Book excerpt: As elegant as they are practical, pocket knives have long been considered essential equipment for a gentleman. No cleverly programmed app is able to open blister packages, peel a pear, or cut off a thread hanging from a seam. Revealed are the most beautiful pocket knives from old standards of past generations such as Boker, Puma, Forge de Laguiole, Saladini, Case, Great Eastern Cutlery, and Queen Cutlery to the more modern Claude Dozorme, Neptunia, Fantoni, and Rockstead. Interesting facts about the history and technology of pocket knives add to an assortment of stylish and striking pocket knives that anyone can cut into.