What makes a small trad folder a "peanut"?

[qncygnnr]

Three topics really seem to set this forum on a full rolling boil. Wharncliffe blades, Barlows, and Peanuts ... What makes a small traditional slipjoint a Peanut. I've got several small single blade folders, a couple of vintage Colonial peanuts, and a couple of small two blade opposite enders (which I've always referred to as Tuxedos) - am I a "true believer" and just have not had the epiphany yet? It's no exaggeration to say that the "Cult of the Peanut" is a "real" thing ... just read this forum two days in a row.

What features and attributes make a small knife a "peanut" in the opinion of "confirmed case" cult members? Some of the threads about peanuts cover a lot of territory - and range from nearly pornographic pictorials to pseudo-religious exhortations. I never considered my small toothpicks to be "peanuts" ... am I in denial? I need some details to sink my teeth into. I am a KnifeNut - but never considered myself to be part of a fringe group!

 

[Stich2442]

To me a peanut is a small serpentine jackknife usually with two blades ( both opening from same side) , but sometimes one, clip master, pen secondary. There are some older ones with a spear blade as a master. It's basically a small jackknife smaller than 3" closed.

Pete

There are also some with scissors and trapper nuts ( with Spey) and big nuts with 5 blades

 

[jackknife]

Good question, I'll try to give you an answer.

A peanut is a small knife, but not all small knives are peanuts. There are other small serpentine jacks, but a peanut is a serpentine jack, where the bolsters on the blade piviot end have a more deffinate downward curve and taper to them. Look at a peanut. The real nut, not the knife. It has that curvy serpentine shape, with one end definitely smaller than the other end. The knife peanut is named after the agricultural peanut.

There are losts of knives in the same class as a peanut. The Buck 309 is a great little pocket knife, and it is similar in mission to the peanut, but it is in no way a peanut. Although the cult does recognize the mission role of the 309 as similar so there is a cousins relationship. The Schrade Old Timer dog leg jack is very similar to a peanut, so similar that there is no denying a family relationship, even if the Schrade dog leg jack is more the family from the 'other side' of the tracks.

A peanut is a stylish little knife, well suited for city or suburban life. It's at home in shopping mall food courts, office cubicles, and other well mannered environments where a large knife may do, but it would be socially awkward. Like wearing overalls to the opera. The peanut does not provoke negative comments, but it does often get praise form strangers, women especially. It has been called "cute" "pretty" and even "pocket jewelry" by 50ish silver haired female librarians. So, a peanut can go almost anywhere, without arousing any alarms.

The most remarkable thing about the peanut is, the strange hold that it gets over the carrier once the carrier has toted it around for a while. At first brush, it seems that it is too small. But it packs almost as much linier inches of cutting blade as a Barlow.

A toothpick is not a peanut, nor is an equal end jack, a tiny trapper, or any other small two blade jack. There must be that strong resemblance to the peanut of the legume family. The agricultural peanut.

A peanut is like the statement a supreme court judge made about pornography. He couldn't explain it, but he knew it when he saw it.

Carl.

 

[Jack Black]

Great post Carl! :thumbup:

I've not acquired a Peanut yet, but I'm liking this Case Small Texas Jack

 

[qncygnnr]

Can a Peanut shaped folder have only one blade and still be a "Peanut"? Or is it just a wannabe?

 

[Stich2442]

Single blade peanut

 

[Doug Add]

The Schrade Old Timer dog leg jack is very similar to a peanut, so similar that there is no denying a family relationship, even if the Schrade dog leg jack is more the family from the 'other side' of the tracks.

I always knew I grew up on the other side of the tracks, because even though I don't usually go for the Old Timer delrin handles, I really would like to get one of those 12OT Pals.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Steve Pfeiffer's book about collecting Case knives describes the Peanut as a small dogleg jack (more specific flavor of a serpentine jack). The excerpted description from his book is quoted below. The 'dogleg' characteristically is a serpentine pattern that's a little fuller/rounder at one end, like the butt end of the Peanut, whereas other 'serpentine' patterns may also be equal-ended (size/shape of the bolsters) with either rounded or square bolsters (just like the serpentine Small Texas Jack posted by Jack Black earlier).

There are some scant references on the web, in various places, describing the 'dogleg' pattern vaguely resembling the upper portion of a dog's leg (duh!), from the fuller, rounder hip joint down to the narrower 'knee'.


David

 

[jackknife]

I always knew I grew up on the other side of the tracks, because even though I don't usually go for the Old Timer delrin handles, I really would like to get one of those 12OT Pals.

It's okay to be on the other side of the tracks. Family is still family. And those 12OT's are sweet little pocket knives. :thumbup: NIce thin grinds, great 1095 blades. What's not to like? He's welcome at the table.

Carl.

 

[Stich2442]

This is also on the web:

The Peanut, a small round-ended serpentine jack knife was introduced sometime before 1915. After one look, collectors quickly referred to this pattern as the peanut due to its small, petite size. On the recent versions of this knife, the master blade will almost always be a clip balde, and the second blade, if one at all, will be either a pen or spey blade or possibly a pair of scissors. Both the clip and pen blades are attached to one sping resulting in two blades resting on one end of the knife. The clip blade is appreciated for its versatility and use for multi-purpose tasks. The pen blade comes in handy for light work.

Also:
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wr_case/patterns_by_number/16_30.php

 

[dalee100]

Hi,

I agree with Carl, I might not know what the definition of the peanut is, but I do know what one is when I pick it up. And to me, not all tiny 2 bladed Jacks are peanuts. Perhaps it's because when I'm in a 'nutty mood, I often carry a Camillus 21 Pony Jack. And to me, that's a peanut. My Schrade 272, which is a fine little Jack, really doesn't feel like a peanut in my hand. To me it's a tiny Jack and not a peanut like the 21.

Comparison photos of two of my favorites

The Schrade is just a bit beefier and a bit more substantial than the Camillus. It's just enough to to give the 272 a whole different personality. And consequently doesn't fit my view of the peanut.

Dale