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Case Sodbuster; jr. or workman?
- Thread starter catcalls
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2009
- Messages
- 3,198
If I am carrying on actual working knife for my job, I always want more than one blade. Why? So if I damage the edge, the knife isn't worthless until a resharpen. I carried a large CASE stockman for years as a primary knife and it did all you could want a knife to do. It sharpened my pencils (when I was a house framer), cut banding straps, trimmed molding, cut sandwiches, stripped wire, and on an on. The CASE (although not the workman series) was up the job in spades. After getting some money together, I alternated it with a large CASE copperhead with a clip and spear blade.
I was finishing up a remodel I am working on last week and found some paint drips on a wall. I cut them flush as I always do, then slap a bit of paint over the place where the drip was, and off I go. When touching up a door frame, I pulled out my medium stockman to slice off a drip from a previous paint job, and couldn't cut if off. I worked on the drip, and finally heard an awful scraping noise. The "drip" was a small trim staple that hadn't been sunk when the door frame was made and had been painted several times. Needless to say, the stapled ruined the edge in the blade.
But... with two others left, I was still able to finish up the trim that day (sheepsfoot is my favorite for trim work) without any problem. Didn't miss a beat.
That being said, if I was opening mail, cutting some packing tape on occasion and cutting up an apple for lunch, I would probably be fine with any single bladed knife.
Part of my problem is that as a cutting tool, I don't like to use a knife when it is starting to get dull. So a fresh edge is a good thing for me.
Robert
I was finishing up a remodel I am working on last week and found some paint drips on a wall. I cut them flush as I always do, then slap a bit of paint over the place where the drip was, and off I go. When touching up a door frame, I pulled out my medium stockman to slice off a drip from a previous paint job, and couldn't cut if off. I worked on the drip, and finally heard an awful scraping noise. The "drip" was a small trim staple that hadn't been sunk when the door frame was made and had been painted several times. Needless to say, the stapled ruined the edge in the blade.
But... with two others left, I was still able to finish up the trim that day (sheepsfoot is my favorite for trim work) without any problem. Didn't miss a beat.
That being said, if I was opening mail, cutting some packing tape on occasion and cutting up an apple for lunch, I would probably be fine with any single bladed knife.
Part of my problem is that as a cutting tool, I don't like to use a knife when it is starting to get dull. So a fresh edge is a good thing for me.
Robert
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,529
The larger version ('Workman', as well as the large black-handled soddie) is only currently available in stainless. This may or may not be an issue for you, but something to consider.
I have both sizes myself. Lately, I've been carrying the smaller stainless one every day (2137 SS). The smaller versions are hollow-ground, vs flat-ground for the larger ones. Hollow grinds make for a very thin cutting edge, and very easy sharpening too. That thin, hollow-ground edge is a fantastic slicer, and I've been utilizing mine at meal time, for slicing tomatos and such. Really love it for that.
If you're considering getting a larger one, you might keep an eye on the 'auction site' for good deals. My 2138 SS was in 'new' condition when I found it there, but I paid about 1/2 of the usual dealer price for it. A lot of people turn these around very quick, as it's one of those knives that most people will either like a lot, or not at all. Thus the plethora of good deals to be had on them. You've already found that you like the style & simplicity of this pattern, so taking the plunge on a large one wouldn't likely be such a gamble.
I have both sizes myself. Lately, I've been carrying the smaller stainless one every day (2137 SS). The smaller versions are hollow-ground, vs flat-ground for the larger ones. Hollow grinds make for a very thin cutting edge, and very easy sharpening too. That thin, hollow-ground edge is a fantastic slicer, and I've been utilizing mine at meal time, for slicing tomatos and such. Really love it for that.
If you're considering getting a larger one, you might keep an eye on the 'auction site' for good deals. My 2138 SS was in 'new' condition when I found it there, but I paid about 1/2 of the usual dealer price for it. A lot of people turn these around very quick, as it's one of those knives that most people will either like a lot, or not at all. Thus the plethora of good deals to be had on them. You've already found that you like the style & simplicity of this pattern, so taking the plunge on a large one wouldn't likely be such a gamble.