So why a Peanut?

I don't really get it. I have one, but it always plays second fiddle to any sort of "tactical" knife. The benefit of not freaking people out is also somewhat lost on me as where I live I can pull out a katana to cut a thread on my clothes and nobody'd freak out. Also if someone does freak out, it's a good opportunity to screw with a hoplophobe.
 
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1. it's cheap
2. you get two blades
3. it's a good utility knife in that the thin blade is tough enough for cutting most things; even whittling wood, which you probably wouldn't want to do with your modern tactical, given the time spent keeping that mirror-polished, hair-popping edge you like to impress your friends with.
4. sturdy brass liners rubbing against a steel blade makes for a smooth, buttery action that retards rusting around the pivot area and is very durable, unlike paper-thin bushings on moderns that could wear our earlier, or get deformed.
5. #4 is one reason why a lot of slip joints tend to last up to the time you have grand children.
 
btmccutcheon said:
... I can see that peanuts are a very popular carry. Since I've never handled one, I'm curious as to why. ...
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Handle one, and you'll see why.

It's nothing more than a small jack knife. What's not to like?

I find today's trend toward larger knives/blades unnecessary for the vast majority of those carrying larger knives. Our fathers and grandfathers certainly weren't under-knifed with their small traditionals. I carry a peanut in my left pocket daily. For a larger knife, a carry a Victorinox SAK Farmer on my belt daily.
 
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I'm not carrying my Peanut today but honestly, for my current uses, I can do just fine carrying only a Case Peanut. Disappears in your pocket too.
 
Case Peanut in production over 100 years, Colt 1911 in production over 100 years- both still very popular & selling well.
Some things can not be improved on.
 
syco1138 said:
I don't really get it. I have one, but it always plays second fiddle to any sort of "tactical" knife. The benefit of not freaking people out is also somewhat lost on me as where I live I can pull out a katana to cut a thread on my clothes and nobody'd freak out. Also if someone does freak out, it's a good opportunity to screw with a hoplophobe.
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While it is nice to be able to use a machete to peel an apple without getting so much as a second look, not all people live in areas like that. If you work in a busy office with a lot of corporate types, the actual need and use for a large tactical knife is often lost, as it is not the focus of why you are there to begin with. Different strokes. If we were all the same and all had to play by the same rules, there would only probably be one knife. Rather than trying to negatively impress people that are not into knives or have no practical need for one in their daily life. Maybe try setting a good example by talking with them about why if the topic should come up.
 
To me, the peanut is perfect for urban carry, and it's a darn fine slicer. Since i started to carry it a couple of years ago, it never failed me, and it was a constant companion, and will always be in my pocket.
I carried big folders like Spyderco millie, or Endura/Delica, BM710..and so on, but even though i don't have anything against those, they are way too much for what i use a knife in the city. In the outdoors, of course, things change, fixed blades come into play, but the peanut is still a nice one to have around.
I can cut a sandwich, open a package, slice an apple, sharpen a stick, do some whittling without any problem with my trusty peanut. And i can do that without raising any eyebrows, almost anywhere.
Love that knife. It's nice to see the patina grow, the scales getting worn..
Get one, and carry it for a while, use it, and see for yourself if the peanut will cut it for you :D
 
I recently went through a medical detector manned by secret service in a hotel full of UN delegates and the yet me through with the peanut and alox cadet in my work bag. So its a great city edc when you have to deal with security.
 
For me theres just something about them I really like, I dont know exactly what it is. But aside from that it slices very well, looks great, perfect secondary knife for the 5th pocket and it just has that great nostalgic vibe that traditionals do.
As far as tiny knives go, traditional or modern, its my favorite, followed closely by the spyderco manbug and case baby butterbean.
 
RevDevil said:
While it is nice to be able to use a machete to peel an apple without getting so much as a second look, not all people live in areas like that. If you work in a busy office with a lot of corporate types, the actual need and use for a large tactical knife is often lost, as it is not the focus of why you are there to begin with. Different strokes. If we were all the same and all had to play by the same rules, there would only probably be one knife. Rather than trying to negatively impress people that are not into knives or have no practical need for one in their daily life. Maybe try setting a good example by talking with them about why if the topic should come up.
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Agreed. Great post. Far too many people associate knives with unpleasant things (even just previous injuries/cuts), and especially in an office environment where you are going to see the same people day in and day out its just not worth it IMO to try to push any limits. I personally think building a relationship of trust with people that know you as the "knife guy" is a really important thing to do at this point in time. But if you happen to live/work in an area where people don't freak out, more power to you :D.

jacktrades_nbk said:
To me, the peanut is perfect for urban carry, and it's a darn fine slicer. Since i started to carry it a couple of years ago, it never failed me, and it was a constant companion, and will always be in my pocket.
I carried big folders like Spyderco millie, or Endura/Delica, BM710..and so on, but even though i don't have anything against those, they are way too much for what i use a knife in the city. In the outdoors, of course, things change, fixed blades come into play, but the peanut is still a nice one to have around.
I can cut a sandwich, open a package, slice an apple, sharpen a stick, do some whittling without any problem with my trusty peanut. And i can do that without raising any eyebrows, almost anywhere.
Love that knife. It's nice to see the patina grow, the scales getting worn..
Get one, and carry it for a while, use it, and see for yourself if the peanut will cut it for you :D
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I've found that the peanut doesn't actually work very well for apple slicing. Given, it slices amazingly, but it is just too short to slice apples the way I like to eat them. The opinel #6, or Svord Peasant mini are about as small as I can go for an apple slicing knife. Though, to be fair, I only slice my apples nowadays (porcelain front teeth due to a motorboat incident at age 12), so I might be a bit biased.

And I see what you did there :).
 
ocnLogan said:
I've found that the peanut doesn't actually work very well for apple slicing. Given, it slices amazingly, but it is just too short to slice apples the way I like to eat them. The opinel #6, or Svord Peasant mini are about as small as I can go for an apple slicing knife. Though, to be fair, I only slice my apples nowadays (porcelain front teeth due to a motorboat incident at age 12), so I might be a bit biased.

And I see what you did there :).
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:D
Well, the way i cut apples, the peanut works great, as i cut the apple in half, then carve out the middle from both halves, and after i slice it from one side, until it's done.
But that may as well be because i used it for quite a few over the last years..so i am too used to it for that kind of work.
I used it so much on apples, that i now compare other knives with it in that regard, and very few come close. Oh well, thin and hollow, hard to beat.
 
cchu518 said:
Case makes a really nice g10. It's called... Wait for it... The g10 peanut!
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Thanks smarty pants. I saw those...they're not in stock anywhere so I assumed they were limited/discontinued. Is this not the case?

I'd love a black g10.

Regarding the office, I worry more about the knife pulling my slacks down than offending anyone. Unless I got a 0560 or 0600 out in the break room I doubt anyone would notice. Gotta love Texas.
 
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J_Curd said:
Thanks smarty pants. I saw those...they're not in stock anywhere so I assumed they were limited/discontinued. Is this not the case?

I'd love a black g10.

Regarding the office, I worry more about the knife pulling my slacks down than offending anyone. Unless I got a 0560 or 0600 out in the break room I doubt anyone would notice. Gotta love Texas.
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That sucks I had seen them for sale as early as last month. I almost pulled the trigger on one.
 
RevDevil said:
While it is nice to be able to use a machete to peel an apple without getting so much as a second look, not all people live in areas like that. If you work in a busy office with a lot of corporate types, the actual need and use for a large tactical knife is often lost, as it is not the focus of why you are there to begin with. Different strokes. If we were all the same and all had to play by the same rules, there would only probably be one knife. Rather than trying to negatively impress people that are not into knives or have no practical need for one in their daily life. Maybe try setting a good example by talking with them about why if the topic should come up.
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I agree in principal, but in my experience even the most anti-knife hoplophobe will eventually stop giving a crap if they see that "dangerous, evil, switchblade, puppy killing, tactical assassin ninja commando knife" used repeatedly for mundane, day to day tasks. Also peanuts feel kinda undersized to me.
 
I own a couple of Peanuts (9 actually), but almost never carry them. For me, a same-sized Swiss army knife (Rambler, Manager, Executive) is preferable as it adds a lot of utility. But for the guy who loves his traditional knives and wants to go minimalist, its the bomb.
 
When I got my first and only Peanut, it bit me twice the first day. You have to respect the Peanut and all knives but the blades can be hard to access if you have big hands or if your hands aren't super nimble.
 
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