Compared to EDC knives of today, a more traditional gent’s knife take things slowly. It’s a statement piece in your everyday carry with a considered design that often lets you carry it places where you couldn’t otherwise. They usually don’t fling open without second thought, instead demanding a deliberate mindfulness and purpose with every use. That especially analogue experience, combined with handsome timeless styling comes with the added benefit of not drawing as much negative attention as your typical tactical folder. Luckily, knifemakers recognize the value of the gent’s knife and have reimagined these antique designs today, often with better materials and more modern features. In this guide, we’ll show you five of our favorite picks from this category as we continue onward this year.
Buck 112 Ranger Pro
Buck is a venerable name when it comes to carrying a gent’s knife for EDC, and their 112 Ranger lockback folding knife is one of the more popular models they make. With this Pro edition, they’ve stepped up the performance of the blade without compromising the vintage appeal of the original knife’s design. With its new premium 3” clip-point S30V vanadium stainless steel blade, it’ll cut better and longer than your grandfather’s Buck knife. And with its smoothed-out G10 scaling in the handle, it’ll stand up to the elements over years better than wood and bone while still looking handsome in your hand.
Viper Knives Novis
If you’re looking to get super-premium blade steel in your EDC while still carrying a knife that holds a decidedly classic gent’s aesthetic, the Novis from Viper Knives is just the ticket. It features a super-hard 3′ satin-finished Bohler M390 stainless steel blade fashioned into a modified wharncliffe shape that’s suited for cutting and slicing your way through repetitive utility tasks. Unlike a lot of other classic gent’s knives that have extremely-thin blades, the one on the Novis is built a bit chunkier, and it has a steel liner, making it a more heavy duty knife. Opening the knife is a two-handed affair, and you have to grip the ridge at the top of the blade grind. Once you get it moving, the thrust bearings in the pivot of the handle make the rest of the motion easy to perform. And, speaking of the handle, attractive and lightweight carbon fiber scales mixed with traditional stainless steel bolster round out the hybrid look of this knife.
Boker Plus 1906
Boker’s 1906 is based on a classic knife from that very year, remade in a limited edition for 2019 with a strict adherence to the original. The end result is a thoroughly-traditional gent’s pocket knife, with a stately 3.5” 440C steel clip-point blade, manual nail nick opening, a reliable lockback design with springs that hold the blade in place during use, and a rounded handle featuring gorgeous ebony wood scales.
Case Barlow 2019
Case is another old-time venerable knife when it comes to EDC gent’s folding knives, and they’ve been making them for generations since 1889. With their Barlow knife, they’ve brought back a vintage 1900s classic folder whose stand out feature is the beautiful bone handle paired with a handy mirror-polished 2.5” Tru-Sharp surgical stainless steel blade that’ll give you performance comparable to 420HC. Like the knives of old, the Barlow features a slipjoint for lighter-duty work, but it has the added benefit of being able to be carried in less permissive environments.
Victorinox Hunter Pro M Alox
Victorinox has been making Alox-handled knives since the 1950s, and they offer advanced durability and lightweight performance of aluminum oxide while still retaining that classic look you expect from their knives. Think of the Hunter Pro M as a large hunting knife that folds into a more manageable solution in your pockets without much of the weight. It features a full-sized, ergonomic 5” aluminum scale handle with dimpled textured scaling for enhanced grip. That handle is paired with a large 3.875” stainless steel drop point blade with an eye hole for easy one-handed opening, even if you’re wearing gloves. It’s set up for right-sided tip-up pocket carry with its deep pocket clip, but the pommel also has a place for you to attach a lanyard if you prefer.
If you like gent’s knives but are missing some of the modern materials and features, be sure to check out our Modern Gent’s Knife guide for more options.
