Sodbuster Jr. or Trapper?

H

hungry hunter

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Oct 4, 2014
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I've been looking at carrying a larger, traditional folder lately and cant seem to decide on a sodbuster jr. or a trapper. So I'm here for some advice since it seems like a lot of folks here have owned and carried both.

I usually carry 2 knives EDC: a SAK (super tinker or the larger one with a saw blade, fieldmaster perhaps...) and a larger folder or fixed blade.

The folder I carry most often is a well-used Benchmade Griptilian that lost about 1/4" off of the blade tip after I dropped on the tile floor too many times. My preference for my larger EDC knife is at least a 3" blade.

I just recently bougt a BokerPlus urban trapper for my "Sunday-go-to-meeting" knife. Doing a little research on trapper-style knives led me here and then I saw the sodbuster... Now I'm at a loss as to which one to get.

6 days a week I'm either in blue jeans or nomex pants (I'm a wildland firefighter) and the knife would either ride in a belt sheath or a back pocket.
As far as what I would use the knife for; well, just about anything. While I don't intentionally abuse my knives, they do get a fair amount of hard use. Opening boxes, cutting insulation off wire, food prep, etc. I do have knives that are dedicated skinning knives, but at any time the knife I have with me might be the one that has to dress a feral hog or skin a deer.

So like I said before, I have narrowed it down to the Sodbuster jr. or the trapper. Whichever one will be chestnut jigged bone and CV blade(s). I can see the spley blade on the trapper being really good for food prep (much like my "modified" Griptilian) and skinning game, but the sodbuster looks thinner and more pleasing to my eye.

So which one do you prefer as an all-around, do-it-all blade? Those of you who have carried both, what are your impressions? Pros and cons of each?

Thanks.
 
I don't have either, my large knife is an opinel 8, superb cutter and cheap enough to replace if it breaks.
 
Welcome to Traditionals friend :thumbup:

If you wear gloves as part of your work, you'll find the Sodbuster easier to open. Both are nice traditional patterns. Personally, gloves aside, I'd go for the Sodbuster, I think everyone should own at least one ;)

Jack
 
If you want a work knife, go sodbuster. If you want a more aesthetically pleasing knife that can do some work, go trapper.
 
I have a yellow Sodbuster jr and a yellow Trapper both with cv blades. I have carried and used both a lot over the years and can tell you they are both good pocket knives and that I really like them both.
As has already been mentioned the Sodbuster can be opened while wearing gloves because the blade can pretty easily be pinched. I personally find the Sodbuster jr a lot more comfortable for front pocket carry but since you mentioned belt or back pocket carry this might not matter to you.
I have fairly large hands and find the Sodbusters handle to be comfortable and the Trapper will give you even more handle. Small handles suck for prolonged use IMHO.
The Sodbusters upswept skinner blade is a pretty good do it all utility blade. It slices very well and will most likely handle any pocket knife chore that you throw at it. The Trapper having two blades is an advantage in that you have two different shapes to choose from and if one gets dull you can just fall back to the other one.
I would choose the Trapper myself but you won't go wrong with the Sodbuster either. Good luck.
Jim
 
Sodbuster!

The soddie is the definitive work knife for so many people, and has it's roots way back a couple hundred years in Eastern Europe. In Germany, it evolved into the wood handle working mans knife epitomized by the old Herders sodbusters, or as they were sometimes called, the folding butcher knife. As has ben mentioned, you can open it with work gloves on.

There's a wealth of different sodbusters from many makers available with a varying list of handle materials.
 
hungry hunter said:
I have narrowed it down to the Sodbuster jr. or the trapper. Whichever one will be chestnut jigged bone and CV blade(s).

Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you want chestnut bone, and CV steel, the trapper is your only option. All of Case's bone-handled soddies come with stainless steel only.

-- Mark
 
mnblade said:
If you want chestnut bone, and CV steel, the trapper is your only option. All of Case's bone-handled soddies come with stainless steel only.

-- Mark
Click to expand...

Model #7014 (6137 CV)
 
hungry hunter said:
Thanks everyone for the replies. I suppose I should just buy one of each and be done with it...

Here is the sodbuster jr I found with chestnut bone and CV

http://www.knifecenter.com/item/CA7014/case-chestnut-bone-cv-sod-buster-jr-3-58-closed-6137-cv
Click to expand...

Think we were posting at the same time there. I can see you're on a slippery slope! :D :thumbup:

I was just going to add a pic of the Case Sodbuster Junior in chestnut bone and CV from the W R Case website ;)

7014.jpg
 
Thanks Jack. I'm having connectivity issues with my phone today.

Slippery slope indeed. Oh well, it's not like they are super-expensive.....
 
The Sodbuster is more robust for hard work. It's just thicker and larger in the joint area. I do like the Trapper also and it's no slouch for normal pocket knife work - that second blade for either food prep/use or just as a back-up for when the first blade gets dull on you is nice to have on tap. But if you have tasks that will border on abusive then the Sodbuster will do better.

The Sodbuster is also easily pinched open as said which the Trapper is not going to give you if you wear gloves often. When I know I'm going to be doing hard, dirty work I always go for the yellow CV Sodbuster.

BE92B481-ED09-47BC-AF59-E922F528BF3A_zpshahrnnhu.jpg
 
I don't own a trapper but soddies are my thing, the Case Sodbuster Jr's are great knives. Easy to open with or with out gloves on and the blade shape is a good jack of all trades design. The Chestnut bone CV is a nice one and is very slim so it will ride in your jean pockets very comfortably. Can't go wrong with either but Chestnut Soddie gets my vote!
 
Sodbuster works pretty well in the kitchen too ;)











 
Great... Now I'm hungry too...


After doing a little more research, I think the sodbuster jr may be a little smaller than I'd like. It's about 2 1/2" right?
I know that's not a small blade and will most likely do whatever I need it to, but I like a little larger blade.

So now it my choice is between the regular sodbuster and a trapper. No chestnut bone scales, but the yellow is classic and fine with me...

So many options... :sigh:
 
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