Sod Buster Jr., CV or SS

H

HiCap1

Joined
May 19, 2013
Messages
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I am about to buy one of these puppies because I like neat stuff, and this little knife intrigues me. It's design is simple and beautiful in its simplicity, and it's Americana as apple pie. But, is there merit to buying a CV blade or a SS blade? The knife will be used.

HiCap
 
Get the CV. Very easy to sharpen and holds an edge a bit better IMO. Its a good knife for the price.
 
It seems that most knife guys tends to like the CV, as its easy to sharpen, takes a good edge, and develops a patina over time which can look nice and give the blade some character. The stainless is fine as well, and its much less likely to develop a patina. The CV can rust easier than the stainless, but if you are using the knife and keeping an eyeball on it, that doesn't seem to be an issue. You can force a patina on CV in a few hours by sticking the blade in an apple or onion, or rubbing it with mustard, or many other ways. Best bet is to let the patina develop naturally over time.


Case Sodbuster Jr. in CV, with forced patina. You can see the apple seed that got bisected by the blade while the patina was being forced.




Natural patina on CV (or rust?).
 
I would also go with the CV ... the SS steel Case uses is nice as well and pretty similar to 420HC which is nice, too. But the CV (as Case mentions) is 1095 with additions of Chrome and Vanadium.

@powernoodle: It´s patina and not rust, as far as i can see from your pics - nicely devoloped patina BTW :)
 
Get the CV 3138, they haven't made them since 1989 (except for a small run in 2006), and are now regular production. Very good, utilitarian folder. Tough as all get out. They take a grand patina, as others have stated.
 
knarfeng said:
Depends on what you like. For all intents and purposes, the only difference is that the CV will darken and rust. The Tru-Sharp will not.

I've tested both
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/595750-Case-Tru-Sharp-vs-Case-CV.

While CV held an edge just a bit better, in daily use you would never notice the difference. Both Tru-Sharp and CV sharpen very easily.
Click to expand...

Might not be the same for everyone but I have always had an easier time putting a really good edge on cv. I can get stainless there eventually but it takes a lot more effort.
 
jimmyd1982 said:
Might not be the same for everyone but I have always had an easier time putting a really good edge on cv. I can get stainless there eventually but it takes a lot more effort.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about "Case Tru-Sharp" when you say "stainless", or are you talking about stainless in general?

I find Case Tru-Sharp to be significantly easier to sharpen than the vast majority of stainless blades.
 
knarfeng said:
Are you talking about "Case Tru-Sharp" when you say "stainless", or are you talking about stainless in general?

I find Case Tru-Sharp to be significantly easier to sharpen than the vast majority of stainless blades.
Click to expand...

Tru-Sharp. I can never seem to get the razor edge that the cv easily takes. Probably just my mediocre sharpening skills.
 
I vote CV every time. Performance wise they are similar enough, but I like the character a working carbon steel knife develops. and rust really isn't an issue in anything but extreme cases as long as you remember it WILL discolor, and discoloration is not bad. I've not used or sharpened their SS, but I feel I get a screaming edge on simple carbon much easier than even on softer stainless steels like SAK uses. Not sure about Case's version, though.
 
Thanks to all. I have some high tech knives that I have bought or have been given to me, but there is a lot of appeal in the simplicity of the Sod Buster Jr., and I'm not looking to protect myself with it. That's for the LCR or 442.

HiCap
 
I think you'll really enjoy it. Carbon steel has a mystique all its own. Did you get the full size or junior model ? I own and like both, but am more partial to the larger one. The Jr. is fine, and certainly more EDC worthy.
 
I bought the Jr. Here is what I am using now as the EDC; in jeans, shorts and suit and tux. A Mosier.
IMG-20130513-00103_zps644cbb5a.jpg


HiCap
 
I am currently pondering the same thing! Another problem is the lack of handle choices in the cv from what I have seen. I really like the carbon fiber but can only find it in the SS.
 
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