Best Gentleman's Knives: Elevate Your EDC

Hello everyone, here comes David C. Andersen from KnifeCenter. And today we take a look at the

best

gentlemen's

knives

you can get right now in 2020. And you don't even have to be a

gentleman

to enjoy one of these. Sometimes anyone can use a fancier knife, let's take a look. Sometimes the right knife is perfect to enhance an occasion and sometimes you simply need or want a classier knife, something that doesn't look too out of place, if you need to use

your

knife in a more formal setting. That's where a

gentleman

's knife comes into play. Not only should the gentleman's knife and I feel special, but when done well they can also appear less threatening, while a large tactical folder can generate an adverse reaction many people wouldn't look twice at. on a smaller, sleeker sheet.

There are a lot of great options out there, and really too many to include all of the ones that I personally want to include in this video. But with that being said, I'm going to try to mix in some classics, along with some new stuff from this year for this list today. Now, while most gentlemen's

knives

tend to work their magic by not being modest with materials, there are still some good budget options out there. Things that do a lot with relatively simple ingredients. And probably the perfect example of this is Victoria Knox's Swiss army cadet.

There are actually a few different colors available, but I think the plain silver color makes the

best

gentleman's knife have an

elevate

d or elegant simplicity. Now Victorinox calls these handles Alox and it is a simple aluminum with a grid texture. And yes, that grille adds a little grip, but it really makes the knife shine and it has that nice red shield on there to give it that perfect little accent. When I describe this knife in a recent video, I use the phrase: It's only $35, but it looks like a million dollars. And it's practical, slim and non-threatening; you only have four implements, of course, you have that main blade.

You also have the can opener and bottle opener tools with tips that can be used for screwing, as well as a small nail file that is an important grooming item for the gentleman on the go. I can fold this handy little knife, put it in any pocket because it won't take up much space and go about

your

business or you can do what I do and use it to complement another standalone folder. Because even when I need my knight to carry it myself, I still pair a multi-tool like this with another main folder. If you prefer a lockable gentleman's knife, but are still on a budget, the CRKT CEO Line Lock is a Richard Rogers design that is perfect for that.

And right now it's only $40. And this knife probably does the most with the least amount of materials, so to speak, anyway, because the handles are simple glass-reinforced nylon, but the texture they use is what makes it special. It's definitely subtle, but it creates a bit of a shine that's no different from carbon fiber, which is a really fancy material for a gentleman's knife. As you will see, folded a little, you have a nice pencil-thin profile that can be carried very easily in your pocket. It has a deep pocket clip on the side to keep it buried and that blade disappears completely inside the handle.

However, my favorite part of this knife is the action. It has IKBS bearings on the pivot and that stud is in the perfect spot for perfect application of pressure. You just hit the bolt with your phone and it actually opens. Now, this design with its long, narrow blade profile fits into the executive knife subgenre of men's knives. In fact, we made a video about them before. So we'll be sure to leave a link to that if you want to see more options besides what I have in front of me here. However, the sword hanging over the CEO is not too long.

It measures just over three inches. It's a perfect small utility size. It will work great as a letter opener, maybe even a gentlemen's steak knife, but as a lockable gentlemen's knife on a budget, the CEO is hard to beat. Alright, next up is the Kershaw leek designed by Ken Onion. And again, the handles on this knife are pretty simple. In this case it's stainless steel, but they've purposely kept it simple with the narrow handle and the modified Wharncliffe blade tapered right at that three-inch mark. This is a great shape for a gentleman's knife without being too ostentatious.

Although if you want to get more sophisticated, there are other options in this series with some higher quality materials for the handle. But this blade itself will give you excellent piercing, as well as some pretty aggressive cutting into the shape. Now this knife is secured with a frame lock, as you can see, although there are aligner lock versions of this knife, and what really makes this knife the heart of it is the Speedsafe spring-assisted opening action activated by this fin tab right at the back. Opens quickly. It has a really satisfying feel to it. The leak starts at about $45, but like I said, there are a lot of options.

Different handles, like I said, as well as blade steels. This one I have here is $83 and keeps those stainless steel handles, but adds one of Kershaw's composite blades. This basically gives you two sections on the sheet. You have a top and a bottom. They fit together like a puzzle. You see, that line with this thin copper line where they're soldered gives a little bit of visual flavor to

elevate

this design. One thing to note about this one, although some leaks are hollow, this one has a flat polish. It really helps to show the transition between those two sections.

But this is not just for looks, it allows them to put a touch of hard work right where you need it. The spine is made of 14 c 28 Swedish steel, while it has CPM D two on the edge. CPM d two is made with an advanced metal powder process that makes it easier to sharpen than the standard D two without losing the edge retention that steel is known for, but no matter which of the leaks you choose, they are made in the USA and are classic knives that should not be overlooked. Also from the US, we have the bench-made Tengu by Jared Oeser, proving that even a humble g 10, when treated well, can have a lot of class.

These handles have a tuxedo vibe with black material and white linings and the shield was a matching Backspacer with alternating layers of black and white. It also has some simple, clean lines, which is definitely part of the appeal of this design. Now, this knife is more premium at the price point it is now at 187, but it also comes with a much more advanced steel blade. We have the CPM 20 cV, which is another powder metallurgical steel that gives you a really durable edge and along with things like the m 390. And the CTS 204 p is pretty much the de facto leader in premium steels for folding knives these days, we have I have a two and three quarter inch blade on this knife.

And as you'll see, many of the gentlemen's knives on this list hover around that three-inch mark. It is not a requirement. But this genre really works well at that size. Because a sword will be large enough to function but not intimidate either users or onlookers, the Tengu mixes it up a bit. It's one of the few gentlemen's knives out there with a Tonto profile that keeps the tip nice and thick for durability, but the overall shape is still pretty friendly. For EDC. Like the last three knives we reviewed, this knife also has a minimal profile. When folded, you only see a little bit of the blade with the fin tab and then on the back.

However, unlike the Leek's twist action, this one is manual, comes with ball bearings in the pivot and we have a resoundingly good action. Now, this particular knife does not have a pocket clip. Instead, they give you a nice leather pocket sheath to protect that knife when you carry it. It also has a nice matching black leather with white thread. Now let's get into some more sophisticated materials with some woods and while not necessarily exotic, wood tends to enhance a design very well. And because they are used less frequently than before, it definitely feels more special when used as a result.

The first one we will see is the boker plus Brad zenker. FR fin, this version comes with cocobolo inlays, for around 112 right now, on top of that you can also get it with carbon fiber online or in a slimmer version with simple drilled titanium and no inlays, each of those it costs a little. a little more than cocobolo actually. Basically, the flipper is a shorter, wider version of the Urban Trapper series that you can see in that executive knife video we did. But the wood here is really elegant. It sits on titanium coatings and has a nice stone wash and gives it a pretty good shine.

I have inlays on both sides of this knife and they are radial for a better grip feel. And the edges of the wood have also been smoothed so there are no sharp spots to worry about. The clip here is worn only on the right side, but it's nice and deep. They've even recessed the clip into the cocobolo and secured it with pins so there's nothing to snag when you return this knife to your pocket. The blade itself has a number of refined touches that we haven't seen until now. It measures two and three-quarters of an inch long and the Vg 10 stainless steel offers good performance.

But what's really cool about this is that it features a horizontal grain pattern that mimics the hand-rubbed satin finish usually only seen on custom knives. It also has a nice spine that gives you good comfort when you place your fingers, as well as a nice visual appeal to show off, it has a lot of belly. And if you prefer a narrower tip, I would recommend the urban Trapper version I mentioned before, but like the Tengu, we have ball bearings in the pivot, excellent action, and an incredibly sleek shape when open. With the right wood, however, even the least elegant designs can be elevated to the rank of a gentleman's knife.

And for that I have the KnifeCenter exclusive Spyderco dragon fly with pakka wood handles that comes in a little over 130 right now. Pakka wood is an artificial material made from real wood, so you get that real shine and warm feel of wood, but it is essentially a stabilized process. And it does so in such a way that cracking or swelling is not as much of a concern as it would be with an all-natural knife. The dragonfly is a smaller knife, although it is a little wider than some of the ones we have. I've looked so far.

But it looks especially good when you close some nice lines with real money and it carries very easily in your pocket. Still, it opens wide enough that I can barely fit my four fingers on the handle thanks to the oil on the front. In addition to that extra grip, it also gives you more control over the blade and allows you to use it with a little more confidence. Now the blade itself is laminated with stainless steel outer layers and half core 40. This is a powder metallurgy stamp, but it is not stainless, so it will give you good edge retention, but it can patina over time and that really It is in line with the classic character along with that pakka wood.

Once the edge starts to get a little color, this knife will look even better. This is also the first lockable knife on the list so far that is completely ambidextrous. It's got a subtle wire clip on the side that's reversible, that middle-mounted rear lock for easy access with either hand, and of course, that thumb hole for easy opening with either hand, too. But you can rest assured that this knife has the hard-working pedigree of the regular model, now it's classier than ever. However, the classiest knife on this table and I'm not just saying that because this is mine is the Chris Reeve Mnandi and this is a titanium framed lockable knife that is actually the perfect bridge between the classic non-locking slip joints and the modern na s with lock.

You get a two and three-quarter inch blade made of s 35 vn steel, or you can get an optional Damascus blade as well. These have absolutely impeccable fit and finish. Here we have a hollow grind, a crown spine and double milled sections for two-handed opening. The handle itself is definitely the star of the show. These knives start at 400. And there are many different wood inlay options for the Makassar Ebony Swamp Oak Box Elder Burl, this one here is actually espalled beech. They have that inlay on both sides and they look pretty and elegant too. And the clip itself is not very deep, but it looks very premium B premium made for milled titanium and is almost like an expensive pen.

And the quality and precision you get with a Chris Reeve knife are equally splurge-worthy. So if the menindee is the perfect bridgeFor traditional slip joint pocket knives, let's take a look at some of them because most of them make a fantastic gentleman's knife. Now traditional ones can come with many different materials, not just things like wood or jig bone. They always look great, but I have a couple more options in front of me. The first is a mini Trapper case from their SparkXX series of knives. And this actually fits into that category of high assembly material because of what they've done with this knife, it comes with white Delrin and it's fitted to look like classic bone, it has a really clean look and it's attractive, especially with the bolsters polished and brass coatings. .

I also have a muskrat case here, which is another double-bladed knife with blue pearl kyrinite handles, kind of like a poured and swirled acrylic, and it looks like ocean waves trapped in glass. There are many different patterns available with both handle materials. But I chose these two patterns for a specific reason. They are now made from a simple stainless steel for worry-free maintenance, but both have a specific style of clip point blade known as a California clip point. I still use this phrase but it is another elegant and refined way. It's almost like a snake with delicate precision.

Any of these, and in fact almost all box knives, will look great and have a sort of timeless appeal. It's very affordable: just $59 for this kirinite model and around $45 for the SparkXX mini Trapper. Let's go up the materials ladder a bit and get to titanium. Now, the inclusion of titanium does not automatically make a knife elegant. But with the right design, it's a high-tech alternative to stainless steel or aluminum. And titanium makes a stellar appearance in perhaps the most advanced slide joint on the market, the Lion Steel Thrill which is made in Italy and there is something luxurious and special about that as the backswing and handles are all milled to from a single piece of titanium.

It is an integral piece like the sash locks that made Lyons steel famous. There are now a couple of different subtle anodized colors on the titanium versions. This is the bronze one and costs about 200 dollars. Now you can get aluminum versions of this knife that come with brighter colors and even less money and around 120. But these more reserved colors and the titanium versions are definitely more majestic. The blade is #390 steel, just over three inches long, with a nice spine on the crown. It also has a completely flat polish. It is really designed to cut and have high edge retention.

There is a very good snapshot of the action until the pleasant half stop along the way. They've also given us an excellent and innovative execution of a pocket clip, which is something most slide joints don't have. They call it their HWAY-L system and a spring keeps the pocket clip flush in a pocket on the handle. But if you press this button on the opposite side of the knife, it will extend that clip when you go to put it in your pocket. Then, as soon as you take it out of your pocket, that spring will snap the clip back on so you never have to feel it when you're working with the knife.

Sticking with titanium, there are many titanium frame lock flippers on the market and some of them make excellent gentlemen's knives. So one of my favorites is the ZTE 609, which is an RJ Martin design that costs $260 and is made here in the USA. This is one of the largest blades we've seen so far, with 3, 4 inches long, but not so thick that it looks too big. We have 20 CVV on the sheet beyond that, it's a good general shape. But as with most men's knives, the handle is what really elevates it. We have an intricate milling pattern on both sides of the knife.

In fact, it gives you good grip and good looks. And it comes with this nice anodized bronze color. It's not shiny like gold, it's a little less flashy, but it's very well made. We also have ball bearings in the pivot; In fact, RJ Martin's clear pivot adds a bit of visual interest and offers excellent manual action. If you want your gentleman's knife to have more capacity than some of the smaller ones here, this is one of my favorites to recommend. I'll also have another one a little later. Now, on the smaller side of the titanium frame locking fin genre, we have the newly released mKm Flame, which is based on Michael Zieba's successful Ms.

Three custom. Now there are serious penknife vibes with this blade. It has the charm of being Italian made too. It's like a nice narrow profile of the high-end CRKT CEO but smaller with a blade that almost disappears when closed. Also like that knife, we have ball bearings in the pivot and the flame has a killer action. Right now, a fin has a 2.8-inch M 390 steel blade in a drop point shape, although it can also have a dagger profile. , but that blade itself is ultra-precise and the handle also helps control it quite well. It's well contoured for comfort, nice, minimalist and sleek with just some blue anodized details.

And the pocket clip milled into the back actually acts as a sort of control surface for your fingertips. It's definitely useful in certain grips. Complete titanium versions of this knife start at $200. For the same price, you can also get a carbon fiber version, which brings us to our next knife section. That's almost a cliché, but you can almost put carbon fiber in anything to make it more stylish. It's an easy move because it looks great and gives things a bright, modern feel. And that flame itself is also available with grained carbon fiber handles a little different than the standard woven twill pattern.

But you can really see why this particular material is so popular with high-end knife makers today, it has an incredible shine and I think I like it even more than the titanium version. Carbon fiber also appears in more affordable products. And if you want vibes similar to the mKm flame, the CIVIVI chronic, while not identical, is a little larger and will get you pretty close. You can now get 10 g versions of this knife for about $50. But this version with G 10. laminated with a carbon fiber twill top layer has about 78 handles here it's still nice and minimalist with a bit of an octagonal cross section and that blade is also nice and deep inside the Nestle handle, it has a siding lock there. for added security, as well as a deep pocket clip that is reversible and a lanyard loop that is halfway down the end.

We have a ball bearing pivot with this knife. So the action here is nice too. The blade steel is also upgraded from the $50 versions. We have about three and a quarter inches of Damascus steel, and they base their Damascus formula on nine cr 18 m or v stainless, so there's a lot of lettering, but the performance should be in the 440 C ballpark, it's actually the same as the base. steel in the standard version, so you won't get a performance boost with this knife. But you do get that visual splendor of the Damascus, a carbon fiber also works on simpler slip joints and we still have a good amount of the crazy thin and light Cold Steel Lucky One knife that's only $50 right now.

And it is Italian made. Here we have some gorgeous carbon fiber for the handles. They're contoured and you have these wide finger grooves that really make it feel like a solid grip. Even though the entire knife weighs less than an ounce. You also get a pocket clip, something that, again, most slide joints don't have, but if you want to remove even more weight you can certainly take it off. Now the other thing we see here that we don't often see on old school knives and S 35 vn steel blades. Not only do we get that premium material here, but the blade itself is super thin.

That combines to make this a sleek knife that is a phenomenal slicer that will keep cutting after thicker blades simply stop. Now I did say I had another big boy option. And that's this design by Ray Laconaco of ArtisanCutlery, the Centauri and despite its wide shape it still feels very refined, definitely thanks to Laconaco's eye for design, this knife costs $200 for the three blade version inches, but if you like this shape, but need something more modest, there is a version of less than three inches for just under $180. We have a beautiful carbon fiber on the front and a titanium lock frame on the rear.

And this is actually a front flipper knife in this case, which is easy for me to match, and I'm not always the fanciest at this type of opener. But I can open this awesome modified Wharncliffe blade quite easily. It is available in VG10 Damascus for a good balance between appearance and performance. Or for the same price you can get the s 35 vn for even greater edge retention. Now, despite its shape, this knife isn't all about brute force. The butt of the blade is not very thin, but it is certainly thin enough and with a high, flat grind and a razor edge.

So that's actually going to slice pretty well. We've even taken a very significant hit here in the spine, which will eliminate some resistance. And that's definitely more important for this knife than most because of the wide shape of the blade. But needless to say, this knife is ready to do some serious work. Certainly more than its elegant appearance suggests. Alright, that's all I have for this list of the best gentlemen's knives you can get right now in 2020. I'd love to know what you thought of my picks, be sure to leave your feedback in the comments and let us know which one is your knife. favorite gentleman is too.

In the meantime, if you want to get your hands on any of these knives, we'll leave links in the description as always, which will take you to knifecenter.com and while you're there, I recommend you sign up for our knife rewards program because if you're going to Spend your hard-earned money on one of these knives, you might as well earn some free money to spend on the next one. I'm David C. Andersen from KnifeCenter and we say goodbye, until next time.