Svord Peasant

M

mp510

Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
2,221
Check out the Svord Peasant that I got from Matthew Vanitas, from the THR Group Buy. It's a nice knife, and the sheath is pretty high quality too. The sheath, knife, and priority mail came out to less than $30 when all was said and done, and I believe it was well worth it. I doubt this knife will make my EDC rotation, but I forsee it taging along on a lot of trips into the woods. It came very well lubricated, and the sheath was very snug. Getting it out the first time was a task in and of itself. Found a new use for my Vic Spartan's corkscrew:p Used that method and about a 100 reps to break the sheath in just enough to make it useable.

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Yup, it is a friction folder. According to the warranty card, it is based on designs that date back to several centuries old Bohemian design, and others suggest roots trace as far back as classical Roman folders.

Karl, the pivot pin and rear pin are screwed in. The small brass pint, just behing the pivot, is just a pin however.
 
Hiya mp510,
I like this knife allot!!. very cool indeed!. I like the whole concept of friction folders and have often wondered if these cool little primitive slipjoints are the precursors to the modern pocket-knife..? Your information is very intriguing!!:cool:

Here is mine, a custom that Mike Wilson at Wilson's Custom Knives just built for me and some others here from Stag and 0~1 Carbon steel..
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The Svord Peasant is a great knife. I don't know what the steel is but they sharpen up very easily and hold an edge well. I took mine apart and stained and oiled the timber. Stained the blade with some vinegar for some patina and put it back together. I hang it on the shoulder strap of my muzzleloading shooting bag.
 
Very nice. Pardon my dumbness but I dont get the concept of the friction folder , what keeps the blade open and closed in place ?
I'm picturing what keeps it open is the fist that is holding it ?
 
Larry S. said:
Correct.....that and ,of course, friction.......sorry!:rolleyes: :D
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That's right. With the Svord the tang is quite long and the knife can't close while you are holding it in a conventional grip - it is more secure than you would think.
 
Best money I have spent on a knife in awhile...one I set up and the other I do use just about every day for wood working, etc. Very tough knife and definately holds a nice edge....for the money I dont know where you could beat it....but then my wife got me a large and small set of Douk Douks for X-mas and good ol' Granny got me a Mercator....really happy guy right about now:D
 
SunnyD you post pics of the greatest stuff. Do you collect guns as well as knives? In any event keep the pics of your collection coming.
 
Yeah, SunnyD, I like that little Single-Six just edging into the photo. I have that on my to get list. I haven't got anything in the caliber yet, but .22 WMR is a favorite of mine. That friction folder looks like a fine trail hopping companion to the SS.
 
Irish Sentry said:
Best money I have spent on a knife in awhile...one I set up and the other I do use just about every day for wood working, etc. Very tough knife and definately holds a nice edge....for the money I dont know where you could beat it....but then my wife got me a large and small set of Douk Douks for X-mas and good ol' Granny got me a Mercator....really happy guy right about now:D
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well then seems youve got all you need :) but maybe an okapi :d
the svord friction folder is a neat knife :)
 
ausjulius said:
well then seems youve got all you need :) but maybe an okapi :d
the svord friction folder is a neat knife :)
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I actually bought an Okapi last weekend. It's a funky knife at a great price. Edge is crap out of the box. I would choose the Svord any day. As a more practical user, I would choose an Opinel or Sodbuster over the Opinel.
 
Mr. Baker replied very prompty.

The Peasant's Knife (the one I have seen and used a bit) is about (currency conversion varies slightly from day to day) $37.00 US delivered for a one-knife order. He offers "quantity discounts."

The sheath for the folding Peasant's Knife is about $4.00 US.

The Drop Point 4 3/8" ("economy" group) also looks to be a solid, practical knife. I have asked him the price of that one as well. It comes with a sheath being a fixed-blade. See www.svord.com - utility category.

I would be willing to head up a group buy.

The guy who let me try his yesterday raved about it. He's a professinoal wood-worker and primitive camping type, so he knows something about good cutting tools. (But don't get him started about his collection of Stanley planes!)

Blade magazine report:

The Test

First I pounded the Peasant Knife blade through ¼ inch soft galvanized bolts (not high tensile). There was no damage to the edge or back of the blade. This shows the toughness that can be achieved using excellent tempering procedures. Baker gave the go ahead to flex the Peasant Knife 90°. I easily disassembled the knife and went to the vise. (Author's note: This is a destructive test.)

Baker's friction folder is 8 1/4 inches long in the open position.

The Peasant Knife flexed 90° with no edge cracking as per the American Bladesmith Society journeyman smith test. It also survived a 90° bend in the opposite direction, still with no edge cracking. Excellent toughness! Upon restraightening the blade snapped, but the toughness was impressive.

Baker provided another knife for the cutting evaluation. I sharpened the edge with a worn 400-grit belt and stropped it with jeweler's rouge on leather. Even though this produced a hair-popping edge, it only lasted four cuts on 3/4 inch manila rope.

I switched to a new 320 belt. This produced seven cuts. Still not satisfied, I used a worn 150-grit belt. Bingo! This produced the best working edge. After 30 cuts, I had to put on gloves because the locking hump was digging into my palm. The Peasant Knife cut a total of 50 times! The edge would still cut hair. (Authors note: This working edge is also obtainable by using an India stone.)

Overall

Baker's knives sharpen extremely quick. Edge holding is in the upper 10 percent of the knives I've tested. In a Baker knife you get an excellent piece for a good price.
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