NoNameNomad...
I have a Red Neck Bull Nose and a Case CV Sodbuster Jr. I'm very happy with the quality of the GEC, and extremely disappointed with my Case.
Now, the Case is not meant to be a show piece with perfect fit and finish; it's meant to be a cheap, hardworking knife. And I'm certain that I got a "lemon", and that most any other example won't be as bad as mine. Severe blade wobble, uneven handles, and the spring pin has rotated around and sticks out since the rounding is no longer flush.
Comparatively, the fit and finish on the GEC is great. The handles aren't 100% even either, but they're way better than the Case. No blade wobble. The half-stop adds a sense of refinement, as does the subtle swedge on the blade. IMO the O-1 tool steel is a lot better than the CV on the Case. While there's nothing "wrong" with CV, it's very soft. That makes it easy to sharpen, but it doesn't hold an edge nearly as long as the O-1, and I have no problem sharpening O-1. The only thing I prefer about the Case over the GEC F&F line is that the spring and liners on the GECs is not stainless steel. That means they'll tarnish/spot/rust just like the blade...and even easier than the blade, since your sweaty hands will be all over it. A patina'd blade is one thing, but I don't like rusty handles. YMMV of course.
Apart from those differences, the other obvious difference is the price. The GEC is about double the price of the Case. Some balk at the price of the price of the GEC, as they're used to the cheap price of Cases (and others), and consider a sodbuster to be a "throwaway" knife for hard, dirty work. But IMO, if you're only looking for a simple, hardworking knife that you can use (and maybe abuse) without feeling guilty, the GEC is still a great choice at its price. Just don't think of it as a "throwaway", because it'll last longer than that. The GEC costs twice as much, but even if I had received a perfect Case CV Sodbuster Jr, I'd consider the GEC twice the knife as the Case.
Despite all that I've said, I'm not trying to steer you away from the Case and towards the GEC. I said all that so that you'd think about what you're wanting a sodbuster for. If you're looking for something to keep in the garage to bust up cardboard boxes, or to dig weeds out of your garden, or to use and abuse until it's time to buy another one, go with the Case. But if you're something you expect to last a long time, even with hard use (but not abuse), go with the GEC and I think you'll be happier in the long run. After all, we're only talking about a $25 difference. I don't like to think of a sodbuster as a "throwaway", but I do think of it as a knife I'd rather use for certain work instead of a more expensive knife (traditional or modern), and the $50 price doesn't bother me. Now, granted, I don't really carry my GEC sodbuster much, but instead I carry one of its brothers, a Hayn' Helper sheepsfoot, but the principle is the same. If Case made a similar model, I'd be certain I'd prefer the GEC for its better quality and refinement.
And then of course, you can always get both. Get a GEC, and use it for things you don't want to subject your other, presumably more expensive EDC for. Enjoy its quality and refinement. But get a Case sb Jr as well, for those times where you don't want to risk damaging your GEC doing something that might damage the fine edge you put on its O-1 steel.
