Case or Queen?

B

BenLankford

Joined
Jul 13, 2009
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I have been carrying my Case Sodbuster Jr. for a while and love it but the handles are a little small so i'm thinking of moving up to the full size one. But when I was looking around online I found that Queen also has a Sodbuster called the "Country Cousin" and I like the D2 steel and all but i've had great expeirances with Case. So should I get the Case or the Queen? By the way either way i'm getting the black handled varient.
 
I vote Queen. My only reason is Case tumbles their blades and the corners on the tangs are rounded over. The Queens are sharp like the older Cases. That said it's pretty much a toss of a coin as the quality is up there on both.I've always been a Case fan but I've been on a Queen kick lately. I really like the D2 also.Stains less than CV if the soddies are CV. I've never owned one.Flip a coin.
 
Keep one thing in mind if you opt for the Queen in D2. Many have stated that their Queen D2 was, well, less than razor sharp out of the box. I have only purchased one Queen knife, a Canoe in D2, and it had very obtuse bevels, and almost had no edge. Now, if you are okay with reprofiling, you will probably love the soddie in D2 as much as I love my Canoe. Just be aware that D2 eats up belts, but diamond stones are supposed to be a good idea for this steel. YMMV
 
You cann't go wrong with either. I personally prefer the D2 from Queen but sharpening and or regrinding a new edge has never been an issue with me.
 
Well I have a Case Sodbuster Jr. too and I prefer the looks of the point of the blade on my Case then the one on the Queen. The point on the Case looks more sturdy, not to mention the CV steel looks really good after it gets some use.
 
The Queen has a thinner blade with more of a point in D2
The Case in black is SS not carbon.

Between a Case in CV and a Queen in D2 it is equal.
But I would go with the Queen in D2 over the black Case in SS
 
from what i understand, the country cousin is the same size as the sodbuster jr. 3 5/8". the full size sodbuster is 4 5/8". unless i missed the queen's version in full size. a few days ago i faced the same decision on my first sodbuster. the jr in cv vs queen in d2. i bought the jr in cv. why? its easier to sharpen. if i had to buy a new one i would go for the queen. i like the point, whereas the case is rounded at the tip. maybe i can grind it to a tip later...
 
All of the above choices are certainly excellent, especially if the price point is critical. However, I would suggest at least a look at the 4.5 inch pattern #23 (Pioneer) Great Eastern Cutlery knives. They are MUCH heavier, come in one or two blade versions, linerlock and not, and many handle variations. The Northfield and Tidioute versions are 1095 high carbon steel, and the Great Eastern version is stainless. Mike Latham at Collector Knives. Net sells some with cosmetic irregularities for less money. You might think I like GEC's. Well..... maybe a little.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::)
 
I have both a Case and a Queen Sodbuster. My Case does not really have a point, so my Queen gets more pocket time. (I never considered a point important until I didn't have one.)

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Being a fan of the soddie, I'd suggest now that you have a Case, go for the large Eye-Brand yellow sodbuster. It's got a handle that's almost 5 inches, and is shaped like a soddie, but is a little bit flatter on the sides, making for very nice easy pocket carry while still a very nice hand filling grip. Takes a very wicked edge, and holds it well. I used the heck out of mine and it stood up great. Of all 9 soddies I had, the Case and Eye-Brand were my favorites.
 
knarfeng said:
I have both a Case and a Queen Sodbuster. My Case does not really have a point, so my Queen gets more pocket time. (I never considered a point important until I didn't have one.)

100_2863.jpg
Click to expand...

That's why after duct taping the blade, I used a 12 inch mill file to drop the point just a bit on my Case soddie. :thumbup:
 
matt1987 said:
from what i understand, the country cousin is the same size as the sodbuster jr. 3 5/8". the full size sodbuster is 4 5/8". unless i missed the queen's version in full size. a few days ago i faced the same decision on my first sodbuster. the jr in cv vs queen in d2. i bought the jr in cv. why? its easier to sharpen. if i had to buy a new one i would go for the queen. i like the point, whereas the case is rounded at the tip. maybe i can grind it to a tip later...
Click to expand...

Does anybody know if this is true? And about the D2 I don't really have a good sharpening system. I avoid major sharpening at all costs most of the time I will sit down and strop it for 30-40 minutes when I first get it to get that mirror polished edge :thumbup:
 
BenLankford said:
Does anybody know if this is true? And about the D2 I don't really have a good sharpening system. I avoid major sharpening at all costs most of the time I will sit down and strop it for 30-40 minutes when I first get it to get that mirror polished edge :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Yes, it's true. The Queen Country Cousin is the same size as the Case Jr. soddie (about 3-5/8"). I have three of the Queens in D2, and I keep wish'n & hope'n that Queen will decide to make a BIG version in D2 (about 4-5/8"). The D2 is definitely stubborn to re-sharpen, but a diamond hone makes it much easier. I've re-profiled 2 of mine so far, using a Lansky sharpener with a diamond hone to start. The D2 is GREAT, once you get it sharpened to your liking...
 
You can get a Queen made (large) sodbuster in 1095 by purchasing the Moore Maker #3103.
(Queen makes the yellow delrin model as well as the bone per my telephonic conversation with one of the Moore's.)
Not D2 but good steel and takes a razor edge. Comes with a belt sheath as well.
 
Blues said:
You can get a Queen made (large) sodbuster in 1095 by purchasing the Moore Maker #3103.
(Queen makes the yellow delrin model as well as the bone per my telephonic conversation with one of the Moore's.)
Not D2 but good steel and takes a razor edge. Comes with a belt sheath as well.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I've got a couple of the large Moore Maker soddies, they are pretty nice. My only knock against 'em is that the backsprings seem a bit weak for my tastes. For a large slipjoint, I'd prefer a STOUT backspring action. My latest OBSESSION has been collecting sod busters and, ironically, the 'smallish' Queen Country Cousin has the stiffest action of them all, by a longshot (Case, Queen, Moore Maker and Eye Brand are what I've accumulated so far).
 
I have CASE, Böker and RR junior sodbusters and like them all(must be yellow handle though...) I like the look of that Queen Sod, the handle and blade shape.It's true that D2 from Queen can be a bit of a lottery,but some of my D2 knives have arrived sharp,the others well.....I just don't like that idiot looking blade etch!
Another large sod choice might be the Brown Mule or Coalminer type in carbon.
 
I've got both and if I absolutely could only keep one, it would be the Queen. But mine is sharpened now...took me a couple of hours by hand without diamonds.
 
I've had good luck sharpening up Queen D2 using a Norton India combo stone. I've seen them at Home Depot for less than $10.
 
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