Sodbuster/Sodbuster Jr durability?

The stainless version has done a great job as a utility knife. I was surprised at how easy it is to maintain (not much sticks to smooth delrin). Stayed sharp for longer than I thought it would (I did some habitat for humanity work with it and cut stuff for lots of folks). Bigox-I didn't know about the locking version, what type of locking mechanism did you believe you had on the one that closed on your fingers?
 
I remember seeing some as a kid that had a linerlock. That is what I thought I was ordering but of course I knew I had no lock before it closed on me.
 
I looked this up to make sure I wasn't crazy. It is quoted from www.allaboutpocketknives.com.

Pattern # 38
Case has used this pattern number on at least two distinct knife styles.

The oldest version is a 3 5/16" multi-bladed knife known as a congress. They have four blades and were being manufactured by W.R. Case and Sons prior to 1915.

The more recent 38 pattern is a 5 5/8" clasp style jack knife that goes by the name sodbuster. It is the same as the 37 pattern Sodbuster Jr. described above, except that it is larger. These were introduced by Case between 1965-1969. Most of them have black composite handles, and some have liner lock mechanisms. When this is the case, the pattern number will be followed by an L.
 
Thanks for the info, bigox. An interesting variation on the design (although I'd bet it was hard to close safely with a thumb pushing the liner, in the way of the blade, backed by such a heavy spring) sounds like the same sort of set-up as on the Schrade 194 Old Timer.
 
The liner lock was used only on the full size sodbuster with a stainless steel blade, pattern # 2138LSS. It was introduced in 1970 and was made until the early 1980s, discontinued I think in 1984 or 1985.
 
They sound pretty interesting...I wonder if anyone out there has one of the liner locks and could post a picture?
 
I have a yellow Queen in D2. It came with a very rough edge, but cleaned up very nicely with a smooth stone.

I have not carried it, it is a safe queen.

The handles are twice as thick, so that might make a difference in how it rides in your pocket. Should be a good knife, though.

Anyone have experience with the German eye Sodbuster with the yellow scales?

Thanks.
 
Terry - I had a yellow handled Eye Brand small sodbuster, and I still have the wood handled version. The yellow handled one is quite thin, and easy on the pocket. The wood handled one is rounder in cross section. Both have great flat grinds.
 
Well, Ive owned a few. The ones I owned years ago (going back 20+) were good. I bought a new one last year (full size) and it lasted maybe 4 weeks before the blade became really loose? I used it while restoring my house and it did not hold up like the old ones. The one I had bought was the regular full size case sodbuster. It could be that I just got a lemon? I think they are still good knives, but I think you just have to look it over before you buy it (if possible). The blade on mine was not real tight to begin with and with use it developed really bad lateral play.
 
Thanks for posting rev jch, I was wondering if you could give an idea of how bad the "really bad" lateral play is-does the rivet seem to be separating? I'm interested since this is what occurred right before the Chinese copy I had fell apart, literally, while cutting a cardboard box (the rivets were just glued together). Thanks.
 
GERMAN EYE BRAND makes a very very similar knife in carbon steel that is superb; far better than anything Case makes IMHO. It is an old design apparently and lots of makers market a similar knife. Parkers Cutlery sells these too with various German brandings, including a BIG one that they say was made for the pork industry in Austria:eek:
 
The Kissing Cranes "Brown Mule" sodbuster is inexpensive, well built, very
strong backspring, and sharpens very nicely. IMHO a better working knife
than the Case and cheaper too.
 
Thanks for the input. I worked with a guy in the 80's who carried one of the Eye Brand sodbusters, and he was happy with it (I think they are priced a bit on the high end for this type of knife right now). I checked out some Kissing Crane mules, and they do seem to offer a low cost alternative. The ones I saw were hit and miss on fit and finish, as was the Case stainless version that I did get (which has held up quite well so far). At times I think it would make an interesting and inexpensive "knives of the world" theme to collect one from each country making them currently.
 
The lateral play was bad enough that you could shake the knife in your hand and hear it rattle. Its bad! I should have sent it back to case, but I have never bothered.

The german eye brand sodbusters should be good knives.

The sodbuster itself is an old german clasp knife design used by farmers. A cheap inexpensive design, totally "utilitarian".
 
That sounds like a very serious problem indeed, it sounds like the backspring doesn't make any contact with the blade at all. I sure would send it in, but that's just my opinion. I wonder if anyone else has had this problem?
 
Sounds like a broken or improperly assembled rivet. I would certainly send it in to the factory and have it fixed under warranty (after all, you paid more than the chinese self-destructing trash version, you might as well have a functional knife to use or trade to show for it). If that's not a defect in materials or workmanship, what is?
 
well, its just a matter of tightening the rivet. In all honesty I could do it myself, I just have not had it as a priority.

But yes, it is defective, no doubt.
 
i have a case sodbuster with a ky moonshiner logo on the blade around here somewhere. i have had it a long time not sure what color handle it has or much else about it. it has never been out of the box as far as i know.
i really like the sodbusters and have a german eye with carbon steel that is a great knife and a brown mule from smkw that is carbon and will hold a good edge. u want to buy the large brown mule from smkw cause it has wood handles and carbon blade not the small one it is a lot cheaper made with plastic handle and ss blade.either one is like 6 bucks.
 
Newshooter-I agree on steering clear of the plastic handle ss kissing cranes, saw some at a truck stop in Oklahoma. Nowhere near as good as the wooden handle carbon steel "Brown Mule" ones. Thanks for the input.
 
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