What exactly is a "Gentleman's Folder"?

[Aloha]

Those are lovely.  I really like the blade shape.  Perfect size to handle gentlemanly tasks 

[Ron Who]

Those are lovely.  I really like the blade shape.  Perfect size to handle gentlemanly tasks 

They are also of the highest quality. I'll wager they're the best built knives in my entire collection.
I would have more if they weren't so smurfing expensive.

[Poncho65]

Those are lovely.  I really like the blade shape.  Perfect size to handle gentlemanly tasks 

Yes those are some fine looking knives Ronald

[Poncho65]

Great necro bump as well

[Aloha]

Those are lovely.  I really like the blade shape.  Perfect size to handle gentlemanly tasks 

They are also of the highest quality. I'll wager they're the best built knives in my entire collection.
I would have more if they weren't so smurfing expensive.

Well heck, this ups the awesomeness ten fold or more.    

[alexTOOL]

Vic Executive or Secretary 

[chrono]

What exactly constitutes a . . . "gentleman's folder"  . . . ?

It is early Spring, and you are at a social gathering on the veranda of a Victorian mansion situated on 700 acres just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. A cool spring breeze is bringing the smell of ribs from the grill. An intoxicating aroma of charcoal and sizzling meat.

The estate's owner, a very attractive young widow who recently inherited a shipping fortune of almost $800M, is clearly captivated by your charm and good humor. She approaches, accompanied by her twin sister who has returned just this morning from boarding school in Switzerland. After a shy giggle and a bit of conversation, the young widow flings her long, brown hair away from her face and asks if you might slice a lime for her Gin and Tonic. As she does so, you sense the slightest whiff of her scent, which is quickly replaced by that of the grill. You find yourself suddenly hungry, though for what you know not.

You:

a) remove your Spyderco Camo Military with black blade from your pocket, and it snaps open with a satisfying clunk. The young widow recoils in fear and drops her Gin and Tonic. Her security personnel wrestle you to the ground and remove you from the estate; or,

b) you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. You expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, and place a slice in the widow's drink. As you do so, your hand casually touches hers, causing her to blush. But the blush is accompanied by an unblinking stare into your own eyes, and you see her pupils dilate ever so slightly. After an embarrassed pause, she asks if you might accompany her and her sister on a private walking tour of the riding stables. You accept, and begin your stroll as the sun begins to set behind the adjacent hills.

If you chose answer b), you were carrying a gentleman's folder.

Beautifully worded 

Now which one of these will cut a lime exquisitely better?
A - A SOG Fatcat



or B - A SOG Stingray 2.0



Pictures pulled from the interweb.

[Ron Who]

They will both cut a lime very well. But a couple of neat, thin slices?

[Kampfer]

What exactly constitutes a . . . "gentleman's folder"  . . . ?

It is early Spring, and you are at a social gathering on the veranda of a Victorian mansion situated on 700 acres just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. A cool spring breeze is bringing the smell of ribs from the grill. An intoxicating aroma of charcoal and sizzling meat.

The estate's owner, a very attractive young widow who recently inherited a shipping fortune of almost $800M, is clearly captivated by your charm and good humor. She approaches, accompanied by her twin sister who has returned just this morning from boarding school in Switzerland. After a shy giggle and a bit of conversation, the young widow flings her long, brown hair away from her face and asks if you might slice a lime for her Gin and Tonic. As she does so, you sense the slightest whiff of her scent, which is quickly replaced by that of the grill. You find yourself suddenly hungry, though for what you know not.

You:

a) remove your Spyderco Camo Military with black blade from your pocket, and it snaps open with a satisfying clunk. The young widow recoils in fear and drops her Gin and Tonic. Her security personnel wrestle you to the ground and remove you from the estate; or,

b) you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. You expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, and place a slice in the widow's drink. As you do so, your hand casually touches hers, causing her to blush. But the blush is accompanied by an unblinking stare into your own eyes, and you see her pupils dilate ever so slightly. After an embarrassed pause, she asks if you might accompany her and her sister on a private walking tour of the riding stables. You accept, and begin your stroll as the sun begins to set behind the adjacent hills.

If you chose answer b), you were carrying a gentleman's folder.

k) A flash and a loud click, Kampfer waved out his Espada from pocket, so fast that it was almost invisible to naked eyes.
The evening sunlight reflected on the young widow's pale face through the six inches mirror polished blade as she started to faint.
Her bodyguards scramble to assist her but only blocked by the screaming guests....

Now that is a monster folder. 

[cody6268]

Just about anything that isn't big, and looks good.  Mine typically is a Vic Pioneer for formal occasions.

I always have the thing in my head that a "Gentleman's Folder' is a one blade lockback that's about a little over 2" closed with brushed steel handles.

[Ray S]

In my humble opinion,before you can accurately determine what constitutes a,"gentleman's" knife you first have to determine the time frame.In the 19th century a gentleman's knife could have been as large as a folding dirk as it could be readily kept in a trouser pocket.Most likely though it would have been a size more conducive to a vest pocket attached to a watch chain.It may have had as many as a dozen blades not only for cutting but sporting a pair of scissors;a pipe tamper;a cigar piercing tool and cutter;a small hook for attaching shoe and glove buttons;a silver moustache comb;and a small corkscrew for opening medicine and perfume bottles sealed with cork.A small pair of tweezers and a splinter pick might be slid into the ends of the scales.
Later on the number of blades were reduced to the point that there usually just two:a pen blade and a combination nail file.They usually had scales made of silver or gold or mother-of-pearl and engraved on one side with the owner's name or initials;the opposite side frequently plain.High button shoes and gloves were out of fashion and medicine and perfume bottles were now sporting screw on caps obviating the need for devices to open them.
The 20th century brought about the use of knives with pipe and cigar smoker's attachments such as tamping devices;bowl scrapers(knife blades with round points);cigar piercers and cigar tip trimmers.Some even had small two tined forks for holding a short cigar butt! Although knives such as this are still available the decrease in the number of smokers(and places to smoke)has led to them falling from favor.
The new generation of gentleman's knives are now for the most part single blades of two to three inches in length with scales of either some exotic material or fancy engraving.They open normally(no assisted open or automatic)and may or may not lock open. If I may I would like to post a couple of pictures of my conception of a gentleman's folder through the ages.
1st picture is a series of pearl handled multi-blade knives that would comfortably fit in a vest pocket and provide just about any blade needed.
Pic #2 shows one with the blades opened.Note the small square opening in the rear that once housed a tortoise shell toothpick.
Pic #3  shows a checkered horn handled multi-blade.The silver button on the end is a pipe tamper that slides out and folds 90 degrees.
Pic # 4 is a group of smoker's knives.
Next post will show a couple of later gentleman's knives.

[Ray S]

Here are some newer style folders that would qualify as gentleman's knives.Although a couple of the Gerber knives are larger than most they are also very thin.The Jason Williams knife is a custom I bought about 30 years ago when his knives were still affordable.

[Poncho65]

You always post really cool and interesting stuff Ray

[Poncho65]

Good bit of history as well

[Mattexian]

I think my CRKT Tighe Tac is "gentlemanly" enough,  it's even is wearing a necktie!


Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

[Ron Who]

I think my CRKT Tighe Tac is "gentlemanly" enough,  it's even is wearing a necktie!

Yes, the Tighe Tac looks very nice. I have the smaller version, with a combo edge.
The tie is Brian Tighe's trademark.
The new Tighe Tac Two is a lot less gentlemanly.

[ThePeacent]

My gentlemanliest knives are the slim SAKs (Executive, Waiter, Bantam)





and this little ganzo, to me the perfect iteration of cute + small + capable + modern materials + locking blade

[alexTOOL]

What exactly constitutes a . . . "gentleman's folder"  . . . ?

It is early Spring, and you are at a social gathering on the veranda of a Victorian mansion situated on 700 acres just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. A cool spring breeze is bringing the smell of ribs from the grill. An intoxicating aroma of charcoal and sizzling meat.

The estate's owner, a very attractive young widow who recently inherited a shipping fortune of almost $800M, is clearly captivated by your charm and good humor. She approaches, accompanied by her twin sister who has returned just this morning from boarding school in Switzerland. After a shy giggle and a bit of conversation, the young widow flings her long, brown hair away from her face and asks if you might slice a lime for her Gin and Tonic. As she does so, you sense the slightest whiff of her scent, which is quickly replaced by that of the grill. You find yourself suddenly hungry, though for what you know not.

You:

a) remove your Spyderco Camo Military with black blade from your pocket, and it snaps open with a satisfying clunk. The young widow recoils in fear and drops her Gin and Tonic. Her security personnel wrestle you to the ground and remove you from the estate; or,

b) you casually remove a small, finely crafted folder hand-made of exquisite and costly materials. You expertly slice the lime with its razor edge, and place a slice in the widow's drink. As you do so, your hand casually touches hers, causing her to blush. But the blush is accompanied by an unblinking stare into your own eyes, and you see her pupils dilate ever so slightly. After an embarrassed pause, she asks if you might accompany her and her sister on a private walking tour of the riding stables. You accept, and begin your stroll as the sun begins to set behind the adjacent hills.

If you chose answer b), you were carrying a gentleman's folder.

k) A flash and a loud click, Kampfer waved out his Espada from pocket, so fast that it was almost invisible to naked eyes.
The evening sunlight reflected on the young widow's pale face through the six inches mirror polished blade as she started to faint.
Her bodyguards scramble to assist her but only blocked by the screaming guests....

Now that is a monster folder. 
(Image removed from quote.)

Sorry but I can´t understand a knife like that for urban EDC 

European mentality perhaps 

[Kampfer]

Some European (Spanish) carried over size Navaja back in the days.

I don't carry it as my EDC knife, too big! It is my sidearm.

[ThePeacent]

I'm Spanish, and here Navajas are all folding knives really. THat's the term nowadays that most people (LEOs included) use for pocket folders

But yeah, i like being like my oldies. The bigger the better 
And if they somewhat resemble the original Navaja shape, then it's 10/10! though this might not be really gentlemanly...

[Don Pablo]

As far as a gentleman's folder looks, where does this rate? 

(No no, not the ruag Vic. The sheffield on the top! 
Sorry for the pic, it makes the sheffields "claw" look as big as main blade )

[Ray S]

I'm Spanish, and here Navajas are all folding knives really. THat's the term nowadays that most people (LEOs included) use for pocket folders

But yeah, i like being like my oldies. The bigger the better 
And if they somewhat resemble the original Navaja shape, then it's 10/10! though this might not be really gentlemanly...

Something like this maybe?(squares are 1"{2.54cm})

[Ray S]

Some pics opened.

[Poncho65]

I would consider all of these to be gentlemen's knives I also consider a lot of the ones already posted as well though

20161123_193644 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

20161123_193527 by Poncho 65, on Flickr

[ThePeacent]

Some pics opened.

that's the classic one indeed
here is one from a well known Spanish manufacturer


you can find them almost everywhere here

[G-Dizzle]

Some pics opened.

that's the classic one indeed
here is one from a well known Spanish manufacturer

(Image removed from quote.)
you can find them almost everywhere here

That is a beautiful knife!

[Kampfer]

Some pics opened.

that's the classic one indeed
here is one from a well known Spanish manufacturer

(Image removed from quote.)
you can find them almost everywhere here

That is a beautiful knife!

Yes indeed. 

[Huntsman]

Apologies if this has been said before - But anything Cellidor or plastic is ruled out of being a Gentleman's Folder.

Plastic does not have enough class - It has to be horn, wood, mother of pearl, highly polished metal or such like.
Possibly a slim alox knife - But only if it is 1 layer and <90mm 

[dks]

there are some very nice acrylics - e.g. from GEC

[Fortytwo]

there are some very nice acrylics - e.g. from GEC

Absolutely, but the natural materials still have more class.

I would recommend Michel M.s work over in this topic (Some custom SAK) as being very good examples of gentlemans knives. But I would probably limit myself to 2 layers for a SAK.