Opinel #8 or Svord Peasant knife?

Gotta love them Opinels.
These are the only Traditionals I can buy over here by just going to one of our hardware stores and hand pick them(man you guys are lucky over there in the US:mad::D)
I have lying them all over my house.

What I do after the lineseed treatment is not only vasoline in the pivot area, but all over/in the knife. Then take a blow dryer and heat the handle up until the vasoline starts running all over/in the handle.
Then let it dry and remove te excess.
Pretty water resistant this way:thumbup:

Would love to have one of them Svords as well.
Haven't found a place yet where I can get one at a reasonable price.
 
@spydutch, same thing in Belgium man... You might want to check eBay for some good deals. It's in no way like the deals I sometimes read about that USA citizens can do in their local stores but it's still way cheaper than what you can find over here...
Just find a good seller that's willing to underscore the value on his package, or else you'll pay 21% extra for customs and they'll detain it untill you paid those 21%...
 
Everybody should own one Opinel!

As for the Svords, they're OK but the build quality is pretty bad. I know they're supposed to be a basic work knife, but Mr Baker doesn't seem to exercise any quality control at all.
 
I have both. Opinel all the way. Did sand and polish handle and sharpen of course. Did the
vasoline/oil thing also. Takes a fine edge (carbon for me). Don't like the handle shape, blade shape or that loooong tang on Svord. It's in the junker box. It does have a good steel blade though, but the shape is pretty much only good for skinning. Not an all around, general use blade IMHO.

Rich S
 
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I haven't had any luck getting my svord to open/close well. takes some cursing and hitting the spine on a table top, or else it's just completely too loose. also it's much bigger in pocket with the large handle plus that part of the tang that protrudes when closed.

opinel all the way.
 
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I've owned both and I feel the opinel is way more practical and a way better value for the money also the Ergos of the opinel are hard to beat the svord is uncomfortable to use for long periods of time due to the curved piece of metal sticking in your hand also it is akward to carry in the pocket.
 
i enjoy my opinel #8. it reminds me to keep things simple and minimal when i carry it. but there is 2 things that i don't care for one is the locking ring, it works but it's a little annoying to take the time to twist it open, twist to lock, twist to unlock and twist the blade close. i guess im use to the convince of spring loaded locks. and the second is if the wood gets wet the blade gets stuck inside the handle. but there is ways around it by using different oils and waxes to seal the wood. i never invested the time into mine to make it water proof, so i can't say if it works. but you do get a damn good blade and for the price you can't ask for much more.

i never had a svord, but i am interested in them. just by looking at it, it seems like the lock would only be effective with outward or down cuts. i would imagine certain grips would make the blade unstable and maybe unsafe.
 
goodeyesniper said:
I haven't had any luck getting my svord to open/close well. takes some cursing and hitting the spine on a table top, or else it's just completely too loose
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matt1987 said:
it seems like the lock would only be effective with outward or down cuts. i would imagine certain grips would make the blade unstable and maybe unsafe.
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Both of the quoted comments are accurate, if understated. Wish I had continued to read this thread for a few days longer before I impulsively ordered a Svord Peasant.:o It arrived today, and is a product liability lawyer's dream machine.:eek: After attempting to adjust the screws without success, I finally gave up and chucked the thing in a bottom drawer where I won't be tempted to fool with it any more. An inherently flawed design with very poor ergonomics, an accident waiting to happen.:thumbdn:
 
Berkley said:
. An inherently flawed design with very poor ergonomics, an accident waiting to happen.:thumbdn:
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I could not disagree more with this statement. As with all cheap knives, I had minor fit/finish issues, but no problems using the Svord Peasant. I can understand how this knife can be non-intuitive for some people, but it was very comfortable when I used it for an hour to finish carving a spoon. No accidental cuts. It's a good knife in my book.
 
dogstar said:
I could not disagree more with this statement. As with all cheap knives, I had minor fit/finish issues, but no problems using the Svord Peasant. I can understand how this knife can be non-intuitive for some people, but it was very comfortable when I used it for an hour to finish carving a spoon. No accidental cuts. It's a good knife in my book.
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and i'll second dogstars sentiment on the matter, it's a friction folder, a very very old pattern, can it close on you? of course but so can most traditional patterns, and even the ones that lock shouldnt be trusted completely.
For the cheap price i paid couldnt be happier, its not as nice as my queen or schatt & morgan but it's proven itself to me in the kitchen and around the yard cutting things.
it definitely isnt for everybody, but mines a keeper and a conversation starter
regards
gene
 
I have several friction folders, and the design is indeed time tested. The two-piece scale and screw arrangement of the Svord example that I received, however, makes it impossible for me to adjust to where it can be reliably opened and closed safely. I stand by my statement, which was offered so that others who are contemplating the purchase of one can have the benefit of my experience for what it's worth. The contrary experiences of other knife users provide another viewpoint that any prospective purchaser should also take into consideration.
Berk
 
Berk, i didnt mean to offend, sorry if i came off that way... Like you said both positive and negative experiences are helpful. mine was a bit weird at first but not dangerous took me a little bit to break it in and get the screws adjusted properly, dunno maybe ya got a bad one. Recently i completely disassembled mine and sanded and refinished the handle, etc. helped a bunch and is much more comfortable to handle, think it looks a little better too.
regards
gene
 
Gene, certainly no offense taken, and sorry if I came across as all defensive. It may well be that folks more mechanically inclined than I am can get the screws adjusted without any problem. The thing scared me so badly when I tried that I decided the better course was to give up before I did something really stupid and hurt myself.
The product literature is pretty nonchalant: "Adjust the tension of the blade pivot screw to suit your preference. If the blade locking screw is too tight it may be more difficult to open the Peasant knife. Adjust to suit your preference." In my case, that is like the instructions on many products that have left me staring in frustrated rage at a useless pile of parts: "Simply insert Tab "A" in slot "B"...." Simply my foot!:o
Berk
 
Berkley said:
Gene, certainly no offense taken, and sorry if I came across as all defensive. It may well be that folks more mechanically inclined than I am can get the screws adjusted without any problem. The thing scared me so badly when I tried that I decided the better course was to give up before I did something really stupid and hurt myself.
The product literature is pretty nonchalant: "Adjust the tension of the blade pivot screw to suit your preference. If the blade locking screw is too tight it may be more difficult to open the Peasant knife. Adjust to suit your preference." In my case, that is like the instructions on many products that have left me staring in frustrated rage at a useless pile of parts: "Simply insert Tab "A" in slot "B"...." Simply my foot!:o
Berk
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I hear that:D
Ive got a Queen Moose that i could just never get broken in:( ... it lives in my drawer.
till i figure out what to do about it i dont mess with it, less i get bitten...
I too had trouble with the screws as they appeared to me to be a bit shallow, eventually got it where i wanted it.
regards
gene
 
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