Sodbuster Care Question

Halfneck

Halfneck

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Jun 30, 2005
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So my oldest (13 years) & me had a deal - he gets his math grade up, I'll get him the new Case Sodbuster in CV steel & jigged bone. So he did & I got him one and it's now his new favorite.

Well Boy Scout summer camp is coming up in a few weeks and of course he wants to take the new knife. Last year's summer camp it rained 3-4 days out of the week they were there. He's good about wiping it down with a cloth after use, and he'll be carrying it in a nylon belt sheath. They'll be camping in canvas tents provided by the Scout Camp. They'll be cooking breakfast & lunch at their camp site, but dinner will be at the chow hall. Mostly what they'll be packing in is clothes, snacks, and some specific things related to the merit badges they'll be working on.

So any preventive measures or suggestions on what he can do to keep rust at bay if it gets wet will be appreciated.

Thanks - Pat.
 
Just wipe it down with whatever dry cloth (tshirt/jeans?) is handy. Unless he's swimming with it or standing in a downpour I doubt it's going to get that wet very often if at all. Even if it does, it'll be just fine. If any staining occurs that bothers him just use a Sunshine cloth or something similar to buff it out when he gets back home. It's CV steel so it's going to take on whatever character marks it will over time, so just let this be the first of many such experiences.

Have a great time! :)
 
I use carbon steel a lot, admittedly usually indoors. I just use it. If I see water spots on it I'll wipe it off on my shirt. Once I used a carbon steel knife in the rain and it was a bit before I could wipe it and I got patina spots. I'll put a little WD-40 or mineral oil on and wipe it if I think of it.

Storing carbon steel takes a little more care. A thin coat of oil for sure.
 
Not sure how you feel about patina, I know some don't care for it and like their blades to stay shiny that is their prerogative but in my experience those are the carbon blades that need constant care and potentially develop pepper spots without constant attention. I always think of my knife as a tool, and all my hand tools develop natural patina, hammers, chisels, saws, knives included and I worked in very wet and humid environments without rust to tools and carbon knives, which spent extended times wet without issues, occasionally there might be a thin spot of surface rust but never anything that didn't wipe off simply with thumb or on pants/shirt, never penetrated the steel. One thing to keep in mind that I think many forget is carbon blades where the standard for a very long time, a time when we lived a much hasher life style exposed to the elements many a frontiersman, New England whaler, soldier, etc. had extended stays with Mother Nature, carbon knives don't turn instantly to rust if wet.
That's a really nice knife you bought your son, should last a lifetime, (if he's lucky enough not to lose it), every stain, mark earned on the blade is a memory preserved in time, I still have my first knife from my sixth birthday and I probably haven't oiled it in over 30+ years, I try and carry it on my birthday each year, I live surrounded by saltwater and still has no rust.
Your son will have a great time at Boy Scout camp, I was about his age when I went, and I remember buying a Ulster Boy Scout knife prior to going I didn't want to take my cheap Kamp-King, the Ulster was carbon and honestly rust was something I never thought about and it still survives today, so I don't think you and your son have anything to worry about either, no need to stress just tell him to have a good time and enjoy that fine knife.

Pete
 
A small piece of cloth, dampened with mineral oil, kept in a Ziploc bag to wipe down blade after cleaning.

Saves weight, space and time.

Nice knife!
 
The one thing to watch for is sweat. It's salty nature will spot a CV blade pretty fast. I live in the arid southwestern U.S., and ordinarily don't have any issues with rust or spotting. But, when it gets hotter or a little more humid, my CV blades have spotted in the span of a few hours, when I've been carrying them in my pocket. I've noticed the same tendency with a Schrade Old Timer in 1095 steel. I've since forced a patina on all 3 blades for that one, and have started doing the same with one of my Case CV knives. The even grey patina will pre-emptively replace the spotting that would eventually come, so the blades look a lot better, and don't seem to change at all in the same sweaty conditions.

A light coating of oil on the blades will do a lot, if forcing a patina isn't in the plan yet.


David
 
The threat of rust on carbon steel is way over exaggerated, and the Case CV will stand up to getting rained on with no problem. If he just wipes it down wityh a dry or semi dry bandana once or twice a day, that will be more than enough. Plus if it's going to be carried in a nylon belt sheath instead of on his person, that cuts way down the problem with sweat.

Carbon steel has been around since ancient times, and somehow Roman legionaries on the march and Viking raiders crossing large parts of salty oceans in open boats kept their carbon steel tools from rusting. And if a little rust appears, no big deal, it will wipe off with an oiled rag when he gets home. Patina is your friend. Maybe stick it in a potato over night before he goes?

If worst really comes t worst, take a little tube of Chapstick along. Clean off the blade with a bandana, and then smear a little dab of the Chapstick on each side of the blade, then rub around with finger tip. Chapstick is non toxic, and wipes off easy.
 
Stich2442 said:
Not sure how you feel about patina, I know some don't care for it and like their blades to stay shiny that is their prerogative but in my experience those are the carbon blades that need constant care and potentially develop pepper spots without constant attention. I always think of my knife as a tool, and all my hand tools develop natural patina, hammers, chisels, saws, knives included and I worked in very wet and humid environments without rust to tools and carbon knives, which spent extended times wet without issues, occasionally there might be a thin spot of surface rust but never anything that didn't wipe off simply with thumb or on pants/shirt, never penetrated the steel. One thing to keep in mind that I think many forget is carbon blades where the standard for a very long time, a time when we lived a much hasher life style exposed to the elements many a frontiersman, New England whaler, soldier, etc. had extended stays with Mother Nature, carbon knives don't turn instantly to rust if wet.
That's a really nice knife you bought your son, should last a lifetime, (if he's lucky enough not to lose it), every stain, mark earned on the blade is a memory preserved in time, I still have my first knife from my sixth birthday and I probably haven't oiled it in over 30+ years, I try and carry it on my birthday each year, I live surrounded by saltwater and still has no rust.
Your son will have a great time at Boy Scout camp, I was about his age when I went, and I remember buying a Ulster Boy Scout knife prior to going I didn't want to take my cheap Kamp-King, the Ulster was carbon and honestly rust was something I never thought about and it still survives today, so I don't think you and your son have anything to worry about either, no need to stress just tell him to have a good time and enjoy that fine knife.

Pete
Click to expand...

Well stated Pete. This is exactly right, that Sodbuster isn't made of sugar. Use it and relax. For untold centuries carbon steel ruled and did everything needed. Unless it just lays out in the weather on a boat dock for an extended period any rust that forms will be light surface fuzz that rubs off with an oily rag or if a bit more stubborn will rub off with a copper penny or brass key. The personality and character than steel develops is just nature.

My old 1911 Colt has turned a brownish patina in many places, no blueing left at all on some areas around the grip especially from nearly 30 yrs of being carried. It still works just fine. Same goes with my old East-Wing hammer from 1984. :)
 
Thanks for all the advice, I'll pass it on to the boy.

jackknife - the chapstick advice is perfect & fits into our theory that the stuff we pack along should have multiple uses.
 
If it's going to be really wet, you could always put the knife in a ziplock sandwich bag. Squeeze all the air out and zip it up tight. It would still be easy to get to, and it would stay bone dry in the worst downpour.
 
Just wipe off the salty sweat and other stuff with a good cloth. Keeping it in a belt sheath will keep sweat in your pockets from causing rust. Oil the joints on occasion (when they get dry) and you should be good. A little cloth with mineral oil will help keep it shiny if your son doesn't want patina.

I like patina, so I just wipe it after use (don't even use anything but dry cloth).
 
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