Sodbusters?

I

IMightBeWrong

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Feb 17, 2011
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I've been doing some looking for some traditional patterns I like lately and one of the ones I've liked is the Sodbuster. It seems, though, that getting into one is like spending 20-40 bucks or 600 bucks on a custom. I was hoping I could find a nice razor sharp model in stainless or tool steel for 100-200 dollars give or take. I was hoping you guys could point me to a nice one that fits in that range. Any ideas, guys?
 
I'd recommend a great eastern. For $50 or so you get the best soddie I've ever had the pleasure of using and it comes in no range black and now glow in the dark handles.
 
Who's got a good shop to check out the GECs? I've only seen the Black and Yellow models. Where can I find glow?
 
I thought the point of a sodbuster was its cheap and durable materials, hence its low price point? If you're looking for a $100-200 sodbuster, it wouldn't really differ in any way from a single blade jack aside from the shape. In that case any custom slipjoint maker could probably make you one.
 
IMightBeWrong said:
Who's got a good shop to check out the GECs? I've only seen the Black and Yellow models. Where can I find glow?
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The suggestion to check the GEC web site is a good one. Only BF dealer members are recommended by name in Posts in Traditional.

collectorknives.net and Grand Prairie Knives are BF dealer members who carry GEC knives.
 
The GEC sodbuster is the best one I have ever used, by a large margin, and I own more than a few from other makers. The build quality, edge geometry and blade steel are absolutely first rate. You'd be hard pressed to find a finer pocket cutting implement at any price. I've had one from the first run in my pocket since it came out, and have bought several more. I lent one recently to a friend who is not a "knife person" at all, I've been trying to convince him to carry a knife for years. I didn't get the knife back. He's carrying it now.
 
Some german makers have them in production. Traditionally made with wood handles. Like the one R-D (Lycosa) already told of Otter Messer, Solingen. But also Friedrich Herder Abr. Sohn GmbH, Solingen or Hubertus Messer, Solingen has them still in construction. I have no idea, where to buy them in the US, but in Germany you could get some of them at very nice prices. You could do some internet search for the term Hippekniep (the name of this kind of knife in Solinger dialect) :)

I´ve already seen some costum Sodbusters here on BFC. I have none of them, until now. So I can´t tell you anything about them. Some of them look just great and might carry even better than the look...
 
Hi Andi!^
I agree with spknr, a Sodbuster should be bought with the low end of the dollar. You don't NEED a custom Soddie unless you WANT one.
 
R-D - I see your point of view and I agree with it. Nevertheless; such a custom Hippekniep looks just great! :)
 
Recently I bought a Queen Cutlery Country Cousin in D2, yellow handle.

This towers over the CASE offerings in terms of fit, finish and in the hand feel. Thick contoured handles, no gaps or play at all. Came adequately sharp, but sharpening on diamonds has produced a wonderful edge, and it stays that way too. I have not been so impressed by a knife in a long while, suitable for all tasks including food prep. Not expensive either, so you have a decent feeling knife, good grade steel, why spend out more on what is a workman's knife and very up for the job too?

Thanks, Will
 
I agree with everything said so far. You don't have to spend and arm and a leg if you don't want to. Soddies started out as inexpensive work knives and the demand for fit and finish hasn't been as high for that knife pattern as has been its reliability. As mentioned above, there are plenty of great knives that follow that tradition still available.

I have the Queen mentioned above, and gave away my CASE when I got it. It has better steel, ergonomics and blade design for me than the CASE did. That said, CASE is kind of a standard for this kind of knife.

Also, I have seen (don't remember where) some fine examples of high end, custom made soddies. I wasn't sure why a soddie needed to be an exotic steel with stag handles, but hey... they sure were pretty!

Robert
 
Great thread.
Thanks Andi. ;)
OP- The new Case Carbon Fiber Sodbuster might fit your bill?
 
IMightBeWrong said:
I've been doing some looking for some traditional patterns I like lately and one of the ones I've liked is the Sodbuster. It seems, though, that getting into one is like spending 20-40 bucks or 600 bucks on a custom. I was hoping I could find a nice razor sharp model in stainless or tool steel for 100-200 dollars give or take. I was hoping you guys could point me to a nice one that fits in that range. Any ideas, guys?
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There might be a bit of an adjustment period coming into traditionals from non-traditional knives. There's a very strong current in traditionals towards working knives with blades that can be sharpened easily while at work using just a basic stone.

There is also a point of discussion about what constitutes "traditional". It could be any knife made in a traditional pattern or in the style of a traditional (sort of circular, ain't it?) regardless of where it is made or regardless of cost. Another line of thinking would put traditional patterns made by traditional mass producers in their traditional country of origin as being more traditional.

You should absolutely buy whatever knife makes you the happiest which means you should spend what you want and get whatever blade material you want.

Hard to argue that you will be able to find anything more traditional than a US or German made sodbuster from one of the mass producers mentioned in this thread and made with carbon steel blades.
 
pinnah said:
There might be a bit of an adjustment period coming into traditionals from non-traditional knives. There's a very strong current in traditionals towards working knives with blades that can be sharpened easily while at work using just a basic stone.

There is also a point of discussion about what constitutes "traditional". It could be any knife made in a traditional pattern or in the style of a traditional (sort of circular, ain't it?) regardless of where it is made or regardless of cost. Another line of thinking would put traditional patterns made by traditional mass producers in their traditional country of origin as being more traditional.

You should absolutely buy whatever knife makes you the happiest which means you should spend what you want and get whatever blade material you want.

Hard to argue that you will be able to find anything more traditional than a US or German made sodbuster from one of the mass producers mentioned in this thread and made with carbon steel blades.
Click to expand...

You're definitely hitting the nail on the head. Truth be told, I like quite a few traditional designs, but not so much the traditional materials. I don't care for bone handles, for example. But I do think the designs make excellent "Gentleman's Folders", more so than any other type of design in fact. So I like synthetic handles and wooden handles. G10, Micarta, Ebony, Juniper, Walnut, and so on.

With that said...

Lycosa said:
Great thread.
Thanks Andi. ;)
OP- The new Case Carbon Fiber Sodbuster might fit your bill?
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DANG! I really like that! What does Case's steel compare to, though? SAK steel perhaps?
 
If you like wood or synthetic handles, I can see why you're interested in sodbusters. As others have noted, the German ones are often wood.

I don't care for the stainless used by Victorinox or Case. They both sharpen up to a burr easily but then seem to hold the burr more than others. My understanding is that both are fairly soft. If you really don't like carbon steel, then maybe find one in D2? I don't think I've heard of one in 440C. Happy to be wrong on that.
 
I think the stainless on the Case's are decent but I prefer the carbon steel. That said the carbon fiber Case is pretty nice. It's thin and rides great in the pocket, though a little pricey. Queen made a few of the country cousins in 440C steel some time back but you will have to search high and low for one. I have a little obsession with sodbusters, you can see my thread with lots of pics for size and handle comparisons here My thread needs to be updated with new pics as I have secured many more german made sodbusters. Personally, the Bullnose is one of my tops along with a French Minuer(miners knife) and the German made Robert Herder knife.
 
The Robert Herder is a great choice for a sodbuster. I have the large and small model. The blade is something to see! You can ping me or trevytrev and either can point you to a vendor.
 
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