This May be Sacrilege But---Grinding Down a Peanut's "Hump"? (Pics Added)

AFAustin

AFAustin

Gold Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
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There is a great Peanut following here, and after reading all the praise and insight in several threads, I ordered one. It's a red jigged bone CV number, and I like it. It came with a fairly sharp edge out of the box, and I've improved it a bit---that hollow ground CV clip blade is a little razor!

I used a Work Sharp (mini belt sander) to improve the edge on the clip, and managed to ever so slightly round the tip. I've now re-formed the tip with sandpaper, and it's a little less upswept and a little more of a drop point.

I am now tempted to do one more small mod, but would appreciate any comments or opinions. The one thing that I don't care for so much on the Peanut is the pronounced hump on the clip blade. It seems a bit exaggerated to my eyes, and it makes for a somewhat uncomfortable resting point for my thumb. I am thinking I could use my Work Sharp to grind it down and reshape it into a smooth gentle curve.

Has anyone ever done this or thought about doing it? Does the hump serve any real purpose? Is this total Peanut heresy?

Thanks in advance.

Andrew
 
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I don't see anything wrong with it so long as you don't get into the nail nick.
 
I think it's done more for asthetics, as my Case half whittler has the same hump you mentioned. I have found that I can actually pinch the blade of my peanut open using this hump. As for heresy, it's your knife, do whatever you want with it. If you feel that you'll get more enjoyment out of it by modifying the blade shape, than go for it. I modified the blade of a 1970's canoe into more of a spearpoint, and love it.
 
Thanks for the comments and encouragement. I took the plunge and am pretty happy with the results of my amateur effort. The hump is gone, I like the way the blade curve seems to go with the curve of the body, and I like the sleeker profile when closed.

Andrew

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Thanks, gents. Praise from old pros like you makes a great start to the day!

Andrew
 
I have to think on this for a bit. It's like Igor getting his hump fixed. It's still Igor, but the hunchback was part of his character. This new profile seems a bit like a turkish clip, not there's anything wrong with a turkish clip. It looks like a streamlined little knife now, that's for sure. You did a good job on it, looks like factory.:thumbup:

I wonder if this will cause a theological split among the faithful, to hump or not hump? That is the question?

Carl.
 
Carl,

I really appreciate your comments. When reading up on the Peanut, your many informative posts, along with your praise of this neat little knife, were a major reason I decided to try one.

I realize that it truly is like surgery on Igor's hump, and I wasn't 100% sure myself I would try it, especially given my relative inexperience with the Work Sharp mini belt sander. But, I had a little luck here, and accomplished what I wanted. I am interested in what other Peanut fans think of the mod.

Thanks again.

Andrew
 
I like what you did. It's one of the things I don't like so much about Case's newer peanuts. I have a bit older one that has the nail nick paralell to the top edge behind the clipped part of the blade. The newer ones with the hump are not as attractive to me. What you have done to your knife looks really nice. Kind of favors a "modified wharncliffe" now.

Ed J
 
Well, I may try it with my old standby yella peanut. A little slow work with a file, taking a little at a time. You've inspired me, Andrew, to give it a go.

Carl.
 
I like it. I think it looks good and it probably feels a little better in hand now when using the pen blade.
 
I have a few peanuts. These days, peanuts are pretty much the only kind of knife I carry. I don't mind the hump. I find it helps open the blade, because it gives something to pinch between your thumb and forefinger when you have your nail in the nick. On that tiny little blade, every bit of leverage helps. I find that I squeeze against the hump even when opening the pen blade, I'm sure it's there so you have something to grab on to. But I certainly don't mind if somebody wants to grind the hump off of theirs.
peanuts.jpg
 
AFAustin said:
Thanks, gents. Praise from old pros like you makes a great start to the day!

Andrew
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Andy ..... Jason -- Didja hear that? He called you guys "old"? :eek: ;)

Andrew, very nice looking job on your peanut! :thumbup: I've tweaked a few blades on some of my knives with good results, and I wholeheartedly support experimentation of that type. It really makes your knife your knife.
 
mdsmith said:
Moon - I really like that bolsterless peanut. Can you tell me more about it?
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Case did a run of shadow patterns back in 2001. The peanut was one of them. That one is the jewel of my peanut collection, and the only one that's a safe queen. :)
I'd buy several more if I could find them. I don't think they made very many, and as far as I know, that's the only time Case has ever made the peanut as a shadow pattern with bone scales. Too bad, because I think it's pretty cool.

Edit: I also have a single-bladed zytel peanut, which doesn't have bolsters either. Despite the horribly ugly camo print on the scales, I really like the knife. It weighs almost nothing, and because it doesn't have a pen blade, it's easy to pinch open. They make a version of the same knife with a pair of scissors, and from what I gather, Case can't make them fast enough. Even my local platinum dealer can't get them in stock. If Case makes versions of the single bladed, zytel peanut in solid colors, they will have a real winner on their hands.
 
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I like the way that one looks now, Andrew! I may have to try that on my yellow handled Peanut when I get home next month. Good job!

Ron (who also lives outside of Austin)
 
Andrew, I really like what you did with your peanut. Very classy. :thumbup:

Since I'm a bit of a tinkerer my poor unsuspecting peanut is undergoing the same mod as yours. I like it so far but it's nowhere near as good as yours. The blade profile is starting to take on a similer profile to a Queen toothpick but with a drop point and that's not a bad thing IMO

Thanks for sharing this.
 
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