Colt Peanut Blues

[Lawrence]

Good day everyone,

I ordered a number of knives from Smokey Mountain Knife Works, some of which were going to be gifts for some of my ‘non knife collecting’ friends. The Colt Peanut looked like a pretty knife to me. When I received it I was really disappointed because the main blade sits way too low when the knife is closed…you can’t get at the long pull without opening the small blade first (pics below). So I sent SMKW a memo…

“Good day, I received my order from SMKW yesterday. Thank you very much, it arrived sooner than I thought as I live in Canada. Generally I am very happy however there is an unfortunate defect on one of the knives that affects the ability to open it.

The knife is the CT214, Colt Teardrop Peanut with Brown Stag Handles. The main blade cannot be opened unless you open the small blade first because the main blade sits lower than the small blade (when closed). I have tried to capture the problem with photos...the first photo shows it well.

I have many knives and this problem usually only occurs on old knives with worn tangs. I understand that I can ship the knife back to you, but because I'm in Canada the shipping costs will be high and I have already spent $36 on shipping.

Is there any way you can send me a replacement knife to make things simpler and save time and cost at both ends. The order I placed was a fair size, and I have ordered from SMKW before.

Thank you very much for your consideration, and have a great day.”

This is SMKW’s response…

“I apologize, it looks like this is the way this item is made. I looked over the items in our showroom and they are all the same.

Thank you for choosing Smoky Mountain Knife Works, we look forward to doing business with you again soon.

Respectfully,
Smoky Mountain Knife Works, Inc.”

I couldn’t be bothered with this so I took out my dremmel and ground the tang on the small blade to see if I could get it to sit lower…no good. I then ground a nail nick on other side of the master blade. Crude, but it worked, so I took it outside and used it to cut off a whole whack of thick ivy vines that were growing up my fence, and other yard work. This was somewhat unsuccessful. I dropped it a few times on my patio to see if I could age it a bit as well.

Moral of the story…don’t buy a Colt Peanut, and if you do, never use it to cut vines, or do garden work. Sheesh…I know, I know...you told me so.

[Producer]

Thanks for posting this Lawrence.
That is unfortunate about the Colt Peanut design!
It looks like it could have been a nice little knife.

[Dinadan]

Lawrence - I know just how you feel. last year I got a Klass lockback whittler that was made so that I could not open the main blade without opeing a secondary first. I reprofiled the secondary blade, but I expect better than that even out of China!

[btrwtr]

I understand that SMKW was under no obligation to send a free replacement knife but I find the response a bit cold. If they are all the same I doubt that they will sell many over the counter once a potential buyers see this serious defect. Seems they may be okay with selling the rest of the defective knives by mail.

Wayne

[Miller Bro's]

Lawrence, take a little sliver of hard cardboard or a piece of wood just the right thickness to raise the blade to where you can get at the pull without the tip being above the liners, and place it under the kick of the master blade, it should fit tight enough so it will not fall out but not too tight to interfere with the blade movement.

If this works for you at least you can get some use out of it

[Lawrence]

Lawrence, take a little sliver of hard cardboard or a piece of wood just the right thickness to raise the blade to where you can get at the pull without the tip being above the liners, and place it under the kick of the master blade, it should fit tight enough so it will not fall out but not too tight to interfere with the blade movement.

If this works for you at least you can get some use out of it

Thanks MB, I should have done this in the first place but I guess I let my emotions get the best of me... so I started grinding away, and using it like a bushcraft knife so I could put it out of it's misery. Funny thing is, that it is still hanging in there... it doesn't look pretty anymore and it's a tough little bugger. I feel much better now...cheers

[carrmillus]

....buy "huhmericun"-john wayne!!.......... .........