have a sodbuster question

A

ahgar

Joined
Jan 4, 2005
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1,794
okay due to another members post and a friend coming by with one I now have to get a d%$# sodbuster. question is this does case stainless steel still suck???? I've looked around and all the sodbusters around here are SS. I've had bad luck with case SS in the past and I was just wondering if it has gotten better in the last few years. since i sweat like a pig {a big one} the ss would be nice with summer coming along, but i'd rather have good steel first. thanks for your help, ahgar

I'm not trying to start the great debate on cv vs ss i just need peoples experience with case ss. thanks again
 
It's not the horrable stuff some say it is, but its not very good either. You can do alot better hunting down one of the carbon sodbusters. There're available from Smoky Mountain Knifeworks where I got mine a year back. I got one of the yellow sodbusters in Case's CV, and thats really pretty good stuff. I think I paid something like 18.95 for it, plus 4.95 shipping.

I'm kind of queer over stockmen, (please don't take that wrong) but I felt I needed a sodbuster just because of the acient pattern. In one form or another the simple sodbuster design has been around as a working knife for hundreds of years. Then handle fills the hand well, and just fits nice in a fist for heavy cuts.

For a bit of rust resistance give the blade a patina, it will act like blueing on a gun. The old brown finish on muskets was just a controled rust finish. Wipe the blade down after use and its no problemo. Just think of all the seamens clasp knives in the old days of the sailing ships. Theres no more harsh environment for carbon steel than a salt water one.

You can use mustard (my choice) or stick it in a potato overnight. I'm told black coffee works well, but I end up drinking it.

Go ahead and let the blade stain, its supposed to do that. After a while carring for your blade will become second nature, and you will be rewarded with a knife with charater and a blade that gets that hair poping sharp like few stainless blades will. And it stays that way for alot of cutting.
 
thanks for the reply. I appreciate the tip about the mustard. the last knife I put a patina on was a schrade sharpfinger and I used the potato technique. worked pretty well. thanks again, ahgar
 
Sodbusters are great knives. www.ragweedforge.com sells ones from different makers.

I first learned of Sodbusters when I bought an old carbon one marked:
CZECKO
SLOVAKIA
on the blade. It has a really strong spring but the handle was quite dried out so I varnished it. Often thought it would be cool to get it re-handled using the same metal parts but I just don't have that kind of cash for a knife I don't carry.
 
You can put a pretty good edge on the Case stainless but you need to sharpen it a lot if you use it much. This has been my experience.
Greg
 
I like a heavy patina on my carbon steel blades and I use hot apple cider vinegar. I microwave a cup of it for about a minute and dip the blade in. it will take a heavy patina in just a few seconds and if left in for ten seconds or more you will have a black oxide blade. In any case, it wards off rust really well.
 
I have used the technique that longbeachguy outlined and it gets a quick and even coating. Don't forget to degrease before you get started, and wash the vinegar off in hot soapy water afterwards, dry and oil. Avoid getting vinegar in the hinge area.
 
thank you all for your help. I think i'm going to still try to find a cv bladed knife but if i can't then i'll go ahead and give the ss a try. worst that can happen is i'll have another knife box addition. thanks again, ahgar
 
Just curious, the knife at very left, is this one a socalled sodbuster?:confused: :)
http://www.messerforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=19915
the same knife open at top.
http://www.messerforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=19916
Sorry for my stupid questions, but I did not hear about Sodbusters or Harness Jacks before, over here in Germany!:D
Got an offer for a couple of these very old (but as new conditions) carbon steel knives in the pics but didn`t know what they are called in USA.:confused: :)
Thanks for any replies!:thumbup:
 
Wolfgang said:
Just curious, the knife at very left, is this one a socalled sodbuster?:confused: :)
http://www.messerforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=19915
the same knife open at top.
http://www.messerforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=19916
Sorry for my stupid questions, but I did not hear about Sodbusters or Harness Jacks before, over here in Germany!:D
Got an offer for a couple of these very old (but as new conditions) carbon steel knives in the pics but didn`t know what they are called in USA.:confused: :)
Thanks for any replies!:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Not a stupid question at all Wolfgang. Yes the one on the left/top would be considered a sodbuster. I'd be pressed to know the pattern of the last three knives. I guess the locking piece on the one, and the corkscrews on the others kind of throws me off. It's only a stupid question if you don't ask it.
 
Thanks a lot, Amos Iron Wolf !:thumbup:

These are the Klaas (Kissing Cranes) knives that I got the offer for! When I got the answer when they were produced and a good price quote, I`ll buy a couple of each!;) :D

Greets,

Ludi
 
Wolfgang (or anyone else who knows), since I have read that the design started out in Germany, I was wondering what they are called in German. Is there a German name for the type?
 
Sorry Bartleby,

as they are not that common those days I`ve NO glue how they are called or what the former designation was!?:confused: :D
But what I DO know is, they are real workhorses! ;) The carbonsteel blades are getting scary sharp and hold a decent edge!:thumbup:
 
Wolfgang, Robert Klass Kissing Cranes :thumbup:

My dad carried a congress pattern RKKC for a long time. Among other things he had been a machinist and a Sr Tool Designer. He thought very highly of Kissing Cranes. The used, but well cared for Congress, which he passed to me, and I to my son was a beautifully made knife.
 
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