Soddie or Opinel?

Opinel all the way, if you want a sharpened pry bar carry a fixed blade- At the end of the day Opinel's are designed to do one thing and they do it extremely well; they cut.

What do people expect from a thin folder that was designed for general day to day use?

"Well; I was trying to cut down a tree and my 10$ folder failed so I was like wtf!??? I can't trust my Opinel any more!"

Sometimes I think we are just impossible to please :P
 
forcedstrike,

sodbusters, especially the smaller versions, are hardly sharpened pry bars. the folks around this sub-forum like them (as they do their opinels) precisely because they do cut. let's not confuse this sub-forum with others where the attitude and priorities may be different.

that said, welcome and enjoy your stay here. you'll find that we're a passionate, opinionated but generally non-confrontational bunch.
 
It's possible that I will find an Opinel I like more than the sodbuster pattern, but I haven't yet.

For me, it's not a one-dimensional thing.

The blade profiles are approximately equal in general usefulness, but the sodbuster is somewhat heavier, and will likely take a baton without caving.

The sodbuster handle is (it seems) more robust, and more solidly attached.

I'd happily carry either, but if I knew there was likely to be tough going, I'd more likely opt for the sodbuster. I'd probably fashion a locking stick for the sodbuster, though.

I don't have a broad enough experience to say which sodbuster is "best," but so far the Case and Böker are quite pleasing. The Kissing Crane was a disappointment.

As I learn more, I'm finding a rekindled affinity for the older slipjoint designs.

 
I have a Queen Country Cousin in black, Super blade but for me the handle was a bit thick so I re-profiled the handle and rounded the corners off. Now she is Sexy as a Supermodel!

I used a 1x72 belt sander, some 320-400 sandpaper by hand and then a quick buff job on the drill press with a buffing wheel. I took the thickness down to 12mm or .47 about 1/3 off the thickness. Sorry it doesn't show in the pics.

P1010838.JPG.jpg
 
Looks great, F3X!

One of the things I love about the custom sodbuster I got from K.R. Johnson is how thin and pocketable it is.
 
yellow cv soddie jr although i plan on buying a opinel. so perhaps my opinion will change when i get one.
till then love my new "yeller" handled soddie:D
cheers
ivan
 
Opinels are cheaper, but the handles swell up, etc. The blade is pointier too.
Sodbusters have nice synthetic handles, more of a drop pointed blade, but at twice the price. I prefer the Sodbuster because I can rinse them off and they feel more substantial
 
Sodbuster!

I like the Opinel, and I fool with one now and then. But if I had to make a choice one or the other, I'd go with a soddie. More solid build for the long haul, not affected by water. If there is an unforseen emergency between the time I walk out my door in the morning, and I return home, I'd feel better with a CV soddie.

Thats my story, and I'm sticking to it!

edited to add; In some urban locals, the blade lock on the Opinel could be a problem.
 
Round 237...:rolleyes:

Have at it boys...(again) ;)

I combined the threads as this has been hashed out in the past and the old posts are as valid today as they were a few months back. Plus, it just makes it easier to find info in the forum for those who use the search function.
 
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ElCuchillo said:
Soddie for me. Need to feel some weight and heft. There's just a simplicity about a soddie that is very charming. Single blade, plain handle, no lock, no nonsense. Just a good, hard working, reliable knife that will hang with any knife for normal daily chores.
Click to expand...

Must've forgot your old post... :eek: ;)
 
While I really like my Sodbuster Jr., my vote goes to the Opinel. It is just the superior cutting knife in my hands. Of course, this is after I drop the point, reshape the handle, seal 'er up, and apply a proper hair splitting edge.
 
I have several Opinels and two sodbusters.

For shear cutting performance, the Opinel wins hands down. The steel is thinner, and the geometry seems just right to be a pure cutter.

For overall performance, though, I like the sodbuster. It's thinner and thus more pocketable (back pocket). The joint can handle harder use, and the overall construction just feels sturdier.

I love 'em both and wouldn't want the knifeworld to be without either, but if I need a lightweight, pure cutting machine I reach for an Opinel. If I need something to slip in a pocket that can potentially handle rougher duty, I reach for a sodbuster.
 
RobbW said:
I have several Opinels and two sodbusters.

.....
I love 'em both and wouldn't want the knifeworld to be without either, but if I need a lightweight, pure cutting machine I reach for an Opinel. If I need something to slip in a pocket that can potentially handle rougher duty, I reach for a sodbuster.
Click to expand...

That sums it up!
+1 :thumbup:
 
I like the Sodbuster so much, I conformed it to my one-hand-use ways and put a clip and thumb stud on it:

sodbuster1.jpg


sodbuster2.jpg


sodbuster3.jpg


sodbuster4.jpg


Let me know what you guys think, J.
 
jackknife said:
Under normal day to day use, they will work out just fine. I've used them on and off since I bought my first one in 1982.

But, under abnormal use, they can be unreliable, such as an emergency situation. I will more than grant you the circumstances that Danny broke his was not normal. His wife was down with a broken ankle, it was a wet heavy snow falling, and we were making a litter to carry her out. We were notching a couple of sapplings to bend and break off as Mr. van had tought, and Danny got a bit carried away with how hard to cut. The wood handle broke off even with the step down shoulder were it's turned down for the bolster. Abnormal use? most definatly.
Click to expand...


Abnormal? not to me...

I say cutting branches/or even saplings is far from abnormal, and honestly 90% of the reason a lot of people I know carry a folder(myself included)... it makes fine work of bushcraft, in a pocketable form.

Guess it depends on what your normal uses are though... ;)

Never have had an opinel, but I've always wanted to try one. Mainly for the optional lock... that ring could be left open and it used as a friction folder, but the lock is there if I ever wanted more solidity..

But, given the choice of those two, I would take the sodbuster. the back spring should hold better than just friction of a unlocked opi, and while being more solid, it would still close without releasing a lock.

One reason I have not gotten one yet, is friction type folders tend to come open in the pocket... it could be locked closed with the ring I imagine, but having to unlock it to open it would get old real fast...

I'll have to order one the next time i get the urge to buy a new folder and see if my thoughts are right.

G.
 
Opinels are fine knives. I've never owned one, but I've checked them out. If they float your boat, buy one and you won't be disappointed. If you are, then you're only out $15 dollars. But I'll take a sodbuster everytime. They just look nicer in my opinion, although they are a little more expensive.
 
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