I really like the sodbuster style, but I like my knives to have some sort of lock. It seems like there aren't very many out there. Any recommendations? For starters, I was looking at the Boker Plus Sodbuster Junior, and the Robert Klaas Sodbuster Lockback. Any reviews on either of those? Right now I'm looking to get something relatively inexpensive to see how I like the style before getting something better/more expensive.
If the request was for a lock
ring Trapper, I would immediately think of Opinel, the company that really established and legitimized the lock ring design.
In the same way, I can't think of lock
back anything without immediately thinking of Buck, the company that really established and legitimized the lock back design.
One aspect of the sodbuster's traditional design is the use of light, durable and easy to clean synthetic scales. Along this vein, you might also consider the Buck Ecolite 110 and 112, which uses a "Paperstone" scale material, which is supposedly more environmentally friendly than Micarta. Here is the 112 in green.
I normally don't care for clip point blades and despite loving the knife for hunting, I've never liked the clip blade profile on the Buck 110. Oddly, I've grown to accept and even like the looks of the clip blade on the 112. I just sort of works better when combined with the shape of the 112 handle.
As you consider "nicer" variants, there is a huge amount of Buck customization and really the sky's the limit in terms of getting whatever you want as a variation on the theme. Moving more towards the butcher's style blade on the classic sodbuster, here is a customized Ecolite 112 with a drop point blade in it. This was done by a member of the Buck sub-forum. I think Buck should put this baby into production and if you do too, I'd advocate contacting them.
Full thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...perstone-Ranger-)?highlight=drop+point+ranger
As light and easy care as the Ecolites are, imo, there's just something about the brass bolsters of the classic 110s and 112s. I personally think the 112 is among the most beautiful production knives ever. IMO, you really need to hold one to appreciate the curve of the front bolster and the proportions of the whole design.
I mention this only to say that the 112 frame can be customized to make just about any "nicer" vision that you could dream up.
(just my thought).
