Svord initial impressions

[Simms65]

Hello all, I thought I would post my initial impressions of the Svord I got as part of the recently concluded group buy.
When I took it out of the package, I was just blown away at how simple the construction is. There are basically two screws holding the hadle together, and a pin to stop the blade from moving too far. The blade itself has the built in lanyard hole attachment/sheath removal tool/tang/safey grip. I must say it is pretty secure when holding the knife, and I have no worry that it will fold on me with normal use. Since I have only got it today, I don't have much to say about edge retention yet.
The sheath is very well constructed, with a belt loop cut into the back of it.
The blade came ground pretty roughly with about a 35/25 degree uneven bevel. I broke out my trusty Lansky set and after about 2 hours ran it down to a straight 20/20. It is somewhere between razor sharp and scary sharp, and will push cut paper at almost 2 inches away from my fingers. Just for fun (and dessert) I whacked a small apple into pieces with it. It cuts very well, but does tend to hang up on material that thick. I have not had a chance to cut anything else with it yet (other than my arm hair!).
The handle is a bit rough, but the finish is of pretty good quality. It fits well in my hand, and I am sure will only look better with age.
Overall, I would say for $26, this knife is an incredible bargain, and even my non-knife appreciating friends will have cause to take a second look.
Hope every enjoys my initial impressions!
David
Oh! Can't forget the pictures:
Please forgive the quality, I wasn't of the mood to get out the good lighting tonight...
View #1

View #2

Sharpening it

Svord and sheath

Svord compared to an Opinel #6 and a Benchmade 14210

Comparison view #2

 

[Brian Williams]

I have not gotten to messing with the blade, as it came fairly sharp, It will shave right from the sheath. My sheath needed two other people to pull the knife out but it is a good sheath and solid construction. My wood had a few rough spots in the radiused edge and about 10 minutes with a file and some sandpaper it is much smother. I really like mine and have been carrying it in my back pocket next to my wallet. I have cut a bunch of cardboard and some packing tape and it will still shave my arm. I need to get my Japanese water stones out to sharpen a few other knives and then I will make it the way I like it.

 

[Simms65]

Brian,
Mine was sharp, but not shaving sharp, and I felt masochistic enough last night to sharpen it to a flat bevel (I dont have any regular stones to do a rounded bevel)
These are incredibly cool little knives, I must say.
David

 

[hso]

Is the grind supposed to be an apple seed / convex grind?

If so, the easy way to hand sharpen it is to use sand paper on a mouse pad and use a drawing/rolling motion.

 

[Simms65]

Yeah sorry it was convex ground... I just had a brain fart this morning when I replied. If you go to www.svord.com and look at the sharpening section they very specifically state to use a convex grind. It was convex ground from the factory.
Since I don't have the correct equipment to sharpen it that way... <shrug>
A flat grind works well enough for me.
David

 

[sm]

Appreciate the report with pictures.
Especially comparing to the Opinel #6 - which is my favorite size - as if you were reading my mind.

Just curious, and I understand it depends on the person and tasks, those that have both Svord and Opinel - which do you prefer?

Having not handled a Svord, it appears to be a bit more "heavy duty" and I like the sheath!

Oh and this one interest me as well: http://www.svord.com/SvordMainFrameset.htm

Steve

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Oi Steve, your link just leads to the main page. Which Svord interests you?

I may be looking to do a GB of the smaller Gent Peasant Svord, same thing but half-size and all-metal. That'll probably be sometime in Jan/Feb. I'm thinking I can squeak it in at $29/ea if I mail them out 1stClass instead of Priority.

-MV

 

[sm]

Sorry about that...


Danged 'puters, we didn't have that problem with Manual Typewriters...

Kiwi knives
Kiwi Lock Back 3 1/4 " brass

I like a total closed length ~ 3 1/4" - 3 3/4" so that means the blades are in proportion to total length closed. Just fits my hands that are a size 7.5 in a surgical glove ( when I wore them) and ring finger size 8 ( granted it has been years since I wore a ring).
Knife laws here in AR use 3 1/2" blade as "legal limit".

Truth is, I like these carbon steel blades. I appreciate Joe Talmadge doing his sharing in regard to steels and heat treat. Always believed in all this, just personal experiences proved it - Mr. Talmadge and an article by A.G Russell finally explained it to me some years ago.
Mentors and Elders growing up, shared the same things...
I do this gut feeling stuff - and then someone smarter than me writes and explains it.

I think the Sword Gent knife is an excellent idea!

Deal is, I worked with hand tools too many years, I used carbon steel - even while everyone else was going to hi-tech, newer stainless and all.
I made a lot of the tools I used.
Talmadge is right - there is no Holy Grail on all this Steel, and Tool. It does not matter what "the" latest greatest is - it may not be applicable to task.
Me and us "old foggies" kept on doing the old carbon steel gravers, burs and all, it took a bit of time for folks with new stuff to realize it was Marketing, and not something actually "useful" for what we were doing.

Opinels and now these Svords - well, proven, good steel, heat treated and work.

One tool I used and made from carbon steel was "basic". It always worked, never failed. One fellow bought a new high tech "tool" made for this purpose, and it cost $$$$ when the tool gave way, chipped and he broke what working on.
Having to have the name brand tool with prestige, cost dearly!!

Perhaps explains why I am a bit "old fashioned" on some of my tastes and preferences.

I have be careful, I happen to like slip joints and was raised with them.
I understand lockbacks and linerlocks.
I have seen two serious injuries , one by a lockback failing, and one a liner lock failed. IF...Maybe...who knows? Still these were being used "correctly" still serious injury.
Truth is- I was taught to NEVER trust a "safety feature" so I would have/ do use a knife different in doing what these two were doing with them.

I have defended myself with Case Trapper with Chrome Vandadium blades...the knife did not close on me, and all that blood and insides spilling out - not mine.
Knife was still razor sharp after that threat stopped - attempted kidnapping.

These "inexpensive" knives interest me. Simply because of the simplicity and use of good carbon steel and heat treat.
Then again I think a Model 10 is great gun too.

Sorry,
Some have asked why I so reluctant or balk at some things...figured here was a good as any to state why.

"Why do you want a "inexpensive" simple knife when all this other stuff is on the market now?"

Now folks know.


Steve

 

[Simms65]

Steve,
Well said. I agree that the idea of the gents knife would be just super. In fact, I am going to have to get 2 or 3 when it happens.
Thanks for sharing with us.
David

 

[sm]

If his sheaths are as great as Brian and the rest of you shared, and how they look on his website - he needs to do a leather slip for the gents knife.

I dunno, just leather slips for some knives are "Neat".
Protects the knife from getting lint, pocket nelphs, scratched up (applies more to nice handles perhaps) and...why is it one never has a dime when they need one except when they pull a knife out the pocket?
Pull that knife out and a dime has worked itself in between blades / into knife

 

[Simms65]

I have shed a silent tear on more than one occasion when I have seen people pull knives out that have coins/keys/etc stuck in between the blade and handle.
My solution is the knife stays in a pocket with the cell phone, electrical tape, and a pen. All other metal implements go in the other pockets!
And yes the sheath is incredible! Simple and perfect.
David

 

[sm]

Starting a new thread.

 

[Simms65]

.

 

[Brian Williams]

I have been using mine with cardboard and it still shaves, and cut an apple neat as a pin, Not stainless, as apple juice did some early customizing of the blade. It is a nice hard workers knife. Problem is I am not a hardworker, I once had a guy I worked with say if he wanted something done he would ask Charlie, but if he wanted the easy way to do something he asked me to do it and then watched so he knew the easiest way to do something. Need it cut, get a Svord peasant, it is my Charlie blade because it works, I use it because it is easy.
\
Like Lawdog's sheriff says "Work smarter, Not harder"

 

[Zero_DgZ]

I thought that one was Scrooge McDuck.

I have nothing meaningful to add to the conversation, I'm afraid, other than the above one-liner and the fact that I have a sharpening kit identical to the one pictured.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Found some reviews by the Limeys:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5246.html

I don't want to rush folks by running too many GBs back-to-back, so I'll hold off on the Svord Gent buy for a couple months. Cultural Woodsman might be doing a Russian GB. I'll stagger the Svord Gent and Douk-Douk buys so as not to overwhelm folks.


-MV

 

[Simms65]

Matthew,
Anything you want to GB within reason I am definitely in for!
I am very interested in a Svord gents folder, or two, or three, or...
David