Saint Martin ebony

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, this knife is simply one of the best knives I've ever held. That wharncliffe-style blade is just about as elegant a blade shape as you could ever design. It came stropped right from the factory (you could see the mirror polish right on the barely visible bevel). I know this maker insists they are not competing with other brands, but that's like Ferrari saying they are not competing with Ford: Neither Ferrari nor GR have anything to prove to other manufacturers, but they sure stand out from the crowd! This little Clergyman's knife is a hand-crafted work of art. The ebony is as smooth as bone. The nickel and brass inlays are exquisite. The handle has been so perfectly hafted it just feels like one piece of material in the hand. The walk and talk of the knife is smooth; the pull is satisfyingly heavy. The snap is as good or better than my GEC Bullnose --and that's saying something! There are any number of makers putting out Wharncliffe-style knives right now: Queen, GEC (Viper), Rough Ryder Reserve (Swayback), Case (Swayback Jack) etc. In-fact, the Swayback is a hot commodity in the traditional knife world. Not one of those patterns by those companies comes close to the elegance and class of this knife. It's a Gentleman's folder that could do the hard work of a peasant knife. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing. In case you can't tell, I'm pleased with this purchase. As always, five star service from Knives of France -customer friendly and very knowledgeable!