Bull Buster musings...

olywa

olywa

Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
220
As I was using the heck out of my Bull Buster over the holiday weekend, I started reflecting on just how useful this pattern has been for me since I picked it up a couple of years ago. The Bullnose gets a lot of attention, but the Bull Buster just doesn't seem to generate nearly as much interest. My particular knife is in Osage Orange, which seems to wear like iron. Whether I'm using it on the farm or in the kitchen it always delivers. Heck, I even steaked out a 20lb halibut with it a couple of weeks ago when my large fillet knife struggled to get through the spine. The added stiffness was just the ticket.

I'm thinking that it's time for another run of these. I'd like to pick one up in Nifebrite Acrylic for the thinner handles and greater visibility. I'd really like it in D2 or even stainless as well, and with a backlock added. I use this knife hard and live near the saltwater so those improvements would be welcome in terms of added durability and safety. Now that's a work and utility knife I could get behind. One for the glove box, one for the tackle box, one for the tool box, one for the kitchen...
 
I would be all over one in 440C. Let's see your knife, though. Maybe with some others for reference. Visual stimulus gets our motors going ;)
 
Here's mine, its black micarta and ive carried it in my back pocket for about a year but i lost it on vacation in Florida a couple weeks ago. I miss it bad, it handled all jobs from skinning a hog to peeling potatoes.
huIwxsA.jpg
 
Rough Rider makes a large sodbuster that looks very close. They are good knives, IMHO better than Case. They have both slip joints and linerlocks as well as a variety of sizes. Might want to take a look at those. Just a thought.
Rich
 
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Now I could be wrong but isn't the Mudbug by Smith & Sons a lockback version of the Bull Buster and wasn't it made by GEC? If so, it sounds like they are hoping to have more made later this year, which might coincide well with another run of #21s. I could be way off base though...
 
Rich S said:
Rough Rider makes a large sodbuster that looks very close. They are good knives, IMHO better than Case. They have both slip joints and linerlocks as well as a variety of sizes. Might want to take a look at those. Just a thought.
Rich
Click to expand...
I happened to pick up a big liner lock Rough Rider sodbuster about a month ago. Stainless steel blade and black micarta covers (although I can't see the "grain" or "pattern" or whatever you call it of the "fabric" embedded in the handle). Here's a couple of pics:
dzhQVpC.jpg

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- GT
 
Pàdruig said:
Now I could be wrong but isn't the Mudbug by Smith & Sons a lockback version of the Bull Buster and wasn't it made by GEC? If so, it sounds like they are hoping to have more made later this year, which might coincide well with another run of #21s. I could be way off base though...
Click to expand...

I was under the impression that the Mudbug was the size of the Bullnose. I've tried to get in on the Mudbug action in the past but those things go FAST.
 
I believe the Mudbug is the #21 but thinner and a lockback.
 
Thanks for the clarification. Maybe GEC is paying attention to how fast those Mudbugs move and maybe they'll put out a lockback #21 sometime, perhaps even in stainless or D2. I'd sure snap up a couple of them. In the meantime I guess I'll keep trying to pick up a Mudbug.
 
I know it's not quite the same as the mudbug but I feel like my experience with the 72 lockback series has given me an appreciation for that style of knife. I love the utilitarian blade on the mud bug and the no nonsense handle materials that look at home rattling around in a tool box or covered in grease.
 
Yup, these are blue collar working knives. My Grandpa always carried a full size Sodbuster style knife. You can do an awful lot with them but I learned real early to be careful about using them so as not to have them fold back on you. That's probably why I moved to fixed blades for hard use. Still, it's awful handy to keep a big folder in my back pocket.
 
You definitely want a Mudbug. It's a very slim lockback, made by GEC for Smith & Sons. The steel liners make it much stiffer than the usual brass lined sodbusters. Newer Mudbugs are done 1095, but I believe that some older ones were done in 01.

It's the best lockback I've ever used. Super-strong, but unbelievably light in weight. It also seems that Smith & Sons does there own sharpening on each knife.

The yearly runs do go lightning fast, so make sure you get on the mailing list, so you know when to preorder. Make sure tod buy the Mudbug sheath also. It's really handy and nicely made.

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Rich S said:
Rough Rider makes a large sodbuster that looks very close. They are good knives, IMHO better than Case. They have both slip joints and linerlocks as well as a variety of sizes. Might want to take a look at those. Just a thought.
Rich
Click to expand...
I've been using one for kitchen chores for 2 years now, she needs to be resharpened very often and more annoying, a certain amount of side play developed that can not be cured, hammering the pivot cures it for a while, but just a while (it's a recurrent liner lock issue). There's no such problem on my 71s or sodbuster jrs.
Otherwise it is a very nice knife.
 
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