Is a sodbuster still a sodbuster if...

kamagong

kamagong

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2001
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10,940
...it's a lockback?

I'm asking because I recently picked up a J.A. Henckels locking sodbuster. It's a pretty nice knife considering that it's what jackknife calls a "peasant knife." Good fit and finish, nice wood scales (walnut I think), and a flat ground carbon steel blade that should sharpen up nicely.

henckelssodbuster1ro0.jpg


henckelssodbuster2hg9.jpg


Henckels next to medium-sized Brown Mule
sodbustersdm2.jpg


Still, almost every sodbuster I've seen is a slipjoint. Does a sodbuster have to be a slipjoint? Or is the shape of the blade the determining factor?
 
I'm not expert but I would guess that the name applies more to the shape and design than the fact that its a slipjoint.

Either way, I'm going to have to add that to my to buy list since I love soddies.
 
That's a good looking knife! :thumbup:

It seems like I've seen a locking sodbuster somewhere else before, in addition to the Eye Brand one. Otter-messer has a version with a bolster on it, but I'm not sure if that's still a sodbuster.
 
That's a darn fine knife no matter what you call it. I call it a locking sodbuster.

A sodbuster is, in my opinion, more a reference to the shape and simple construction of a working knife. Lock or no lock, a sodbuster is unmistakable in profile.

The term peasants knife comes from the roots of the sodbuster type of knife, from central Europe. It was a popular pattern among field hands, tradesmen, and general working class. The pattern goes back hundred of years, so its very well established as a "traditional" pattern. It was brought to this country durring the great influx of immigrants in the late 1800's.

I don't know if thats walnut though. It looks more South American hardwood with that grain. Rosewood or cocoabolo or such.

Very nice knife.:thumbup:
 
jackknife said:
...
The term peasants knife comes from the roots of the sodbuster type of knife, from central Europe. It was a popular pattern among field hands, tradesmen, and general working class. The pattern goes back hundred of years, so its very well established as a "traditional" pattern. It was brought to this country durring the great influx of immigrants in the late 1800's.
...
Click to expand...

Opinel knives are a good example
 
jackknife said:
I call it a locking sodbuster.

A sodbuster is, in my opinion, more a reference to the shape and simple construction of a working knife. Lock or no lock, a sodbuster is unmistakable in profile.
Click to expand...

Good enough for me! :D. (for what little that is worth)
 
Crap. I put my Soddie away after realizing I had lost any appeal for it. However, this thread has reignited my desire to carry one, so I'm going into my room to grab it and stick it in my pocket.
 
Ok, it's in my pocket. No Peanut, but I'll carry it again and see if it will re-grow on me. It IS a very good working knife. Maybe I'll use it for that, work. When I'm off I'll switch back to my Peanut.
 
Yosemite Sam said:
Nice knife!

Care to share where you found it?

-- Sam
Click to expand...

Thanks. I found it fishing in the 'Bay. Unfortunately the seller said that this model was discontinued.

You might get lucky though. The seller also said that this knife had walnut scales. He might've been wrong more than once.
 
Verry Nice!

I'm with cerulean, I'm sure I've seen another lockback soddie somewhere... I'll have to scour the dealers I browse to see if I find it...

There are some liner lock sodbusters floating around too, but I forget by who..

G.
 
I seem to remember a Case linerlock sodbuster from when I was younger. I'm 62 now, so we're probably talking 45-50 years ago. Anyone know anything about these?
 
I had a yellow Case Sodbuster linerlock about fifteen years ago. I think it was made in the eighties, but I don't really remember. I let some fool talk me out of it, but since then I realized he wasn't the biggest fool in the room.

If anyone has the pattern number handy for the big Sodbuster, I think you just put an "L" after the pattern number and that's the number for the linerlock. IIRC.
 
German Eye makes some--- here is a copy of the pattern number----German Eye GE99YL. It does have an L at the end as Wirebender said. There are a couple on this website for you to look at. One yellow and one stag. http://www.jaysknives.com/germaneyeknives.htm
 
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