Sodbuster Blade Shape..Why?

J

jacknife

Joined
Jan 3, 2001
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I've a few Case Sodbusters and they are very well made and nice to use slippies. But...I never really understand the shape of the blade.
If I had a choice I'd rather have a spearpoint or even a deep clip or sheepsfoot, not that upswept edge which is typical of the sodbuster, but then I guess it wouldn't be a sodbuster without it?

Yes, it's not a bad all rounder, but do you think it could be better?

What does the sodbusters blade shape excel at if anything?

Am I missing something.

Whatever the answer I won't be selling mine....I still like them. :thumbup:
 
I agree and would prefer a spearpoint or clip blade. I like the simplicity of the Sodbuster's handle design, the usually strong spring and the pinch openability.
If I'm not mistaken it was originally sort of a folding German butcher's knife and the sweep at the front was good for that?
adam
 
I've always been curious about that myself. Alas, I can offer no insight. I will be interested in what you learn here. Keith Johnson is making me a custom with a slightly clipped blade, but otherwise a standard sodbuster (with his special touch). I've always liked them, but I haven't noticed any particular job I have done with them that caused me to think "So, that's why the blade is shaped like this."

I can say that it makes a great slicer and it works well for skinning and probably very good for speying (although I've never actually done that job myself with any knife).

Ed
 
It is a very basic blade shape, that I think of as a straight knife. The traditional puukko uses the same blade shape, but generally with a sabre grind.
 
Thanks. That's some good posts here already. Always nice to know your not the only one who thinks something.
 
Adam, you win a cookie!:thumbup:

The sodbuster does indeed hail from a European knife that does way back in heritage. It was a common mans knife, much like the Opinel is to the French, and it was called a folding butcher knife. If you look at old European kitchen cutlery, you will see the old style of blade with a very strait back, and the edge that comes up to meet it. This all goes way back to Eastern Europe a couple of hundred years ago.

I agree, that a little modernization of blade shape may not be a bad thing.

Carl.
 
I think a little less blunt (in the shape of the point that is, not meaning the edge) would be better Carl. Some soddies seem worse than others in this regard.

I can see when it's pointed out how that shape might be good if you were slicing meat on a chopping board.
 
I'll be the first to admit, I like the shape of the sodbuster blade just as it is. :cool: I wouldn't change the shape but I would like one with a full flat grind.
 
Rupestris said:
I'll be the first to admit, I like the shape of the sodbuster blade just as it is. :cool: I wouldn't change the shape but I would like one with a full flat grind.
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Ditto.
All things can be modified but it just woudn't be a sodbuster with a clip point or other styled blade.
 
If you go further back in time, I think it also comes from the basic shape of your typical old friction folder -- it's a clasp knife originally, fitting the most blade into a naturally curved piece of horn or some such. It's a pretty general blade shape -- straight back making it good for sticking - cutting straight in deeply; curve with a lot of belly at the point making it good for skinning - and for cutting stuff on a board; straight edge behind that for general use. As a general blade shape it may not be the best at a particular task, but at least it can manage it. I've liked some of the tweaks I've seen - like a little less belly, or a shallow clip to give it a bit more point, but I don't think it should be messed with too much.
 
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Even the Opinel has alternate blade shapes: the drop point of the Garden Knife and the long thin blade of the filet models. Slight modifications of the Sodbuster wouldn't destroy the basic concept. But would slight modifications be worth doing? I don't think so.
 
Rupestris said:
I'll be the first to admit, I like the shape of the sodbuster blade just as it is. :cool: I wouldn't change the shape but I would like one with a full flat grind.
Click to expand...

Queen Country Cousin, Eye Brand, Moore Maker, large Case soddie are all full flat grinds. I'm guessing there are others out there, too. The small Case soddie is the only one I can think of, at the moment, that is a high hollow grind.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
Queen Country Cousin, Eye Brand, Moore Maker, large Case soddie are all full flat grinds. I'm guessing there are others out there, too. The small Case soddie is the only one I can think of, at the moment, that is a high hollow grind.
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Thanks OwE! The Jr size is the only one I've owned. The size is good for pocket carry. I'll add one of the above mentioned Large Sodbusters to the wish list. :thumbup:
 
It was probably economics that produced that shape blade. That was probably the easiest blade shape and even back then time was money. The sodbusters were cheap knives and you could have your apprentice and journeyman cutlerers working on those knives and have your more experienced craftsman working on more costly products
 
jacknife said:
I've a few Case Sodbusters and they are very well made and nice to use slippies. But...I never really understand the shape of the blade.
If I had a choice I'd rather have a spearpoint or even a deep clip or sheepsfoot, not that upswept edge which is typical of the sodbuster, but then I guess it wouldn't be a sodbuster without it?

Yes, it's not a bad all rounder, but do you think it could be better?

What does the sodbusters blade shape excel at if anything?

Am I missing something.

Whatever the answer I won't be selling mine....I still like them. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

This has been covered before more than a handful of times but basically the pattern per say has been around for nearly 130 years plus or minus. It was not called the Sod Buster until like the 60's when I believe Case started the name for the pattern as we know it today. Sodbusters were middle/late 19th century farmer's clasp knives originating (primarily) in Germany. Most were wood handled. This last bit from Levine's Book on knives.

As for why the blade shape? Generally speaking when you consider that it was used for 'slaughter' it is a good blade shape to want. Its actually a very good shape for food prep work and butchering and that was what it was designed for, which is more or less a small or portable butcher knife. As a youth growing up in West Virginia I often times had a Sod Buster on me when I hunted using it to gut out and field dress many small game animals. I still find the shape appealing to this day and use one often and although it is better to have a combo of this shape with Wharny blade shape to cover other general purposes I have found its a simple task to have one of each on me at any time these days.

I had considered approaching someone to make me a two blade model of the Sod Buster with the main blade shape as it is on most with lots of belly and upsweep but with a second smaller blade in a modified Wharncliffe shape with a good splinter picker point but years ago Gerber did one for time in the 70's called the PK1 that for all practical purposes offered something I found appealing and once I got hold of that it replaced my Sod Buster until I left home for the service when I found the Buck Esquire suited my needs better.

To this day I have my Sod Buster and my Gerber PK1 and the main blades on both are very similar and excellent shapes for cutting board use or picnic table, flat bed pick up or any number of other surfaces from nothing more than a debarked log! ;) In short, the Sod Buster blade shape is a good shape for general field use.
__________________
 
Rupestris said:
Thanks OwE! The Jr size is the only one I've owned. The size is good for pocket carry. I'll add one of the above mentioned Large Sodbusters to the wish list. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

If you do like the smaller size, the Queen's about the same size as the smaller Case, and you can get the Eye Brand in either large or small size (both flat grind). I'm not sure if it's still available, but I'm pretty sure Moore Maker had a smaller one for a while. Lately, all I've seen listed online are the larger ones.

The one caveat with the Queen Country Cousin is, as many here have become aware, you might need to reprofile the edge on it. They have a reputation for coming with pretty 'thick' edges on them (the blade is beefier than the others). If you're OK with reprofiling D2, then I think you'll really like it AFTER there's a better bevel on it.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Even the Opinel has alternate blade shapes: the drop point of the Garden Knife and the long thin blade of the filet models. Slight modifications of the Sodbuster wouldn't destroy the basic concept. But would slight modifications be worth doing? I don't think so.
Click to expand...

However, Opinel is a brand name. Sodbuster is a pattern. An Opinel Garden Knife is a pattern of Opinel, and if you changed the shape, it wouldn't be a Gardener anymore.
Just sayin.
 
Good thread. It's interesting to find out about the history behind different patterns and designs. I've always liked the shape of the non-Case sodbusters. It's just a good all around blade. The only version of a soddie that I recall seeing with a clip blade is the Kissing Krane Coal Miner.

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As an electrician I am usually fond of a wharncliffe or hawkblade for skinning open wires and edc duties. I am drawn to these sodbusters though and have been carrying one for a week.

It is comfortable in the pocket, and has cut everything I have needed to cut so far! The sodbuster just works!
 
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