A Svord Peasant kit? (It's on the website now)

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davek14

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May 30, 2009
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There was just a thread on Svord Peasant knives. They generally got good reviews as usual.

However, the fact that the metal handle Peasants are going to start using rivets instead of Chicago screws was mentioned.

No one seemed too happy with that so I sent Svord and e-mail and got this nice note in response.



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Hello Dave ,

you have my permission to paste this reply on the forum ,as I am not very computor savy .

We have no plans to use one piece tubular rivets on the wooden or plastic versions of the Peasant knives , we are sticking with brass chicago screws on these .

Initially we used 2 sizes of cut down brass chicago screws on the Aluminium and Zinc plated steel versions ,the very early models also had a brass pan head 4mm stop pin , screw threaded into one side of the handle . We stopped using this item and replaced it with

a 1/8’’ tubular steel stop pin that has a spun end .

We started replacing the 2 brass chicago screws with heavy duty tubular spun rivets ,so then all 3 fasteners could not be taken out . In hindsight probably a mistake .

Even early on the metal versions were not popular and i considered dropping them .

But I persisted because of the large investment in a blanking tool ,we even made some in 1.6mm brass and copper to test the market . And nearly blew up the tool on 304 stainless version .

We still have some old stock in Aluminum ,pink ,purple and gold with the chicago screws .Lately all the Zinc steel ,and Ali black and blue have the spun rivets .

Maybe you could ask the forum members their opinion of the following . If we stopped selling fully assembled Ali and steel peasants only ,and instead they were availiable only as a boxed kitset with sharpened blade and all the pieces including the brass chicago

screws ,they would still have the 1/8’’ spun stop pin . Another drawback of a factory assembled chicago screw metal Peasant is we needed to hammer peen over the threaded screw ,further making it harder to take apart ,with a kitset we leave it to buyers preference .

So please ask the members ,assembled or kitset option ,I would be most interested to hear ,

regards

Bryan Baker

SVORD KNIVES

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I figured I would start a new thread with this to get as many opinions as possible.

I like the idea of a kit, especially if it is a bit cheaper than a regular peasant.

Thoughts?
 
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As mentioned in the other thread, I'd be interested in a kit with brass or bronze intended as liners rather than thicker metal intended for scales. :)
 
I've found that I don't care for metal handles, so I never had much interest in that version of the Peasant. I do like 42's suggestion of using the equipment to make a slightly more upscale version with liners, which could be interesting as a kit or fully assembled.
 
And I actually would like it if they sold just the blade :), which doesn't help them with the tool investment at all.

I've made ali slabs from 3/16' and 1/4" stock and they work well actually. Most didn't like the thinner ones from Svord even before the rivets. The idea of using the tool for liners is a good one.
 
I'd like a kit form peasant. Even a sharpened blade as mentioned above but with an option to add a "Hardware" set of stop pin and Chicago screws.
I think it would really appeal to those who want to add scales of their own design/material.
 
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Well, here ya go... To quote myself from the other thread:

AntDog said:
Say, what about making a kit that comes with a blade, actual metal liners, and screws long enough to make it through the liners and handle material? A kit that is intended to have handles added and finished by the customer?
I think they would sell like hotcakes! I've seen lots of peasants with custom handle scales, and have wanted to try my hand at one. If Svord sold a kit that would make it easier for me, I'd buy a few in a heartbeat. That would be a very fun project for most anyone. And hey, if that blanking machine is just cutting liners (thinner material) it will be easier on the machine as well. Sounds like a win-win to me! How bout it Svord?
Click to expand...
 
Sounds good.
It's also good that Svörd, B.W.Baker, will engage in customer interest discussions with actual customers. The only other company to do this that springs to mind is Spyderco.
 
I'm with 8steve and AntDog, give us some liners, a blade and some hardware, save yourself some trouble and time ($$$) and sell them direct to the public to cut down on any other extraneous cost increases associated with everyone involved having to make some coin.

If something like this was the case, I think you would see a surge in the whole custom svord that would rival if not surpass the whole custom Opinel thing.

I know I have plans for at least 3 individual kits as soon as they are offered and that is right off the top of my head. I'm sure as I got into them I would want plenty others, they would make Great personalized gifts.
 
Selling them direct to the public probably wouldn't work so well for them. Whole different distribution model (requires restructuring internal operations) and you'd be paying individual shipping from New Zealand rather than the cost of international shipping being spread out over hundreds of units being sent to a distributor. The best cost-saving method for the consumer would probably be to sell them through their usual network.
 
Bryan Baker has been reading our thoughts and responds.

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Hello Dave ,thankyou for your email ,i have read the posts and printed them out for my reference .

Without giving too much away ,I really like the idea of providing a Peasant in kit form ,and letting the customer do their own thing .

I always get a buzz seeing what handle and customisation people come up with .

What was really useful to hear was that it made better sense to include the longer chicago screws in a kit as people would mostly

choice their own handle material to attach to the liners .

We have other products in the pipeline partly as a result of customer feedback ,they will get posted on www.svord.com as they become availiable .

I have made the mistake in the past by telling customers of new products in development ,then getting orders before production was ready .

When I designed the Peasant 3’’ back in 1994 ,I had no idea that the power of the internet was to have such an effect on sales growth and its popularity .

I read something on the net about the Peasant wood handles not matching up ,and I got a few emails , that was never an issue between 1994 and 2010 .We installed a new rotary table

routing system about 5 years ago , but in a way it was too cleaver to improve a simple process .

I have decided to return to the tried and true overhead router system .

regards

Bryan Baker
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So maybe a kit eventually?

Thanks to all for your responses.
 
Id probably pick one up as a novelty, but what Id really like to see is some sort of lock option, I like the idea and design, but an Opinel lock is bare minimum for me, and even that was a hospital trip once.
 
Metanica said:
Id probably pick one up as a novelty, but what Id really like to see is some sort of lock option, I like the idea and design, but an Opinel lock is bare minimum for me, and even that was a hospital trip once.
Click to expand...

As long as you're holding the knife it can't close. But if you need extra assurance run a cord through the hole in the tail and wrap it around the handle when it's open.
 
I've exchanged a few emails with Brian over at svörd (had some questions about their kiwi machete, and economy drop point hunter), and he was impressed when I got a response from him personally. Its good to see that want a one time thing :).

I love the kit idea. And also, it just occurred to me that if Brian is still listening/reading, id LOVE to see their blades sold as blanks as well. I'd say that generally speaking, svörd is known for good steel, but sometimes their handles on their lower end leave some to be desired. So it seems that selling blanks could work out well for them.
 
That is a fine peice of work there Tinbasher, very well executed. I have and enjoy a wood handled peasant and the thought of a kit knife with brass liners is very appealing to me, my version may not end up as nice as Tb's but it would be fun to try your hand at a fairly simple project like this. In other words, count me in for one.
 
Awesome, I know have no excuse not to pick up a svord once I find a place where I can buy it. I think the kit knife will make an interesting first project knife.
 
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