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Opinel vs Sodbuster for WS.

I'd use an Opinel for food prep, but a Sodbuster for everything else. :)
 
hollowdweller said:
Can we bombard CASE with letters requesting a carbon scandi Sod Buster:thumbup:
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this is such a good idea! did you hear they are coming out with a new one in worker blue? the sodbuster is such a simple light weight tool, that can always be right there in your pocket where ever you go. if we could get it with a blade like that. my gosh i would buy a bushell of em.
 
I own both, and I would pick the Sodbuster over the Opinel anytime, for any reason. I would frankly rather use any random knife from the junk drawer in my kitchen rather than an Opinel. Any use beyond spreading pate' on a cracker is outside the Opinel's performance envelope, IMHO. I took one out in the woods once, and it took all of five minutes of LIGHT use to utterly annihilate the edge on that thing- use which any SAK, Case or even Rough Rider would have laughed at. Leave the Opinels in your local Williams & Sonoma gadget section where they belong.

The Sodbuster is another story altogether. A Case Sodbuster in "yella" CV is a durable, comfortable workhorse. It is as close to a "perfect" design as you can get. :thumbup:
 
moonwilson said:
I own both, and I would pick the Sodbuster over the Opinel anytime, for any reason. I would frankly rather use any random knife from the junk drawer in my kitchen rather than an Opinel. Any use beyond spreading pate' on a cracker is outside the Opinel's performance envelope, IMHO. I took one out in the woods once, and it took all of five minutes of LIGHT use to utterly annihilate the edge on that thing- use which any SAK, Case or even Rough Rider would have laughed at. Leave the Opinels in your local Williams & Sonoma gadget section where they belong.

The Sodbuster is another story altogether. A Case Sodbuster in "yella" CV is a durable, comfortable workhorse. It is as close to a "perfect" design as you can get. :thumbup:
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Amen !!
 
I'd have to take the Sodbuster also. My opinels were just too soft, and too big for pocket carry (OP7). I've never had the swelling problem, but I'm in a dry climate. Plus, my Case sodbuster has an excellent high hollow grind in CV with a high polish that really helps resist corrosion. No scandi grinds here, keep the nice hollow grind!

Now if someone could come up with an Opinel in M2 HSS and a synthetic handle.... ;)
 
In this day and age of production technology, I don't know why Opinel has not gone to an injection molded synthetic for a handle like Cold Steel did with the twistmaster. Even Kershaw made a twist lock folder with a synthetic handle, that was better shaped than the Opinel.

It can be done.
 
tholiver said:
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.
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Where can one find that Robinson? Sweet looking knife...
 
Given the option, I'd take my Opi #8, that I've modded enuf to be more humidity friendly (widened the slot just a smidge, that seems to be where it binds mostly), and since I have no experience with a Sodbuster. This is pretty much why my personal EDC switches between the Opi and a Spyderco Delica4 as my lockable, mundane cutter, paired with a SAK Farmer for the sturdy tools for house chores/ odd jobs. SE Texas is humid most of the year, so stainless is almost a necessity for my knives.

Matt in Tx
 
I always have an Opinel #8 with me when camping, mainly for food preparation and for that purpose, I prefer the Opinel. I also never had the problem of a swelling handle, it never got too wet to swell. I have also a couple of sodbusters, but they have quite thick blades, the blade of the Opinel is very thin. For food preparation I prefer thin blades.
 
I prefer the Opinel.It's great for any wood chores.If you oil the handle you won't have problems with it ! ;)
I have a Case CV Trapper - it's a great knife,but the Opinel is better at wood working and food preparation.
 
Jigged Bone said:
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.
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I agree with the poster. The Sod Buster is an awesome blade, although the one that I received had a little 'wow' in the blade. Great, tough user.
 
I'd have to go with my sodbuster........

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I'd take a nice sodbuster any day. Those Queen country cousins sure do look tempting for this scenario.
 
Why so much hate for the Opinel???? :confused:
I've had Opinels for over 7 years now. All different sizes and shapes...
You can sometimes find them for less than $10!!
I've used my Opinels for anything from food prep to bushcrafting, and it worked great.
I have a method, to make the Opinels a little smoother to open and close, I use wax instead of oil, which will make it tougher to open. Just drip some wax inside the pivoted area, and you're good.
I also have a Sodbuster, but I couldn't care less about that one, for me, it's just like a Buck 110 -knife, and mostly it's a loaner...
 
Opinels are great little outdoors knives. Don't forget that out of the box the spine can throw sparks like no other knife. The blade shape is also super useful and the weight is ultra light. Damn fine knife. I've got 2 eights and a stainless six myself.
 
I own 4 regular sized SAKs, one Sodbuster Jr, and no Opinels. I have owned one, and liked it for a lot of things, but I hated that it wouldn't stay closed in my pocket, so I stopped carrying it.

I bought the Soddy on a whim. 17 bucks at Lowe's seemed like a decent deal. But I have yet to do anything with it besides oil the nasty out of the joint, and slick up the edge. Seems a decent, lightweight cutter with a comfortably shaped handle -- but the knife and blade are the same size as is found on an SAK, while the SAK has all kinds of useful tools added.

I carry an SAK every day, and in the wilderness, too.
 
I have numerous versions of both. In the larger sizes, the Opinel has a very sturdy blade with a spine larger than a sodbuster. With the lightweight round wood handle and all the weight in the metal blade, it is a relatively light-to-carry and easy-on-the-hand tool. A mineral oil soak has prevented swelling.

I'd go with a larger Opinel.
 
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