Woods Monkey Banana Peel vs. Svord Peasant

[dogstar]

@Smithhammer , let's have that friendly discussion about why the Banana Peel is 11 times the knife of the Svord Peasant.

I will yield that they offer different grinds, premium steel and handle materials, and make a stronger knife overall. But what is the huge leap in performance? What can it do that the Svord Peasant cannot do?

It has a smaller blade, and is, IMO, quite ugly.

 

[dirc]

lol well, the price difference is rather extreme, since you can get 6 svord peasants for the price of 1 banana peel...
peel uses a2 steel, which has likely better edge retention than peasants 15n20 ... but the svord will be tougher

honestly... for the money they want for the banana peel, I'd expect a cpm steel (cpm-m4 if you want to keep it non-stainless for the traditional patina possibility)

 

[LimpCroissant]

It should be called the Banana Slug because that's exactly what I though was sliding across that stump at first glance in this pic. It looks like a nice little friction folder. I've always loved the Svord Peasant knife, but always also thought that it was kind of clunky. These look a little bit more refined.

 

[dogstar]

It should be called the Banana Slug because that's exactly what I though was sliding across that stump at first glance in this pic. It looks like a nice little friction folder. I've always loved the Svord Peasant knife, but always also thought that it was kind of clunky. These look a little bit more refined.
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I agree this design fills a niche, i.e. upgrade in materials from the original Peasant. I don't see much increase in performance, other than edge retention. A Svord will cut stuff just as well as this knife does.

 

[Hammer67]

@Smithhammer , let's have that friendly discussion about why the Banana Peel is 11 times the knife of the Svord Peasant.

I will yield that they offer different grinds, premium steel and handle materials, and make a stronger knife overall. But what is the huge leap in performance?

I think you just answered your own question. The blade steels offered are far better (which is a factor in performance). You can easily switch out different blades and different handle combinations, to adapt the knife to what you want (I'd also call that a "performance" feature). And yes, the construction overall is higher quality, which again - plays into the long term performance of the knife.

What can it do that the Svord Peasant cannot do?

That's kind of like debating, "What can the LT Wright Genesis do that a $20 Mora can't?"

I'm not dissing on the Svord at all - like the Opinel, they are great cheap blades, and there is a place for that. But to suggest that a knife with better blade steel, better handle materials and better construction, along with a variety of easily adaptable options, isn't a better knife on many fronts, is just silly. It's not something worth debating.

 

[LimpCroissant]

I agree this design fills a niche, i.e. upgrade in materials from the original Peasant. I don't see much increase in performance, other than edge retention. A Svord will cut stuff just as well as this knife does.

Yeah, to be honest with you I bought my Peasant knife like 15 years ago when I didn't any sharpening experience and the edge sucked really bad on it so I never really used it. I've actually been thinking about it now and again lately and looking for it but it appears to be gone. I wanted to put it on my KME and make it to where I could really carry and test it.

I guess they're both pretty cool, just a matter of preferences.

 

[dogstar]

That's kind of like debating, "What can the LT Wright Genesis do that a $20 Mora can't?"

Exactly. Do people go around saying, LT Wright is 11 times better than a Mora? I realize that is a bit of hyperbole, but I dislike when people say X blows Y out of the water, when it is really not true.

If G10, A2 steel adds value to you, great. I don't need all that. It's nicer, not better.

It's not as if the Peasant is a slouch. The handle is comfortable, and the tool steel they use is decent in terms of edge retention. Since it is a very simple design, it's not likely to break, either.

 

[dogstar]

This is what plastic, brass Chicago screws, and 15N20 steel can withstand. Way more abuse than I would ever need to put it through, except for the 0.01% chance I am stranded in the middle of nowhere, and only a Mini Peasant in my pocket.

 

[EngrSorenson]

After having checked out both, seems like the banana peel is what you might get if you cared about extras. The Svord is enough knife for most things- probably just as up to the task as the Banana peel, but if you want some finesse, you go for the Banana Peel. I guess it’s just got to be worth it to you.

 

[J. Doyle]

..... The blade steels offered are far better (which is a factor in performance).

I snipped the rest of your post because I don't disagree.

I don't necessarily disagree with this part I quoted but I wonder if you wouldn't mind clarifying or defining some terms here?

I know nothing about either of these knives and doubt I could positively identify either one in a pic.

But I'm not sure I can say A2 is "far better" than 15n20. I believe those were the steels mentioned in this comparison.

I'm wondering how A2 is far better than 15n20?

 

[dogstar]

I'm wondering how A2 is far better than 15n20?

My guess is edge retention. A2 has around 1% carbon while 15N20 has around 0.7%. Better, yes. Far better??? I'm a "use a knife, touch it up, put away" kind of guy, so 15N20 has plenty of edge retention for my needs.

 

[Hammer67]

While A2 can be a good all-around carbon steel, I was referring more to AEB-L, which is the other steel offered with the Banana Peel. Much better edge retention, corrosion resistance.