Help me pick a traditional!

^^^^ I agree. Boker knives are cheaper but nice blades, a really good way to jump back into the traditional side of things. Good luck with whatever you choose :D
 
AntDog said:
I'm used to a 4" plus handle. I have pretty big hands, so some of them seem a little smallish. ... do you fellas have any suggestions that are a little toward the larger end of the spectrum?
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GEC's Dixie #82 Stockman is 4 1/4" closed. Worth considering if you're a big-knife guy. Also check out the GECs on the 4 1/8" no. 53 frame. And then there's always the venerable 4 1/8" Case Trapper, which they make in carbon/CV steel with various handle options.

Good luck deciding. And do be sure to let us know what you end up with and how you like 'em. ;)

-- Mark
 
If you're using 4" as a minimum then GEC's #12 Toothpick is 4". Others not mentioned are the #42 and #65 at 4 1/4" and 4 1/2" closed. Since its close to your minimum and its one of my favorites, I'll also suggest a GEC #48 at 3 7/8" closed.

And since everyone needs at least one honkin' huge knife, ;), what about a #45 Lumberjack at 4 3/8" closed. It's definitely a handful.
 
Wow that #45 is HUGE! I watched a YouTube video of it.... That really IS a honkin' huge knife!

I'm still sorting through all of the suggestions fellas. I'm narrowing it down, but I'm in no rush. I will definitely let you all know what I pick, and I'll even post some terrible pictures of it when I get it in hand.

Thank you all for the suggestions, and please feel free to add more.
 
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If I were you I'd wait for the new sodbusters from gec that are going to come in nicer materials like bone and wood.

Otherwise I think of the the lockback patterns like the 23, 73 would be good for you if you like bigger handles and actually use the knives hard outdoors.
 
Check out a 70s rosewood script 701 buck square bolster. That's the cream of the crop. 440C steel nice and classy but tough as nails.
 
Well, I have decided to get one of the F&F Bullnose knives for sure, but I still want something else.... I'm thinking something with bone or stag. I just love the looks of them. I may just wait for the new Bullnoses with bone or stag handles...I'm still looking at a lot of different brands and models. I'll narrow it down to one or two eventually!

In the meantime I ordered a Case Sodbuster just because I missed the one I used to have. I got the yellow delrin handle with the CV blade. Large size. The one I used to have had a black handle but I seem to have lost it. I've handled the yellow ones before and I like the looks of them.

I will be sure to post pictures of the Case when it gets here. Should be pretty soon... And I'll post pics of the others when I get them.

Thank you for the suggestions and guidance everyone.
 
I got my Case Sodbuster in today's mail. Fit and finish is as well as one could expect for a $25 knife... Some small gaps here and there, corners on the handle completely asymmetrical, etc., but none of that bothers me. Just adds to the charm! Walk and talk is great, blade centered when closed, no play.....

What does bother me is that when the knife is open, the back spring sticks up about 1/2 a mm higher than the handle. It's raised up noticeably higher than the rest of the handle until about halfway down it. I know it's not much, but it sticks up just far enough to bother me. It's not just something a fingernail can catch on either.... It sticks up quite a bit for something like this.

Anybody know how I can fix it? Can I shave a little off the mating surface of the tang (where it meets the spring when open), or should I open the knife and plane the spring flat with the rest of the handle? Which would be the better approach? I was thinking if I shaved the spring flush with the handle while open, the spring might be sunk in while closed. That really wouldn't bother me as much as when it's open though.

To me, it's not really worth sending it back to Case. They might just say "it's in spec" and send it back anyway. I don't mind working on my own knives to make them better. I sort of expected better from Case though. Even on one of their cheaper knives.

I'm sure you fellas have run into this problem before, so how do you handle it?
 
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I guess I should ask: are all Case sodbusters this way? Is the lock spring slightly raised above the handle when the blade is open? Or are they typically flush with the handle?
 
I guess photos would be helpful!

Whoops - end of handle:



Gap between brass and spring:



This is where the lock sticks up when the blade is open:



 
My feeling is those aren't deal breaker faults on a knife that price. If I'd ordered one through the post from Case, Boker etc I'd be expecting some faults like that. I's not an expensive knife.

I'll be honest, If I lived in the US and wanted a Case Soddie I'd go to a store and pick one out. It's a bit of a lottery at that price range.

Sam
 
Mine has a gap like yours, but about half as bad. The spring also rides a bit high like yours, but again not nearly as bad. I had to look pretty good to see that the spring was high. Mine is symmetrical from the end, not sure what happened to yours there. I don't really have advise for you on what you should do. If it were mine I'd use it, but for what I use my sodbuster for those things wouldn't bother me. My sodbuster is used mostly for hard and dirty tasks, so I'm usually wearing gloves or my hands are so covered in filth that I wouldn't notice the differences during use anyways. You might have different plans for your soddie, so your circumstances may be very different. If I got a trapper or stockman that looked like that I'd be sending it back.

I do have a problem with the viewpoint that a knife at that price point shouldn't be expected to be better. Rough Rider can do better with a multi-blade knife at half that price. Furthermore, Case isn't marketing themselves as a working man's knife. When I go to their website I see:

"Every knife is hand crafted by the most skilled artisans and cutlers in the business."
"Case knives are cherished possessions passed down through generations"
"Case knives are the most collected knives in the world."
"Case is dedicated to making the everyday tool into a valuable treasure for discerning men and women who want more than just a knife."
"With over a century of experience, we know how to make a premium pocketknife."

Nowhere do they say "We provide knives at different levels of quality to fit your budget." or "We make knives that are functional, and sometimes they look good too." I'd use your knife, and be happy doing so. However, I wouldn't consider it a valuable treasure for discerning men and women or a premium pocketknife. I understand that there's going to be products that slip through the cracks in any field, but looking over the Case display at the hardware store yesterday it was clear to me that they're putting out anything so long as it doesn't affect function. There is a big disconnect between their marketing and their quality control. If a company claims to employ the most skilled artisans, it's not unreasonable to expect a consistent quality in their product. I love my yellow CV Sodbuster Jr., but I consider that more a matter of luck than an indication of the quality I can expect from any other Case I happen upon.

These are just my opinions. I don't mean to offend anybody. I know that there are Case fans here, and I'm sure that you've had great experiences with Case knives. I have too. I'm merely sharing my opinion because the OP is asking for our opinions. My opinion is that if you're looking for a consistently quality knife you're better off going with another manufacturer. Case has premium marketing, but mediocre quality control. You might get lucky and get a near perfect specimen, but you're just as likely to get a knife that leaves you feeling unsatisfied.
 
Thanks very much! I don't mind working on it. Maybe I'll just keep it and work on the handle a bit with some sandpaper, and try to work on the spring. I'm guessing if I sand a little off the mating surface of the tang (a little at a time, so I don't go too far) I could maybe reduce how far the spring sticks out.

I'm not totally disgusted with it, but that spring just made me shake my head and think "how did this get through QC?"
 
AntDog said:
Are they better or something?
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A. G. Russell carries a lot of brands. If he sells it, it’s guaranteed 100% satisfaction or your money back.

Everything with the A. G. Russell brand has good quality control. People often buy his seconds, and can’t spot the flaw.

If I wanted a big sodbuster pattern I’d get one of these. http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-cowboy-and-rancher/p/RUShhhCX12RW/ He also has them with yellow Delrin and ebony rucatta—read micarta—grips. http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-cowboy-pocket-knives/p/RUShhhCX12ER/

I wouldn't recommend one to you because of the stainless blade.
 
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Cory Hess said:
I understand that there's going to be products that slip through the cracks in any field, but looking over the Case display at the hardware store yesterday it was clear to me that they're putting out anything so long as it doesn't affect function. There is a big disconnect between their marketing and their quality control. If a company claims to employ the most skilled artisans, it's not unreasonable to expect a consistent quality in their product.
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Powerful point. I too am a Case fan. Fact of the matter, though, is that I can't imagine a similarly flawed 71 Bullnose Sodbuster leaving the GEC factory.

-- Mark
 
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