Sodbuster w/ Carbon Steel

S

Suerte

Joined
Jul 12, 2003
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481
I'd like to buy one with carbon steel blades and a STRONG backspring. Nothing fancy, just a strong large working folder. Any reccomendations as to brand and place to buy? Thanks.
 
Howdy,
I think you can find a Kissing Crane "Brown Mule" with a 4" blade for about $10.00. I know at Smoky Mountain, and maybe some of the folks who support BF as well.

Bill
 
I have the large Kissing Crane brown mule (it's available in three sizes, and can be had for under $10. At that price, you can get several and not worry if one gets lost or broken). It has strong backsprings. It should be noted that, at least in my experience, the steel (or heat treat) in the brown mules I have handled is not as good as Kissing Crane's standard slipjoint patterns. Of course, their regular slipjoints hold an edge better than any other carbon steel slipjoint that I have (Case Cr-V, Eye Brand, Boker).

Another good brand of large carbon-steel sodbusters is Eye Brand. They cost more than the Kissing Cranes, but are still a good deal. I would rate the edgeholding about equal between my Kissing Crane brown mule and my Eye Brand sodbuster, with perhaps a slight nod to Eye Brand. The blades are better executed in the Eye Brand sodbusters, nice flat grind with a fine edge.

If you look around you might be able to find a Case sodbuster with Cr-V blade, I don't know if they still make them but I used to see them around.

For the brown mule and the Eye Brand sodbuster, try knivesplus.com. A lot of the online dealers will carry one or both brands. I have also seen quite a few of the brown mules on ebay. Just remember that they come in three sizes. The Eye Brand sodbusters also come in small and large sizes.
 
at a local knife shop. Large black handled in CV, six dot, for what it's worth. The guy behind the counter said it had been laying in the back room for a few years. I think I paid $22 for it. Strong backspring, opens with a loud CLACK. I like it. Keep thinking about picking up a Kissing Crane and an Eye Brand, just to compare.

Frank
 
SilverFoxKnows,

Saw a Case Sodbuster Jr. in stainless at a local hardware store today. Anyone know how there springs are on their new Chrome Vandium stuff? I dislike weak springs expecially for this type of folder. BTW cool avatar. I guess that it's a silver fox?

dullone,

That's a great looking knife. I'm trying to stay with a "softer" carbon steel. I've heard that D2 on Queens is hard to sharpen.

lambertiana,

If you know (or anyone reading this), how does Kissing Crane steel in their Sodbuster compare to Schrade's 1095 found in their Old Timer line?

Thanks again for all the helpful answers.
 
This thread sure makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I keep a Sodbuster Jr. that my dad gave me over 40 years ago in a box on the dresser. It is still rock solid (even after making it through some pre-teen and teenage years.:eek:

It has been quite a long time since I took a good look at it. Thanks for reminding me guys. In all honesty, I don't own another knife that I enjoy more than that one.
 
Case has been offering the Jr Sodbuster in yellow handle and CV (carbon steel) for a few years now.

I think that they recently added the large Sodbuster in yellow and CV also.

They of course make the traditional black handle sodbusters junior and senior with SS blades with the Sodbuster etching. The yellow CV knives are not etched.
 
Picked up a Case Sodbuster Jr. in CV by from a real nice local dealer/sharpener that sells out of a van. I don't know if he sharpened it before hand, but it was sharp enough to shave hair off my arm. Pretty decent spring strength. I'd prefer more, but I like something closer to "nail breaker" than most folks. I'll pick up a bigger one sometime soon probably; I was really after a large one anyway.
 
Eye Brand makes a lockback version of their large yellow model, I'm kicking myself for not picking one up when a ebay dealer had a case full. They made a version with a saw that totally rocked.
 
Suerte - I don't have any Old Timer slipjoints; the only Old Timer I have is a fixed blade drop point with guthook. I would rate my Brown Mule at least equal to this Old Timer.

Bob - One of my Eye Brand sodbusters is the large model with the saw and a very nice stag handle. That saw really cuts well, I carry this knife regularly when camping. I had to break it in well before I could open it without worrying about my thumbnail breaking while I was opening the blades, the springs are pretty strong. If I recall correctly, Knives Plus still has this model, or at least they did recently, but the price has gone up a fair amount since I bought mine.
 
Neat, always thought a saw was a good idea on a folder. Kabar made a giant locking walnut sod buster a few years back that was nice also.
 
Bob - I just checked my Knives Plus Christmas 2003 catalog, they have the large and small sodbusters with black wood or yellow composition handles, as well as the yellow-handled large locking sodbuster. They also still have the two blade (large blade plus saw) with stag handle.
 
Eye Brand is one of the few companies that still offer good old carbon steel blades, AND nice stag handles(might be red stag, but who cares?). For some reason, I find the Eye Brand carbon steel to take and hold a better edge than the Case. Might be the thinner, flat grind too. My vote is for the Eye Brand. Ebay is full of them, in various handle materials.
 
Thanks, lambertiana, I'll check it out.

I agree on Eye Brand, worst that could be said of them is that they need a bit of "break in" time. Shame they don't import as many patterns.
 
I purchased the Queen Black Cherry small which is the one at the web site listed above. Rec. it on Fri and have to say it is very very well made. I actually got it for my wife whom is a Chem. Eng. and figured she should have a decent purse/pocket knife for what ever she made need it for. From scrappings taken from filters to samples of film and print paper. Has really strong back springs on it with even grind lines and no overruns on the handle slabs and the way they attach to the brass liners. All joints are even and all pins are peened evenely and flush with the scales. Excellant quality for an under 20 dollar knife and for over a 20 dollar knife. I sharpened the edge on my Diamond Lansky as that is the only complaint I have with the knife. Just not real sharp when I rec. it and only one edge cantle was apparent. 20 minutes later and it is a little razor, literally. Oh yea D2 steel too. Great buy. Keep'em sharp
 
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