A Case brand Sodbuster Jr. to represent the pattern in my collection...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
Messages
3,989
I have never cared for the look of a Sodbuster. I perfectly understand that it's function is pretty much solely that, function as a tool. It is not trying to win over the eye of the collector or give a person function and beauty, just function. But, I still wanted to atleast have one specimen for my knife collection. Having to pick something up at a big box hardware store, and this Case being on sale for just over $13 + tax... I figured the oportunity was now. Buy it, and a Sodbuster Jr. will be in your collection. Opened up the clamshell packaging it was in while sitting in my car. I gave it a quick inspection... and, the verdict is... neat! :) It has decent f&f, and while not visually beautiful by most "pocket knife" standards, she is not exactly ugly either... just very plain jane. Overall, I like it, and it finally adds that sodbuster pattern to the mix :)

25tjckl.jpg
 
They are great users and I like the simple elegance of them as well. Nice addition to your collection.
 
That hollow grind is a wicked slicer, and I love the brass liners with black delrin.
 
2s9t4w9.jpg


Just got done placing a drop of oil in the pivot area and wiping her down. While doing a closer inspection of this specimen, I checked the kinda things one would more likely check on more expensive knives coming from Case, Queen, Gec, and so on. Anyhow, I am impressed with this knife :)

When opening and closing, pretty smooth, with a pretty strong spring (but not excessive). Nice snap on opening.

Spring is nicely flush on open and closed position.

Blade is not perfectly centered, but is in the right ballpark.

Finish on all areas look evenly applied (brushed finish on blade, the handle being a nice smooth satin polymer).

Blade is sharp, and edge was evenly done on both sides.

No light shines through the handle scales/liners when holding up to ceiling light.

No blade wobble whatsoever.

Blade spine and backspring line up perfectly on opening.

I was thinking about the way 'Carbon12' described it... "simple elegance"... yes, I agree.
Hmm... now just imagine this same exact knife, but...

With nickel silver liners and pins.

Black ebony wood handle scales.

A Case high polishing on the blade.

It could be a more limited and a bit pricier version... the "elite" sodbuster and sodbuster jr... lol! ;)
 
Last edited:
There's a Sodbuster thread here somewhere with some beautiful Soddies with Stag scales, ebony or smooth bone scales, the elites exist, check AG Russell's version with Rucarta Scales, (AGs rendition of micarta)
 
Ahh, so elite sodbusters are already a reality, I should have guessed someone would have thought of that long ago, lol! :)

Btw... I think the price on this knife may have been a clearance price. I always wonder when I see this at big box stores. My thoughts are always if they are doing away with the American brand to replace with less expensive imports. This is a "BIG BIG" national big box hardware store... so if they drop Case, I think it will certainly hurt Case. Fingers crossed that maybe it was just a packaging changing thing, which usually means out with the old and replace with fresh new packaged stuff :)
 
Last edited:
35bciti.jpg


Doing a little bit of homework on sod busters... and I run into this picture on the internet. Wow, maybe another sodbuster needs to be added someday to my collection! :) I know this bone jigging and color is common in the Case line, but I rank it my favorite of their jigging/colors :) Looks nice on a soddie... just look at all that fine jigged bone! :)
 
Thanks for the heads up!

Just got back, mine has a bit of light between one of the liners and the backspring, other than that, real nice knife.

I had a pretty worn one from the 70's, but it ended up being a catch and release (a couple weeks later) as I was $10 short on a different trade.

That one had a ton of wobble and no snap...this one is nice and tight.


Spoke briefly with a manager while I was there, apparently it's a combination of price increase and new packaging.

They had the new packaging for the hawkbill pruner ($24), a new item for this store, and the Caliber ($15), the Caliber with the old SKU number is technically on sale for $10, but none in stock.

He said they are actually tripling their knife display this year ...which is still pretty small, if you ask me ;)
 
Kadmos said:
Thanks for the heads up!

Just got back, mine has a bit of light between one of the liners and the backspring, other than that, real nice knife.

I had a pretty worn one from the 70's, but it ended up being a catch and release (a couple weeks later) as I was $10 short on a different trade.

That one had a ton of wobble and no snap...this one is nice and tight.


Spoke briefly with a manager while I was there, apparently it's a combination of price increase and new packaging.

They had the new packaging for the hawkbill pruner ($24), a new item for this store, and the Caliber ($15), the Caliber with the old SKU number is technically on sale for $10, but none in stock.

He said they are actually tripling their knife display this year ...which is still pretty small, if you ask me ;)
Click to expand...

Oh, cool... thanks for the info! :) So... I guess we did real good, especially since now the price will even be higher than it was (I think it was like $22 and some change before the sale price) :)
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Oh, cool... thanks for the info! :) So... I guess we did real good, especially since now the price will even be higher than it was (I think it was like $22 and some change before the sale price) :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think they were $18 before (going by the website), then kicked up to $22 (the new price), they weren't marked down as sale items at the store I went to, but it rang up at the sale price just fine.

They have 1 left at the store I went to, and I think it's going to go home with that manager, he kept eying the one left while we chatted, apparently he didn't even know they were on sale.
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
35bciti.jpg


Doing a little bit of homework on sod busters... and I run into this picture on the internet. Wow, maybe another sodbuster needs to be added someday to my collection! :) I know this bone jigging and color is common in the Case line, but I rank it my favorite of their jigging/colors :) Looks nice on a soddie... just look at all that fine jigged bone! :)
Click to expand...

I like these! Had m'eye on one for a while but got to find a supplier who charges reasonably for shipping to Europe...

Sodbuster is a bit like an Opinel, really good-in-the-hand knife.
 
Welcome to the club! Sodbusters are like Lays potato chips to me, I can't have just one:D If Elite you re looking for they are out there! Here is a pick of a few of my soddies, some in Stag, Micarata, Bone, Jigged bone, Wood, carbon fiber, Glow in the dark and a rainbow of delrin. Careful, it's an addiction:D

i-p7kzrHz-X3.jpg
 
The Carbon Fiber has it's ups and downs. On the up side, it's the thinnest and lightest slip joint/sodbuster I own. This is due to the fact it has no liners. It carries very well in the pocket, just disappears since it's feather lite and thin. The down side is the price, for the price of the knife you could almost get three Case Sodbuster Jr's, or a you could get a GEC bullnose or Queen Cousin in Micarta with some pocket change to spare. Also, it only comes in stainless. I don't have an issue with Case stainless but prefer the CV. That said, if you are a big carbon fiber fan then you probably will not be disappointed.
 
I have a few cf modern knives and I love the lightness along with the strength and stiffness of cf, it amazes me how strong the cf is without liners.

I think I'm gonna save my nickels and dimes till I can get one, although there's a lot to be said about the confidence a full size sodbuster instills in you when it's riding in your back pocket. :)

Again that is a great collection with some fine examples of the pattern you have there.
 
Thanks! It's a small portion of my soddie collection but a lot of the real beauties I have are in that pic. Let us know what you think of the Carbon fiber when you finally get one! Trevor~
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top