Why do Peanuts have half stops?

PocketEdge

PocketEdge

Joined
Dec 23, 2008
Messages
566
O.K. I'm not sure if this needs it's own thread but I didn't want to hijack another. Why do Peanuts have halfstops? I think the formula square bolsters =square tangs (halfstops) and round bolsters=cam tang (no half stops) is null and voided by the peanut. I'm sure there is some logical reason for this and someone out there knows the answer to my dumb question.
 
thatotherguy said:
IMO they are useful, they give you more time to get your fingers out of the way.
Click to expand...

I think there might be some truth there. At least with this pattern, which has some pretty strong snap for such a small folder. Sometimes a small knife is awkward enough, when opening & closing the blades, relying mainly on the nail nicks for some traction. The alternative, I suppose, might be in making the snap softer. But that might otherwise diminish the perceived usefulness of the knife, if the springs are on the weakish side.
 
As far as Case is concerned, I suspect it's due to the oversight of leaving them out of the small Texas Jack so they had to put them somewhere. :D
 
I'd definitely say that a half stop is an asset in a small slipjoint like a Peanut. Formulas be damned, its just a good idea!
 
I don't have very many folders with half-stops, aside from a couple of recently acquired Peanuts. But, one universal thing I've noticed about them is, those half-stops are sure very convenient for picture-taking. Makes it all the easier to display the knife, with one blade fully open, and the other standing firmly & proudly at the half-open position. Having been BITTEN before, by a partially-opened folder without half-stops, I can definitely appreciate their usefulness in that respect. :D
 
Never heard of that formula before. Evidently Camillus didn't either.

IMGP6552a.jpg
 
I haven't heard of that formula. Some of my vintage knives have round bolsters and half stops and a lot of customs have them whether the bolsters are rounded or not.

Alternative replies: :p ;)
(A) So you don't eat the whole bag
(B) Because if they had full stops, you couldn't open the blade.
 
it depends on the knife, some is so it wont swing, or slam on your fingers. Another is for show, to have your knife open, or one all the way open, and one half open and metioned above. And finally, in some knives it helps keep it open somehow. (i have done research because i wondered the same thing)
 
Here's some interesting reading on the topic of half-stops:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/799363-Half-stop
(see comments by member 'zerogee'; very informative)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/753323-Half-Stops-Yea-Nay-or-Non-Issue
(this thread is also linked within the above referenced thread)

BTW, I've also not heard of the 'formula'. I've got a bunch of square-bolstered knives without half-stops, so I've never really seen any direct correlation between the two, at least on production folders.
 
Last edited:
I can't think of a good reason why the Peanut shouldn't have half stops. Maybe it's tradition?

I think they are suppose to have them.

edit: Thanks for the link David. Very informative.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Jake and David for the pics and links and all who responded. I think my issue is that I love the peanut but have a strong preference for cam tangs!
 
If you love cam tangs, you can always go custom. I personally have never met a halfstop I don't like.
BTW- The cheaper remington peanuts have cam tangs, and I don't carry mine anymore, it bit me THREE TIMES within a week, I blame it on lack of halfstops in such a small pattern.
 
Hi guys,

well, I own a peanut. Alright. And I own a Case Mini Trapper. Both of them have half stops. I think, on the Mini Trapper it shouldn´t be. But on the peanut it´s neccessary, I think. The reason is, imo, that the handle of that little peanut is not really got to keep in save state when closing the knife. So if you have a really sharp peanut (and I´m sure, we all have ;) ) and close it when your fingers or parts of your fingers are still there where they should not be... Oh sh*t! That´s what I would say. So I like the half stop on peanut. Especially, because the blade of that little fellow is scalpel sharp.

Kind regards
Andi
 
I don't know if I can imagine a peanut without half stops. To me it's part of the charater. But I will admit that I'm glad for safety sake they're there. To me it adds a bit of safety and time to make sure all my fingers and parts of, are out of the way. Would it snap closed so well if it was a cam tang?

But I do like having the half stops there if no other reason than to have a mini break during the day to admire a nice looking pocket knife. A moments pause in the daily routine for the mind and eye. Taking a moment extra to handle a peanut safely is no loss, and a small gain in the scheme of things. Heck, maybe that's why they are there!

On the other hand, my smallest knife I use is my keyring Vic classic, and I've yet to cut myself handling or closing it. It's way smaller than the peanut, but it is no problem to handle. Why, I don't know. It has easy spring pressure, and closes as easy as it opens, yet seems to be good enough.

I can only chalk it up to the mystique of the peanut.
 
It wasn't very long ago that I was not a big fan of half stops. I like them now but when I wasn't a fan there were still a few patterns that I thought were well suited for half stops. The Peanut was one of them.

My Rough Rider Peanuts do not have half stops and I think they would be better off if they did.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top