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Opinel vs Sodbuster for WS.

F

flip888

Joined
Jun 8, 2006
Messages
190
If you had to go with a folder for a backup blade, which would you rather have for your outdoor tasks? The sodbuster is pretty sturdy but the opinel cuts really well and also locks. The steel in the opinel is pretty soft and bends and warps when put to hard use, but the SB has a smaller handle and isnt as cumfortable to use for long periods of time.
Whats your opinions?
 
i would choose a sodbuster. the handles of opinels have time and again swelled up on me and made opening the blade an aggravating chore. a sodbuster from case comes with a good firm backspring, feels great in the hand. you can get a sodbuster just as sharp as an opinel. remember you need to sharpen the opinel anyway as it comes from the factory quite dull.
 
Mine came quite sharp. I think you may be talking about the stainless steel opinel. my carbon one is great. Gets sharp easily, acts like 1095. Better lockup then the sodbuster I'd think. I've cut down saplings without any problems.

Only problem is the opinel can swell up if it gets wet. In which case you've got yourself a nice fixed blade for the next day or two.
 
the sodbuster is a slipjoint, you cant compare the lockup. as long as your willing to live with the swelling, sometimes for alot more than a couple of days you can go with an opinel. for me the swelling and seazing up, are a deal breaker.
 
I prefer the sodbuster. The swelling of the Opinel bothers me. I don't need the lock anyway. The only advantage of the Opinel is it's a little lighter.
 
The Opi might lock up, but what do you do with a weak folder that won't close? Of the 2 choices, the Sodbuster would be my choice, but I would suggest that you get yourself a Vic SAK w/saw. The lockblade versions like he Trekker, are excellent as stand alone blades, so having one with your fixed blade makes for a great combo.
 
I had a love/hate relationship with Opinels from 1981 to about 2000 or so. I finally got tired of having one swell shut on me. Got rid of them all. The sodbuster is a far stronger knife anyway, and either the Case or the German Eye-Brand will do you for a general heavy duty folder that cuts as well as an Opinel.

Since I consider my edc pocket stuff as my survival gear, I want wahtever knife is in my pocket to be reliable under any climate conditions. And since I spend a fair share of time on boats, I like gear that will stand up to total immersion in water for a time, and still function.

That ain't an Opinel.
 
I've carried an stainless Opinel for almost a year now with no swelling problems. Sand the entire handle including the inside and oil it. I've been canoeing with it and gotten dunked and after the ensuing water-fight, it still worked fine.
 
I'm curious. Has anyone tried to oil their opinel's?

I thought that oiling a wood handle would help seal it and prevent it from swelling, but then again I don't live around water.
 
I'd say the sodbuster, great knife, comfortable handle, great blade shape, and the squared spine can throw some mean sparks from a ferro rod :thumbup:
 
Never had a sodbuster. Opinels are great cutters but puny. I stuck mine in a tree and bent the blade. Ive never bent the blade on a knife before, except for fillet knives.
 
SamuraiDave said:
I'm curious. Has anyone tried to oil their opinel's?

I thought that oiling a wood handle would help seal it and prevent it from swelling, but then again I don't live around water.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I've done the sanding down and linseed oil thing, as well as the sand down and seal with Helmsman spar urathane. It helps, and slows down the water swelling, but get it wet and it still swells. especially in hot humid weather like summer time on the Chesapeake Bay.

I just don't feel like messing with it anymore. I've done it to several Opinels, and the problem is still there, just a bit less in degrees.

With a Case sodbuster or my other favorite the Victorinox sak of any type, there's no problem no matter how wet or grundgy things get.

My own feeling on Opinels are they're neat picnic or hobby knives, and have a funky old world charm, but for a serious outdoor pocket knife, they leave a bit to be desired. Too many other better choices out there.

Like my old scoutmaster told me; When you walk out your front door in the morning, you just can't tell what's going to happen before you make it home again. Why carry gear that has a known Achilies heel?

I gave away the last Opinel I had. Don't plan on getting another.
 
SamuraiDave said:
I'm curious. Has anyone tried to oil their opinel's?

I thought that oiling a wood handle would help seal it and prevent it from swelling, but then again I don't live around water.
Click to expand...

I have saturated my carbon opinel with wd-40 and wiped down for years and seems to have sealed the wood. the blade flips out like a gravity knife after 18+ years.

I would say opinel in 3in+ size, it locks, very comfortable for long repeated use and the carbon is easy to sharpen and would agree similar to 1095.
 
In stock form i'd go with a Sodbuster.
You can get Sodbusters that are lockblades as well.
However i do really like Opinels.
In modded form (refinished, grip/blade customised, SAK ring added) i'd choose an Opinel %50 of the time.
A third option is this-
robinsonandmoddedopinel7small.jpg

Robinson, stainless blades synthetic handle.
 
Out of the two, I would prefer the opinel. My dedicated back-up pack knife is an opinel #12, and the only knife that I consistently have on my person every day, all the time, is an opinel #6. So, I am pretty comfortable with using them, and, if it is going to be a one knife scenario, the lock is definatly an advantage.
 
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