how tough are slip-joints?

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engle's-wilder

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Nov 18, 2010
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I've been looking into Boker Sodbusters particularly for the carbon blade. I like what I've heard about them, but I'm not sure about slipjoints, I haven't had good experience with them so are Boker Sodbusters gonna be different? will they hold up well? Is a slipjoint strong? Are liner locks better or lockbacks in strength comparisons?
 
What slipjoints have you had a bad experience with?

The big companies that put them out are generally great.
 
Wow, there are a lot of variables, examples of slip joints to give 1 definitive answer. First though, a true slipjoint has neither a liner nor lockback even though many traditional styles have incorporated some sort of lock.

I have 60-70 slippies and they vary greatly as far as "toughness" and the amount of pressure it takes to close them. I have an old Kissing Crane Sodbuster that I'd trust for 90% of what I do with my locking knives. I also have some that I wouldn't do much more than cut an apple. Folks tend to like a nice medium most of the time. They are a lot of fun and the styles are endless. What do you want to do with the knife?

This German Soddie is one tough SOB!

sod2.jpg
 
I had a swiss army knife that really disappointed me... basically worked itself loose within 5 hours of use. All I used it for was some light stick carving work and the internals basically puked themselves out fell all over the place. Needless to say I threw the thing away. So I'm not sure if I got a lemon or just the wrong type of knife...
 
Traditional slip-joints are meant to be used as cutting tools. Kept sharp a good slippie will slice neatly through most anything you want to cut that can be properly cut with a knife. Often better than a fat blade in fact. However, if you want to pry, force, beat, and twist a blade around then they aren't the best choice for that. Better a heavy fixed blade.

Used smartly a slippie can do plenty. Problem is most people don't use them smart. So it really depends on how you will use them and to do what.

Haven't used the Boker Soddies, I assume you mean the Arbolito line made in Argentina. I do have a fixed blade in that line that is fine, but 440A steel. I like it well enough.

A good Case Sodbuster or Sodbuster Jr (my preference) in either CV or Tru-sharp will do a lot of work as a knife. Sucks as a pry bar, can opener, or heavy chopper. But you can use good cutting technique and cut saplings down or any number of things.

Used properly any decent slip-joint, and a lot of less than perfect ones will give a long, safe service life. Used wrong they'll break and cut ya, sometimes at the same time.

As always, depends on what you want to to and what you mean by tough.

<Slipping back to the traditional sub-forum again>
Amos
 
engle's-wilder said:
I had a swiss army knife that really disappointed me... basically worked itself loose within 5 hours of use.
Click to expand...
You must have really got a lemon. I've got many many Swiss Army knives, mostly Victorinox, and they are very tough and hold up quite well even under hard use for years! :thumbup:
 
I would basically just carry it everywhere. Hiking as a back up to my tomahawk and to perform light camp chores, box cutting when I get home light yard work... I like to carve a little, nothing grand, but I'd like to be able to make snares with it at least... would the sodbuster do these things moderately well, how thick is it?
 
Wow. I used to use a Swiss Army Champ to make walking sticks. I'd have to sharpen it more than say a CV or 1095 blade, but it worked well. I've used it to beat battery terminals back onto car batteries and all kinds of stuff. Used the pliers beyond where they should have been torqued. Just cause I said you have to use it right, doesn't mean I haven't used mine hard. Especially when it's the only took I had on hand.

Sounds like you got a lemon.

Bigmo66, I have all three sizes of those Brown Mules. Mine are like yours, HEAVY springs! If you fold that one closed on you it was operator headspace and timing for sure.

Use the soddie for cutting and the hawk for anything heavy and you should be good. I love a tomahawk. Handy things. I used mine for rough shaping and trimming down walking sticks, then the Swiss Champ for finish work. Used the saw on the SAK a lot too.

You may look into stockman pattern as well. Keep one of the smaller blades with a fine edge for precise, light cutting, and a general edge on the full sized clip. Three different blade shapes to fit different needs. Though I did find out the hard way that the old, US made Old Timers are quick to break off a tip if you do something young and dump like try to pry a .22 bullet out of a tree. :o

Along with a soddie you might look at a Green River fixed blade as a companion to your hawk. Mountainy men carried and used em plenty.

Good luck. Drop on over to the Traditional sub-forum and you can really get overloaded with opinions. ;)
 
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if you use them correctly, your grandad and likely his got by just fine with them, right tool for the job, no prying, etc.
i really like my CV soddie ive used it for everything from whittling and food prep to scraping paint, gum off the kitchen floor and yardwork! clean between activities of course!
mines been a peach and it was a steal too!
good luck
gene
heres mine and what it looked like a few years ago
soddie.jpg
 
Sounds like he bought what he thought was a SAK (Swiss Army Knife) and got a cheap knock-off instead. Just because it has a lot of different tools and a red handle with a cool emblem doesn't make it a Swiss Army Knife. A SAK isn't a generic term and is a slipjoint knife built by a specific maker. Usually Victornox or Wenger. Great knives. A lot of folks still call a single blade slipjoint a "Buck Knife" when they couldn't be further from the truth. Like I said, it isn't a generic term.
Greg
 
I carried a Buck Muskrat slip joint for over 20 years. Hammered it through nails and pennies. Broke the tip off of the main blade throwing it. Sharpened it so much the blades are only half of their original thickness. It took a razor edge easily and held it even when cutting carpet or old tires. When it got a little loose I just put it between two pieces of wood and hit it with a hammer to tighten it back up. I had this knife since I was 10 and did nothing but abuse it. I still have it, it is still a great knife. Don't carry it as I can't get it open easily anymore due to "weather beaten" hands. I now only carry one handed openers or fixed blades. Of all the knives I own this little Buck Muskrat has seen more carry time and more abuse than any folder I have ever carried. I would still be carrying it if I my hands would comply.
 
engle's-wilder said:
I had a swiss army knife that really disappointed me... basically worked itself loose within 5 hours of use. All I used it for was some light stick carving work and the internals basically puked themselves out fell all over the place. Needless to say I threw the thing away. So I'm not sure if I got a lemon or just the wrong type of knife...
Click to expand...

I would suggest spending $10 and getting a Mora HighQ Allround Carbon - there's no way one of those would fail during light stick carving work. Their tangs go a good 2/3rds of the way into the handle and it is a good comfortable handle too. You'd be amazed at how much better the scandi grind is for carving wood.

I'd still carry a Victorinox SAK as well though, but my experience has been nothing but excellent with Victorinox.
 
The top one in this picture was made some time before 1913.

I still carry it on occasions. (and no I am not that old! :D).

It has held up quite well for around 100 years. ;)

ElectricCamilus.jpg
 
I don't think it's a lemon. Very likely a fake SAK. The consistency in fit & finish of Victorinox is almost at the top of achievement any manufacturer can do. Not sure about Wenger, they used to have weak backspring, but it was before Victorinox acquired them. The recent Wenger looks great & has more variety, but I haven't hd one.

I got Spartan, Spartan Lite, OHT Bundeswehr, and OH Sentinel. Even with lemon (I think the Sentinel is a lemon - it doesn't hold the edge that well), a Victorinox won't fall apart just by using it to cut.
 
Chris "Anagarika";9097241 said:
I don't think it's a lemon. Very likely a fake SAK. The consistency in fit & finish of Victorinox is almost at the top of achievement any manufacturer can do. Not sure about Wenger, they used to have weak backspring, but it was before Victorinox acquired them. The recent Wenger looks great & has more variety, but I haven't hd one.

I got Spartan, Spartan Lite, OHT Bundeswehr, and OH Sentinel. Even with lemon (I think the Sentinel is a lemon - it doesn't hold the edge that well), a Victorinox won't fall apart just by using it to cut.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that. Even a Vic. that (not that i've ever had one) with poor fit and finish would likely still last many years, not hours...
 
Slipjoints aren't tough at all. Every slipjoint I've ever owned has failed a spine-whack test.:thumbdn:
 
so it sounds like I had a knock-off... I'm not really sure to be honest with you all. I had t for so short a time and threw it away once broken. I did like how many tools it had. Extremely Useful!! If it will hold up. So, would a vitorinox hold up as well as a sodbuster? I just want something that will do carving at the most (I'm not gonna be batonning or any sort of prying with it). I want a useful tool. what will hold up and serve me best and be convenient to carry in my pocket (svords are great and strong, but not really portable ya' know)
 
oh, and I really really really prefer carbon steel over stainless . . . REALLY prefer it!!! Is there anything with a carbon blade and a saw on it?
 
I believe one of the old Schrade USA Old Timer or Uncle Henry models had a saw on it. I've got one of the stockman patterns and love it. They are carbon steel and take a nice edge. You can find lots of vintage ones on the evil bay and still at a reasonable price (although they seem to be going up). I think the new ones are made overseas. Here's a couple pics when mine was new. It's taking a nice patina now :)

DSC01473.jpg


Don't give up on Swiss Army Knives either! Get the real deal and I'm sure you'll be pleased. Victorinox SAKs are great. If you want something a little more robust, take a look at the Pioneer series alox knives. The Farmer model has a saw on it. They are stainless but very handy and plenty sturdy.
DSC01500.jpg
 
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