Sodbuster - A Case for Bulldog Brand

GregFL

GregFL

Joined
Feb 23, 2009
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564
Not sure why, but the Sodbuster pattern is one of my favorites. My first was a Queen Country Cousin followed by a Case Yellow CV and the latest is a 2005 Yellow Bulldog that arrived yesterday. Since I had my Case handy (in my pocket), I pulled it out and made a quick comparison. Here is what I noticed:

- The Bulldog is nearly 1/8" thinner than the Case. This is primarily due to the thickness of the handles.
- The Case has a much larger radius along the edge of the handles (probably why they are thicker).
- The Bulldog has thicker blades and backsprings.
- The Bulldog has a slight swedge while the Case has none.
- The Cases backspring continues all the way up to the tip of the handle while the Bulldog's stops about 1/4" short (see last photo).
- While the closed length of the knives is virtually identical, the cutting edge of the Bulldog is longer (2 5/8" vs. 2 1/2")
- The Case feels like it weighs slighly more than the Bulldog.
- The Case is made in the USA and the Bulldog is made in Soligen, Germany.

All that being said, here is my personal preferences between the two (completely subjective):

- The overall design of the Case is a little more refined.
- The overall fit and finish of the Case is better.
- The Case feels better in the hand due to weight and handle design.
- The Bulldog blade thickness and shape is more appealing.

If I had to choose between the two, it would be the Case. But since that is not the case, I choose both.

Bulldog-Case1.jpg


Bulldog-Case2.jpg


Bulldog-Case3.jpg


Bulldog-Case4.jpg
 
I have a Bulldog Sodbuster, too, and I prefer my Case model. Still need to get a Queen version so I can compare it, too.
 
I bought several of the Bulldog (large) soddies a while back. Have 'em in red, yellow and one in green. They are thinner-handled than my Case large soddie, but I do like 'em. The steel in the blades is top-notch.

Not sure if you've noticed this, but the Bulldogs are identical in size/shape/profile to the Eye Brand (Carl Schlieper) sodbusters with the synthetic brown handles. The Bulldogs are more refined (blade is polished, vs. a satin finish on the Eye Brand), and the etch is obviously different. Both blades feature the 'matchstriker' pulls. Otherwise, I have to believe they came from the same maker/factory.
 
While not a fan of yellow in general, I think the Case yellow is "easier on the eyes". The Bulldog yellow looks like a banana.
 
my bulldog is branded 2005 and it has been thru hell and back. but all in all bull dog is the beater and case is the classier one. but you wont go wrong with either one.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I bought several of the Bulldog (large) soddies a while back. Have 'em in red, yellow and one in green. They are thinner-handled than my Case large soddie, but I do like 'em. The steel in the blades is top-notch.

Not sure if you've noticed this, but the Bulldogs are identical in size/shape/profile to the Eye Brand (Carl Schlieper) sodbusters with the synthetic brown handles. The Bulldogs are more refined (blade is polished, vs. a satin finish on the Eye Brand), and the etch is obviously different. Both blades feature the 'matchstriker' pulls. Otherwise, I have to believe they came from the same maker/factory.
Click to expand...

I agree, Bulldog probably contracted with the same factory that makes Eye Brand ... just changed the color and blade finish. The tang on mine is stamped Hammer Forged - Soligen, another similarity to Eye.


OkefenokeeKnives said:
Nice pics
Click to expand...

Thank you sir! Turned a basket upside down and took the photos using indirect window lighting.
 
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Stelth said:
While not a fan of yellow in general, I think the Case yellow is "easier on the eyes". The Bulldog yellow looks like a banana.
Click to expand...

"Time flies like the wind
Fruit flies like a banana"

I like sodbusters, a couple of years ago I was obsessed and tried to buy one by every maker I could find. I didn't succeed. :eek:

It's fun to obsess over details when we're collecting :D
 
Coldwood said:
"Time flies like the wind
Fruit flies like a banana"

I like sodbusters, a couple of years ago I was obsessed and tried to buy one by every maker I could find. I didn't succeed. :eek:

It's fun to obsess over details when we're collecting :D
Click to expand...

I know exactly how you feel. :D
 
I believe the German Bulldogs were all made by Friedrich Olbertz. Nice knives all round. Interesting that Schlieper would contract em to a competitor. No different than Camillus I guess.

On the Country Cousins, how thick are the blades? I have no use for Queens thicker blades in D2 but the thin ones work pretty well.
 
I did a little research and found that German Eye/Eye Brand (Carl Schlieper) is made by Friedrich Olbertz. They also make knives for Bulldog, German Bull, Fight'n Rooster, Jim Bowie and several others. Here is a link to Friedrich Olbertz's website http://www.pocketknives.de/

If you can't read German, you may want to go through a translator.
 
MarkPinTx said:
I believe the German Bulldogs were all made by Friedrich Olbertz. Nice knives all round. Interesting that Schlieper would contract em to a competitor. No different than Camillus I guess.

On the Country Cousins, how thick are the blades? I have no use for Queens thicker blades in D2 but the thin ones work pretty well.
Click to expand...

At the spine, I think the Country Cousin is about the same thickness as the Case. That being said, the Queen is more of a flat grind (compared to the high, thin hollow grind of the Case), so the Queen blade looks a bit beefier (and it's edge is definitely thicker).
 
I'll be durned that Schlieper made by Olberz. Wonder if that's anew acquisition because I've been to that site without noticing any eye brands there.

Thanks on the Queen, Obsessed. May have to check one out.
 
MarkPinTx said:
I'll be durned that Schlieper made by Olberz. Wonder if that's anew acquisition because I've been to that site without noticing any eye brands there.

Thanks on the Queen, Obsessed. May have to check one out.
Click to expand...

You're welcome. I'm a fan of soddies too, the large ones in particular. I keep wishin' & hopin' Queen will make a large version of the Country Cousin. I've gotten used to reprofiling the edge on the Queen knives, because they usually come with some pretty obtuse edges. But, once re-bevelled, the D2 is great.
 
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