Large Flat Ground Sodbusters?

[Jack Black]

Wasn't this big beast flat-ground Trev, I can't remember now?

If you go for a Sodbuster, will you drop the point or leave as is Dave?

Be interested to see how you get on with this...particularly if it means your Opinel going in the sock-drawer!

 

[pinnah]

@Trev: I can pocket carry the 500 very comfortably. I find I can deal with the weight if the knife is thin enough. But if the knife is bulky (like the Opinel #9) then it needs to be light. I can't pocket carry the Buck 112, or even the Ecolite 112. They are both bulky in girth and too heavy (and the Ecolite was frankly, too frail).

@Jack: I would be happy to have a 3rd knife in the EDC rotation to join the Opinel #9 and Buck 500. I just can't see the Opinel going to the sock drawer. More on that latter though. As for the tip, who knows. I have figgitty fingers and a goodly selection of files so...

@OWE: Dave, thanks again for the side by each shots. Super, super helpful.

@Lycosa: Almost persuaded on the AG Russel. Something not quite Sodbuster about it though...


For anybody willing to comment, I'm guessing the Case, GEC and Eye Brand large soddies are all about the same width in hand?

 

[Lycosa]

Yes, the Cowboy is a shadow pattern but it's thin and has lots of blade in that handle.
I love my Bullnose and Bullbuster but there's just something about the Case soddie. At this time, my B&S Yellow G10 is my Case.

 

[NJBillK]

Gec sodbuster is available in 01 if you don't want cv or 1095. 01 should hold an edge longer than either of them.

 

[trevytrev]

Wasn't this big beast flat-ground Trev, I can't remember now?

If you go for a Sodbuster, will you drop the point or leave as is Dave?

Be interested to see how you get on with this...particularly if it means your Opinel going in the sock-drawer!

Definitely flat ground Jack! It's pretty beefy! Great knife!

So looking through mine, the Moore Maker Large Yellow bone sodbuster is a thinner profile and would pocket carry nicely. Also, Lowen Messer makes a few sodbusters that are larger, have wood handles that are thinner and are nice slicers.

 

[trevytrev]

Wasn't this big beast flat-ground Trev, I can't remember now?

If you go for a Sodbuster, will you drop the point or leave as is Dave?

Be interested to see how you get on with this...particularly if it means your Opinel going in the sock-drawer!

Definitely flat ground Jack! It's pretty beefy! Great knife!

So looking through mine, the Moore Maker Large Yellow bone sodbuster is a thinner profile and would pocket carry nicely. Also, Lowen Messer makes a few sodbusters that are larger, have wood handles that are thinner and are nice slicers.

 

[Jack Black]

@Jack: I would be happy to have a 3rd knife in the EDC rotation to join the Opinel #9 and Buck 500. I just can't see the Opinel going to the sock drawer. More on that latter though. As for the tip, who knows. I have figgitty fingers and a goodly selection of files so...

I look forward to following your Sodbuster adventures my friend, your posts are always interesting and insightful

Definitely flat ground Jack! It's pretty beefy! Great knife!

Thanks Trev, I have the memory of a carrot these days! I do like this pattern, and always enjoy seeing your collection, and your enthusiasm for it. Those are nice Otters, the large one looks pretty beefyy :thumbup:

 

[trevytrev]

Thanks Jack, I must have linked the wrong photos...oops! The Otters are beefy, I meant to link these photos, the Lowen Messer is the one on the right. I guess it was late Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

@Trev: I can pocket carry the 500 very comfortably. I find I can deal with the weight if the knife is thin enough. But if the knife is bulky (like the Opinel #9) then it needs to be light. I can't pocket carry the Buck 112, or even the Ecolite 112. They are both bulky in girth and too heavy (and the Ecolite was frankly, too frail).

@Jack: I would be happy to have a 3rd knife in the EDC rotation to join the Opinel #9 and Buck 500. I just can't see the Opinel going to the sock drawer. More on that latter though. As for the tip, who knows. I have figgitty fingers and a goodly selection of files so...

@OWE: Dave, thanks again for the side by each shots. Super, super helpful.

@Lycosa: Almost persuaded on the AG Russel. Something not quite Sodbuster about it though...


For anybody willing to comment, I'm guessing the Case, GEC and Eye Brand large soddies are all about the same width in hand?

Regarding the Eye Brand, their yellow synthetic-handled version is quite thin, as compared to the Case (and I assume the GEC, though I don't have one). Eye's handles on it are flat, instead of rounded/radiused like the Case; so, it's also an easy back-pocket carry. If you can find them, the 'Bulldog' line of soddies are built to the exact same pattern as the Eye Brand(probably in the same factory as well), though they're fancier, with choice of red, green or bright yellow (& maybe black) handles and all-polished blade w/matchstrike pull & 'Bulldog' blade etching and tang stamps.

Eye Brand also has a dark/black wood-handled version, and it seems to be rounder & thicker, more like the Case handles.


David

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack, I must have linked the wrong photos...oops! The Otters are beefy, I meant to link these photos, the Lowen Messer is the one on the right. I guess it was late Thanks for pointing that out!

LOL! :thumbup: The Lowen Messer IS a beast! Great line-up my friend, some real nice ones

 

[coffeecup]

I'm primarily interested in strength of the pivot and the quality of the steel and don't care one bit on fit and finish. I currently trust no folding knife more than my Opinel #9 in terms of standing up to hard cutting and strong lateral forces on the joint. Much stronger than my Buck, Schrade and other lockbacks. Stronger than all traditional slip joints too. Any comments along that line would be helpful. I want something as strong or stronger than my Opinel.

My understanding is that the Case "flat grind" is more truly a very high and shallow hollow grind, is that true? Could just be internutz jabber.

Any comments on the AG Russel 8Cr13MoV or the Eye Brand hammer forced carbon steel would be welcome. Both new steels for me.

I have some serious working experience (chopping brush, butchering, rough carving, general farm chores, etc) with three of the knives mentioned: AG Russell, Case, and GEC. I've not managed to noticeably loosen the joints on any.

The AG Russell was a nice knife--very pocketable. The thinness was a problem when in the hand for very long (more than a few minutes). The steel was hard enough to hold an edge well, but I was always worried it was "too hard"--particularly when chopping brush. For some tasks (cutting rawhide thongs for braiding comes to mind), I would have preferred it to be a little thinner.

I managed to chip the edge on the GEC while chopping brush; after raising the angle of the edge grind and having it happen again, I threw the knife away. It held an edge very nicely, but was just too hard for rough use.

The Case is a nice balance between pocketability and comfort while holding it in the hand for a long time. Blade hardness/edgeholding is very similar to an Opinel. It held up well to chopping brush, but the edge needed touched up occasionally when butchering.

I don't believe in a "rotation"; I carry the same basic group of knives from day to day, and add others as needed. Unless there is a reason not to (going to court, carrying a fixed-blade hunting knife, etc), I usually have the Case sodbuster in one pocket or another. (Mine is an older 2138 in carbon steel, I got an older one in order to avoid the yellow handles on current production.)

 

[pinnah]

CoffeeCup, thanks for the helpful review

 

[Bigfattyt]

The only Sodbuster pattern I have is the large AG Russell in black rucarta. It's a great knife for the price. Very well finished.

Stout, but light.

I am very tempted by the yellow, and especially the rosewood.