I own a few boar brushes (but many more badger's) and when it comes to standards for grading knots...well there isn't any! There are quite a few different badger hair knots and different manufacturers have their own system. Choosing a boar is much simpler than choosing a badger because there are no agreed standards. In fact most boar brushes are simulated to look like a badger. Why? I only use for travelling because they dry out a lot quicker. Give me a Badger any day.