Just to cut this response off at the pass, it will NOT be a tie, ties SUCK!, besides, Dad is retired and has no need of the sodding things…
I’ve narrowed it down to…
1; a nice pocketknife, either a Case Small Stockman, a Spyderco Kiwi or a Spyserco Cricket
Dad likes small, easily pocketed knives, he carries a cheapo Stockman pattern no-name knife, I figure he’d appreciate geting the “real thing” in a Stockman pattern, the Spydie Kiwi is also a nice, simple knife with an easy to sharpen wharncliff blade profile, the Cricket might just be too “modern” for his tastes, with it’s “Reverse S” blade profile…
2; a nice, understated watch, a Seiko 5 Automatic on a nice leather strap, not that cheesy bracelet it comes with…
Dad has a basic entry level Casio digital that he’s had forever, he does have a couple of nice analog mechanicals he’s had for a long time, but he never wears them, i get a feeling the Seiko would suffer the same fate…
at the moment, I’m leaning more towards the knife option, as the knife he does carry is crap, I’d think he’d get more use and enjoyment out of a well made pocketknife