Another sodbuster

J

jackknife

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
17,525
Just got a new Smoky Mountain Knifeworks catalogue in the mail, and what do I find?

Two size yellow handle sodbusters from the Boker Arbolito works in Argentina, with carbon steel blades. The small one is 3 and5/8 closed, and the large is 4 and 3/4. Prices 10.99 and 12.99 respectivly. Since I have Case, Eye-brand, Klass, and Herter, I guess I just have to have a Boker Arbolito.

There's just something about a plain honest working knife I find hard to resist.
 
jackknife said:
There's just something about a plain honest working knife I find hard to resist.
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Amen, brother, amen. I have a bid in on the bay for a Robert Klass, Brown Mule. I've also been eyeing those Argentine Boker Sodbusters.

I keep thinking about getting a multi-blade knife for EDC, but as I have stated in several threads, that Case Sodbuster Jr, yellow handle CV just rides so well in my pocket and has become my, "If I'm wearing pants, my sodbuster is in my pocket," constant companion. And I don't wear kilts, so if I'm dressed below the waist, my sodbuster in with me. :thumbup:

If I'm not, that's just too scary to think about. :o

Well, off to work so I can pay for my latest 'bay excursion.
 
since you keep going on about the jr i guess i'm going to have to pick one up. I hope i can find a yellow handle case cv around here. I may have to go with the boker from smkw. are the argentine made bokers any good???
and by the way my case sodbuster with the SS blade is doing quite well. I think one of the other posters was right when he said it's not the terrible stuff some people think, however i still would prefer a cv model. later, ahgar
 
Just got a small yellow handled Arbolito...made in Argentina.

Nice thick blade, strong snap, good back spring, carbon steel.

The handle is a bit small for my hands, I will get the larger one for my own use.

But, my wife has claimed the 'junior' size one for working in the garden. It took a nice sharp edge on my oil stone. It is a good lightweight knife that should last for a long time. It does not look like a cheap knife.

All I have to do now is find a large size one to fit my big paws.
 
Thats very good to hear Casares. It sounds like a well made knife befitting a sodbuster pattern. I'll most likely get the larger one as its more like the rest of my sodbuster collection in size. Most of my other sodbusters are yellow handle as well. Maybe a bit of nostalgia, as my very first pocket knife was a yellow handle fish knife. The powderhorn style, that was popular in the 1950's.
 
Good to hear about the Arboitos. Nice thing about sodusters is that not only are they great knives, easy to carry and great working blades, but they are one of the least exspensive patterns out there. You can either collect several, or just a get a really nice EDC knife for not much money.

Someone here was talking about a two-blade sodbuster with the second blade being a saw. Who was making that again? If it doesn't make the knife too bulky that would make a great garden and camp knife.

Heheh, I'm watching my first tomato ripen on the vine. It's an heirloom type, not a hybrid, called a homestead. I'm looking forward to slicing up my first homegrown, heirloom tomato of the season with my sodbuster. Just an old time, good time, nostalgia and simple pleasures rolled into one. Okay, that may be overkill, but the principle is satisfying.

ahgar, you got that Jr yet? :D
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
Someone here was talking about a two-blade sodbuster with the second blade being a saw. Who was making that again?
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Found it! Eye Brand. http://www.knivesplus.com/eye-brand-eb-99sds.html

Not as cheap as your usual sodbuster, but then most sodbusters don't come with a saw and stag scales. ;) That is quite a solid and attractive knife though.

I better be generous to the wife for Mother's Day, then I can "suggest" this one would be a great Father's Day gift.
 
quick question about the boker did it have any lateral play in the blade?? just curious 'cause some of the case sodbusters i've handled have been really loose. and is the yellow like the case yellow or the eye brand?? thanks, ahgar
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
Someone here was talking about a two-blade sodbuster with the second blade being a saw. Who was making that again? If it doesn't make the knife too bulky that would make a great garden and camp knife.
Click to expand...


I have one of those two-blade sodbusters with saw from Eye Brand, and it is one of my favorite camp knives. It is a bit rough in the fit and finish department, but it has fantastic stag (I called Knives Plus and told them I wanted the most textured stag they had). The blade is well ground, the saw cuts very very well, and it has nice, strong backsprings.
 
I just picked up a Kissing Crane, Brown Mule sodbuster in the box for $2.29 on ebay. Of course with shipping it ended up being $6.34 total cost, sent priority mail. Looking forward to it getting here.
 
ahgar said:
quick question about the boker did it have any lateral play in the blade?? just curious 'cause some of the case sodbusters i've handled have been really loose. and is the yellow like the case yellow or the eye brand?? thanks, ahgar
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No bladeplay.

The yellow handles are not the same as Case... or Camillus.

Boker does not use Delrin for these, I think they are described as polypropelene.
They are a lighter colour yellow than the usual delrin, but seem very tough.

Hope this is helpful. Sorry to take so long to repoly, just noticed the forum is back and alive and well.
 
thanks i was wondering about that {lateral blade play} i just can't handle that. and no i haven't got the jr yet but i'm still looking. thanks for the thread about sodbuster, the forgotten pattern. later,ahgar
 
I just recently discovered the existence of Sodbusters and bought my first one last week! :thumbup: It’s an Eye Brand Jr. with yellow celluloid (?) handles. I got it off eBay for $20.

I like the antique yellow look of the scales. The handle feels nice and fits my smallish hands well too: I don’t think I’d need a larger version.

The fits and finish isn’t great, but it’s not bad. The scales, liners, and backspring all fit together pretty well and the pins are flush. There are a couple of spots where it looks like the scale material was burned and/or melted a bit, but it’s not a big deal.

There’s quite a bit of lateral blade play in the knife. It’s not loose or anything, but you can grab the blade and wiggle it back and forth. I don’t notice the play while cutting.

I really love the Sodbuster blade geometry. It’s similar to that of Opinels. My particular knife didn’t come with a good edge, but it was easy to sharpen and got extremely sharp.

Since I bought the knife, I’ve been carrying it daily in the fob pocket of my jeans; it’s the perfect size for that. I think I’m going to have to check out some other Sodbuster brands too. The knives are so inexpensive that you might as well try a bunch of them! :D
 
Anyone tried the Queen Cutlery "Country Cousin" which is a sodbuster jr. pattern with maroon delrin handles and D2 steel blade? Goes for about $23. I've thought about getting one but can't justify another sodbuster jr. since I have two already (Case SS and Case CV).

Have to hand it to Queen for selling reasonably priced slipjoints with D2 steel and excellent heat treatment. I have a 3 1/2" whittler that is fantastic and cost $35.
 
longbeachguy said:
Anyone tried the Queen Cutlery "Country Cousin" which is a sodbuster jr. pattern with maroon delrin handles and D2 steel blade? Goes for about $23. I've thought about getting one but can't justify another sodbuster jr. since I have two already (Case SS and Case CV).

Have to hand it to Queen for selling reasonably priced slipjoints with D2 steel and excellent heat treatment. I have a 3 1/2" whittler that is fantastic and cost $35.
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I have the Country Cousin from Queen. It is a great knife & D2 to boot. It cuts really well but is a tad hard to sharpen as D2 is tough stuff. It seems to hold the edge for a longtime though. You can't go wrong with this knife!:thumbup:
 
don't have one but as mentioned above the only thing bad i've heard about the queens with d2 is tough to sharpen. on the positive side it should hold an edge very well. and you can justify it as adding diversity to your collection. plus queen needs the money. later, ahgar
 
Good point ahgar! Support Queen cutlery!!! The last of the good old American handmade cutlery producers! And arguably the best knives to boot! I'm waiting for my country cousin, and greenbone cattle knives from them. The punch in their cattle knives is the best performing one in modern times! I have 4 in various knives. I guess that's fodder for a new thread!
 
Yep... the Queen Sodbuster took more than a tad to sharpen. It took about 20 minutes but, this sucker cuts real good. I am real happy with the D2 steel. I also have a Brown Mule in carbon that I like a lot. It is easy to sharpen & also cuts well enough to be a good buy for around 10 bucks.:thumbup:
 
Today the mailman brought me my Case 3137 CV sodbuster. Three and five-eighths inches of heaven. I look forward to the patina this beauty will develop. This knife is wonderfully sharp right out of the box. I am sure it will ride perfectly in my shirt pocket at the office. What is especially nice about this sodbuster is the rounding of the edges of the top of the blade for comfort.
 
There really is something about a sodbuster!! I got mine about 6 weeks ago now, and gave it the apple cider vinegar patina right away (nuke it and stick the blade in it, avoiding the pivot area), and have been carrying it since! Great knife! light and handy. After passing them by for years good old Bladeforums woke me up from my snobbish slumber and alerted me to the Sodbuster goodness!
 
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