Manly gift for a manly man. Pocket Knife.

A man really is a simple creature in terms of receiving a gift. It is classified as Classic or Technological Accelerator. I have decided to devote a few posts a month for shoppers to buy gifts for men based on the two aforementioned categories. Today I will discuss the most classic of gifts, the pocket knife. 

A knife is a timeless gift. Men have been creating bladed tools for almost three million years. Large or small, even today a knife will immediately invoke a shared and implied ancestral history where life and death was defined by such a simple object. However it is within the last two hundred years that the pocket knife has become less a backup survival weapon and more a utilitarian tool of urbania.  

A pocket knife or if you prefer a gentlemen's knife or clasp knife is generally one or two blades set into a handle and swivel out. Blades vary from two inches to six inches though I would suggest staying under a three inch blade as this will meet almost all laws concerning concealed weapons and as a smaller, lighter item more likely to be carried in the pocket.  In a classical pocket knife like a Barlow or Peanut (made by Case), the blade(s) rest on a spring when opened, this is termed a 'non-locking' blade. More contemporary knives are of similar design but use a locking mechanism that must be deployed in order to close the blade. 

Here is a list of knifes that any man would appreciate receiving as a gift. 

Case Knives. W.R. Case began producing knives like the Peanut and Sodbuster (shown left) over a century ago. A true pocket knife brand as identifiable in the American psyche as denim jeans and Cowboy hats. Grandpa probably carried a Case knife in the Big One, World War 2. Small, simple and easy to carry. Why would any man want to suffer the indignity of opening a box with a car key when a Case can be deployed? The nostalgia alone makes a simple looking blade like the Sodbuster an immediate family heirloom. 

To state you own a Buck, is enough in most manly circles. While Buck knives is well represented with their fixed blade line, their Cadet and Canoe lines are traditional masterpieces. Buck pocket knife tend to have two or three blades which can add weight and width to a pocket knife. Do not let this deter this item as a gift. The difference in blades while subtle are significant to a true appreciator of the this line. 

Long before Apple created products designed with a beautiful streamlined seamlessness, Kershaw gave us the Plain Pocket knife. An all stainless handle and matching blade create a unique and classic look. 

For those that prefer a multi use knife set, Victorinox and Wenger have been making Swiss Army knives for generations. Every man, and woman, should own a Classic or Esquire, respectively. These micro knife sets include pen blade, file, scissors and generally a toothpick and the best tweezers on the market.   These are also great for fishing kits and purses. For the larger size pocket knife the Swiss Champ is a do-it-all. 

There is never a wrong time to present a man a traditional pocket knife. Its a oft overlooked or over analyzed item. There are certainly pocket knives with bells and whistles but the best is always the one in his pocket and is a light, simple and dare I say elegant for the rugged individual.