SODBUSTERS... bust 'em out, work 'em hard and show 'em off

jmh33 said:
Just visited the OTTER web site.. They call that knife a "Goat Knife"... :p
John
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As near as I can tell, Hippekniep comes from some old dialect and doesn't translate into modern German. Hippe was a dialect term for goat, but also means a sickle or bill hook. I've seen some folding pruning knives described as Hippen. Kniep may have the same origin as knife in English and kniv in Swedish. I read once that a Hippekniep would have been used to trim goat hooves, but I'm skeptical of that explanation. I would like to get to the bottom of this, if the bottom could be found.
 
I've read somewhere (I think it was in a german knife forum) that hippekniep is a Solingen term for the pattern. Some old German catalogs list the pattern as 'Schlachter-Taschenmesser', 'Taschen-Schlachtmesser'( pocket butcher knife) or 'Notschlachter'(emergency butcher?)
TjeTNmy.png

F. Herder
BhNktyj.png

Gebr. Berns
tkcke0U.png

Hubertus
 
Notschlachter and Notschlachtmesser would literally translate as emergency slaughtering knife. I think in this case a better idiomatic translation would be that Not is more like field expedient than emergency and schlachten would mean butchering or processing. I think of these knives having been used much like a Buck 110.
 
Bastler said:
As near as I can tell, Hippekniep comes from some old dialect and doesn't translate into modern German. Hippe was a dialect term for goat, but also means a sickle or bill hook. I've seen some folding pruning knives described as Hippen. Kniep may have the same origin as knife in English and kniv in Swedish. I read once that a Hippekniep would have been used to trim goat hooves, but I'm skeptical of that explanation. I would like to get to the bottom of this, if the bottom could be found.
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Marlingspike12 said:
I've read somewhere (I think it was in a german knife forum) that hippekniep is a Solingen term for the pattern. Some old German catalogs list the pattern as 'Schlachter-Taschenmesser', 'Taschen-Schlachtmesser'( pocket butcher knife) or 'Notschlachter'(emergency butcher?)
TjeTNmy.png

F. Herder
BhNktyj.png

Gebr. Berns
tkcke0U.png

Hubertus
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Thanks for sharing ! I enjoy reading about the background story behind the knives, it helps me "connect" with them if I can put it that way.
I can't wait for my Otter to arrive !!!

Bastler said:
and schlachten would mean butchering or processing.
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I guess my Chestnut bone Jr. started off with me doing what it was meant to do :)

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CelloDan CelloDan That meal looks just what I like: meat and varied veggies :cool:

Getting the Otter bug here too, is yours going to be stainless (do they offer them?) or carbon? What handle? My experience of Otter of their Copper lockback 8 Black Cat type knife) is extremely positive, very good quality indeed.

Thanks, Will
 
Bastler Bastler and M Marlingspike12 The background information and speculation is greatly appreciated :thumbsup: Interesting catalogue, I'd go for that Gardener's knife :cool:

I thought Hippe was a general term for Pruning or Garden knife? Kniep is a common enough surname, doubt it's connected to 'knife' or 'kniv' as the German word is 'messer'. Could be though.

Vital to remember that these German knives were the ORIGINAL 'Sodbusters' CASE and other American firms didn't start their iterations until the late 1960's onwards.
 
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Will Power said:
Bastler Bastler and M Marlingspike12 The background information and speculation is greatly appreciated :thumbsup: Interesting catalogue, I'd go for that Gardener's knife :cool:

I thought Hippe was a general term for Pruning or Garden knife? Kniep is a common enough surname, doubt it's connected to 'knife' or 'kniv' as the German word is 'messer'. Could be though.

Vital to remember that these German knives were the ORIGINAL 'Sodbusters' CASE and other American firms didn't start their iterations until the late 1960's onwards.
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That Hubertus catalog is posted in the Vintage Catalog sticky. Some interesting knives listed in there.:)
 
Will Power said:
I thought Hippe was a general term for Pruning or Garden knife? Kniep is a common enough surname, doubt it's connected to 'knife' or 'kniv' as the German word is 'messer'. Could be though.
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I am indeed speculating. I thought Kniep may have originated from the Proto-Germanic language which is a common ancestor to German, English and some Nordic languages. I don't have any evidence to support my notion.
 
Will Power said:
CelloDan CelloDan That meal looks just what I like: meat and varied veggies :cool:

Getting the Otter bug here too, is yours going to be stainless (do they offer them?) or carbon? What handle? My experience of Otter of their Copper lockback 8 Black Cat type knife) is extremely positive, very good quality indeed.

Thanks, Will
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Gracias Will :)

I ordered the small one, carbon steel and Grenadilla handles.
I have not seen them offered in stainless in the few vendors I checked in the USA.

I just checked their german site. Interesting what they say about the grenadilla wood

“Please note: We sell our knives with grenadilla scales only within Germany and the EU.
Our Grenadilla knife sheaths are from the old stock before the listing in the EC Regulation No. 338/97 took place on 02.01.2017”

It’s only fair you got the bug lol :)
I got the bug when I saw a photo of a chestnut jr. with a sourdough loaf posted by a member with lots of will power ;):thumbsup::cool:
 
CelloDan said:
Gracias Will :)

I ordered the small one, carbon steel and Grenadilla handles.
I have not seen them offered in stainless in the few vendors I checked in the USA.

I just checked their german site. Interesting what they say about the grenadilla wood

“Please note: We sell our knives with grenadilla scales only within Germany and the EU.
Our Grenadilla knife sheaths are from the old stock before the listing in the EC Regulation No. 338/97 took place on 02.01.2017”

It’s only fair you got the bug lol :)
I got the bug when I saw a photo of a chestnut jr. with a sourdough loaf posted by a member with lots of will power ;):thumbsup::cool:
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Interesting that, didn't know about that wood.

Power maybe but more like Will Poverty these days, got to control all spending for quite a while so the Otter goes by the riverside :( Also, I can't bake loaves but would relish getting the skill.

As for the Chestnut Bone cv Sodbuster, it's a bonny knife and can strongly recommend one to all enthusiasts :cool:
 
Bastler said:
I am indeed speculating. I thought Kniep may have originated from the Proto-Germanic language which is a common ancestor to German, English and some Nordic languages. I don't have any evidence to support my notion.
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No civilisation ever advanced or indeed remained without speculative thought:thumbsup: Something contemporary society needs to wake up about...

I'm no etymologist, know a few languages -but German very little- so your musings could be correct. I like thought provoking things and knives being beautiful, help me to think.:cool:
 
Today I received my small Otter sod buster :).
Only two and a half weeks this time to get to Canada :thumbsup:

Overall I like it a lot :)

The thick wooden handles are super comfortable and have this feeling of "warmth" when you hold the knife.
I would have polished the handles a bit more myself but I can easily remedy that ( one day maybe :rolleyes: ) as I have the Beall wood polishing system that I use in my wood turnings.

9lQbJzL.jpg


No gaps on the back ( I did feel a very tiny bit of metal shards from the liners but a couple of passes on my pants got rid of them).

wAdjelS.jpg


Blade is centered, tip is not proud.
Solid lock in open position with no blade play at all either side to side or up and down. :thumbsup:

tpIvQMv.jpg


The wood on the left under side has been rounded off more than on the right side, hard to see in the pic.
A little bit of sanding would easily even both sides out ... but still ;).

There is some buffing compound and stuff inside so the knife will need to be cleaned, flushed and oiled.

r23tLyQ.jpg


I am very happy with the size and the overall feel of the knife :thumbsup: :)

VLDRSAw.jpg


The ONLY thing that I bugs me just a little :rolleyes: :D is it's "soft" pull.
If my Victorinox Tinker is a 5 then my Otter is a 4, my Case Chestnut bone is a 6 and my yellow delrin is a 7.

I like strong pulls for sure ( I regularly carry a lambsfoot with very strong pull )
Now this may actually be a good thing as my kids and my wife do not have to struggle to open it as they seem to do with other knives with harder pulls.

So here is my little collection folks :)
The Otter is only a tiny bit bigger than the Case ones ( appears much more because of perspective )

qTFG6pQ.jpg



Next will probably be the Masserin Plow.

I think it could be the ultimate camping knife ( not so much for edc though) as it is a little bigger, it uses D2 steel, looks rock solid and has a lanyard hole :thumbsup:
(edit: Otters actually come with lanyard holes too depending on the models )

I will have to wait to order the Masserin until the border opens up again and I am able to go to my PO Box in the States as it's not shipped to Canada.

Cheers :)
 
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CelloDan said:
Today I received my small Otter sod buster :).
Only two and a half weeks this time to get to Canada :thumbsup:

Overall I like it a lot :)

The thick wooden handles are super comfortable and have this feeling of "warmth" when you hold the knife.
I would have polished the handles a bit more myself but I can easily remedy that ( one day maybe :) ) as I have a the Beall wood polishing system that I use in my wood turnings.

9lQbJzL.jpg


No gaps on the back ( I did feel a very tiny bit of metal shards from the liners but a couple of passes on my pants got rid of them).

wAdjelS.jpg


Blade is centered, tip not proud, and with no play at all when opened either up and down or side to side. :thumbsup:

tpIvQMv.jpg


The wood on the left under side has been rounded noticeable more than on the right side, hard to see in the pic.
A little bit of sanding would easily even both sides out ... but still ;).
There is enough buffing compound and stuff inside that the knife will need to be cleaned, flushed and oiled.

r23tLyQ.jpg


I am very happy with the size and the overall feel of the knife

VLDRSAw.jpg


The ONLY thing that I bugs me just a little :D is the soft pull.
If my Victorinox Tinker is a 5 my Otter is a 4, my Case Chestnut bone is a 6 and my yellow delrin is a 7.

I like stronger pulls for sure.
Now this may be a good thing too as my kids and my wife do not struggle to open it as they seem to do with other knives with harder pulls.

When "action" is concerned the chestnut bone is the big winner, very satisfying pull and crisp snap :thumbsup: ( the yellow delrin is harder but sluggish)

So here is my little collection folks :)
The Otter is just a tiny bit bigger ( appears much more because of perspective )

qTFG6pQ.jpg


Next will probably be the Masserin Plow.
I think it could be the ultimate camping knife ( not so much for edc though) as it is a it is a little bigger, D2 steel and looks rock solid and has a lanyard hole :thumbsup:
I will have to wait until the border opens again and I can cross to my PO Box in the states for that one.

Cheers :)
Click to expand...
Look up how addiction starts.:rolleyes::D:D:D;).
 
CelloDan said:
Today I received my small Otter sod buster :).
Only two and a half weeks this time to get to Canada :thumbsup:

Overall I like it a lot :)

The thick wooden handles are super comfortable and have this feeling of "warmth" when you hold the knife.
I would have polished the handles a bit more myself but I can easily remedy that ( one day maybe :) ) as I have a the Beall wood polishing system that I use in my wood turnings.

9lQbJzL.jpg


No gaps on the back ( I did feel a very tiny bit of metal shards from the liners but a couple of passes on my pants got rid of them).

wAdjelS.jpg


Blade is centered, tip not proud, and with no play at all when opened either up and down or side to side. :thumbsup:

tpIvQMv.jpg


The wood on the left under side has been rounded noticeable more than on the right side, hard to see in the pic.
A little bit of sanding would easily even both sides out ... but still ;).
There is enough buffing compound and stuff inside that the knife will need to be cleaned, flushed and oiled.

r23tLyQ.jpg


I am very happy with the size and the overall feel of the knife

VLDRSAw.jpg


The ONLY thing that I bugs me just a little :D is the soft pull.
If my Victorinox Tinker is a 5 my Otter is a 4, my Case Chestnut bone is a 6 and my yellow delrin is a 7.

I like stronger pulls for sure.
Now this may be a good thing too as my kids and my wife do not struggle to open it as they seem to do with other knives with harder pulls.

When "action" is concerned the chestnut bone is the big winner, very satisfying pull and crisp snap :thumbsup: ( the yellow delrin is harder but sluggish)

So here is my little collection folks :)
The Otter is just a tiny bit bigger ( appears much more because of perspective )

qTFG6pQ.jpg


Next will probably be the Masserin Plow.
I think it could be the ultimate camping knife ( not so much for edc though) as it is a it is a little bigger, D2 steel and looks rock solid and has a lanyard hole :thumbsup:
I will have to wait until the border opens again and I can cross to my PO Box in the states for that one.

Cheers :)
Click to expand...
Nice photos and great write up, it’s so nice to get information like that ahead of a potential purchase. Thanks for the post!
 
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