger, tougher, knife than I do. It suits what he needs one for better.
If I were looking for one today? Right now? I’d stick with the Stockman pattern I like, and go with the Boker as a high quality
If you’re looking for something a little more “high end”, particularly in a single bladed knife, Laguiole of France makes some very nice knives! A little larger than is right for my pocket, and a little more expensive than I’d prefer to pay on something that could get confiscated by a minimum wage security-wand-jockey…
Bottom line: Buy something you like the look of, even if it’s an “el cheapo” pocket knife, and carry it a while. If you like that style, buy a better quality one. If you don’t, spring for another $30 for a different style and try again.
Just get one you’ll CARRY if the purpose is an “every day carry” knife.
Wanbasion Black Stainless Steel Knife Set, Sharp Kitchen Knife
Well you cant go wrong with a nice bone handled Case pocket knife. I wear a suit a lot and always have a knife as a tool. I have a little microtech OTF automatic, a CRKT Kit Carson bone handled pocket knife, a swiss army knife… OK, I have a whole drawer full of knives.
There is no such thing as an X knife. If you are a gentleman, than all your knives are gentleman’s knives and not tactical. To me, an old fashioned pocket knife with a nice bone handle of some type is my facorite “dressy” pocket knife.
Chicago Cutlery Belden 15 Piece Premium Kitchen Knife
I will give you several at different prices and try to prevent options already mentioned by others.
The CRKT CEO (also comes as CEO Flipper ) Totally unassuming with quite some elegance, it comes with a deep carry pocket clip at around $40.
EDIT AUGUST 2021:
The Civivi Stylum. A front flipper with a double detent slip joint and a blade length of under 3″ makes it legal in almost all jurisdictions (IANAL, this is not legal advice, check you local laws). The whole design whispers “What can I do for you, Sir!”. It is a Civivi, so you can expect all the nice stuff at a moderate price point we learned to expect: Ball bearings in the pivot, a nice fit an finish, reasonable materials for the price point. The steel (10Cr15CoMoV) is roughly comparable to VG10, and it is tempered to 58–61°HRC. This is a bit on the high end, and requires a bit of patience when sharpening it. However: The whole package comes at a price point of roughly $60. You plainly cannot go wrong with this.
END EDIT AUGUST 2021
The James Brand Elko . Depending on the materials you choose, between $65 and $83. Far smaller, no pocket clip, it is simply a well designed small blade for everyday cutting tasks in an office environment. However, do not underestimate this slip joint — the full flat grind makes it quite a slicer.
The Artisan Cutlery Small Archaeo (KnifeCenter Exclusive) is a double detent locked flipper with a pattern welded VG10 based Damascus blade. The pin at the lanyard can be used to lock the blade both in the open and in the closed position. Coming in at $99 it does not break the bank, has nice functionality and surely looks a bit different. It is one of my every day carry knives since about a month, I cannot say anything bad about it. Hint: the ball bearing came a bit dry, but a drop of oil fixed that.
If you are looking for a classic with a twist, imho the best choice is the Böker Trapper Uno with the blue quilted maple handles:
Manufactured entirely in Solingen, Germany’s cutlery capital, you can buy yourself a piece of German engineering, craftsmanship and quality for about $130.
The Lionsteel Jack2 . We are talking quality materials here. Carbon fiber handle, titanium bolsters and M390 steel. Designwise, it is a classic reimagined with excellence in execution. It sure is not cheap at roughly $150, but it is well made and extremely elegant. Of course, choosing another handle material makes it even less tactical.
If you are looking for something small, but extremely high quality and want a pocket clip, my suggestion would be the Serge Pachenko Mid-Tech Bean Harpoon
With a CPM-154, titanium handles and a G10 inlay, this front flipper is extremely smooth and with its double detent lock and a blade length of just over 2 inches legal in even the most restrictive jurisdictions. However, this quality comes at a price of $325.
The last knife on my list is one I have a love-hate relationship with. I love everything about this knife, except for one thing: it does not come in a version which would be legal to carry in my jurisdiction: The Chris Reeve Mnandi .
Extremely elegant, it comes from Chris Reeve Knives, a company so well known for its quality that it is news when they do NOT win Blade Show’s Manufacturing Quality Award. The 2021 version comes with a CPM S45VN steel, titanium handles and milled pocket clip. The version above has bog oak inlays. It is the one-and-done gentleman’s knife. If it wasn’t illegal to carry in my jurisdiction, this would be the knife I’d carry, and I’d give a fuck on the $400 price tag it comes with.
Amazon Basics 14-Piece Kitchen Knife Block Set, High-Carbon
I would go with the Joseph Rogers make of knives if you want something a bit different (traditional) and also classy. They keep an edge well (or used to) they do not look tacticool, but serve the purpose of a decent blade in your pocket very well.
In general they are well made, and work well.
ALBATROSS EDC Cool Sharp Tactical Folding Pocket Knife
Have carried pocket knives for over 50 years. A decades long quest for perfection. Faves here may or may not be THE BEST.
But definitely damned good.
For the last 12 years I have this keychain Leatherman… on my keychain. Multi-Tool .
Includes flat & Phillips screw drivers, pliers, wire cutters, blade, file and punch, yet is 1″ shorter than my vehicle key. Including everything in my many tool kits, this is the tool I most often use, because it’s always in my pocket.
Few years ago, was gifted this single-blade beauty. Today I always carry in-pocket unless I expect to pass under a metal detector that day. — LOVE that finger hole. Great for opening boxes (main use) and if I have to defend or cut something tough – again that finger hole is great. Gerber Knives.
Leatherman and Gerber are local to me. That certainly means extra affection, if split; but I think the utility of these products is the strongest decider.
On that subject, when carrying a belt loop multi-tool, it also happens to be a Gerber .
Were I buying a multi-tool today it might be Gerber, might be a Leatherman. Competition is fierce and these two companies are really slugging it out.
The winner is you and me of course.
Love these three so much, I bought a backup for each of them
imarku Japanese Chef Knife – Pro Kitchen Knife 8 Inch Chef’s Knives
This is my current daily carry, in a professional setting. What I prefer opens manually with one hand. Locked open is nice, with a liner lock that can be unlocked one handed. Ceramic blades are brittle though.
I’d also consider a Swiza or Victorinox. Scissors are very handy to have. Some Victorinox even have nail clippers that fold out!
I like the Swiza, because the main blade locks open.
Or, step up to something like a William Henry. Mine has gorgeous mother of pearl handles (not shown).
Or something with a Damascus (or Damasteel) blade.
Lots of fun, useful knives out there.
Also as another has said, your old school classic Case brand.
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S 7.1in S.S. Folding Knife with 3.1in
For something like that I would suggest Chris Reeves Knives, made in Idaho. Some of their models can be a bit pricey, but they are very well made and beautiful. They also offer a service to maintain and sharpen your knife. They have a warranty, and if you manage to somehow break or damage your knife through misuse they can make repairs for reasonable fees. Good luck breaking one of his knives, however. They are extremely well made.
12-Piece Color-Coded Kitchen Knife Set, 6 Knives with 6 Blade Guards
These are mine although maybe the hawksbill may be too aggressive for you. Made by Theuns Prinslooo. A wonderfully humble knife maker in South Africa.
But in non-custom form?
Affordable – under $100
Opinel
The No. 8 is affordable in the base colours, I’ve seen them as low as $30. You can get more elegant finishes for more money.
Boker gentleman’s lockback. Classic stainless with white bone scales. Under $50.
A Case Whittler $60
Moderate – $100 to $200
There are many. I like Mcusta from Japan.
Under $200
Under $150
$80 for a money clip knife
Laguiole 7cm penknives $80 and 9cm under $150
Expensive – $200 plus
Keshaw Ken Onion pearl handled
Chris Reeves $600
These are just suggestions.
Spring Assisted Knife – Pocket Folding Knife – Military Style
This is a nice option. There are several models in this line. I have two versions and find them very well suited for every day use without being ostentatious or threatening. They are also very slim and discrete in the pocket.
Xiao Lin Outdoors on Amazon, gentleman’s pocket folder.by
MOSFiATA 8 Super Sharp Professional Chef’s Knife