Mini Sodbuster

B

billym

Joined
Jan 8, 2006
Messages
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I have been using a SS Sodbuster JR to do some rough work on some carving projects. Once again the pattern excels and carves through the birch I am working on with ease. As we know Sodbusters are a great sturdy versatile pattern.
Now I wish there was a "mini/tiny" version for when I want to carry a smaller knife.
 
I don't know of a mini sodbuster but the new Case Jigged bone and Carbon fiber are so light and thin they pocket carry very nicely. If you need much smaller in size overall, the Buck 505(knight) is very similar to a Sodbuster design but with a lockback and it's 2 3/4 inches closed. It's tiny, rides well and does most small task well.
 
Might look at one of the smaller Opinels, maybe size 6 or lower. In terms of rugged functionality and simple but elegant ergonomics, that's about as close as can be.

Buck knives used to have what they called the 'BUCK-LITE' series, with Zytel handles (normally black, but might've been in orange or some other color). Very light-weight lockback patterns with thin drop-point blades. One of this series was a tiny one with a skeletonized handle (virtually weightless), and may also fill that 'niche'. I have one of the Buck-Lite 'medium' sized knives that's about the same size as the Jr. Sod Buster, and it's a great little slicer, with a blade profile that's very similar to the thin hollow profile on the Jr. Soddie. Perfect apple-slicing knife. :)


David
 
Another thought:

Might also look into the smaller sodbuster patterns from German Eye Brand (Carl Schlieper). Roughly same in length, but their tan/yellow synthetic handles are thinner & flatter, and ride very well in the pocket (even their larger one is great in the back pocket, due to the thin handles). There's an upscale line from Bulldog as well, based identically on the Eye pattern knives and made in the same factory; but they're more highly finished, with polished & etched blades and red/green/yellow color choice for the handles. Those may be a little harder to find, and maybe pricier; but they're worth checking out.

Eye Brand also has them in wood handles, but I think those are fuller/thicker, much more similar to the Case. Eye Brand's carbon steel blades are excellent, BTW.


David
 
I was mostly wishing out loud that Case would come out with one.
Opinels I have plenty of. They are great but I love the feel of the Sod Jr. I have never compared the sizes of other makers, I will keep an eye out.
 
Have a look at the examples posted by member 'trevytrev' in his great thread here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/970292-Sodbuster-and-lots-of-them!

In particular, see the small 'Brown Mule' pictured at the bottom of this lineup below (pic from his thread). Looks like it's noticeably smaller than the Case, as seen at the top. That might the closest possibility:
i-4DGbpV2-L.jpg


He also shows examples of the Eye & Bulldog knives, in the same post (#1) of his linked thread.


David
 
^^^ Those Brown Mules aren't half bad, they come in several different sizes, and the steel is alright, even though I don't know what it is. Nothing extraordinary, but a solid working knife. If you're OCD about small things then they're not good choice, they're pretty rough, but not too terrible, I really like mine.
 
I saw a "HEN & ROOSTER POLISHED STAG SOD BUSTER JR. KNIFEHEN & ROOSTER POLISHED STAG SOD BUSTER JR. KNIFE " at ebay which is closed 3 1/4 ", what they say. May be it is small enough for you.
 
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