Sodbusters, whos got em'?

Case002.jpg


1976 Case
 
I still remember walking in to Lowe's with just a couple bucks in my pocket, I wandering what their knife selection looked like. The one around here went from lame to worse in just a matter of months, but at the time they had some sodbuster Jr.s for sale. At $20 a pop, I figured why not. I work on a produce farm and knives are in constant need, there is always a chore, sometimes more than one at a time. It got to the point that I had to carry three knives, just to make up for everyone who didn't. There were a few times that 4 would have been better, so I started to keep a knife in the glove box.

I used that little sod buster all that summer and into fall, it got a fresh edge everyday and it lost it too. It was a beast at cutting though and it earn me more than the $20 I spent on it. It continued the sodbuster way of asking for little and giving a lot. I showed it to my grandfather one day, he's a knife nut in hiding. He always has had a love for single bladed knives, so I knew that he would like this little soddy. Well he did and pretty soon he started talking about getting one for himself. He asked that if I was in the neighborhood of Lowe's could I pick one up for him. Of course I said that I would.

Well, Lowe's nerv restocked with sodbusters so my grandfather couldn't get one without waiting. He asked me about it just about every time I saw him. I finally just pulled mine out and let him have the little soddy that had earned so much respect. It had done a lot of things, but I think it was honored most in being given to my grandfather. He carries it on a regular basis and he likes to use it when I'm around, I think it's either to torment me, or he just wants me to know that it's used often.

Here is an old beat up one that gets the nod every great once in a while.
P1011549.jpg
 
I ended up waiting for the opportunity to buy another one down the road, then I forgot about the sodbuster all together. When GEC announced that Mike Latham had ordered a "Bull Nose" work knife, I got excited. When I saw the knives I loved it, I didn't care if it was pink, I just really loved the knife. I ended up missing out on it and I was haunted by it on here. I saw it just about everyday and I so loathed my missed opportunity at getting another soddy. A few days after the sold out sign had been up I got a PM from Mike, he had one for me. I can honestly say it was the most exciting knife moment for me in a while.

The days that passed weren't many, but it felt like months had gone by before the postal service opened again. I'm really pleased with this knife and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. Yeah, it's not the $20 Case sodbuster Jr. It's the better knife. I'll be doing cut tests with it today so I really look forward to getting it all tested out. But, this knife is a winner. :thumbup:

P1012802.jpg
 
Bought a Case yellow Jr. a little while back, and since the GEC came out I've been wanting one. At first I wasn't in love with the orange handle, but after thinking about it, orange isn't a bad color if you drop it in the woods.

If they come out again as a regular production I'm going to get one and put it in my Scout pack.
 
Not the best pic but here's mine when it first arrived. It's got a bit of patina on it now but what a great knife for the price!

DSC01613.jpg
 
The sodbuster Jr. did kitchen duty today! Peeling and slicing about 10lbs of potatos. Processing some onions and celery for my wife's famous clam chowder!:D
DSC01170.jpg
[/IMG]
 
If you are talking about the full size, I think it may be out of production, but the Jr. in yella CV is easy to come by round these parts.
 
I've only got one. AG Russell Large "Cowboy" Ebony linen micarta was the main reason I ordered one. Tough stuff for a working knife.

The Fit and finish was great for the price. Shiny, polished etc.

IMG_4179.jpg


Nearly flush back spring with great snap open and closed.

IMG_4179.jpg


IMG_4180.jpg


I did give it a little squeeze in the vice and then peen the pin, and re-sand and polish the entire thing. (It had a tiny wiggle, but another one I felt did not). The wiggle is gone now, and has not come back.

I missed out on the GEC model, and might have to get the next offering.

Nice wide blade, and ground right.

IMG_4170.jpg
 
The handles on quite a few of the Case Jr.'s appear to be a little less "angular" than mine. Is it common practice to relieve the edges with a little sandpaper?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top