Like last year, we reminded all the ladies that Christmas ties are just okay. You buy them because you don't know what we want. It's really our fault, not yours. The problem is that we men don't often tell you what we want - either because we're too proud or we're just too busy to make a list.
So when your man gets back to work after Christmas and someone asks, "So what did you get for Christmas?" let him say something more than "Oh you know, a couple of new shirts and a tie."
Below is a guide for Christmas presents for your husband, brother, or grandpa. Seriously, you can't wrong with the following ten gifts. They're all winners. So here we go:
10) A Decent Pen
Every gentleman should have a nice fountain pen. You could spend $250 for a Mont Blanc. However, that's out of most folks' price range. Here are some nice fountain pens that won't break the bank. Highly rated and affordable. A nice stocking stuffer. A man would appreciate this. No guy want to pull out a cheap plastic ball-point in order to give his an autograph to a check.
9) Old School Shaving Razor
This was a big hit last year. If you want your man to feel like a total stud, get him this gift. It's old school shaving just like your grandfather used to do. Real Badger hair brush. Soap bowl. Cool stainless thing to hang your razor up to dry. I have one of these and I love it.
By the way, the badger hair brush will smell like a wet animal the first several times he uses it. It's okay, the smell goes away after a few uses. It's all part of the manly appeal. He feels cool, you get to pet his clean, smooth face. Everybody wins.
8) Pipe and Tobacco
Pipe smoking is something wonderful to experience in the winter. Just ask Sherlock Holmes. Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, C.S. Lewis, Vincent Van Gogh, and Santa Claus also concur. Plus, everyone loves the wafting of a little pipe tobacco on a cool winter day. The pipe model featured on the left can hold a filter, which will keep your man healthy if he so chooses.
I once made a rash vow to God not to smoke tobacco and I'm bound to it - so I can't smoke a pipe anymore. But I hope the best for all your men. Perhaps I will enjoy their second hand smoke.
Don't forget your Zippo lighter!
7) Kindle Fire from amazon.com
Kindle Fire is the latest model and it's basic model is now only $69 bucks. The great thing is that you can get almost any classic book for free or $0.99. Any of the great English classics. You can also get the great spiritual classics. I got tons of St Alphonsus Liguori texts for free. Imitation of Christ? Free. Huckleberry Fin? Free. If he likes to read (and especially if he likes techy stuff), get the Kindle.
It's easy to use - even Grandpa can use it since you can make the text bigger and it will robotically read all your books through its built-in speakers.
Explore the Kindle Fire here.
And don't forget, both of my books are also available through Kindle.
6) A Nice Leatherbound Pocket Bible
About 30 years ago, people starting making lame paperback Bibles. If it's the inspired, inerrant Word of God, at least wrap it in real leather and gild the page edges...
Here is the one you need to get him. It's Douay Rheims (Catholic, yet old school language), but it's only Psalms and New Testament published by Baronius. It fits perfectly into the side pocket of a suit or blazer. I carry it every day in my sports coat, and holds up to use. It's absolutely beautiful and has a ribbon to mark your place.
Oh, and please buy him the black leather version. If you buy him a white Bible, you might as well throw in some ballet lessons.
Baronius also makes an impressive real leather Family Bible. I've done a lot of research and this is the one that every Catholic home should have. Baronius makes wonderful Bibles. Stock up.
5) An iPad Cover that Looks Like an Old Book
I like using my wife's iPad, but if it looked like an old book, it would feel more old traditional. Here's the solution.
4) Gun Safe for Your Bedroom
Every man should own at least one gun
. I caught so much flack for saying this last year. But it still stands. For some reason, some Catholics think it's wrong to own guns. Whatever. Take a deep breath and go read about Lepanto or the Alamo.
A Colt 45 for a revolver. It's your classic cowboy pistol. A semi-automatic handgun (I prefer any 1911 model for .45 ACP and Glock or a Sig in .40 cal or 9mm). A trusty deer rifle (I like 270 Wby or Win and 30-06). A shot gun for ducks and doves (12 gauge side by side or pump-action). Owning a firearm is a rite of passage. Ever male needs a sidearm.
You'll need a gun safe. If there are children in your home or grandchildren visiting, this is not even an option. They must be physically locked away. I highly recommend the Barska biometric safes. I have the big one and I love it. Here's the little one for your nightstand:
3, 2, 1) The Pocket Knife!
This is the most popular man gift - year after year. I tried to think of something that would knock it out of first place. I couldn't it.
A man without pocket knife...woe is he. You can use a pocket knife to cut string, pull out splinters, slice apples on a picnic, etc. Growing up, my dad always carried a knife in his pocket. And if a thug jumps you, you've got something rather than nothing.
You can slip a knife into his Christmas stocking and he'll be thrilled when he discovers it. It will be the first time in a long time that he had a toy to play with on Christmas morning. If you have a son who's coming of age, you should slip a Swiss Army knife into his stocking. If you get your husband a knife for Christmas, he can use it all morning to open up Christmas gifts, toys, cards, and packages. He'll be happy to use his new gift all morning.
I'm recommending three knives this year depending on your need:
1) A Fancy Gentlemen's Knife for the pocket of his suit or slacks
2) An Every Day Carry Knife for the pocket of his jeans and khakis
3) Swiss Army Knife for your 8-18 year old young man
The Fancy Gentleman's Knife
I call it the "gentleman's knife." It's the very nice wooden or bone handled knife. Often it has the wavy stainless Damascus blade. This is gift knife.
This is a knife that he only carries for special occasions. Think of it like this, this isn't a knife that you wear in your jeans, you wear it in the pocket of your slacks or suit. It's the kind of knife that is passed from Grandfather to Father to Grandson. An artifact. Usually, a manly-man won't buy himself this knife (he buys useful knives for himself as tools - see knives below), but he loves to receive a fine knife like this as a gift.
It's the perfect Christmas gift and I really recommend this for your dad or husband. Ladies, think of it as the closet thing to masculine jewelry. In the box to the left, I've featured a really nice Hen and Rooster with Burl wood and Damascus blade. It's a beautiful tool.
The Everyday Carry Knife
This is the knife that a man carries in his pocket every single day. With this knife he opens mail, cuts string, cuts tags off clothing, removes splinters, and all the other odd jobs suited for a knife.
My one criteria for an "every day carry" or "EDC" is that it have a pocket clip that keeps it from falling out of your trousers at the movies. The other important thing about an every day carry knife is that it be lightweight. You don't want to carry a heavy lump in your jeans pocket. The pocket clip also keeps the knife high in your pocket so it's comfortable whenever you sit down or drive. I recommend the Kershaw's Ken Onion Tacticalas your every day carry.
Swiss Army for Younger Men and Boys
If your man is a gadget guy then he's probably a fan of the multi-tool or Swiss Army. These are knifes that also have many, many other tools attached: bottle opener, saw, tweezers, toothpick, pliers, etc. The Swiss Army knife if perfect for a boy's first knife (age seven). If he's reached the age of reason, he should have a knife.
Stay tuned. I plan to list recommended books in the next week or so.
This year, I need to post a disclaimer. Inevitably, women (and a few men) will leave comments about how juvenile it is to have "manly gifts" and that it's immature to promote things like guns and knives. Some people think that weapons and tools are "unChristian." If you're one of those people, save your time. Don't leave a comment explaining why your fifteen year old son should receive a video game and not a pocket knife.
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Do you enjoy reading Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to sign up by Feed or here to sign up by Email. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.
Kindle Fire is the latest model and it's basic model is now only $69 bucks. The great thing is that you can get almost any classic book for free or $0.99. Any of the great English classics. You can also get the great spiritual classics. I got tons of St Alphonsus Liguori texts for free. Imitation of Christ? Free. Huckleberry Fin? Free. If he likes to read (and especially if he likes techy stuff), get the Kindle.
It's easy to use - even Grandpa can use it since you can make the text bigger and it will robotically read all your books through its built-in speakers.
Explore the Kindle Fire here.
And don't forget, both of my books are also available through Kindle.
6) A Nice Leatherbound Pocket Bible
About 30 years ago, people starting making lame paperback Bibles. If it's the inspired, inerrant Word of God, at least wrap it in real leather and gild the page edges...
Here is the one you need to get him. It's Douay Rheims (Catholic, yet old school language), but it's only Psalms and New Testament published by Baronius. It fits perfectly into the side pocket of a suit or blazer. I carry it every day in my sports coat, and holds up to use. It's absolutely beautiful and has a ribbon to mark your place.
Oh, and please buy him the black leather version. If you buy him a white Bible, you might as well throw in some ballet lessons.
Baronius also makes an impressive real leather Family Bible. I've done a lot of research and this is the one that every Catholic home should have. Baronius makes wonderful Bibles. Stock up.
5) An iPad Cover that Looks Like an Old Book
I like using my wife's iPad, but if it looked like an old book, it would feel more old traditional. Here's the solution.
4) Gun Safe for Your Bedroom
Every man should own at least one gun
. I caught so much flack for saying this last year. But it still stands. For some reason, some Catholics think it's wrong to own guns. Whatever. Take a deep breath and go read about Lepanto or the Alamo.A Colt 45 for a revolver. It's your classic cowboy pistol. A semi-automatic handgun (I prefer any 1911 model for .45 ACP and Glock or a Sig in .40 cal or 9mm). A trusty deer rifle (I like 270 Wby or Win and 30-06). A shot gun for ducks and doves (12 gauge side by side or pump-action). Owning a firearm is a rite of passage. Ever male needs a sidearm.
You'll need a gun safe. If there are children in your home or grandchildren visiting, this is not even an option. They must be physically locked away. I highly recommend the Barska biometric safes. I have the big one and I love it. Here's the little one for your nightstand:
3, 2, 1) The Pocket Knife!
This is the most popular man gift - year after year. I tried to think of something that would knock it out of first place. I couldn't it.
A man without pocket knife...woe is he. You can use a pocket knife to cut string, pull out splinters, slice apples on a picnic, etc. Growing up, my dad always carried a knife in his pocket. And if a thug jumps you, you've got something rather than nothing.
You can slip a knife into his Christmas stocking and he'll be thrilled when he discovers it. It will be the first time in a long time that he had a toy to play with on Christmas morning. If you have a son who's coming of age, you should slip a Swiss Army knife into his stocking. If you get your husband a knife for Christmas, he can use it all morning to open up Christmas gifts, toys, cards, and packages. He'll be happy to use his new gift all morning.
I'm recommending three knives this year depending on your need:
1) A Fancy Gentlemen's Knife for the pocket of his suit or slacks
2) An Every Day Carry Knife for the pocket of his jeans and khakis
3) Swiss Army Knife for your 8-18 year old young man
The Fancy Gentleman's Knife
I call it the "gentleman's knife." It's the very nice wooden or bone handled knife. Often it has the wavy stainless Damascus blade. This is gift knife.
This is a knife that he only carries for special occasions. Think of it like this, this isn't a knife that you wear in your jeans, you wear it in the pocket of your slacks or suit. It's the kind of knife that is passed from Grandfather to Father to Grandson. An artifact. Usually, a manly-man won't buy himself this knife (he buys useful knives for himself as tools - see knives below), but he loves to receive a fine knife like this as a gift.
It's the perfect Christmas gift and I really recommend this for your dad or husband. Ladies, think of it as the closet thing to masculine jewelry. In the box to the left, I've featured a really nice Hen and Rooster with Burl wood and Damascus blade. It's a beautiful tool.
This is the knife that a man carries in his pocket every single day. With this knife he opens mail, cuts string, cuts tags off clothing, removes splinters, and all the other odd jobs suited for a knife.
My one criteria for an "every day carry" or "EDC" is that it have a pocket clip that keeps it from falling out of your trousers at the movies. The other important thing about an every day carry knife is that it be lightweight. You don't want to carry a heavy lump in your jeans pocket. The pocket clip also keeps the knife high in your pocket so it's comfortable whenever you sit down or drive. I recommend the Kershaw's Ken Onion Tacticalas your every day carry.
Swiss Army for Younger Men and Boys
If your man is a gadget guy then he's probably a fan of the multi-tool or Swiss Army. These are knifes that also have many, many other tools attached: bottle opener, saw, tweezers, toothpick, pliers, etc. The Swiss Army knife if perfect for a boy's first knife (age seven). If he's reached the age of reason, he should have a knife.
Stay tuned. I plan to list recommended books in the next week or so.
This year, I need to post a disclaimer. Inevitably, women (and a few men) will leave comments about how juvenile it is to have "manly gifts" and that it's immature to promote things like guns and knives. Some people think that weapons and tools are "unChristian." If you're one of those people, save your time. Don't leave a comment explaining why your fifteen year old son should receive a video game and not a pocket knife.
Please Subscribe to this Feed for Future Posts Click here to receive Canterbury Tales by EmailDo you enjoy reading Canterbury Tales by Taylor Marshall? Make it easier to receive daily posts. It's free. Please click here to sign up by Feed or here to sign up by Email. Please also explore Taylor's books about Catholicism at amazon.com.
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