Opinel or Sodbuster?

B

Bartleby

Joined
Oct 28, 2005
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Looking at some of the recent posts here, I started wondering about everyone's opinion on these bargin priced knives. Both are single bladed work knives. Both are available in carbon or stainless. Both are available in regular or junior size (of course the Opie can be fitted like a pair of shoes). So which of the two do you prefer, and why?
 
Well, Bartleby, I've carried both many times, and I now prefer the Sodbuster. I'm currently carrying a Case Yellow CV, and it's unobtrusive in the pocket, nice and light, and holds a good edge for me. I should add I also carry a Kershaw Leek, for quick opening, and a locking blade. But mostly I go for the old Soddie to do almost everything.
When I carried the Opie, I always marveled at how well that thin blade sliced, held an edge, and sharpened so easily, but I've grown to like a knife that has no "barbs"! The metal end of the Opie is just not as comfortable as the Soddie (after I stoned the point of the tang to get rid of the sharp corner). But I've got a feeling I'll go back to my Canoe again soon, because all this rambling about what's best in the pocket reminds me that Canoes are the best of all, especially those new Queen City ones: slim, no barbs, 1095 steel! Ah, so many knives, so few pockets! What's a man to do??:confused: ;) :D
 
Nothing against Opinels, (been a fan of them for 20+ years) but I'd pick a Sodbuster if I had a choice.
 
TLC, have you seen the Opies on the Rant thread??
 
Count me in as another Sodbuster fan. I haven't tried the large one yet, but my Case CV Jr., to echo Waynorth, is unobtrusive in the pocket, feels good in the hand, and the edge works good for me too.

I like the Opinels, but for EDC the sodbuster is just too easy to carry and use.
 
I have both, but if I am going to carry it in my pocket, I prefer the sodbuster. I just do not care for the lack of a backspring. The newer Opinels have a lock that will keep them closed, too, but that is not the issue. The fact that the blade is constantly being pushed into the wood handle while it is being carried bothers me. The pivot construction does not strike me as being really strong, either, and when you get them wet or get fruit juices in the pivot they can be difficult to open.

That being said, I have an Opinel #8 in my lunchbag that I use for fruit.
 
The Kissing Crane Brown Mule is one good carbon bladed Sodbuster. The Opinel # 6 lockring Inox is nice also. It is very pocket freindly. For around 20 bucks you can have both!:thumbup:
 
I have both, and love them both.

BUT!

As I spend alot of my warm weather time on the water kayaking, canoeing, fishing, the Opinels lack of resistance to water is a big Accilies heel. I've sanded and soaked them in linseed oil, used Helmsman Spar urathane, to try to water proof them. It helped but not proofed.

I have not carried an Opinel for along time now because of this. I go with a sodbuster over an opy now. My Eye-brand sodbusters and Kissing Krane brown mules have all the scary sharp cutting ability of the Opinels with none of the bad reaction to moisture. My large case CV yellow handle sodbuster has been my cane pole fishing knife for a month now, and I swish it around in the lake to clean it off. At home it gets dried off and a shot of 3-in1 on the joints and has no ill effects of the water.

I'll go with a sodbuster.
 
Point well taken. Yes.. the Opinel does not like water or really humid conditions as the handle will swell & freeze the blade shut. This happened to me once when I got soaked in a downpour! If you are going to encounter very wet conditions then, the Sodbuster is the way to go. Any of the above Sodbusters will work great.
 
I trust the mounds and mounds of evidence that Opinels are great knives for the money. And if I ever A) lose all my knives and B) simultaneously get so broke that I only have $8 to spend on a knife, I just may buy one.

That hasn't happened yet though - knock wood! - so I'd opt for a Sodbuster.
 
Opinels are very good knives. I EDC mine in rotation. I only had that one time when I was soaked to the bone that the blade froze up on me. If your just in hot & humid conditions.. I have not had a problem with the Opinel. I agree that a Sodbuster would probebly a better choice under very wet conditions.:thumbup:
 
I have an Opinel #6 stainless, Opinel #6 carbon, and Case Sodbuster Junior CV. If forced to choose I'll take the Sodbuster Jr. It feels better in the hand.
 
I want a custom made sodbuster. D2 or 52100 perhaps, half stops, that "old ivory" yellowish color micarta. I wonder who could do this?
 
Several knifemakers could do this, Thomason! Bill Ruple has the quickest turn-around of the better slippie makers, I wonder if he'd do it?? I have a Dan Burke brown micarta in D2. I'll post a pic soon. He's about 2-3 years wait last I checked.
 
I think this fits the description of a sodbuster. No bolsters, simple single blade knife. D2, half stop. Those are bone buttons on the lanyard, to help pull it out of it's pouch.http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e56/wunorth/DBurkeSoddie.jpg
DBurkeSoddie.jpg
 
That is a classy version of a classic, Waynorth. Sounds like Opinel needs to make a version with a more stable handle material like the delrin in the sodbuster. Personally, I'd also like to see them have somewhat thicker blades (especially the smaller ones).
 
Bartleby said:
Sounds like Opinel needs to make a version with a more stable handle material like the delrin in the sodbuster. Personally, I'd also like to see them have somewhat thicker blades (especially the smaller ones).
Click to expand...

That would be a Cold Steel Twistmaster. Carbon V blades, black delrin handles. You can find them on Ebay from time to time. I have the medium and large drop point models, and they are really handy. I have no idea what they are selling for nowadays, but when they initially came out, they were really good deals.
 
Hey Sharpthangs, any chance of a picture of those babies??
 
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